TUMANDOK'05
A showcase of festivals

By Wein P. Gadian

September as declared the international tourism month with a theme: “Travel and transport: From the imaginary of Jules Verne to the reality of the 21st Century”, brought various activities featuring the rich culture of Iloilo.

This year, the Iloilo Provincial Government through the Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office (IPTO) with the Institute of Hotel and Restaurant (HRM) and Tourism of Central Philippine University (CPU), Negros Navigation Co., Inc., Robinson's Place Iloilo, Robinson's Movieworld, and ABS-CBN will be staging ‘Tumandok'05' this September 12-17 at the fountain area of Robinson's Place, Iloilo (RPI).

The event is participated by 15 municipalities in their festivals. The Bantayan of Guimbal, Katagman of Oton, Handuraw of Leon, Lanot of Janiuay, Binanog of Lambunao, Tampisaw of Concepcion, Pintados de Passi of Passi City, Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara, Panaad ni San Vicente Ferrer of Leganes, Saludan of Tigbauan, Tultugan of Maasin, Parayan of Pototan and Tugbung of Pandan in Antique. Also joining are the municipalities of Barotac Nuevo and Barotac Viejo.

‘Tumandok' which means ‘our very own' is a showcase of the festivals of Panay. It aims to promote Panay's popular festivals.

Schedule of the festival are as follows: Sept. 15: 2 PM motorcade around the city, 3:30 PM Formal Opening including the launching of Iloilo MTV featuring the Iloilo jingle. The Iloilo jingle was composed by the SONATA of the University of the Philippines and was interpreted by the CPU's Ma. Asela Labaro.

Highlighting it will be the Tumandok'05 Festival Queen Talent Competition, 5: 30 PM at RPI's Fountain Area. Activities on Sept.16 are techno demos of various indigenous industries such as hablon weaving, raprap bag-making, bobbin lace making and wood sculpting (10-12 AM), live performances of Festival excerpts (2-4:30 PM) and a Fashion show by ‘The House of Karma' featuring our own traditional materials (hablon and etc.), (5 PM). Sept. 17: Awarding and Closing Program (10-12 AM) and the Tumandok'05 Festival Queen Pageant and Coronation at Cinema 6 (5 PM).

The affair is supported by ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, Department of Tourism (DOT), Ilonggo Producers Association, Cybershots, Classique Video, Amigo Terrace Hotel. This is also supported by TV Patrol Iloilo, MOR, Ichi Pichi, Winners Gym, Winners Gym Body Fitness Center and Fiesta.