BONTOC, Mtn. Prov.– The activities for the 14th Lang-ay Festival and 51st Foundation Day have been launched last January 8, 2018 at the Provincial Plaza here.
During the program, the activities were read by the Provincial Administrator, Atty. Amador Batay-an, who said that there will be surprise activities that may be included in the list.
Among the activities are Agro-Trade Fair, Cultural Exposition, Foundation Parade and Program, Igorot Showdown, Indigenous Games, Street Dancing and Cultural Presentations, Lang-ay by the Street, Gangsa Night, and Million Volunteer Run and Raffle Bonanza.
The Tocucan Elementary School and the Capinitan Elementary School, the second and first placers, respectively, in the Igorot Showdown of Lang-ay 2017, performed intermission numbers.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. gave a message that centered on making innovations and “surprise’ activities to make the festival merrier.
“This year, the provincial government has reassumed the responsibility so I challenge all the different working committees to work double time. You should think of new ideas and new activities that will make the coming festival merrier and more meaningful”, he told the audience mostly composed of government employees.
He added that everyone should be guided by the reasons for the Lang-ay Festival’s existence which are: first, to set a single time during the year when natives of the province would come together and share their experiences for the good of the province; and, second, the Lang-ay Festival was born to instill to the young generation the spirit and virtues of our rich culture.
The provincial executive acknowledged that the Lang-ay Festival, now and in the past, has a very important purpose as a unifying factor. People from all walks of life, political and social orientations, come together to celebrate and savor the pride of being from the province.
Atty. Cyphine Dalog, reading a message from Congressman Jesse Allen Mangaoang, paid tribute to the forebears and past leaders of the province “who have charted the history and shared in nurturing the province to progress and prosperity”.
Aligned with the theme: “Nurturing the Homeland, Keeping Cultures Alive”, Mangaoang asked hearers to draw inspiration from the vision of Lang-ay to continue on nurturing the province and keeping the cultures alive.
The Lang-ay Festival spawned the birth of municipal festivals such as the Menaliyam Festival in Kadaclan, Changyasan Festival in Lias, and Fortan Festival in central Barlig; Ubaya Festival in Besao, Etag Festival in Sagada, Begnas Festival in Bauko, Gagayam Festival in Sabangan, and Ayyoweng di Lambak ed Tadian, among others.
The solon, in his message, was more emphatic as he exhorted his constituents to think of the common good for the province.
“Let us be united in heart and spirit by doing what we can to contribute towards the development of the province”, was his final message.**Roger Sacyaten
