iKons:Grand Opening Ceremony

Video courtesy of Allan Jay Resane

More about Kalilangan 2015 in this advocacy website, http://kalilangan2015.weebly.com/

iKons exhibit opens at SM Gensan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (22 February 2015) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and wife Jane Gollon-Rivera are with the management of Kalilangan 2015 organizer Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (RMMC) in unveiling the "iKons" cultural exhibit on February 20 inside SM Gensan. This cultural exhibit features photos, ethnic items and relics that trace the rich history of the city since the arrival of General Paulino Santos. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Kalilangan 2015: Ano ang K Mo?

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (19 February 2015) – General Santos City is all set to celebrate its 76th Foundation Anniversary and its 26th Kalilangan Festival.

The Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (RMMC) is the new partner organizer of the city government after the Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC) has passed the task  to RMMC.

When MSU-GSC held Kalilangan, it made the festival garner the Hall of Fame award in the “Best Festival, Culture and Arts Category” by the Department of Tourism.

Now, the RMMC will launch Kalilangan with the theme “Ano Ang K Mo?” This tagline traces again the cultural roots and historical identity of every “General” or Gensan resident  since and before the arrival of General Paulino Santos here on February 27, 1939.

Aside from the identity of Gensan as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”, the celebration of Kalilangan has always been special as it signifies the founding anniversary of this fast-growing enclave in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

Kalilangan was not yet celebrated in General Santos City until it reached its 50th Founding Anniversary in 1989. Bai Janena Tito, now an executive assistant in the Muslim Affairs Division of the City Mayor’s Office, was the one who named the festival.

Kalilangan is derived from the root word “kalilang” of the Maguindanaon dialect which literally means “festivity”.

Perhaps this is the reason why Kalilangan can rightfully be called as the “festival of festivals” here in Gensan.

The Tuna Festival, Yaman Gensan, and Paskuhan sa Gensan are the other fetes Gensan celebrates annually.

Kalilangan 2015 will be a week-long celebration from February 23 to 27. RMMC has already finalized the list of activities during the festivity.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, with the approval of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, has allocated a P4 million budget for this year’s Kalilangan

At the same time, the administration of RMMC headed by Marthin Anthony Millado also raised a P1 Million fund to make the activities be grander and meaningful.

Here are some of the events that everybody should look forward to this Kalilangan 2015:

IKONS (Grand Opening Day) – February 23, Oval Stage

PARADA NG LAHI (76^th Foundation Anniversary) – February 27, Bantayog Plaza

KADSAGAYAN SA KALILABGAB (Grand Street Dancing Competition) – February 27, Santiago-Roxas Boulevard

KLEHEW DI AMGANGEH (Tribal Day) – February 25, Oval Plaza Grounds

ANG PARANGAL (Honoring the Pioneers and Descendants of the Pioneers) – February 24, Veranza Mall

PAKARAJAN SA GENSAN (Moro Day) – February 26, Oval Plaza Grounds

KARIKTAN (Closing Ceremony) – February 27, Oval Stage

The night market and the carnival will still be lively especially every night to provide recreation for families and friends.

Mayor Rivera said these activities are to ensure that Kalilangan will always be the mirror of the city’s culture and tradition.

“We have Kalilangan because of the past that made us. We owe everything to the history and culture that shaped us,” the mayor said. He invites everyone to join this year’s Kalilangan. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Kalilangan Festival gears up

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 February 2015) - The new organizers of Kalilangan 2015, the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges, and City Mayor Ronnel Rivera unveil Thursday, February 12, a rectangular board printed with the official Kalilangan Festival logo as well as other logos of major activities during the February 23-27 festival.  (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Kalilangan Festival preparations underway

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 February 2015) - A Kalilangan Festival press conference is held at SM Atrium Thursday, February 12, where Dave Arreglado (center), City Mayor's Office executive assistant, City Councilor  Shandee Llido Pestaño (2nd from right), City Councilor Mario Empal (3rd from right) and the management of Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges answer queries regarding the preparations for the upcoming festival. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

LGU-Gensan, new partner gear for Kalilangan 2015

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (14 January 2015) – After being recently crowned as “Hall of Famer” in the Best Festival, Culture and Arts Category of the Department of Tourism, the local government of General Santos City is getting ready for Kalilangan 2015.

One of the major changes that Kalilangan will undergo this year is the transition of the festivity’s organizers—from Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC) to Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (RMMC).

MSU-GSC, which has held Kalilangan for four straight years, has waived its role as one of the lead organizers of the event, citing the institution’s academic pursuits as the main reason.

The management of RMMC, headed by France Chris Millado, bared on Monday (January 12) during the flag ceremony at City Hall that they are happy for the opportunity of hosting Kalilangan 2015.

“We in the RMMC are in gratitude to Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera as well as to the tourism personnel of the city like Councilor Shandee Llido-Pestaño for trusting us Kalilangan this year,” Millado said.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed this January to formalize the partnership of RMMC and LGU-GSC.

“Kultura Ko, Identity Ko” is the theme of Kalilangan 2015 as divulged by the RMMC.

This theme will highlight once again the very inception of the culture of the city and its significance to the current generation.

“We will add new flavors to Kalilangan 2015 while following the regular course of activities,” Martin Millado, one of the organizers, said.

RMMC also promised that they will tap other key institutions in running the festivity “to maximize the potentials of the Generals.”

Academes like the Holy Trinity College and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University are among the institutions.

Kalilangan 2015 will be celebrated for one week starting February 23 up to February 27.

The soft launching is tentatively scheduled on February 9 while the Flea Market will open as early February 2.

Kalilangan 2015 also marks the 76th Foundation Anniversary of General Santos City. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Partners sponsor national reading day in GENSAN

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 July 2013) - Leah Tolimao, Executive Assistant IV and Chief of Staff of the City Mayor’s Office, gives an inspirational message during the National Children’s Book Reading Day Tuesday, July 16, at SM Mall of GENSAN in partnership with SM Mall of GENSAN, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges, Department of Education, National Book Development Board and Vibal Publishing House. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo

GENSAN celebrates National Children's Book Day

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 July 2013) - Students from Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges volunteer to conduct story-telling to schoolchildren of participating elementary schools from all over the city Tuesday, July 16, in celebration of National Children's Book Day. This celebration commemorates the publication of "The Monkey and the Turtle" in the London-based Trubner's Oriental literary record in July of 1889 and is held every third Tuesday of July today. It is the first known published literary work for children by our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo