Arts and Culture
 
.........................................Kalilangan Festival
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.Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

In a broader perspective, Kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration. Kalilangan means festival, festivity or jubilee.
It is a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities   among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones. It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other forms of social, political and economic activities.

It is not just an economic activity, but a continuous season of merriment, gaiety and merrymaking accentuated by sharing of gifts, traditional sports competition, dancing, singing and instrumental rendition and other forms of exhibition games, entertainment and amusement.

Kalilangan is a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation.

General Santos is a part of this tradition. Let us enshrine the "Kalilangan sa Heneral Santos" in the golden pages of its history.
City's Way of Celebrating Kalilangan Festival and It's Brief History
.Philippines is known worldwide, because it has the gifted nature and then continuously and wisely used as the primary source of living, which raised the incomes of farmers and the agricultural rate of the country, and as of these days Philippines' adoption in technology is highly noticeable, new cellular phones, gadgets, infrastructures, and other products of new technology are quickly acquired but it is also natural among the Filipinos to apply their creative ideas to the real life. And one of their ways is using the practice in farms, tribes' rituals, and ceremonies to a regular celebration of those activities yearly, to retrospect the type and way and art of living of the early Filipinos.
.Davao,Cebu City, Ilo-ilo city is known for their festivals,Kadayawan, Sinulog, Dinagyang which then followed by our city the General Santos City to also have our own foundation day. The name of the festival was the product of year 1938's contest city-wide contest and search for the best festival name that would represent General Santos City in any ways. Kalilangan festival was one of more than five entries and which was the winning entry of Bai Hanina Tito. Bai Hanina Tito the founder of the festival's name and the festival itself was then acknowledged very well for which the title still exists up to this day. Kalilangan Festival was first celebrated on February 27, 1938, which was ended into a very successful presentation of cultural minorities of their traditions, ceremonies, rituals and their cultural identities.
Kalilangan festival brings life to the city, as the City mayor is inviting the cultural minorities every year to show the people in the General Santos City how beautiful is their beliefs are and how they appreciate life in the way they live without any use of the modern technologies to make their living easier. General Santos City celebrates Kalilangan Festival which is lead by the City Department of Tourism first by asking the cultural minorities to be with the generals through the whole duration of the activity, then there are also programs such that it promotes the way of living by the early occupants of the city, like folk dance contest, street dancing contests, painting contests, dancing and singing contests, quiz bee, nipa-hut making, contest for useful things out of indigenous material and many more.
The celebration of Kalilangan Festival is very noteworthy, because it just does not give life and refreshes every minds of the people in General Santos City but it also invites more tourist to come in its very natural way of persuading. The beauty of General Santos City is also being promoted and which adds pride not only for the city but also the country itself and develops the creative and artistic minds of each youth, and the future children of our own. Kalilangan festival is also important because such cultural minorities' rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs is necessary to be preserved because it was also been a part of the past of General Santos City and the Philippines that we could be proud of.
HIGHLIGHTS IN KALILANGAN FESTIVAL
KADSAGAYAN

A Lalan street dancing and showdown competition, a once in a year activity that's the highlight of South Cotabato's foundation anniversary. The dancing competition forms part of the T'nalak Festival, and one of the major highlights in Kalilangan Festival in General Santos City.It showcases the unique and colourful traditions of the T'boli tribe of South Cotabato. Kadsayagan is a street dance competition starting from the historical Lion's Beach to the Oval Plaza General Santos City where the final showdown is held.
THE KULINTANGAN

Kulintangan is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums. In Philippines, it represents the tradition of Maranao and Maguindanao and it is sometimes called as Kulintangan. In kalilangan, it serves as the rebirth of some Muslim traditions.

THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving shows the gratitude of Generals for a success of the festival and at the same time along the festival, shows gratitude through dancing for which the main thought is for the harvest day.
GENSAN ECO KARERA
Eco karera is done during Tuna Festival and Kalilangan festival, it is a General Santos City Amazing race-like karera. Healthy participants are required in the karera since that they will be travelling almost a hundred kilometers.
FIREWORKS
The most awaited part in the festival, fireworks display is done before and after the period of Kalilangan Festival, where people in the city proceeds to the Oval plaza to witness the grand fireworks display.