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Allow me to take a break from the “happy” posts I have been churning out daily about the Kalilangan and give you a News Release from the Philippine National Police Office of General Santos City. This is with regard to an unfortunate blast incident which happened near midnight on February 27, 2008, the culmination day of the Kalilangan Festival , killing a vendor and injuring 5 civilians.

This is to correct the “news” and misinformation floating around that it was a “bomb blast” and that a “suicide bomber” did it. Here is the scanned official report.

Tomorrow, concert queen Pops Fernandez headlines the closing event for the Kalilangan Festival 2008, her DIVALICIOUS CONCERT Provincial Tour at the Lagao Gym.

GenSan is very lucky for it is Pop’s first stop in the provinces after mounting this successful concert at the Araneta Coliseum sometime in December last year.

Together with her are RnB Prince Jay-R who was just here last weekend, Geneva Cruz, Streetboys’ Danilo Barrios and Jimmy Marquez, former Star in a Million runner-up.

As far as I can remember, it has been a long time since a concept concert of this magnitude has been staged in the Tuna Capital and for sure, judging from its recent airing at ABS-CBN, the generals are in for a real treat.

With ticket prices pegged at P2,000, P1,500, P1,000, P600, P400, P200 and P150, people will have a lot of choices to consider. I just hope my townmates go all out for this event to show to the world once and for all that we are ready for concerts like these. I for one, am going with my whole family. HOpe to see you all there too!

Will be posting pictures of her concert here soon. Promise.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. So for this post, am presenting these shots taken at the oval plaza where 9 barangays (villages) performed their focal presentations to vie for the grand prize of P100,000 at the Kadsagayan Street Dancing Competition, the culminating activity of the Kalilangan Festival 2008.

Today is the V-DAY for Gensan being the 69th Foundation Day of the city and the culmination of the over-a-week long Kalilangan Festival.

Too bad I wasn’t able to catch the “SALUBONG” reenactment at the junction of Pioneer and Magsaysay Avenues because it was held at 5:30am, way too early for me. Anyway, will ask for pics from my brother Orman’s camera and will post his shots later.

As of now, allow me as I indulge you with the happenings of my city’s 69th Foundation day, the day when settlers who registered and applied for homesteads with the NLSA (National Land Settlement Authority) under then Administrator Gen. Paulino Santos through the directive of Pres. Manuel Luis Quezon, arrived on the shores of what was then known as Dadiangas in February 27, 1939.

This is the first in a series of posts of what is also the culmination day of the 11-day long KALILANGAN FESTIVAL….

Below is the deserted Pioneer Avenue which was closed for traffic early this morning for the “SALUBONG” reenactment when Christian settlers led by Gen. Santos were met by the original inhabitants comprised of lumads, muslims and the first wave of immigrants – the Acharons, the Natividads, the Olartes and the Lozanos, among others.

Ritual dancers from the b’laan tribe perform after the “Salubong” at the Carlos P. Garcia Park.

Folk dancers sway to the Kalilangan beat on the background unmindful of the early morning sun.

Young b’laan dancers perform their dance while waiting for the mass to begin.

Sydney Hotel at the corner of Pioneer and Pendatun Avenue looms large in the background as Mayor Acharon gives his speech in front of the city’s movers and shakers at the shrine of Gen. Paulino Santos, Sr. at the Carlos P. Garcia Park.

Above pictures – is the view of the ongoing celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Carlos P. Garcia Park taken from the 6th floor of the Sydney Hotel and that of Mt. Matutum in the horizon.

The symbolic release of doves & balloons at the Carlos P. Garcia Park to signal the opening of the celebrations for the 69th Foundation Day of the city elicited cheers, shouts and jubilant reactions from these representatives of the various sectors of the Tuna Capital.

Tonight which is the eve of the culmination of Gen. Santos City’s Kalilangan Festival is one busy night again for the “generals” (as people here call themselves).

Aside from the presentations at the oval plaza, there’s another street party at the parking lot of East Asia Royale Hotel and this time, it’s a FOAM PARTY!

Based on this event’s poster, it’s going to be one wet and wild disco affair organized by the same company, Perfecom which brought the sexy all-Pinay sing-and-dance group Mocha to the Tuna Capital last year.

This time, music will be provided by 8 Miles Band of Davao together with DJ Super Mario, resident dj of Auto Dance Bar of Cebu City and local DJ’s Ice and Moko.

Although I don’t see myself paying P80 to get wet and cold at night in a parking lot, I might just be there to see what the fuss is all about. And while at it, a bottle of chilled San Mig light on my hand could be just a perfect partner.

After a show-stopping opening number interrupted momentarily by rain, the Pageant Night for the Search for the Lakandula & Lakambini 2008 (the real deal this time) went on without a hitch last night (Feb 23) at the Oval Plaza Stage.

Eight lovely ladies (the prettiest batch i’ve seen) and eight young hunks showed their stuff to prove that they have what it takes to bring home the Kalilangan Festival’s most prestigious beauty and talents search titles.

In the end, the judges which were composed of First Lady Dr. Rose Acharon, commercial model Ariel Atendido (brother of Councilor Richard), international make-up artist & TV celebrity Ms. Ivory Malagena, Assistant City Administrator (and kabarkada) Glennville Gonzales, Bro. Yourli Estrellan, GSC Chamber Exec Director Pilar Afuang (who stays with us) among others, chose multi-awardee and heavily-favored Ms. Jehan Untao, a Maranao nursing student at GS Doctor’s  Medical School Foundation, Inc. and Mr. Gilton Samilin, a practical nursing enrollee of Holy Trinity College as Lakambini & Lakandula respectively, besting their opponents from bigger schools MSU and NDDU.

Other winners were 1st runners-up Mr. & Ms. Joey Butulan & Eden Torrecampo and 2nd runners-up Mr. & Ms. Dino Lapiz & Christine Rabanos.

The affair finished around midnight which did not give me a chance to watch either the Aiza Seguerra Concert at the Lagao Gymm or the HALE Streetparty at East Asia Royale Hotel where sexy girl-group Mocha & performed last year and the Browman Revival the previous day. Instead, to cap the night, I had noodle soup with my brother & event manager Orman’s staff at the Kalilangan Coffee Shop of East Asia where we stayed until my eyes could barely open themselves and my mind was flying elsewhere.

By the way, earlier that night, someone pointed out to me the reigning Binibining Masayahin 2008 (Ms. Gay 2008) among the people at the backstage. Sans make-up & wearing only a casual get-up, she was, I guess, still pretty and carried it like the beauty title holder that she is.

While I am writing this, an ongoing seminar on Dance Sports is happening at the GenSan City Hall lobby organized by the Dance Sports Council of Socsksargen. The city has already produced a good number of champions since this sports was introduced many years back and judging from the appearance of so many interested boys and girls when at the seminar, there is no stopping its winning streak.

This undertaking which is billed as the Dance Sports Seminar and Workshop at their handout will end at 5:00pm today.

City Mayor’s Office’s Gaygay Llido, whose mother Tita Virgie Tiongson-Llido, is one of the pillars of dance sports in the region, emailed me the poster featured here.

This one topbills their big event at the Gaisano Mall Atrium at 2:00PM tomorrow Sunday, which is the 10th Kalilangan and 7th Mindanao-Wide Open Dance Sports. That should be a treat for the shoppers of GenSan’s oldest mall. Have to be there!

The Search for Kalilangan’s Bb. Masayahin (Ms. Gay) 2008 Beauty Pageant last night was an eye-opener for a lot of people.

14 young gays paraded at the Oval Stage in their fantasy costumes, swim wear and long gowns looking every inch like the real deal! It was hard deciding at first on the winners (I was a judge) but as any beauty competition goes, things can only get easier when the question-and-answer portion starts.

Here is a photo I took of the top 3 winners, with James Roble Dime, the Bb. Masayahin 2008 (Ms. Gay 2008) who is a law student at the Mindanao State University-GenSan and the wittiest of them all, being flanked on both sides by the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up winners.

The United Architects of the Philippines- Socsksargen Chapter opened yesterday (Feb 22) the 1st Socsksargen CONBEX (Construction & Building Exhibit) at the atrium of the KCC Mall of Gensan as part of its commitment to join the the 2008 Kalilangan Festival.

Running until the 24th (Sunday), the exhibit (according to its flyer) “aims to update professionals and stakeholders of the contruction industry on information on the latest trends in technologies, services, materials, products, buildings system and solutions for the entire construction industry”. (whew!)

I must say however the products & services featured really offer valuable info for people who are planning to build or renovate their homes. Even Mayor Jun Acharon who inaugurated the event was impressed. Well, the people of Gensan only has the UAP to thank for especially its president, Architect Marissa Ober. As for myself and my friends from the CPIO, we are grateful to Architect Cecille Dinopol-Dellosa for the free lunch afterwards.

Good work guys!

My friend Dodie Ladera, Station Manager of K101-FM informed me today that their Search for Ms. Silka 2008 Beauty Pageant at KCC Mall yesterday afternoon was a success.

Silka is the name of a brand of whitening soap and lotion. Hundreds of people crammed inside the air-conditioned Convention Center of the mall for the event. Making it doubly special is the guest appearance of Silka endorser, sexy Pinay actress Iya Villania.

Since I still don’t have pictures of the event, am posting their poster instead which DJ Kabayan Joe emailed to me. Congrats guys!

See you on the 27th for your Bugno sa mga Rockista.