29th Lami-Lamihan Festival - keeping the culture alive in Basilan

By Rene V. Carbayas

Thursday 12th of July 2012

The 29th Lami-Lamihan Festival in Lamitan City, Basilan showcased once more the uniqueness and vibrancy of the rich culture of its people. Anchored on the theme “Getting Better through the Preservation of Culture despite Obstacles,” this year’s festival celebrates the achievements of Lamiteños through the years.

Lamitan finally became a city on June 18, 2011 after a long legal battle that reached the Supreme Court.

The upgrade from a municipality to a city gave Lamitan the opportunity to boost infrastructure that paved the way to accelerate its economic activity, while engaging people to participate in governance and practice of transparency.

It became a recipient of a Civil Service Award for Good Housekeeping.

Civil Service Assistant Commissioner Atty. Rogelio C. Limare said that after passing the two stages of the validation process, the city government of Lamitan in Basilan obtained a numerical rating of 93.21 with a descriptive rating of excellent in a survey conducted last September 28-30, 2011.

In a ceremony last June 19, City Mayor Roderick H. Furigay received the seal of excellence award and cash reward of P75,000 from Atty. Limare and Director Resurreccion P. Pueyo, witnessed by members of the city council, city hall employees, military, police and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials and other constituents.

The Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence is an award given by the Civil Service Commission for agencies' adherence to the requirements of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, which include the drawing up of a citizen’s charter and the posting of information of their frontline services in billboards at the main entrance and other conspicuous places.

In this year’s 29th Lami-Lamihan Festival, OIC ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman gave tribute to the Furigay family in Lamitan as initiators of the Lami-Lamihan festival, and whose offspring have continued the tradition.

Gov. Hataman underscored, however, that the Yakan culture pave the way for the annual celebration of Lami-Lamihan that inspired the elder Wilfredo C. Furigay to preserve and keep the culture alive through the years.

He encouraged the young to get to know and emulate local Yakan artists recognized for their passion in the preservation of local culture and arts. He specifically gave tribute to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts’ Gawad Manlilikhang Bayan recipient Uwang Ahadas for his contribution in keeping the Yakan traditional music alive in Lamitan and to the world.

Saddened that Yakan artists are not promoted nor even given recognition by most locals, Hataman cited the role of government and good governance as vital to cultural development. He, however, appealed to politicians, “huwag lang gamitin ang kultura at pananamit sa politika (do not just use the Yakan culture, especially the traditional attire for political purposes).”

Sound policies on tourism development and local security are seen as key elements in attracting more investors and tourists in Basilan. However, all these will not be viable without the strong participation of the community and the local government units.
With all the support and help coming in to Lamitan from both the national and regional governments, the colorful and unique Yakan culture as showcased at the annual Lami-Lamihan Festival will be assured of its place in the coming years. (JPA/RVC/PIA9-ZBST)
Sound policies on tourism development and local security are seen as key elements in attracting more investors and tourists in Basilan. However, all these will not be viable without the strong participation of the community and the local government units.

With all the support and help coming in to Lamitan from both the national and regional governments, the colorful and unique Yakan culture as showcased at the annual Lami-Lamihan Festival will be assured of its place in the coming years. (JPA/RVC/PIA9-ZBST)