The programs and activities of the 15th Lang-ay Festival and 52nd Founding Anniversary of Mountain Province with the theme, Nurturing Cultural Traditions through Indigenous Peoples Education will be celebrated on April 6 and 7, respectively.
Representatives of the 10 towns of Mountain Province will participate and showcase their cultural dances and chants. Added activities will be lang-ay (lunch) at the Eyeb grounds of the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School, indigenous games, extemporaneous speech contest and gangsa night.
Regional Director Janet P. Armas of the Department of Social Welfare and Development–Cordillera Administrative Region, and Secretary Isidro S. Lapeda of the Technical Education and Skills Development will be the keynote speaker and guest of honor and speaker, respectively.
On the other hand, the Foundation Day of Mountain Province will be commemorated by the laying of wreaths and candle lighting at the governors’ memorial area, thanksgiving mass, and a short program at the provincial plaza on April 7, 2019.
The keynote speaker in this momentous day will be Assistant Secretary Cheryl L. Daytec Yangot of the Department of Justice, while Kabayan Party List Ron P. Salo will be the guest of honor and speaker.
The celebrations will commence on April 1 with a civic parade, traditional opening ritual, opening of the agro-industrial fair, lang-ay by the street, Mountain Province Prov’l Anti Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) battle of the bands and Lang-ay Concert. The concert will also be featured on April 2,3 and 5, 2019.
On April 3, the Philippine Red Cross will facilitate a variety show and raffle bonanza, while on April 3-4, skills demo, competency assessment, beauty care and massage will be done by the TESDA of this province..
The coronation night of 2019 Miss Mountain Province coupled with a surgical mission were scheduled for April 4. The latter will continue on April 5-6, 2019.
Mobile passport processing, quiz bee on history and culture of Mountain Province, health and wellness services and governor’s night will be done on April 5.
Other support activities that were organized by private groups on April 7 follow: 1st MontaDosa ride for a cause that was organized by the MP riders club, MP Ultra marathon trail and road adventure by the Tawid multipurpose group, and 1st MontaDosa enduro challenge by the Mountain Province trail riders group.
In an interview with Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr., he is extending his invitation to everyone to come and celebrate with the people of Mountain Province the annual commemoration of the historic founding of the province and the celebration of the Lang-ay festival showcasing the rich customs and traditions of the people here.
Assured by the provincial police is the safety of tourists and locals.
“There will be K-9 units coming from the regional office to help us secure the safety of the tourists and the residents,” said Col. Clarence Casilio, Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO) director, on the sidelines of the joint Regional Development Council-regional peace and order council (RDC-RPOC) meeting last Tuesday.
He said there will be additional checkpoints, aside from the ones established by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The curfew for minors will also be strictly implemented on top of the foot patrol of village watchmen together with the Bontoc women’s brigade.
Casilio added that there will also be an augmentation force which will be composed of personnel from the various municipal police offices. “An augmentation of three to four personnel coming from each of the different police stations are expected for the festival. They will help secure the safety of tourists and locals who will attend lang-ay,” he said.
Currently, there are 490 police officers in Mountain Province while the capital town of Bontoc has 42.
The activities will be held in the capital town, an hour away from Sagada, the famous the famous tourist destination.** By Francis B. Degay with reports on security by Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA
