Categories
Cotabato

Timpupo Festival

Timpupo Festival, also called Timpupo Fruit Festival, is the annual fruit festival and the founding anniversary celebration in Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines every August 18.

The city is regarded as the fruit basket of Central Mindanao and it is called the City of Fruits. Additionally, the event remembers the establishment of then town of Kidapawan in 1947 on August 18th. Another anniversary is held every February for the city’s Charter Day.

In 2007, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1359 that declared August 24 a special non-working holiday in the city in time for Timpupo Festival that year. In 2022, August 18 was a holiday by virtue of Proclamation No. 26.

History of Timpupo Festival

Timpupo Festival comes from the local word timpupo for to pick up, harvest, or harvest season. Among the Manobo people, it also means abundant harvest. It was first conducted in 2001, but its name was minted in 2005 by the city council. In 2006, it was held in the month of October as a result of fruit harvests affected by weather disturbance.

The fest is a celebration of abundant harvest of tropical fruits such as durian, mangosteen, marang, banana, rambutan, and lanzones. This yearly event is also meant to create channels between suppliers and traders.

History of Kidapawan City

Timpupo Festival is also the celebration of the founding of Kidapawan.

Its origin is shrouded in legends such as the story of brothers Mamalu and Tinubawan who moved to Kidapawan after falling into a conflict with Muslim leaders and of Apo Sandawa, who is said to be the ancestor of Obo Munuvu. In the past, its lands were inhabited by Obo Munuvu, a tribal group indigenous to this part of Mindanao long before the Spanish conquest.

Reportedly, during the American period, it was organized simultaneously when Department of Mindanao and Sulu was established in 1914 with Datu Siawan Ingkal appointed as its first chief.

According to writer and historian Karlo Antonio Galay David, the first known legal document that contains a mention of Kidapawan belonging to the province of Cotabato is Act 2711, also known as the Administrative Code, that was passed in 1918.

Formerly, it belonged to the district of Pikit before the war. In the post-war era, it was made into an independent municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 82 that was issued by the President Manuel Roxas on August 18, 1947. This is the date that Timpupo Festival commemorates.

Kidapawan became a city with the passage of Republic Act No. 8500 on February 12, 1998 during the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos. The law was ratified through a plebiscite on March 21, 1998.

Stamps featuring landmarks and the Timpupo festival were issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation in time for the 75th founding anniversary in 2022. They were designed by Emmanuel Diaz and their lay-out rendered by Eunice Beatrix Dabu.

Timpupo Festival Activities

One of the activities during the week-long Timpupo Festival is the bagsakan area, a drop-off point for farmers to display their fruit harvests. It began as an initiative in 2019 and it was simultaneously where people can purchase either retail or in bulk.

Other events include forums, entertainment, contest, culturall shows, founding day program, fruit float parade, trade fair, etc.

Fruits Eat All U Can

Fruits Eat All U Can is a display as well as a food fest. With the purchase of an admission ticket, one can partake the fruits that are on display. In 2018, the city government secured eighteen (18) tons of various tropical fruits for the event. These are supplied by growers in the city as well as from in the nearby towns of Makilala and Magpet whose farms are located at the foothills of Mt. Apo and are suitable for planting with its rich soil and cool climate.

Hiyas ng Timpupo

Hiyas ng Timpupo is the yearly beauty pageant for female candidates.

How to reach Kidapawan City, Cotabato

Kidapawan City is over two hours away from Davao International Airport.

References

Timpupo Festival Summary

NameTimpupo Festival
CelebrationAgriculture, Food, Founding Anniversary, Fruits
Contact(064) 577-4829
CountryPhilippines
DateAugust 18
Duration1 week
Emailinfokidapawancity@gmail.com
Established2001
Facebookwww.facebook.com
Historical eventEstablishment of (then) municapality of Kidapawan in 1947
LocationKidapawan City, Cotabato
Official NameTimpupo Fruit Festival
OrganizerCity Government of Kidapawan
Simultaneous eventFounding Anniversary of Kidapawan
Twittermobile.twitter.com
Websitewww.kidapawancity.gov.ph