BAGUIO CITY – The six provinces and one city in the Cordillera region showcased their culture and traditions at the third Cordillera Festival of Festivals at Malcom Square here on Friday morning, Oct. 18.
Jovita Ganongan, regional director of the Department of Tourism-Cordillera, said the Festival of Festivals is a program of the agency that seeks to continue the rich tapestry of cultural festivals from different provinces and cities in the region.
NATIVE dancers perform during the third Festival of Festivals of the Cordilleras in Baguio City on Friday, Oct. 18. (Zaldy Comanda)
Native dancers, among them the Panagbenga Festival with the theme Seasons of Bloom, performed in a street dancing parade on Session Road to Malcom Square.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio participated for the first time, featuring a float that showcased Baguio as a prime wedding destination.
Benguet featured the Adivay Festival with the theme The Spirit of Community that celebrated the indigenous culture of the Ibaloi people of the province.
The province of Apayao presented the Say-am Naya Apayao, from the Isneg term for “thanksgiving” that reflected the festival ancient agricultural practices.
The province of Kalinga featured two historical festivals, the Matagoan Festival of Tabuk City, with the theme The Vibrant Colors of the City Life, and the Bodong Festival that features the peace accord of the province.
The province of Ifugao demonstrated the Kulpi Ad Ifugao, a traditional celebration or ritual conducted after planting rice to beseech the gods and spirits to protect crops against disease and pestilence and ensure a good harvest.
The Lang-ay Festival of the Mountain Province showcased the traditional lifestyle and rich culture to foster happiness, friendship, strengthen family ties, and foster brotherhood in the province.
The province of Abra presented the Bamboo Festival. Abra is among the top producers of bamboo in the country. It is one of its natural resources used for survival, music, and community building that reflects the province's resiliency and creativity even in adversities.
Ganongan said the festivals is proof of the region's commitment to celebrate its rich heritage. “This event is not only a gathering of various cultural festivities but also a display of pride and unity among the provinces and cities of the Cordillera Administrative Region.”
“The initiative of DOT-CAR to organize this festival comes from the vision to contribute to the recovery of the tourism industry while also establishing a platform to preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Cordillera region,” Ganongan said.
The event is an annual commemoration of Indigenous Peoples' (IP) Month in October under Proclamation No. 1906, Series of 2009, honoring the signing of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act in 1997.