SAKNUNGAN FESTIVAL – the spirit of cooperation and unity at work

SAKNUNGAN FESTIVAL
The Festival

Incorporating the exhibition of the cultural heritage of Mindoro’s ethnic communities is the Saknungan Festival, held every fourth week of April in San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. The festival commences with the annual celebration of the blessings of the province.

Saknungan, a Mangyan word is literally meant bayanihan, the spirit of cooperation and unity at work, which is practiced by the people of Mindoro in their everyday activities, especially during the planting and harvesting season of the palay, the major agricultural product of Occidental Mindoro.

Other agricultural product of Mindoro include coconut, corn, tobacco, garlic, mango, banana, and peanut as well as logging, cattle and poultry raising, and fishing. The elusive tamaraws which cannot be found elsewhere but in the highlands of Mindoro, which makes Mindoro unique.

Highlights of this three-day festivity is the street dance and a parade. Instored activities include agro-industrial and techno trade fair, drum and bugle parade and contest, bikathon, Juego de Anillo, cultural dance competition, palo sebo, hulihan ng baboy, cultural presentation, and the awards and fellowship night.

The Scoop

The Famous Occidental Mindoro

Nicknamed the Marine Wonderland, Occidental Mindoro is abundant in marine beauty, its virgin forests, beautiful beaches of white sand, islands endowed of rich marine life, coral gardens, mysterious caves, and waterfalls.

A visit to Occidental Mindoro is a ticket to an unforgettable experience.

Parola Park is a historic watchtower that the natives used as a sentry over Muslim vintas, located in Lumang Bayan in Sablayan. Erected in 1861, it was equipped with bells in 1896 to give warning to the residents for the coming raids. What is now ruins, was a church which was built in the spot that lasted for ten years. A cannon which the natives’ defense stands at the promontory.

Apo Reef National Park is one of the dive sites most divers of Occidental Mindoro visit mostly. The reef has a narrow channel that divides two lagoon systems. Visible underneath are the clean waters, fine white sand, and numerous corals.

Apo Reef Marine Park includes fascinating islands of bird-populated Binangaan and Caios del Bajo, which gives birdwatchers an irresistable view of variety of wild birds. Abundant marine fauna and luxuriant coral grows in the sorrounding waters, approximately 400-500 kaleidescopic coral species. Varieties of sharks, stingrays, and mantarays swimming in the waters are common sights, which reach to about 500 species.

The Tamaraws and Mt. Iglit are found in San Jose. Mt. Iglit is one of Mindoro’s reservation areas, which serve as a game sanctuary for tamaraws, which are found nowhere in the world but only in Mindoro. The tamaraw resembles closely to a Philippine water buffalo, only it is smaller and shorter horns that grow straight upwards forming a V shape compared to the water buffalo of curving wide open.

Beaches and Natural Springs are Mamburao and close towns boast. Mamburao proudly offers its elongated strip of beach with natural and rustic sorroundings. Cozy cottages of Mamburao Beach Resort invites occupants for a luxurious relaxation. Residents frequent Tayamaan beaches. Resorts also available at Paluan for tourists. Calawagan Resort attracts tourists with its natural spring. In the small islands of Sablayan are where coral reefs are found. Along the coastline and islands of San Jose are the beaches which are popular tourists spots.

Ambulong Island is a 3,000 hectares of white sand beaches found in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Cliffs along pillars that shoots water and underwater caves are among a few the island boasts. Abundance of coral gardens and tropical fish are noticeable in several coves. Located at the sheltered side of the island is a fisherman’s village.Neighboring dive sites of Ambulong Island are the Iling Point, Baniaga Reef, Ambulong Bank, Dungan Reef, Sardines Reef, Apo Reef, and Manadi Island.

Occidental Mindoro Trekking is one of the magnificent trekking experiences Occidental Mindoro offers. A four-day trek through rainforest is what Mt. Halcon awaits adventurers, much like the rugged terrain south to the Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park, which is inhabited by the endangerd species of wilf buffalos of the Philipines.