Cotabato City holds grand Guinakit Fluvial Parade

The city government of Cotabato has once again successfully held its grand Guinakit Fluvial Parade, featuring colorful boats that sailed in the country’s second-largest river system, the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Thursday, the parade is part of the city’s yearly celebration of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival.

“Meron tayong isang big boat ‘yun po ay ang boat ng Office of the Chief Minister ng BARMM, 12 medium boats kasama po doon yung boat ng LGU Cotabato, and 85 small boats ng mga barangays, mga business, and agencies po dito sa BARMM,” Tourism officer Ainee Rayanna said. 

According to one of the Guinakit designers, many residents took part in the creation of the boats.

“Marami po kami kasi medyo matagal din po itong ginagawa,” Mohammad K. Mang said.

They used various fabrics from Mindanao to decorate the boats.

“Ang mga material po ay tinatawag nilang mga bandana, sambulayang, tsaka iba pang mga tela ang ginamit po. Aabutin po ng isang linggo ang paggawa nitong Guinakit,” he added.

Guinakit is a Maguindanaon word that means a convoy of boats.

The sailing of the Guinakits in the Rio Grande de Mindanao every December is a commemoration of the arrival of the Arab missionary named Sharif Mohammed Kabungsuwan in Mindanao, who introduced Islam to the place over 500 years ago.

He was also the first sultan of Maguindanao.

In the annual Guinakits cruise, the local government hopes that it serves as a way to introduce Mindanao’s rich culture and history.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News