Matalam beats 5 on kalivungan street-dancing comp 2013

Proud students of the Matalam National High School representing LGU Matalam beats five other contingents of the Kalivungan  street-dancing competition 2013 at the North Cotabato provincial grandstand yesterday morning.

Matalam’s Grupong Mascuvado champs Kalivungan’s Street-dancing competition 2013 at the North Cotabato Provincial Grandstand on Sept. 1, 2013

Around 25,000 people comprising parents and relatives of the participants, barangay, municipal, city, and provincial officials of North Cotabato, and guests and visitors from other provinces flocked together to witness the major event of the long-week festivity.

Six delegates battled for the most awaited event of North Cotabato’s 99^th Founding Anniversary hailed Kalivungan Festival 2013: the municipalities of Pigcawayan, Kabacan, Matalam, Makilala, Carmen, and the lone city of Kidapawan.

Matalam bagged Php150, 000.00 cash and a trophy for the grandprize. Carmen received PhP100,000.00 cash and a trophy for the 2^nd prize. While Kabacan gets PhP75,000.00 cash and a trophy for the 3^rd prize.

All six delegates each received a plaque of recognition and a subsidy worth PhP20,000.00.

Of the three top placers, Matalam depicts “grupong mascuvado”. Mascuvado is a spanish term for the sweetest sugar generated out of sugarcane, the major product of their town.

Carmen ensembles “Grupong Pulangi” and Kabacan represented the “Grupong Kabaceños”.

In the middle part of the competition, 3^rd District Board Member Ivy Dalumpines delightedly introduced Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada as the guest of honor.

Senator JV Estrada expressed his appreciation to the warm welcome of the people of North Cotabato especially to Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza for the successful conduct of the occasion.

He took the opportunity to thank the people of Cotabato for supporting him during the May 2013 election, making him ranked 3^rd in the province beyond other senators.

“Because you have endowed and greatly contributed on my victory, I will make sure that your province will benefit my legislations, this will serve as your incentive in return for choosing me as one of your policy-maker,” he said.

“We will work hand in hand in uplifting the economic stability of your province,” in his final message.

Meanwhile, Governor Taliño-Mendoza announced that the upcoming Centennial celebration of the Kalivungan Festival or the 100^th Founding anniversary next year will be a grandiose and pompous one.
She said the Provincial Government of Cotabato is looking forward into making the events bigger, more enjoyable, and entertaining.

Given this, she also made known that the same day is the launching of the 100^th Founding Anniversary of North Cotabato.

After the launching, the Provincial officials proceed at the ground breaking and capsule-laying of the Centennial Pavilion and Centennial Museum at the capitol grounds.

The Cotabato Hymn entitled “Ok sa Cotabato”, composed and performed by the MAKI-RUDY band was also officially launched.

This year’s champ will compete on the Aliwan Festival at Pasay City while 1^st runner-up will contend for Sinulog Festival in Cebu, both conveying Cotabato Province.