QUEZON, Bukidnon (06:49 PM February 23, 2026) — Hundreds of Manobo tribespeople filled the national highway with music, chants and ritual dances on Monday, February 23, as they celebrated the 17th “Sunggod Teh Kamanga,” an annual cultural festival honoring their indigenous heritage and farming traditions

Wearing traditional attire, participants performed ceremonial dances while playing native instruments such as the kuglong (two-stringed lute), bangkakaw (log drum), kadang-kadang (bamboo stilts) and lebpad (animal-hide drum).

Held from Feb. 22 to 24, the festival has been a source of pride for the Manobo community, one of Bukidnon’s seven indigenous cultural groups living in the mountainous areas between Bukidnon and the Davao region.

Municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Datu Elmer Lilawan said the celebration centers on rituals that show how the tribe prepares for the farming season.

“Sunggod Teh Kamanga,” he explained, means “to prepare the tools for the new farming season,” reflecting the Manobos’ deep connection to agriculture and spirituality.

Among the key rites is the Panalabugta, where a chicken is sacrificed, and its blood sprinkled on farm tools to seek protection and blessings for a bountiful harvest.

Other rituals include the Wakis or unveiling ceremony, Panampulot, where food is shared and offered to Magbabaya (the Almighty), Laga Daw Malaki Ta, Kikiyab Tingkik, and the Kasabekaan ne Sayew, a tribal mass dance symbolizing unity and thanksgiving.

Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III said the festival is also aimed at reminding the youth to stay rooted in their culture while pursuing education and modern opportunities.

He urged elders to encourage and support young Manobos to attend school and in protecting their ancestral lands.

Local officials said the annual event likewise seeks to preserve traditions while strengthening cultural pride and solidarity within the community. (Mel N. Velez – @inquirerdotnet)