AS THE Municipality of Manay in Davao Oriental celebrated its 127th Founding Anniversary, the town focused its celebration on how they developed through time while conserving and preserving the Mandaya culture.
This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme: "Commemorate the Past, Magnify the Present, Adopt and Create the Duture (Pagugol'l ng Kaguguna, Pagguma' ng adon, Pagdumdum ng Kisol'lom).”
With its month-long activities from the sports activities to the showcase of the talents of the Manayans, the Local Government Unit of Manay headed by Mayor Jon Marco M. Dayanghirang continued its efforts for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the municipality.
The festivity also went to its grassroots level - the 17 Barangays, as they participated in the yearly Agri-Cultural Tourism Fair which highlights the abundance of the town’s agriculture, culture and history, and the tourism offerings. Its marine counterpart, Bancarera, also features the four coastal barangays and their respective fisherfolks. “Bao-bao” and motorcycles have been put into limelight as this year’s Bao-Bao Race and Pantra was held.
Digging into the tradition of Copra making, the CocoBuBiLuSa has also been highlighted featuring 17 of the copra makers of the municipality as they battle out to be the quickest to do the “Buak, Bitas, Lugit, and Sacking”. Manayan talents were also featured by the Fuzion 75.0, Pinta Tema, and Folk Dance Competition. Moreover, the “Kuya JM Job Fair and Negosyo Serbisyo sa Municipyo Caravan” made various agencies present and have given their respective services to the Manayans as well as job seekers to apply for jobs available.
“Mautak Ako Showdown”, a quiz bowl which highlights the municipality’s history, came back on its 4th edition after the pandemic. Kasalan ng Bayan is significant to the 75 pairs of partners living together for a long time to be legally binded through the Kasalan activity. Gwapang Manayan also features the Volunteer Women of Manay for a clean-up to areas frequently visited by tourists. The month-long “Kuya JM Night Market 2024” was also a crowd favorite. The Senior Citizen and the PWDs were also given priority as this years’ celebration also included the Medical Mission for Senior Citizen and PWDs. Bloodletting has also been highlighted for health-related activities.
Davao Oriental Representative Nelson Dayanghirang Sr. and Vice-Governor Nelson Dayanghirang Jr. 's Night was also one of the highlights of the celebration capping with the LGU Mass and the State of the Municipality’s Address (SOMA) on the 24th of October. The celebration of the feast of St. Francis Xavier Parish had been attended by various people from the different parts of the region.
Indeed, the celebration of the 127th Araw ng Manay and Parochial Fiesta of St. Francis Xavier was a look back to the distant past and looking forward to the bright future while grounded to the cultural heritage of the municipality and its people. PR