The 59th Foundation Anniversary of the province of South Cotabato was celebrated with great enthusiasm, marked by the staging of the 26th T’nalak Festival. This vibrant cultural celebration honors the T’nalak cloth, a handwoven abaca textile crafted by the T’boli women, often inspired by dreams—earning them the title “dreamweavers.”
This festival is a symbol of unity among South Cotabato’s tri-people: T’bolis, Christians, and Muslims. And the T’nalak cloth represents the rich cultural heritage of the province and its people.
Master Guides and Pathfinders from Adventist Community College, Inc., and Matutum View Academy of Acmonan, Tupi, South Cotabato, joined the opening civic parade at the provincial capital of Koronadal City on July 18. They represented around 120,000 Adventists across approximately 426 companies and churches in the province.
The participation of Matutum View Academy and Adventist College of Technology Pathfinders and Master Guides in the parade is a harmonious collaboration of faith and culture—a witnessing through service. Their impressive marching technique reflects Adventist commitment to community engagement, not just within church walls but in the public square—through discipline, character, and cheerful service.
South Cotabato is home to 199 barangays, 10 municipalities, and one component city, Koronadal, and the independent city of General Santos. The province is served by the Southern Mindanao Mission, one of the five Adventist regional headquarters, which caters to diverse ethnic and linguistic communities. And the Matutum View Academy, a secondary school established in 1968 and operated by SMM, is situated at the foot of Mount Matutum in Acmonan, Tupi, South Cotabato. Known as the “School of FAITH,” MVA emphasizes character development, preparing youth for service and eternity.
Adventist College of Technology, formerly Matutum View Christian College, was established in 1995 to provide technical and tertiary education alongside Matutum View Academy. The two institutions share the same campus, which spans over 8 hectares. The Adventist community in South Cotabato is committed to serving the diverse needs of the province’s residents. Through their participation in the T’nalak Festival, the Pathfinders and Master Guides demonstrated their dedication to community engagement and cultural appreciation.
