South Cotabato Celebrates Local Culture with Traditional Homes and Products

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The beautifully designed and meticulously adorned bahay kubos, or native huts, lining Alunan Avenue are drawing residents and visitors eager to take selfies and souvenir photos during the annual Tnalak Festival and South Cotabato’s 60th founding anniversary celebration this week. The Bahay Kubo and Product Display Competition features entries from the 10 municipalities and the capital city, each presenting its own interpretation of the traditional Filipino wooden house. The bamboo-and-nipa structures showcase the craftsmanship of South Cotabato’s woodworkers while highlighting the identity of each participating locality. Most of the bahay kubo structures are made from indigenous materials such as bamboo, nipa, abaca, and locally grown plants. At night, the displays become even more inviting with colorful lights and decorations, turning the avenue into a popular destination for festival-goers and photographers. According to the Provincial Agriculture Office, which oversees the bahay kubo competition, the event celebrates not only "design but also agriculture, local products, community unity, and the hard work of South Cotabateños." The weeklong festivities, which officially kicked off with a civic-military parade on Monday, July 13, will culminate on July 18, the province’s foundation day.