THE GOLDEN VALLEY
IT ISN’T DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY COMPOSTELA VALLEY IS known as the “golden province” of the Davao region. Recently renamed Davao de Oro, it hosts rich gold mineral deposits in the bosom of its mountains and is thus known for its vibrant mining indust
To put its best foot forward, the province showcased its rich cultural heritage in the recent 12th Bulawan Festival to celebrate its event-filled 21st founding anniversary at the provincial capitol complex in Nabunturan town.
Themed “The Gold One, Ang Bulawan sa Tanan,” the week-long, province-wide festivity featured a variety of sports, socio-civic, cultural, entertainment, business and investment, sectoral and tourism-oriented activities.
The festival was highlighted by the Bulawanong Pasundayag street dance showdown which featured participants clad in goldenthemed and lumad-inspired costumes portraying the folklore and daily way of life.
New Bataan National High School won the major awards and topped the competition with their interpretation of the Sal’lupongan Festival, which was derived from the Mansaka words sal’lu which means salo-salo or gathering and pongan which means unity in diversity and the gathering of the ethnic groups in New Bataan.
Winning second and third honors, respectively, are Compostela’s Buganihan, a thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and a tribute to the ancient bagani warriors, and Laak’s Kahimonan, the get-together among the Dibabawon, Mandaya, Mansaka and Moro tribes.
Other participating contingents portrayed various municipal festivals such as Simballay of Nabunturan, Kaimonan of Maco and P’yagsawitan of Maragusan.
The provincial government inaugurated the Bahay Katutubo, a museum showcasing the diverse ethnography of the various indigenous peoples and ethnolinguistic groups such as the Mansaka, Mandaya, Manobo, Mangguangan, Dibabawon, Aeta, Kamayo, Kalagan and Davaweño.
According to Gov. Jayvee Tyrone Uy, Bulawan is ComVal’s coming out party to put the spotlight on its natural wonders, milestones in governance, business and investment.
“This year’s festival is the culmination of all the things we need to be thankful for. It is a celebration of good returns, new beginnings, bountiful harvest and golden opportunities for all,” he said.
He also revealed that ComVal netted some P1.2 billion worth of foreign and local investments in the Davao de Oro Business and Investment Conference, which includes public infrastructure and utilities, tourism, agribusiness, aquaculture, mining, real estate, community enterprises, among others.
The Beach Club At Lubi Plantation Island of Torre Lorenzo Development Corp., a world-class resort hotel managed by the Thai-based Dusit group, is currently the biggest single investor employing hundreds of local workers.
The 36-hectare first phase was completed recently and includes a multipurpose hall, restaurant, poolside area with a beachfront infinity pool, children’s playground and beach club rooms. It is expected to enhance property development in the beaches of Davao Gulf in Mabini town and make it the alternative gateway to the province by sea from the Dusit luxury hotels in Lanang, Davao City.
The multimillion-peso three-phase development will be fully completed in 2022, and will include a signature spa, 40 luxury villas and a Benjarong Thai-themed restaurant.
Uy enthused that rebranding the province as Davao de Oro will create better brand recall for tourism and business promotion, and at the same time underscore its heritage, being part of the oncevast Davao province which was partitioned over the years to constitute Region 11.
Carved out of Davao del Norte in 1998, Compostela Valley takes pride in its wide array of attractions which combine nature, adventure and culture, such as enchanting waterfalls, expansive cave systems, lush mountain parks, refreshing springs, panoramic lakes, indigenous peoples’ villages, powdery white sand beaches and marine sanctuaries ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.
It is also showcasing a green mining technology called community-led integrated non-mercury, non-cyanide gold extraction method (CLINN GEM) which was developed by scientists from the University of the Philippines.