festival of festivals

Cordillera Festival of Festivals

𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚 – 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

The Laga Festival is a celebration of the Municipality of Lagayan’s abundance of bamboos as well as their products that were made from it. Held every second week of March, the Laga Festival is relatively new compared to the other festivals of Abra but has since grown in popularity, thanks to the various activities that are part of the celebration in which the culture of the Ilocanos and the Tingguians are highlighted through songs, dances and their unique bamboo products.

𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 – 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

The Bodong Festival, is an annual event in celebration of the province of Kalinga’s Founding Anniversary which falls on the 14th of February. It is a showcase of Kalinga’s unique culture, practices, songs, dances, and indigenous products. “Bodong” is a unique peace-making system of the Kalingas of Northern Luzon, Philippines. Forging relationships, resolving conflicts and fostering peaceful co-existence, the “BODONG” is a unique socio-cultural and economic institution conceived and painstakingly developed through the centuries out of a need for collective security which is the basis for binding viable communities which sprung from their ardent desire to live in peace and social security and with the belief of advancing towards economic prosperity and social stability if peace is achieved. Bodong also promotes the development and preservation of a cultural heritage that bespeaks of a DISTINCTIVE ETHNIC IDENTITY.

𝐈𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐨 – 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐝 𝐈𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐨

The Gotad Ad Ifugao is an annual Cultural Festival of the Province of Ifugao. This cultural celebration is conducted with the primordial goal to promote, protect, preserve and perpetuate the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practice (IKSP) of the Ifugao People. Moreover, this grand event of the Province serves as a venue to promote camaraderie and foster unity between and among the people of Ifugao.

Gotad is an Ifugao word which is a segment of the prestige rites. The Ifugao elite or aristocracy called “Kadangyan” are the eligible class in the Ifugao society that can perform this kind of rites. The Gotad rites signifies the statement that the host family belongs to the wealthy class. The conduct of the rites require the butchering of many animals such as chickens, pigs and carabaos. Moreover, the Ifugao Rice wine or the “baya” is serve to all attendees of the rites.

In general, the Gotad is celebration of merry- making for all the villagers and the guest from other communities. The Gotad Ad Ifugao highlights, as well, a milestone of the Provincial history. This cultural festival coincides with the celebration of Foundation Day of the Province which is in June 18 by virtue of Republic Act 9646 or otherwise known as the “Division Law of Mountain Province”. The Gotad Ad Ifugao is a week- long celebration featuring an array of activities such as Cultural Parade, Float Contest, Performing Arts Competition (Ifugao Dances, Gong Beats, Chants), Ethnic Skill Completion,Indigenous Culinary Competition to name a few.

During the celebration, it is inevitable that all attendees are encourage to join the Ifugao dances while the gongs are incessantly being tuned or sound. Concurrently, the “baya” or Ifugao rice wine, is continuously being served to all attendees, guests and visitors as one of the significant feature of the event.

The Gotad Ad Ifugao celebration culminates with the conduct of “Punhidaan”. This is where all the people attending the celebration share a common public lunch. After this week-long celebration, it is anticipated with much hope that we rekindle the common aspiration to preserve our culture and collectively move forward for the attainment of an inclusive growth.

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