Circumcission line

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 17, 2009) - Children eagerly await their turn to be circumcised Saturday, May 16, by the "Operation Tuli"(circumcision) team composed of the Municipal Health Office, Batch 86of Notre Dame of Lagao High School, Mrs. Nene Villanueva, Councilor Elsie Ramos, and Mayor Elsie Perrett. This activity was conducted in memory of the late Councilor Edwin N. Ramos whose 2nd death anniversary is remembered. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE/Beth Ramos-PalmaGil)

Talking peace

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 16, 2009) – Mayor Rom Falgui (left) shares his message to the participants of Haggai for Peace Project during their culmination day at barangay Katubao Friday, May 15. Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (center) kicked off the project last year with a series of Culture of Peace and Spiritual Enrichment Training in the villages. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)

Mobile health services

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 16, 2009) – Employees of Kiamba Municipal Health Office render free laboratory services specially for pregnant women in barangay Katubao Friday, May 15, as Mayor Rom Falgui (standing right) looks on. The activity is part of KMHO mobile services. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)

SBB volunteer

MAASIM, Sarangani (May 15, 2009) – A volunteer of Sarangani Big Brother’s “Reading is Fun” program mentors pupils outside the classroom of Hilltop Elementary School in Maasim Thursday, May 14. This year's “Reading is Fun” program is a partnership by the Sangguniang Kabataan federation, Smart Communications and Alcantara Foundation Incorporated. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Alcantara Foundation

MAASIM, Sarangani (May 15, 2009) - Cecile Dominguez (right), executive director of Alcantara Foundation Incorporated, talks to volunteers of Sarangani Big Brother's (SBB) “Reading is Fun" at Mangelen Elementary School during the visitation to all participating schools Thursday, May 14. SBB's “Reading is Fun” program “Season 2” is a partnership by the Sangguniang Kabataan federation, SMART Communications and Alcantara Foundation Incorporated. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Police cordon

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – A cordon by PNP volunteers keeps the crowd in place at the municipal kiosk during the Hero’s Welcome for boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in Kiamba, Sarangani. (CocoySexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Military award

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao gets a new uniform Tuesday, May 12, during his conferment with honorary membership to the Philippine Army 73rd Infantry Battalion by battalion commander Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANIINFORMATION OFFICE)

Hero's welcome

KIAMBA, Sarangani(May 13, 2009) – Mayor Rom Falgui leads a packed crowd at the town plaza during the Hero’s Welcome for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao Tuesday, May 12. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

People's champ

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – People from villages of Kiamba crowd the national highway in barangay Tambilil as they wait for people’s champ Manny Pacquiao during the Hero’s Welcome in Kiamba Tuesday, May 12. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Kiambayani Award

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) - Mayor Rom Falgui confers the Kiambayani Award to boxing champion Manny Pacquiao during a Hero’s Welcome Tuesday, May 12, at the town plaza. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANIINFORMATION OFFICE)

Champ and Vice Gov.

KIAMBA , Sarangani (May 13, 2009) - Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao shares views with Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon during the Hero’s Welcome in Kiamba Tuesday, May 12. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANIINFORMATION OFFICE)

Welcome home Manny

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (May 13, 2009) – Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is welcomed by Kiamba Mayor Rommel Tomas Falgui (right) at General SantosCity Airport Tuesday, May 12, on their way to Kiamba where a Hero’s Welcome awaits. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Tourist destination

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – Tourists mill around the Diorama of Maitum’s archaeological finds Tuesday, May 12. Since the Diorama opened last week, visitors have been pouring in to learn the significance of the 2000-year old Maitum Jars found in Ayub Cave in barangay Pinol. The municipal government of Maitum has received letters from other places requesting for a study tour in Maitum, among them, the Municipality of Pangil, Laguna and Mindanao State University in General Santos City. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE/Beth Ramos-Palma Gil)

Kiambayani dance troupe

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – “Attitude Dancers”, the official entry of the municipality of Kiamba to Sarangani Bay Festival’s “Hataw sa Tag-Araw” contest performs during the Hero’s Welcome for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in Kiamba Tuesday, May 12. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Face to face

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) - Visitors from General Santos City schools Mindanao State University and SPED and other tourists from neighboring municipalities and from Davao troop to the Diorama of Maitum archaeological finds Tuesday, May 12. The 2000-year old secondary burial jars found at Ayub Cave in barangay Pinol are also called “Faces of Maitum”. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE/Beth Ramos-Palma Gil)

Congratulations Manny

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 13, 2009) – Mayor Rom Falgui congratulates boxing champion Manny Pacquiao after the press conference at Sangguniang Bayan session hall during the Hero’s Welcome in Kiamba Tuesday, May 12. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Justice for all

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Atty. Salvador Talamayan (left) of the Public Attorney’s Office gestures a point to Mayor Rom Falgui with Judge Oscar Noel (center) as the Supreme Court’s Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) bus-turned-courtroom rolls in Monday, May 11. Governor Migs Dominguez has all-out support to the EJOW program by providing the bus to speed up the administration of justice. The program aims to provide the less-fortunate access to justice. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/RuelD. Ampatin)

For planting rice

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Antonio Villaplana (with cap),president of Luma-Salakit, Lebe-Tamadang (LUSALETA) Irrigators Association receives one of the three units of drum seeder for planting rice from Mayor Rom Falgui (left) on Monday, May 11. The portable farming machines from Department of Agriculture will help lessen the expenses of farmers. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Ruel D. Ampatin)

Banners up for Pacquiao

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Municipal worker Pedro Saavedra prepares a panji (a Maguindanaon flag) for the Hero’s Welcome of MannyPacquiao who will visit Kiamba on Tuesday, May 12. (KIAMBA NEWSCENTER/Ruel D. Ampatin)

All set for Pacquiao

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Mayor Rom Falgui (left) checks the ground preparations at the Kiamba municipal plaza Monday, May 11, forthe Hero’s Welcome of Manny Pacquiao who will visit Kiamba on Tuesday,May 12. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Ruel D. Ampatin)

Swim across Sarangani Bay

GLAN, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – A swimmer leaps into Sarangani Bay to continue his team’s relay in last year’s swim-across-the-bay. This year, teams from Boracay and Palawan would race against other teams from Davao, South Cotabato, General Santos City and Sarangani who had joined during the past three years. A maximum of 10 teams can join the May 29 swim from Maasim to Glan in celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sarangani Bay 15-km swim challenge excites enthusiasts

GLAN, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Sarangani’s 4th swim-across-the-bay this year has stirred the interest of swimmers even from outside Mindanao to join the historic event in the country.

“It is the first and only 15-kilometer swim challenge crossing the whole stretch of the bay,” organizer Nemrad Butil said.

This year, teams from Boracay and Palawan would race against other teams from Davao, South Cotabato, General Santos City and Sarangani who had joined during the past three years. Organizers said a maximum of 10 teams can join the May 29 swim from Maasim to Glan.

“They are very excited to come and join the contest and also to enjoy our yearly celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival,” Butil said.

Butil met last month in Boracay with events coordinators who expressed their intention to join despite airfare costs.

“They will be spending almost P100,000 for their team from Boracay to Sarangani, but their passion convinced them to come and join decisively,” Butil said. “They are just asking for accommodation which of course we will provide.”

Butil said Boracay and Palawan teams would like to model the Sarangani swim contest mechanics which follows the rules sanctioned by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association.

Radyo Boracay would send a team to cover and broadcast the event live.

The Sarangani swim-across-the-bay is a 15-kilometer swim relay from Kamanga Beach in Maasim town to Reycon Beach in Tango, Glan, crossing the 230-hectare protected seascape of Sarangani Bay.

The swim challenge is one of the highlighted beach sports for the provincial celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival each May.

“This is also an environmental campaign to let the people know that the bay is safe and clean,” Butil said.

Six coastal towns of Sarangani depend much on the bay. Everyday, thousands of community fisher folk set out to the bay and the Celebes for fishing.

A story about a whale shark named “Putol” dwelling in the bay was often told by these fishermen.

According to the story, the whale shark is so named because, many years ago, a fisherman encountered the whale shark and nearly capsized his banca. Out of surprise and anger, the fisherman chopped the whale shark’s fin and drove it away.

At the swim-across-the-bay challenge last year, boat marshal Jessie Esquibel with the swimmers of the Sta. Cruz (Davao) team claimed he saw “Putol” during the race.

Whale sharks are not man eaters. They are territorial mammals by the sea. Until now, some people believe “Putol” still lives in the bay to retaliate.

“He seemed to want to join the race,” Esquibel said.

The Sta. Cruz team won the event last year and bagged the P50,000 prize. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Basketball 101

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 11, 2009) – Holy Trinity College basketball coach Paul Torrejos orients the 70 participants mostly elementary pupils of the 1st Kiamba Basketball Clinic during the opening day, Sunday, May 10. The five-day sports clinic is organized and sponsored by the local government of Kiamba in order to train the youth on the fundamentals of the game. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Nito handicraft demand

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 9, 2009) – Mayor Rommel Falgui (center) gives a briefing Saturday, May 9, to Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Regional Director Asteria Caberte (left) of Region 7 and DTI Provincial Director Nenita Barroso of Sarangani on the abundant raw materials of “nito” in Kiamba. Director Caberte gave a handicraft-business orientation to 30 weavers in Kiamba on the high demand for “nito” handicraft, bringing with her two potential buyers from Cebu. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Medical outreach

MAASIM, Sarangani (May 9, 2009) – Acting Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon greets residents of barangay Kabatiol during the medical outreach Thursday, May 7. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Handog tsinelas

MAASIM,, Sarangani (May 9, 2009) – Grade II pupils from Kabatiol Elementary School get their pair of slippers from Sarangani Provincial Employees Union and 73rd Infantry Battalion during a medical outreach activity Thursday, May 7. 270 pairs of slippers from SPEU and 60 pairs from 73rd Infanrty Battalion were distributed. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Coloring books

MAASIM, Sarangani (May 9, 2009) – Board Member Nicanor Ballan and Lt. Col. Edgardo De Leon, battalion commander of 73rd Infantry Battalion, distribute coloring books and crayons to children of barangay Kabatiol during a medical outreach activity at Kabatiol Elementary School Thursday, May 7. A thousand patients from barangays Pananag, Kabatiol, Lumatil and Daliao availed of the medical services. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Civic action

MAASIM, Sarangani (May 9, 2009) – A member of the civic action team of the US Army distributes coloring books and crayons to children of barangay Kabatiol during a medical outreach activity Thursday, May 7. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Barangay Bagsakan

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 07, 2009) – Treasurer Minerva Santillana of Tambilil Women’s Association checks the goods of the newly-opened Barangay Bagsakan at Tambilil on Wednesday, May 6. The Department Agriculture provided a total of amount of P120,000 for the renovation of the facility and capital of the Barangay Bagsakan. The regional offices of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Food Authority, National Meat Inspection Service and National Nutrition Council are partners of the bagsakan project. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

1st Barangay Bagsakan in Kiamba

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 08, 2009) – Vice Mayor Elmer de Peralta (holding the ribbon) and Bai Dido Samama (2nd from right) of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service of Department of Agriculture(DA) Regional Office 12 lead the inauguration of the 1st Bagsakan ng Barangay Project in Kiamba Wednesday, May 6. It is part of the DA Hunger Mitigation Program that provides one facility where farmers could bring their produce and sell them on a retail or wholesale basis. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Allan C. de Lima)

Missing head

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 8, 2009) – This burial jar cover, a head with red hematite and black (possibly manganese paint), was photographed in 1996 outside Ayub Cave and was never seen again. (Jun Ramos/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

A treasure of potteries shaped like humans

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 8, 2009) – Long after the National Museum excavated a cave in barangay Pinol, the archaeological discovery was never heard among locals and no media report came out about it. In 1996, Sarangani information officer Serafin Ramos Jr. got a tip from a friend in the Moro National Liberation Front. This is his story released in October 1996.

The peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) may not bring immediate peace to Mindanao but it brings hope that further studies on anthropomorphic potteries associated with the Metal Age in the Philippines (circa 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.) can now be made where they were found in Ayub Cave, barangay Pinol in Maitum, Sarangani.

Villagers found the cave in 1991 while searching for birds’ nest, a delicacy. (It is said that birds gather seaweeds for their nest in the coastal village, using their saliva to clump the weeds).

Instead, they unearthed a national treasure--hundreds of pottery, many of them designed and shaped like humans, some with heads and breasts.

“No one dared touch them because they were afraid,” said Hadji Ayub Mindog, who owns the land where the cave is. Mindog has been MNLF vice chair for military affairs in the area since 1972. The village has been under MNLF control since.

Ayub recalls that among the other things found inside the cave was an earthenware table; on top of which were arrows pointing at various directions. The table and most of the potteries were destroyed or buried during an earthquake, he says.

The cave is a stone’s throw from the village proper, near a mosque. One has to pass through thick shrubbery and climb about two meters on an 80-degree slope to reach it.

The mouth of the cave, where shards of pottery are still scattered, is two meters high and three meters wide.
Its insides are now flooded. Villagers say it is difficult to pump out the water.

Ayub recalls that when the potteries were removed, human bones and skulls were also discovered.
“We retrieved so many skeletal remains, I think about three sacks,” he said. Some were brought to Manila while the others were buried elsewhere outside the cave.

Villagers claim the skulls and bones were smaller than today’s humans.

Dr. Eusebio Dizon, museum curator 1 of the Archaeology Division of the National Museum, said a paper presented at the 14th National Conference on Local and National History in 1993 that the Ayub Artifacts were “made of earthenware potteries designed and formed like human figures with complete facial expressions.”

The potteries “were used as covers for secondary and/or multiple burial jars and can be associated to the Metal Age in the Philippines, circa 500BC to AD 500,” Dizon said. “These artifacts may have been our material evidence of the backbone of the Maguindanao prehistory and of the course, the Filipino people in general.”

Dizon reported having seen at the site at least 25 pieces of restorable anthropomorphic potteries in the collection of the villagers.

“What is important to realize is the significance of these fine cultural materials which are a product of human behavior, and forming a tradition in their own right that can be compared to the rest of other burial practices in the world,” he said.

“The depiction of human faces and figures in earthenware medium itself has been a great tradition by the people who produced these artifacts for their generations, and for us to discover. This is a wealth of culture traditions which has been lost through the years, perhaps hundreds or millennia of centuries ago.”

Dizon could not say whether the people who utilized these anthropomorphic urn burial practices are related to any of the remaining populace in the area.

“In order to validate population genetic continuity between the prehistoric people and the present generation, a DNA test should be conducted on the skeletal remains and the result of which can be compared with samples taken from the present population in the area,” he said.

“What is certain though, is that these noteworthy cultural remains were discovered and archeologically excavated in the Maguindanao area. The Filipino people must work hard in order to reconstruct their origins as a people whose basis lies in their archaeological past,” Dizon said.

One villager showed in his collection of three pots. Another brought out a sack and showed his, shaped like a human head.

“That must have been how the ancient people looked like,” Ayub said. He still has two pots and one head-form at home. Archaeologists from the National Museum had convinced him to bring the items to Manila for reconstruction. He claims to have brought over 300 artifacts.

Today, he wants the items back, claiming that the National Museum promised to return them after reconstruction. “Until now, I have not received a letter from the Museum,” he said.

Ayub plans to display the artifacts in the proposed provincial museum or return them to the cave, “So it will be a tourist spot in Sarangani.”

National treasures, however, must be preserved and studied to better understand our glorious past.

The cave, guarded in the past by the MNLF, must continue to be secured against thieves.

Maybe this time, a joint team on MNLF and government troopers can stand guard by the cave while archeologists work undisturbed. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Mutya ng Maitum

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Sheila Mae Marquez (middle), the Mutya ng Maitum 2009 poses with 1st Runner-up Gielynn Dave Cloma (left) and 2nd Runner-up Leny Jay Napila (right), who won over 10 other Maitum beauties at the search for Mutya ng Maitum Wednesday, May 6, as the town celebrates its Golden Anniversary and Binuyugan Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Maitum beauties

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Winners of the search for Mutya ng Maitum 2009 pose for a shot after the pageant Wednesday, May 6, at the municipal gym in celebration of the town’s Golden Anniversary and Binuyugan Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tribu Kasilak

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Tribu Kasilak street dancers pose in front of the municipal hall during the parade as the town culminates its 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival Thursday, May 7. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tribu Basakanon

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Tribu Basakanon from Mabay performs at the parade as the town celebrates its culmination program Thursday, May 7, of its 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Street dancers

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Street dancers from barangay Malalag perform at the parade during the culmination of the town’s 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival Thursday, May 7. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Golden Anniversary

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – As the town celebrates its Golden Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival with the theme, “Maitum: A Golden Heritage for a Brighter Future”, municipal employees help prepare the 50 pieces of lechon for the community after a civic-military parade Thursday, May 7. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

50 lechon for 50th anniversary

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – A municipal employee takes souvenir photos as 50 pieces of lechon are being prepared in front of the Maitum municipal hall to be distributed to the barangays as the town celebrates Thursday, May 7, its 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

National Museum declares "important cultural property" in Maitum

By Russtum G. Pelima

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – The National Museum of the Philippines declared here on Tuesday (May 5) the “Pinol Cave formation” area as “important cultural property”.

Maharlika Cuevas, Director III of the National Museum, formally handed a copy of the National Museum declaration to Mayor Elsie Perrett at the opening of “Treasures of Maitum” diorama.

Important cultural property is defined by the National Museum as cultural property that has been singled out from among the innumerable cultural properties as having exceptional historical and cultural significance to the Philippines, though not sufficiently outstanding to merit the classification of National Cultural Treasure.

“It is hereby resolved, the Panel of Experts made it known its support for the declaration of the Pinol Cave formation and the surrounding area, Municipality of Maitum, Sarangani Province as an Important Cultural Property by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 374,” the declaration stated.

“The archaeological site in Pinol and surrounding area are in need of protection from treasure hunting and illegal excavation and should be preserved for the present and future generation of Filipinos,” it added.

Municipal officials, representatives from the National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts opened a diorama of the “important cultural property” showing replicas of the archaeological finds of anthropomorphic secondary burial jars associated with the Metal Age in the Philippines.

At a symposium, officials from the National Museum warned illegal dealers of selling artifacts.

In 1991, a National Museum team led by Dr. Eusebio Dizon and Rey Santiago excavated Ayub Cave in barangay Pinol.

Dizon described the finds as “amazing anthropomorphic potteries, which could suggest the backbone of our own culture. Never before have we seen such a magnificent archaeological assemblage.”

Before Dizon’s archaeological team found the potteries, treasure hunters had already explored Ayub cave, leaving potsherds inside. Authorities suspect some of these ancient potteries were sold then.

But most of the original artifacts are now preserved at the National Museum.

“Maybe a civilization here was advanced in their time showing unique burial practices of preserving the death of their loved ones,” said history Professor Lilian Grapa from Mindanao State University.

“Maitum is a burial ground. Therefore there must be a habitation,” Grapa added.

Dizon explained secondary burial jars are so called because only parts of the fragmented bones such as the teeth, fingers, and legs are placed inside the pottery vessels and then placed into a bigger jar.

According to archaeological research, this part of Mindanao had a 7,000 years old forest. Some 5,000 years ago, the eruption of Mount Matutum and Mount Parker in South Cotabato covered the whole area with lahar.

“There were no people during this time. The earliest human occupation that we have documented so far is the Maitum for Mindanao, much earlier than Butuan (13th century) and Tawi-tawi (4000 years ago),” Dizon said in an interview last year.

“The designs on the Maitum pottery are characteristics of the Developed Metal Age in the Philippines,” according to the National Museum declaration.

In April 2008 as a result of earthmoving activities, another cave site, Sagel Cave, was accidentally discovered in the area containing artifacts and human remains.

The Municipal Council of Maitum has passed Resolution 2008-048 declaring the newly found cave in Sitio Sagel, Barangay Pinol, Maitum, Sarangani Province as Archaeological Site.
“Archaeological activities in the area contribute greatly to scientific knowledge not only of the history of Maguindanao area but of Philippines prehistory in general,” the declaration said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Cooking contest

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – Participants of the cooking contest prepare their backyard vegetables on the second day of the town’s 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival Wednesday, May 6. The cooking contest is at the town’s mini forest where an agricultural fair is ongoing. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Carabao on parade

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – A best-dressed carabao contestant goes on parade around town Wednesday, May 6, second day of the town’s 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Best-dressed carabao contest

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 7, 2009) – This carabao named Boi S’adaf (Princess of the West) is the entry of barangay Upo’s Upo Valley Multi-purpose Cooperative in the best-dressed carabao contest during the second day of the town’s 50th Foundation Anniversary and 10th Binuyugan Festival Wednesday, May 6. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Maitum opens diorama of archaelogical discovery

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – The National Museum of the Philippines, local officials and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts opened for public viewing Tuesday, May 5, a diorama of archeological finds with a miniature replica of Ayub Cave where anthropomorphic secondary burial jars were found.

The exhibit at the municipal hall coincides with the May 4-7 celebration of the town’s 50th foundation anniversary and its Binuyugan Festival.

Called “Diorama of the Treasures of Maitum”, the exhibit shows replicas of burial jars dug in 1991 by a National Museum team led by Dr. Eusebio Dizon and Rey Santiago at Ayub Cave in barangay Pinol.

The original artifacts are now preserved at the National Museum.

“These treasures were declared as important cultural property by the National Museum,” Mayor Elsie Perrett said. “Every Maitumian should be very proud of this.”

By declaring the Pinol Cave formation and the surrounding area of Maitum as an “important cultural property,” a National Museum resolution said “the archaeological sites in Pinol and surrounding area are in need of protection from treasure hunting and illegal excavation and should be preserved for the present and future generation of Filipinos.”

“For this we are truly grateful and we promise to protect this treasure,” Perrett said.

“We are continually looking for non-renewable cultural resources that we have to protect and preserve,” said Maharlika Cuevas, Director III of the National Museum.

“Our role in the National Museum is to give proper attention to our cultural treasures like this,” Cuevas added.

A symposium that followed the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the diorama was packed by teachers from Mindanao State University and local teachers.

Dizon and Santiago wrote in their book “Faces from Maitum” that the burial jars bore radiocarbon dates of "1930 plus or minus 50 BP (calibrated date of 5 BC to AD 225) and 1830 plus or minus 60 BP (calibrated date of AD 70 to 370)."

Dizon, head of the National Museum’s archeological division, presented a paper about Maitum burial jars at the 14th national Conference on local and National History in 1993.

“Our Southeast Asian neighbors have nothing of this type of archaeological find. We should be extremely proud as Filipinos in discovering the amazing anthropomorphic potteries, which could suggest the backbone of our own culture.” (Russtum Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Treasures of Maitum

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – From left, Mayor Elsie Perrett, Vice Mayor Tito Balazon, and councilor Jess Bascuna unveil the marker of a diorama called the Treasures of Maitum Tuesday, May 5, at the James Chiongbian Hall. The diorama is a glimpse of Maitum’s past where secondary burial jars found are on display. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Diorama opening

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – Mayor Elsie Perrett leads the cutting of ribbon Tuesday, May 5, of the diorama called “Treasures of Maitum”, an exhibit of the anthropomorphic burial jars excavated in Ayub Cave in 1991. From left are town councilor Jess Bascuna, National Commission for Culture and the Arts former commissioner Carlo Ebeo, provincial Board Member Limuel Gacula, Vice Mayor Tito Balazon, Board Member Nicanor Ballan, and National Museum Director III Maharlika Cuevas. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Declaration as important cultural property

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – Mayor Elsie Perrett, with Vice Mayor Tito Balazon, receives from Maharlika Cuevas, Director III of the National Museum, the Declaration from the National Museum of the Pinol (Ayub) Cave formation and the surrounding area of Maitum as an “important cultural property” at the opening of the diorama of the Treasures of Maitum Tuesday, May 5, at the James Chiongbian Hall. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

"Ayub Cave"

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – At the diorama of the Treasures of Maitum which opened Tuesday, May 5, a spectator looks inside “Ayub Cave”, a miniature replica of the cave and the archaeological assemblage inside. It was the formation when the anthropomorphic secondary burial jars were excavated by the National Museum in 1991. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

2,000-year old jars

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 5, 2009) – Spectators from the academe and the community take souvenir shots Tuesday, May 5, of the replicas of anthropomorphic (man-form) secondary burial jars found in Ayub Cave in 1991. The original potteries are now preserved at the National Museum. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Mosqueda Resthouse

KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 4, 2009) – Home to the Offsourcing Team from Davao City during a three-day hideaway is Mosqueda Resthouse in barangay Lomuyon. (Photo courtesy of James Bautista/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)