Samson's hair hanging down the entrance gates, statues of indigenous lady statues are positioned outside perhaps to attract visitors and a huge Tribu K'mindanawan imprint is also placed outside of a green real planted background. This is yet another shop to check on as per our companion but no, it is a different one, in fact it is actually a restaurant!

Well, we didn't see that coming, there was no notice of it being a restaurant from how we see it from the outside but then we have to go check what's inside since it is quite interesting and everyone of us was like very curious what this restaurant has to offer.

Their business hours are actually in the afternoon until evening. It was still three in the afternoon when we reached Crocodile Park. Yes it is just around crocodile farm village and we were just roaming around until we reached this area. So we instead told them we will come back in the afternoon and we just left a note for reservation. They said they'll start at five.

Oh! There was also a photo booth section in there for those who would like to have a souvenir photo while wearing their native costumes. Our good host tried it while everyone of us were laughing at them because the dress was too small when he worn it. Anyway, it was a fast process and they got their photo right away.

After that we went to a drag racing section along crocodile farm road. This was actually a competition and I never had watched one ever before so this was kind of exciting for me and for the rest of my companions too!

The drag racing was really cool. These cars have been customized so it can become lighter and that it can run faster than usual. We were not sure who won on that competition since it was already five and we have to go back to Tribu K'Mindanawan restaurant.

It was starting to darken and so we immediately went back and found our tables were ready and it was a perfect timing that the show has not yet started but it was already calling their guests since their show was about to start. We were all excited as everyone of us were first timers.

Pre Show

Before starting the main fire show, they have a pre show which was hosted by a funny guy who had organized a game where the participants come from the audience. But before the fun show, they sang a beautiful song about the Philippines and the dancers came in front dancing along to the tune of the upbeat music.

The host asked for volunteers and most of them were foreigners. It so happened that we have a French guy with us named Kevin and he was called up to play. Good thing he was sport enough to join although he was not really that into the game. Anyways, three guys went up on the center stage and the game was inspired from the famous Minute to Win it.

Everyone of them were given a belt with a hanging ball, they'll be using it to hit the cans placed in tables. No hands should be used to beat the tin cans, it would be purely using the hips to move the hanging ball on their waists.

All the audiences were laughing while these men tries to move their hips and waists looking like a woman dancing. 

The game was won by the Filipino guy from Manila who was the fastest one to beat all the tin cans around. But the funniest of them all was Kevin's performance.

That was the end of the Pre show and the main show then started.

 

Main Fire Show

All eyes set on the center stage. The lights started to turn off. A group of men in  black attires holding on two bamboo poles came into the stage, each one of them has eye wears and head gears which I suspect will help protect their eyes and hair from the fire. The music started to sound creepy and away from the stage, there's fire burning.

More and more people came into the rock bench staying close to the performers but were also advised not to get really really close as fire might get into the audiences.

These guys in front took their time and waited for the right timing to start their performance. I even notice one of them doing the sign of the cross to keep him safe throughout the twenty minute performance. Then came another young lady in a black attire again holding on a fired torch. She went into the center and the four men came nearer to her and started lighting up their bamboo poles.

Music started to get rolling and the men pushed the bamboo poles upwards creating a massive fire burst up in the air. Everyone started shouting for excitement! And the show goes on showing us marvelous and breath taking acts with the fire balls and fire stunts.

One of my favorite parts are the following:

1. Opening

One of the things which I would not forget is their opening salvo. The reason is because I was sitting just right in front of them and when they lifted and throw the bamboo poles with fire and it burst right in front of me and I felt the heat and fire in my face, I immediately ran towards a farther area so I won't get caught by the fire then.

Also part of their opening was these guys who were synchronized in dancing and there was one of them who held the fire ball in his two hands. I wonder if he was immune to the fire or if he was just pretending that it wasn't hot but I am pretty sure that it was hot because I had felt it in the opening stunt.

But anyway, I am was super amazed by that act.

2. Infinity

During the middle  of their performance, one stunt which also had left a mark was their infinity sign. Two of the young ladies were wearing masks and a sexy black attire showed up in front while the mystical music was playing at the background.

Both of them were holding a  long tube with some liquid or whatever it was at the edge and I know it is a bit heavy because they were kinda having a bit of challenging time while carrying it. But anyway, they managed to get towards the center and this guy who has the torch came into the scenario.

The music struck to a certain point and the guy placed fire in the two tube ends and they both poured out the liquid while there's fire in it and the made an infinity sign. It was mezmerizing because the light had colors green and blue and it took quite some time before disappearing from the cemented floor. 

3. Burst Closing

But of all the amazing stunts and fire dances, my most favorite part is the finale.

That was the time when all of the dancers were in the stage. They got all of their stunts up, some were making circular shapes of fire, some were dancing with the fireballs while some had hula hoops in their hips which have fire in it, they had even used it while being blind folded, that was also amazing.

Then one at the back row was showing us the finale stunt as he was holding on to two fire balls which are quite different compared to the regular fire ball because it shows pieces of the fires dropping from the ball. It looked like that of a fire work display which has the sparkles of its light dropping from the skies. It has similar effect to that one.

He continued splashing it until the end of the music.

After the show - Shots with the fire dancers. Well, actually its the same girl with different guys.

After Show

It was such an entertaining, breath taking and extra ordinary show. These guys only has shows during the weekend so we were very much lucky that we got to catch up with their Sunday show.

Our dinner was then served after the show. Their local foods were served. I recall vegetables in coconut milk, some native chicken with hot sauce and steaks. I was just overwhelmed with the fire show that I totally didn't care what we had on the table.

I thought that it was the end of our night at the Tribu K'Mindanawan but then, wait! There's more!

While we were eating our dinner, I was out of idea that there will also be dance performances showcasing the cultural dances of the indigenous people of Mindanao. It was really something which is educational and entertaining at the same time.

While I was just happily watching them dance the final dance, the rest of the dancers approached us and asked us to dance with them. I was a bit hesitant but I gave in. It was fun dancing with them to the tune of a Patriotic Filipino song. There were even foreigners who danced with us too!

The photo on the right is the stage where the dancers performed and where we danced too! It's a colorful platform 

Important Information 

I am posting this blog to also provide more information about this place which needs to be introduced to the rest of the Filipino people and as well as the foreign tourists too.

The boys were able to take a photo opportunity with the female performers.

Tribu K'Mindanawan has been treated as one of the landmarks in promoting cultural diversity and homage to the indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

It has been cited to collectively affirm the richness of the cultural heritage and diversity of the peoples in the Land of Promise and they also recognize the works of the culture bearers, the cultural masters as they pursue their significant roles in the preservation of living cultures and traditions.

They do believe that the journey towards the protection of diversities requires the efforts of the people and so the Tribu K'Mindanawan has been looking forward to these things listed above.

Their main goal is to popularize the culture and heritage of the uniqueness of our cultural traditions most specially the indigenous people.

They also want to encourage the bearers to share the knowledge and wisdom to the upcoming generation who are not aware of these diverse culture.

Also, they aim to promote the cultural integrity and facilitate awareness and appreciation to the society and to the foreign ones.

Finally, they have the heart to extend the opportunities for the creative industry and open markets for the creative products and traditional crafts our the indigenous people specifically in Mindanao where they are located. Salute to all of the young ones who had involved themselves into this tradition and preservation of our culture.

All images and videos on this blog are all mine. Hope you had fun with this blog. Don't forget to share it! Also, check my other blog posts for our Davao Weekend Escapade:

1. Weekend In Davao

2. Sea foods, Beach Bums and More at Sta. Reta Resort

3. Catching With Old Folks, Presidents, Heroes and Folklores at Davao's GAP Farm

4. GAP Farm Gallery

5. Weekend in Davao Gallery

6. Talikod Island, Davao Gallery
 

Copyright 2016 Jean Beltran-Figues

All rights reserved.