Bukidnon festival highlights calls for peace

MALAYBALAY, Philippines — A sense of unity has prevailed among people of different cultures in the hinterlands of Mindanao with the staging of the Piniliyapan, a flagship event of Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival 2026.

Held at the Kaamulan Theater in this city yesterday, the event was more than a cultural show as it resonated calls for world peace amid current global uncertainties.

The Piniliyapan, a convergence of seven major tribes, depicted ancestral life through synchronized tribal dances, indigenous music and storytelling. These tribes are the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon.

Each performance served as a living narrative of harmony, resilience and co-existence of values deeply rooted in Lumad traditions.

Northern Mindanao tourism chief Marie Elaine Unchuan said the Piniliyapan is more than just a performance.

“It is a powerful expression of unity among diverse cultures through dance, music and ritual. The tribes of Bukidnon remind the world that peace begins with understanding and respect for identity,” Unchuan said.

As conflicts and divisions challenge nations across the world, the stage at Kaamulan Theater became a symbol of hope where differences are not barriers, but bridges toward harmony.

Bukidnon Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque brought the tribes together in the event acknowledged as instrumental in preserving the province’s heritage.

Lumad communities thanked Roque for fostering inclusivity and cultural pride.