page_title: Cotabato City
section_title: Festivals
hierarchical_section_title: Cotabato City / Tourism / Festivals
caption_attribution_description: English: Kuyog Street Dancing Competition 2018
context_page_description: Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato, is a 3rd class independent component city in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines, in the Bangsamoro region. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 299,438, making it as the most populated city under the independent component city status.
  Cotabato City was formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of Bangsamoro and serves as the regional center. Being an independent component city, it's not a subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao where it is geographically located. The Philippine Statistics Authority also lists Cotabato City as statistically independent.
  Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato.
context_section_description: Chinese New Year - in recent years, the city government participates in celebration of its Chinese constituents in the city because of their historical presence and influence of trading even before the governance of Cotabato Empire
  Feast of the Immaculate Conception - a celebration of Patron Saint of the city from Dec 1 to Dec 8 activities are mostly participated by different catholic schools
  Shariff Kabunsuan Festival – this festival is celebrated every December 15–19, which is celebrated in honor of Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary from Johore who planted the seed of Islam in Central Mindanao. On this event, certain presentations are performed such as dances. There are also many recreational activities and sports. Highlights in this festival are Dance Parade, Banca Race and the re-enactment of Shariff's arrival.
  Araw ng Kutabato (Cotabato Day) – celebrated every June 12–25, this is the biggest celebration in all of the city's festivals. This festival is held to commemorate the city's charter day.
  Festival of Lights - A Christmas celebration organized by the Notre Dame schools in Cotabato City, celebrated every December of the year.
  Pakaradjaan Festival - A regional wide festival and held in the ORG compound in Cotabato City, Pakaradjaan is a generic term for celebration among ethno-linguistic tribes in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the Mainland Provinces of Lanao Del Sur and Maguindanao in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The festival shall be capped off with the setting up of intricate mock tribal villages inside the 32-hectare ARMM capitol southwest of Cotabato City to educate tourists on the ethnicity of Muslim, Christian and Lumad people in the autonomous region.
  Ramadhan - Being a muslim majority, the city is one in celebrating the holy month of Ramadhan, both the city local government unit and the Bangsamoro Region are establishing their own Ramadhan Fair and different activities.
  Layagan Festival - is a Crabs Festival held and organized in the Barangay of Mother Kalanganan, the event is conducted every December, Barangay Kalanganan produces hundred of tons of crabs annually making it as the crabs capital of Soccsksargen.
caption: 2018 Kuyog street dancing competition
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