Tawi-Tawi celebrates 42nd Kamahardikaan Festival

• Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/living/tawi-tawi-celebrates-42nd-kamahardikaan-festival
• Saturday, September 19, 2015

By Ayunan G. Gunting

TAWI-TAWI is ready and raring to celebrate its 42nd Kamahardikaan Festival of Arts, Culture and Entertainment on Sept. 20 onwards. This year, the festival will be held in Bongao municipality.

Visitors, both domestic and international, will have a chance to experience this one-of-a-kind showcase of the rich and diverse cultures of the Jamapun, Tausugs, Sama and Badjao of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

The festival will have music concerts and a beauty pageant. There will also be games, trading, fashion shows, and even a fun-run.

At the southwestern tip of the Philippines, Tawi-Tawi is accessible in only a matter of hours from the airports in Manila, Subic or Cebu and Sabah, Malaysia.

“We invite everyone to come celebrate and have fun with us. You’ll meet new friends here and enjoy our hospitality and rich cultures,” says Tawi-Tawi Congresswoman Ruby M. Sahali, whose office, in partnership with the Tawi-Tawi Tourism Council and Governor Nurbert Sahali, is organizing the festival.

The festival will showcase different activities presented by this island province’s 11 municipalities, which includes an agal-agal (seaweed) festival and a fluvial parade.

“There will also be an agriculture and trade fair for investors and entrepreneurs who are interested in discovering new investment opportunities in our area,” she adds.