tuna festival general santos
Source: Filipino Homes

Tuna Festival: General Santos’ Pride

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The Home of the Champion (aka Manny Pacquiao), General Santos City, is more than Tuna and the Philippine’s record-braking boxer. Gensan is also home to the Tuna festival and eye-catching beaches and mountain peaks. So, if you feel abundant today, you better check this post out. 

The Tuna Festival is an annual festival celebrated on the first week of September. Held in the tuna capital of the Philippines, the festival reflects what abundance means. 

Fun fact: The festival has been held since 1998 and is today the city’s biggest fiesta. Okay, ready?

Find out more about the General Santos Tuna Festival now!

What Is the Tuna Festival?

tuna general santos city
Source: Anthony Guapo

At the heart of General Santos lies the majestic celebration called the Tuna Festival. During the event, you can see all things tuna-inspired. You’ll find something tuna-related, from food to costumes that suit your taste. 

With the plentiful bounty of yellow-fin tuna fish (shout out to the hardworking fishermen out there) in its rich waters, Gensan serves as the leading producer of tuna in the country. The city serves as a front-runner tuna producer in the world, too. No wonder why the locals celebrate the fish.

We have your back if you’ve been wondering what makes this event different from others, like the Ibalong Festival, Pagoda Festival, MassKara Festival, and Pintados Festival. 

Unlike these festivals, the Gensan Tuna Festival celebrates fish. Yes, you heard that right. The festival is all about good old fish. 

With all the fun activities with tuna as the central theme, you won’t regret joining the event. From food stalls to fabulous street parades, you’ll surely love it. 

Speaking of parades, the event usually opens through the colorful Tuna Float parade and Parada sa Dagat. Both feature fun, festive, and ocean-themed floats that honor the city’s culture.

Then, the locals dance to the tune of upbeat and vibrant music. They showcase the province’s bountiful catches through performances that will blow your mind. 

After the fun street dances, people join the Sugbahan Sa Dalan. This activity highlights the long line of grilled tuna displayed on the streets. And guess what, foodies? 

You can eat grilled fish from this long line for free. But here’s the catch (pun intended): you must enjoy every moment. 

Thank the heavens; it’s free. Contrary to popular belief, free doesn’t mean dull. Every bite of the grilled tuna will transport you to a different dimension. 

Tuna Festival Description

tuna festival
Source: Eportal General Santos

The Gensan Tuna Festival also includes other activities like the sports fest. 

The local’s favorite segment should be the Bancarera sports competition. You can watch a parade of attractive motorized banca, dragon boat race, skimboards, and jet skis during the contest. Thanks to the sports competition, everyone sees the solid camaraderie of the locals. Not to sound too corny here, but their connection lives within their hearts and minds. 

On the event’s final day, the Pamahaw ug Pasalamat is held in the city hall. And you guessed it right. The thanksgiving feast features a fantastic seafood breakfast you can eat for free. 

Plus, if you feel lucky, you might be able to meet the Philippines’ pride and Gensan’s beloved son. We don’t even have to mention his name because you know who he is. Okay, we’ll say it anyway for the sake of clarity. 

The legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao. If you want to explore more about his rags-to-riches life, you can go around on an adventure. See and spot his family’s mansions, sports stadiums, and beach resorts.

Legendary boxer aside, joining the Gensan Tuna Festival will also remind you of the richness and biodiversity of the Philippines’ seas. You can also meet new friends and even a special someone. While the event is not about romance, who knows, right?

Kidding aside, you can also learn more about the culture of the local fishermen. On top of that, you can witness their experiences at the sea coast. 

Above all, don’t miss to buy fresh, high-grade tuna at the fish ports. Bring them home, or ask a local to cook them for you. You can bring frozen tuna as pasalubong if you’re up for it. 

Tuna Festival Place of Origin

tuna festival place of origin
Source: Top Event Destinations

Have you been wondering about the Tuna Festival place of origin?

Is the question about the Tuna Festival palace of origin living in your mind rent-free? 

Time to force it out of your head by answering it. 

As you already know, the Tuna Festival place of origin is General Santos City. 

The event started because of the fish abundance the city enjoyed in  1988. As a result, the General Santos City Tourism Association (GSCTA) staged the event. The event had the aim to promote the city’s natural marine resources. 

During the first-ever General Santos Tuna Festival, the GSSCTA showcased tuna cuisine via cooking competitions. Other activities dubbed the “Tuna Revolution” composed the first-ever event.

Then, the mayor at that time had a bright idea. They can make it the theme of an annual event. Then, the official Tuna Festival in Gensan was born. As the event continued for years, more shows joined the rank of festivities. 

Tuna Festival Costume

Of course, you’ll expect the tuna festival costume to be inspired by the fish. While tuna serves as the festival’s main highlight, costumes also draw inspiration from other seafood such as crab and shrimp.

The Tuna Festival costume don many colors, just as vibrant as the people wearing them. The costume also symbolizes the people’s resilience, creativity, and energy. Watch the people parade them during the event, and your eyes will surely thank you. 

Why Is Tuna Festival General Santos City Celebrated?

tuna festival in general santos city
Source: Manila Standard

As you probably guessed at this point, the Tuna Festival in Gensan is celebrated because of tuna. While that sounds funny at first, please hold your laugh. 

There is a plausible explanation for why people celebrate fish. Since the city is the country’s tuna capital, the fish has generated a lot of jobs for the people there. This boosted the city’s economy and improved the lives of many workers, especially the fishermen. 

It doesn’t stop there. The activity is not just everything Tuna; it also celebrates everything fish. Therefore, attending the event allows you to enjoy and appreciate marine creatures.

Speaking of, you can find a lot of seafood from exhibitions to street grills at the event. Plus, the event helps you learn more about the diverse fish quality in the city. You’ll also interact with the locals and learn more about their unique ways of life. 

Must-Try Food During the Tuna Festival in General Santos City 

Aside from colorful costumes and floats, General Santos features mouthwatering delicacies. And again, you guessed it right: many of them include tuna. 

Here is a quick list of the must-try food in General Santos City during the Tuna Festival: 

1. Bistek Tuna Belly

bistek tuna belly
Source: Yummy Ph

Bistek tuna belly uses premium tuna instead of beef. The cooks then prepare the fish with onions and tomatoes. 

The tuna belly features a crisp, delicious outer layer. Thanks to deep frying, the tuna belly skin contrasts nicely with the juicy and tender meat. 

The dish will take you to paradise when paired with steamed white rice. 

2. Sinigang na Tuna sa Miso

sinigang na tuna sa miso
Source: Yummy Ph

This dish serves as the cousin of the famous sinigang na baboy.

A hearty and comforting dish, sinigang na tuna sa miso features sour and tart notes of the regular sinigang broth enriched with miso. The premium tuna rounds also serve as the highlight of your all-tuna feast at Gensan. When in Gensan, you need to eat tuna.

3. Spicy Adobong Bihod

spicy adobong bihod
Source: Global Granary

Let’s take a break from tuna meat now. We are introducing the spicy adobong bihod, a special dish of fish eggs. Served with chili and bay leaves, this one is a nice twist to the traditional adobo. 

In some cases, bihod comes with the fish’s gonads; The gonads are called bagaybay. So if you see bihod and bagaybay on the menu, you already know what will be served. 

4. Deep-Fried Chicken Skin

deep-fried chicken skin

Chicken meat may be delicious, but chicken skin is one of a kind. The best option? Frying the chicken skin.

Also known as chicken chicharon, Gensan’s deep-fried chicken skin steals the stage! We know it comes with sinful cholesterol, but what can we do? 

As a best seller during the festivities, it might be hard getting a hold of this gem. So, don’t hesitate to get one immediately if you see one.

Pro tip: pair this dish with rice for that extra oomph. 

5. Assorted Seafood Plate

assorted seafood plate
Source: Usapang Food Trip

The famous assorted seafood dish in Gensan will delight your taste buds. 

The city must be on top of your list if you seek fresh seafood meals. The dish often includes mud crabs, prawns, squid, and fish. We highly recommend these fantastic plates of seafood. Quite expensive but always worth your hard-earned money! 

6. Steak

steak
Source: Zomato

Up for a delicious, sumptuous meal? We rate the steak in Gensan a 10/10.

The steak in the beautiful city often exceeds expectations, so get ready to have your mind blown! In fact, several icons like former President Ninoy Aquino visited the city to experience the fine steaks. 

7. Batchoy

batchoy

While batchoy originated from Iloilo, Gensan’s version must be honored. 

The authentic batchoy also comes with an affordable tag, with ten different varieties—fairly delicious paired with pandesal or puto, if you ask us. Plus, people from diverse walks of life go to Gensan for the batchoy. 

8. Breadnuts

breadnuts

Breadnuts is a fun name given to donuts in Gensan. Many places in Gensan allow you to create your breadnut. You can create combinations to your heart’s content, from the toppings to fillings! 

You can chill and create memorable conversations with your friends over coffee and this bunch of freshly baked DIY donuts!

9. Siopao

siopao

Next on the list is the special siopao from the famous bakeshop in Gensan, Jo-Ann’s Bakeshop. 

Since 1968, the taste of theory siopao has remained the same. Unlike other siopaos, this one has lots of meat inside. Plus, the cooks steam the buns perfectly. Aside from being affordable, this superstar truly deserves fame.

10. Sisig

sisig

Another 5-star food in Gensan comes from everyone’s favorite, sisig. 

Taste the city’s unique sisig that keeps people coming back for more. Guess what? People even line up and wait for their turn to have this one so that you can guarantee its fantastic taste. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Tuna Festival celebrated?

The Tuna Festival in Gensan is celebrated because of the abundance of fish (especially tuna) in the waters of Sarangani Bay. It also honors the unique lives of locals, mainly the fishermen. 

When and where is Tuna Festival celebrated?

The Tuna Festival is celebrated on August 30 to September 5. It is celebrated in General Santos City (Gensan), the tuna capital of the Philippines. The city celebrates a week-long fantastic festival honoring local culture and pride every year.

What is Tuna Festival in the Philippines?

The Tuna Festival in the Philippines has been the biggest fiesta in Gensan since 1988. This event celebrates the city’s main product: tuna. General Santos is also the biggest producer of sashimi-grade Tuna in the country. The quality can even be compared to those served in Japan. 

What kind of festival is Tuna Festival?

The Tuna Festival is a kind of festival that celebrates fish and other seafood. Unlike other festivals celebrating fruit, such as the Mango and Lanzones Festival, the event celebrates marine products. 

Is Tuna Festival a religious?

The Tuna Festival is not a religious festival. It came from the abundance of fish and other seafood in the area. Unlike other events, it doesn’t honor religious icons. 

Where is the origin of Tuna Festival?

The origin of Tuna Festival is General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines. 

What is the tuna capital of the Philippines?

The tuna capital of the Philippines is General Santos City. This moniker started with the arrival of Japanese traders searching for sashimi-grade yellowfin tuna during the 1970s.

Conclusion

What do you think about the origin of Tuna Festival and Tuna Festival description? Did you get amazed by the stunning Tuna Festival costume and Tuna Festival place of origin? Let us know by commenting below! Is it worth traveling for? Let us know in the comment section below!

Check also our Masskara Festival, Pahiyas Festival, and Pintaflores Festival Guides.

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