Lami-Lamihan 2013: 30 yrs of “merry-making” in Lamitan City

By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Celebration is a typical Filipino trait that expresses his/her unique characteristic of being happy and grateful, as he/she commemorates significant moments of his/her life through merry-making in the form of dance and music. And this is shared by the community.

The idea of celebration and merry-making (maglami-lami for the Yakan’s of Basilan) has led to the evolution of a local tradition called Lami-Lamihan which is observed annually during the last weeks of June, which culminates at the town fiesta—Catholic’s feast of the city’s patron Saint Peter the Apostle on June 29.

There is a unique exchange of beliefs and traditions of cultures during the weeklong celebration. The Yakans, the local indigenous group who embraced Islam decades ago, showcased their unique culture of rituals, music, and dance for some two to three days ahead of the local Christian Catholic fiesta tradition.

Decades of interaction and intermarriages result in a blend of culturally-rich community that combines the heritage of various peoples and cultures in the island province. For fear of losing the unique local traditions, the local government conceived thirty years ago the annual Lami-Lamihan to remind and educate young generations about the beauty of the Yakan culture. Since then, the festival became the avenue for cultural preservation and development and promoted as a tourist destination.

For 2013, the Lami-Lamihan adopted the theme: “Lami-Lamihan: Ngayon, Bukas tuloy and kasiyahan (Lami-Lamihan: Today, Tomorrow onward to Merry-making).” This is again an attempt, as done each year, to instill into young peoples’ consciousness of appreciating their own culture.

In his message during the opening ceremonies, outgoing city mayor Roderick H. Furigay said that the theme reflects the atmosphere of the festival, saying that the Lami-Lamihan festival and parochial fiesta is “our way of thanking the Almighty for a bountiful and fruitful year.”

“The Lamiteños had been always known to be happy people, peace-loving and God-fearing,” he said.

He noticed that some of the Yakan youth tend to forget their culture, thus, there is a need for older generation to show them how to appreciate their culture. “I am proud of my ancestry. I am a product of Christian and Muslim intermarriage,” he added.

Incoming mayor-elect Rose U. Furigay, wife of the outgoing mayor affirmed that the Yakan youth need to be re-introduced to their own culture and for the rest of the community to be acquainted with it for sometimes this tribe is often misunderstood. “The Yakans are gentle people,” she said.

As the newly elected mayor said that the mere thought of it [being a mayor] sends shiver to her spine but remains confident because her husband is on her side to guide and help her become a better public servant.

She added that she’s confident to assume the new role because of the support of the different public officials, most especially the support of Congressman Jim S. Hataman Salliman.

“They gave me inspiration to go on,” she said.

Meanwhile, the congressman expressed his full support and promised to push for more programs for the development of Lamitan City. “We will do everything we can, together with my brother ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman to bring significant changes in our community, in Lamitan City, and in the entire province as a whole,” he said.

Speaking about the festival, the congressman gave value to celebration, especially when this is spent with the family. “We need to educate our young people to be proud of their culture,” he said.

The Yakans are close-knit families and it is in the family that culture is introduced and flourished eventually when shared by the community, like the Yakan common rituals, such as meggunting (baptism), megtimbang (weighing), megtammat (Qur-an reading graduation), and the Yakan traditional musical and dance showcases.

In this year’s celebration, young people takes center-stage as they display skills playing various traditional musical instruments and the famous Yakan back-loom weaving. Moreover, various schools from the elementary to the tertiary levels participated in the street dancing competition on the third day of the festivities.

The weeklong celebration was replete with activities that brought entertainment and fun to Lamiteños. With the new administration coming in, the annual celebration promises a renewed and meaningful merry-making for the people of Lamitan. (PIA9)