MY HOME province is on the spotlight right now for a number of reasons.

First, the world’s pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has confirmed his political bid for congress against the rock-solid Chiongbian dynasty.

Locals flock to the Municipal Plaza of Alabel, Sarangani Province right now to welcome Pacquiao, half of them expecting that they are not going home empty-handed.

Secondly, our governor, Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez, has been recently installed as president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

In the National Convention of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the PICC, Migs has ben appointed as the new national president of the party, replacing Eduardo Ermita.

And finally, the province is celebrating it’s 17th Foundation Anniversary and 7th MunaTo Festival next week.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “MunaTo Festival: Pride of Sarangani Tri-People,” highlighting the cultural heritage of the province.

MunaTo is a B’laan word for “first people,” referring to the 2000-year old anthropomorphic jars excavated in Maitum.

Michelle Solon, president of Sarangani Tourism Industry Association (SARTIA) said that this year’s celebration would “bring in and drive interest of people towards Sarangani. Ano ba ang Sarangani? Ano ba ang pagkakilala ng tao ng Sarangani? What we boast of is our culture.” (from Sarangani’s Official Website)

But for that to happen, there is a great need to drumbeat the publicity of the festival. The festival, I believe, is one of its kind in the country given the discovery of the artifacts of burial jars that date as far back as the Metal Age.

Photos from www.sarangani.gov.ph