Ang Tuna Festival ay isang pagdiriwang na nagaganap sa loob ng isang linggo,

simula huling linggo ng Agosto hanggang unang linggo ng Setyembre. Ito ay

nagaganap sa General Santos City, na siyang tinuturing na Tuna Capital ng
Pilipinas. Ang okasyong ito ay nagsisilbing pagpapahalaga sa tuna bilang
pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kita ng lugar. Ito rin ay dinadayo ng libu-libong mga
turista, kung kayat ang Tuna Festival ay pinapahalagahan din bilang isa sa mga
pinakasikat na tourist attraction sa bansa.

[baguhin]Tuna Capital

Ang General Santos City sa Mindanao, Pilipinas ay tinataguriang isa sa mga

pinakamabilis sa pag-unlad na mga siyudad sa Pilipinas. Sa katunayan, ito ay
nakatanggap ng gantimpala nang tatlong beses bilang Most Competitive City sa
Pilipinas (mula 1999 hanggang 2002). Isang malaking dahilan para dito ay ang
malawakang pangingisda ng mga tuna at iba pang uri ng isda sa Fish Port Complex
ng Gen San. Noon pa mang dekada 70 ay kilala na ang siyudad bilang Tuna
Capital ng Pilipinas, at nasasabing ang kabuuan ng mga tuna na nahuhuli sa Gen
San ay higit pa sa pinagsamang huli ng mga isda sa lahat ng fish port sa bansa.
Karamihan sa mga nahuhuling tuna sa Gen San ay ang Yellowfin Tuna, at sashimi
adult tuna. Ang mga huli ay galing sa Sulu Sea, Moro gulf, Mindanao sea at Celebes
sea, na siyang kilala bilang sagana sa yamang-dagat. Ang mga nahuling tuna ay
iniluluwas sa mga karapit-siyudad tulad ng Davao, Bukidnon, South Cotabato at pati
na rin ng mga dayuhang bansa tulad ng bansang Hapon at Estados Unidos.

[baguhin]Simula ng Tuna Festival

Nagsimula ang tuna festival bilang isang bahagi lamang ng pagdiriwang ng ika-30
Anibersaryo ng kalungsuran ng General Santos City noong 1998. Bilang bahagi ng
pagdiriwang na ito, nagkaroon ng mga patimpalak at kainan na ginamit ang tuna
bilang sentral na tema. Mula rito, naisipan ng dating alkalde na si Mayor Adelbert W.
Antonino na maaaring magkaroon ng isang buong pagdiriwang upang gunitain ang
tuna bilang sagisag ng siyudad. Iminungkahi niya na maaaring magkaroon ng
ganitong klaseng pagdiriwang taun-taon. Mula rito sa mungkahing ito ay nagsimula
ang unang Tuna Festival noong 1999.

[baguhin]Mga Mahahalagang Kaganapan sa Tuna Festival

Karaniwang nagsisimula ang Tuna Festival sa isang parada ng mga float na may
kinalaman sa tuna at mga yamang-dagat. Ang paradang ito ay tinatawag na
Parada sa Dagat, at kasabay nito ay idinadaos ang street dancing. Sa loob ng
isang linggo, ang ibat-iba pang mga kaganapan sa Tuna Festival ay mga patimpalak
sa pagluto ng tuna, mga exhibit ng mga lutong tuna, mga sayawan tulad ng Fish
Dance competition, Miss Gen San beauty pageant, Bodyfest modeling competition,
mga palaro, kantahan at mga konsyerto. Inaasahan din ang ilang mga libreng
pakain ng tuna at sashimi sa pinagdarausan ng mga kaganapan. Maliban dito,
ginaganap din ang Karagatan Awards na naglalayong bigyang karangalan ang mga
tinataguriang bayani ng industriya ng pangingisda. Ang karaniwang pinagdarausan
ng mga mahahalagang kaganapan sa Tuna Festival ay ang Oval Plaza at Oval Plaza
covered court. Sa huling araw ng Tuna Festival, ginaganap ang tinatawag na
Pamahaw ug Pasalamat. Sa araw na ito, ang ilan pang mga inaasahang
kaganapan ay ang mga sumusunod: drum and lyre na kompetisyon, street party,
konsyerto, barilis night at fireworks display.

Tuna Festival 2017

Tuna Festival is an incredible part of General Santos City. The citys other moniker is
Philippines Tuna Capital, thanks to the abundance of tuna fish.

The yellow fin tuna fish abound in the waters that surround the city, effectively
making the city one of the leading producers of tuna. Whats more, General Santos
is recognized as a golden source of tuna globally. Little wonder the locals
thoughtfully organized a festival, the Tuna Festival.

Tuna Festival in GenSan History and Schedule of Activities

A celebration of everything tuna, this is the place to go when you want to savor
tuna dishes. The tuna dish cooking contest is one of the most incredible parts of the
festival. Have you fill of deliciously cooked tuna before making your way to the
street carnivals where the vivacious locals dance away to melodious tunes.

The outdoor lover will certainly fall in love with the floats designed like tuna fish.
This is also fun for the kids, so parents should feel free to travel with the little ones.
If you prefer musical and energetic performances, do look out for the drum-and-lyre
performances.

This festival is an excellent location to socialize with the locals and learn more about
their culture. Interact with the local fishermen and find out what it is like to live a
day in their shoes. Do not forget to buy fresh first grade tuna. You could also have it
prepared by the beach so you can relish a tastefully prepared local tuna dish.

World famous boxer, Manny Pacquiao comes from General Santos, so you might be
lucky to catch a glimpse of him. Otherwise, make sure you enjoy Tuna Festival.

Tuna Festival 2017

Tuna Festival is an incredible part of General Santos City. The citys other moniker is
Philippines Tuna Capital, thanks to the abundance of tuna fish.
The yellow fin tuna fish abound in the waters that surround the city, effectively
making the city one of the leading producers of tuna. Whats more, General Santos
is recognized as a golden source of tuna globally. Little wonder the locals
thoughtfully organized a festival, the Tuna Festival.

Tuna Festival in GenSan History and Schedule of Activities

A celebration of everything tuna, this is the place to go when you want to savor
tuna dishes. The tuna dish cooking contest is one of the most incredible parts of the
festival. Have you fill of deliciously cooked tuna before making your way to the
street carnivals where the vivacious locals dance away to melodious tunes.

The outdoor lover will certainly fall in love with the floats designed like tuna fish.
This is also fun for the kids, so parents should feel free to travel with the little ones.
If you prefer musical and energetic performances, do look out for the drum-and-lyre
performances.

This festival is an excellent location to socialize with the locals and learn more about
their culture. Interact with the local fishermen and find out what it is like to live a
day in their shoes. Do not forget to buy fresh first grade tuna. You could also have it
prepared by the beach so you can relish a tastefully prepared local tuna dish.

World famous boxer, Manny Pacquiao comes from General Santos, so you might be
lucky to catch a glimpse of him. Otherwise, make sure you enjoy Tuna Festival.

A lot of us may know GenSan as "The Tuna Capital of the Philippines." Who
wouldn't? Majority of the tuna canning factories and processing plants are located
here, employing thousands of people and earning millions every year. It was
because of tuna that brought GenSan from being a "backwater dusty city," into a
boom-town.

As a tribute to the Generals' flagship industry, hardwork, and determination to

develop, GenSan perks itself up by celebrating its city-hood with illuminated tuna
float replicas parading the streets with music, dance, and art during the annual Tuna
Festival. Thousands of Generals march towards the main avenues to watch the
parade and be merry.

MAGANDANG GENSAN! These are the words you hear from Generals when you visit
the City of General Santos. It is a kind of greetings to introduce and to develop the
economy and tourism of the city. The City of General Santos is one of the most
progressive City in Mindanao. It has received three consecutive awards of being
"Most Competitive City" in the whole Philippines last 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and
2001-2002. The award was given by Asian Institute of Management and Department
of Trade and Industry.
The City of General Santos is one of the most progressive City in Mindanao. It has
received three consecutive awards of being Most Competitive City in the whole
Philippines last 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002. The award was given by
Asian Institute of Management and Department of Trade and Industry.

Like most Festivals in the Philippines, the Tuna Festival was practically started
because of abundant tuna in the city, collaboration of ideas was made in order to
promote its marine natural resources. In 1988, during the 30Th anniversary of the
city charter, an ambitious idea was formed by the General Santos City Tourism
Association (GSCTA) headed by Mrs. Liwanag Ferer. They had made a various
competition related to tuna such as cooking different menus, exhibits, and other
activities wherein tuna and other marine resources was the highlights of every
event, and this is the beginning of the Tuna Festival in General Santos City.

There were also Parada sa Dagat or street dancing parade, float parades and Tuna
Revolution. These were the most favored shows during the opening of the City
Charter anniversary.

Except for the above mentioned festivities, there were still conceptualized shows
which until now are being done and continually rising every year. This celebration
was made the tuna more popular in the whole Philippines and even in the whole
world, thats why GenSan was called as the Tuna Capital of The Philippines.
Maskara Festival, Lanzones Festival, and some other famous festival in the
Philippines are enjoyable and exciting, the Tuna Festival was also one of the most
exciting event where people spent their time to witness the celebration of Tuna
Festival. And there were also returnees and foreigners who usually visit the City just
to join the celebration which they were welcome and greeted with the words
MAGANDANG GENSAN!

Like most Festivals in the Philippines, the Tuna Festival was practically started
because of abundant tuna in the city, collaboration of ideas was made in order to
promote its marine natural resources. In 1988, during the 30Th anniversary of the
city charter, an ambitious idea was formed by the General Santos City Tourism
Association (GSCTA) headed by Mrs. Liwanag Ferer. They had made a various
competition related to tuna such as cooking different menus, exhibits, and other
activities wherein tuna and other marine resources was the highlights of every
event, and this is the beginning of the Tuna Festival in General Santos City.
There were also "Parada sa Dagat" or street dancing parade, float parades and Tuna
Revolution. These were the most favored shows during the opening of the City
Charter anniversary.

Except for the above mentioned festivities, there were still conceptualized shows
which until now are being done and continually rising every year. This celebration
was made the tuna more popular in the whole Philippines and even in the whole
world, that's why GenSan was called as the "Tuna Capital of The Philippines".
Maskara Festival, Lanzones Festival, and some other famous festival in the
Philippines are enjoyable and exciting, the Tuna Festival was also one of the most
exciting event where people spent their time to witness the celebration of Tuna
Festival. And there were also returnees and foreigners who usually visit the City just
to join the celebration which they were welcome and greeted with the words
MAGANDANG GENSAN!

They rake in an average of 500 tons of yellow fin tuna every year, which makes the
annual Tuna Festival, celebrated every first week of September, a no-brainer.

The Tuna Festival started off as a simple thanksgiving celebration that featured
dishes with tuna as the star. Today, its become a grand celebration of General
Santos Citys Charter as well as its finest catch: the yellow fin tuna.

NO FESTIVAL IS COMPLETE without a street dance competition.

BUT THIS ONE ISNT complete without its signature Tuna Float Parade.
No official schedule has been released as of this writing, but the festival is often
highlighted by the street dancing competition and its ever-popular Tuna Float
Parade.

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME. If youre looking for a primer, heres the 2015
schedule. It should give us a rough idea of what to expect. Image courtesy
of MAGSOX

For now, we can expect the Tuna Festival to take place during the first week of
September. Stay glued to Primer for updates.

Details:

What: Tuna Festival

When: First week of September, 2016

Where: Various venues, General Santos City, South Cotabato