INAUL FESTIVAL. Datu Paul Ampatuan, director of Inaul festival says the new festival will highlight the hand-woven textile made by Maguindanao women. The festival will also showcase the regions’ food and culture on the festival this coming Feb. 9-14, 2017. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Inaul, a handwoven textile by Maguindanao women will be the highlight of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s first “Inaul” Festival come Feb 9-14, a tourism official said Monday.
Ayesha Mangundadato – Dilangalen, Department of Tourism secretary of ARMM, said that the demand of inaul has increased after it was showcased during the Mindanao Tapestry Show in this city.
The inaul, together with other Mindanao-weaved fabrics, were showcased as a gown, during the Mindanao Tapestry Show worn by the candidates of the Miss Universe.
“Half-million (of pesos) was sold. During the event, 120 pieces of malong were sold,” she said.
Inaul, a Maguindanaon taerm for weaved, is a hand-woven textile, is mostly used as malong. It is considered as a “Bara-Barangsa” which means something relative to royalty, dignity, and mobility.
The DOT secretary said that Inaul fabrics will also be showcased in a roadshow to be held in China on April. The fabric’s global demand, according to her, will give honor to the fabric of Maguindanao and its weavers.
Local delicacies
Apart from the local textile, the Inaul festival will also showcase different foods in Maguindanao.
Datu Paul Ampatuan, director of Inaul festival, said there will be a part of the celebration where different delicacies will be served.
“We will also showcase different foods from Mindanao,” Ampatuan said.
The food fest, which is dubbed as “Alogan sa Mindanao” will demonstrate how Maguindanaons cook goat.
“The festival of food will be on goats, we will show how Maguindanao cook goat,” he said.
In addition, Ampatuan said the festival will also show “unity” between three groups residing in the region; the Muslim, Indigenous People, and the Christian. (davaotoday.com)
