07/08/2026
From Ancient Rituals to Living Forests: How Mangkas Communities and Neighbors Unite for Kanlaon
A feature by La Carlota City PIO
When the thunderous rhythmic beat of the patik echoes across the foothills of Mount Kanlaon, it does more than signal the opening of an eco-cultural showcase—it bridge-builds across centuries. High above the sugar fields, the majestic 2,435-meter stratovolcano stands not merely as a geographic marker, but as the living heart of Negros Island. Today, ancient spiritual reverence and statutory law converge, transforming ancestral devotion into a modern unified crusade for bio-cultural conservation.
Centuries before statutory maps designated borders, the island’s inhabitants looked up to the majestic summit and saw the sanctuary of Kan-Laon—"The Exalted One" and ruler of time. In Visayan lore, Kan-Laon was both the benevolent provider of fertile harvests and a formidable guardian whose volcanic breath warned against overstepping ecological boundaries.
Spiritual priestesses and healers—the babaylan—ascended these sacred slopes to gather medicinal herbs, burn kamangyan, and offer halad to maintain harmony between humanity and nature.
Fast forward to the present day, and that sacred bond remains vibrant. Under Republic Act No. 9154 (the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park Act of 2001), 24,548 hectares of primary rainforest, critical headwaters, and habitats for endemic wildlife are protected by law. Yet, true conservation requires more than legal enforcement; it requires the heart of the community.
Enter the annual Halad kay Kang-Laon Festival, an institutionalized eco-cultural platform co-managed by six local government units (LGUs) across two administrative regions. Bago City, La Carlota City, San Carlos City, Canlaon City, La Castellana, and Murcia systematically rotate host duties to align policy, protect shared watersheds, and engage the youth.
Whether through hands-on reforestation initiatives like BisekleTanum and Run, Pick, Plant, or intellectual showcases like the Pautok sa Lasang environmental quiz bowl, the festival turns civic duty into active participation. Youth ambassadors in the Diwata kag Suta sang Kanlaon advocacy showcase step forward to champion carbon offset initiatives, forest preservation, and watershed stewardship, ensuring the next generation carries the mantle of governance.
As Mangkasanon community leaders prepare for upcoming cycles of co-management—the festival proves that protecting our environment is not a dry administrative chore. It is an enduring pledge, a sacred offering, and a living promise to safeguard the mountain that sustains us all.
