DOT-12 launches Tau SOXand Festival of first peoples in SOCCSKSARGEN

KORONADAL CITY
– Regional Director Nelly Dillera of the Department of Tourism (DOT-12) is
urging local and foreign tourists to become part of Tau SOXand Festival of First
Peoples starting Wednesday in the SOCCSKSARGEN region.

Dillera said Tau
SOX simply means People of SOX... Tau was lifted from the Nusantau (Tau)
Hypothesis that states that there had been Tau or people traveling to the Nus
or south even in the pre-historic times.

The Nusantau Hypothesis
says that Nus is an Austronesian root word which means south and tao or tau
refers to people, hence people of the south.

The 6-day event
is in recognition of the Indigenous Peoples’ cultural heritage to the tourism
industry in Region 12, Dillera said, adding it is also in celebration of IP
Month.

She said it
will feature SOX rich cultures tourists can study, learn and see. The region,
being the home of indigenous tribes, enables to become a community of people
that connects to the spirits of the earth. Deeply rooted in their ways of
living are unique practices that include dances patterned after animal
movements, wearing accessories that echo the sound of nature and weave the
sacred cloth guided by dreams and nature figures.

Dillera said cultural
tourism is the number one tourism asset of SOX (short for SOCCSKSARGEN). SOCCSKSARGEN stands for South Cotabato, (North)
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the cities therein.

See and learn
more about our rich culture, Dillera urged the public during a news conference
over the weekend.

This authentic
culture, Dillera said, include that of the Tbolis, Maguindanaons, Blaans,
Tidurays and Manobos is very much alive in the different provinces of Region 12
and it is but proper to acknowledge and pay them respects.

Carlo Ebeo,
former official of the National Commission for the Culture and Arts, said
tracing history SOX can confirm that the first people of the Philippines may
have settled in the region with the discovery of Maitum Jars and Kulaman
Jars alongside the discovery of human remains and burial jars in Tabon Cave in
Palawan.

sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14705867_10155320326564838_3203317969223951075_n.jpg?oh=9496d54f5243be627dd47db21fcc1dd5andampoe=58ACC4BE (Photos courtesy of Tourism Director Nelly Dillera) The term
first people refer to people whose practices, whether artistic or ritualistic
confirms the presence of a cultural identifier which in anthropology connotes
certain function and purpose, Ebeo said.

Overtime, he
said, the first peoples produced an admixture of Filipinos who are now referred
to as Tboli, Blaan, Maguindanaon (Tabunaway and Mamalu), Manobo, Tagakailo,
just to name a few.

Dillera said
the celebration, the first in the region, will have various components that will
attempt to rediscover and understand the aesthetic and anthropologic practices
of the first people of SOX.

Primarily, the
festival aims to generate awareness and deeper understanding and appreciation
of the cultural heritage of the first peoples’ lineage promote and generate
income through tour packages to establish cultural villages of IP groups,
launch new cultural sites and underscore cultural tourism’s role in the region’s
tourism industry.

Its components
include exhibit of traditional houses with featured living artist, ancient
traditions and performances, traditional food exhibition and cook fest, traditional
sports and games, forum which topics will focus on the identified activities
and selling of cultural village tour packages.

Dillera said
traditional houses exhibit will formally open for public viewing on October 27
and would last until October 31 at Veranza, Gen. Santos City. It shall include Blaan’s
Gumne with a living Tabih weaver, Tboli Gono with living embroidery
designer, Maguidnanao Togan/Laminan with living brasscaster, Teduray house
with living mat weaver and Manobo house with living musician.

Dillera said
in these traditional houses are to feature heritage identifiers like Maitum
jars, Kulaman (now Sen. Ninoy Aquino town in Sultan Kudarat) secondary burial
jars, Mabal Tabih, Lang Dulay collections, antiquated brasswares, century old
inaul, a variety of musical instruments and ornaments. sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14633034_10155320327144838_4223708887690990997_n.jpg?oh=88c6ec9e6d6931afdc5dc7e682b1aa6fandampoe=58A48B7E

sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14729230_10155320327044838_1466634464301607881_n.jpg?oh=e55b90f8518371fe28b4dfe425dfad49andampoe=58A1FE99 A guide will
help visitors understand the exhibits, including how to do simple cultural
items, dance steps or use event musical instruments.

Traditional
food exhibition and performances will commenced at the old Cotabato City hall
while in Koronadal City, traditional food exhibition and cook fest launching is
at the city hall lobby. It will feature ritual and ceremonial food through demonstration
and tasting. A motorcade will kick off the event in Koronadal City.

In Tacurong
City, traditional sports athlete will gather on October 28 for the traditional
sports and games like Kasipa sa Mangiggis, Gambi, Sbu, Kemisong, Samfut,
Sasefak Takraw, among others.

The Tau
SOX-Festival of the First Peoples is in partnership with DOT, Region 12 local
government units, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives, NCCA and
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (IPMR).The festival is also in partnership with UpiLGU, DOT ARMM Secretary Ayesha Mangudadatu Dilangalen and DOT-Maguindanao director Bai Racquel Pendatun Magalona. sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14650164_10155320326414838_2370038981147194190_n.jpg?oh=4e00af194d373ed56173688f9e8d17caandampoe=589AA5F5 sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14671288_10155320325994838_7000636705080192217_n.jpg?oh=38fa948f03602abf31be60a0188958e8andampoe=588EE95A sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14666264_10155320326209838_374411728079621175_n.jpg?oh=438663079cce1f78c29c217755906bc1andampoe=58A16F4F