Every September 18 during the anniversary of its cityhood, Tacurong's main streets come alive with a parade of beautiful costumes and lively music. The highlight of the parade is a conical hat typically worn in rural areas (something equivalent to "salakot" hats), but this time emblazoned with amazingly colorful designs.

Talakudong is the Maguindanao term for that traditional hat worn by most of the early settlers and people in the area. The name of the city “Tacurong” is said to have been derived from that word.

There were stories (unconfirmed) that told that when Tacurong was ceded from its mother town of Buluan, the Ilonggo settlers of Tacurong gave the Sultan of Buluan a golden kudong (“kudong” is an Ilonggo word with means “something to cover the head”) as symbol of goodwill.

Regardless of the "version" of how Tacurong got its name, the festival's main spirit is the celebration of good will and cooperation among the different cultures of the area. Its sort of a "hats off" gesture to harmony among the tri-culture of Tacurong: Muslim, Christian and lumad or indigenous people. Tacurong is in fact known as the "City of Goodwill".

This year's Talakudong festival featured 6 contingents from various schools in Sultan Kudarat and the nearby South Cotabato.

Check out the full set of photos here.

When in Tacurong City, don't forget to head to Baras Bird Sanctuary (less than 30 minutes from the city center)