The performance of YKalingas made a name in world history during the Awong Chi Gangsa, Agtu’n Chi Banga (A Call of a Thousand Gongs, the Dance of a Thousand Pots) presentation at Kalinga Sports Complex, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga, on February 15, 2023.
All the municipalities in the province including Tabuk City participated in the activity, in which they all wore the Kalinga traditional attire, who proved two titles under the Guinness World Records holding the “Largest Gong Ensemble” and “Largest Banga Dance.”
As part of the 28th Kalinga Founding Anniversary and 4th Bodong Festival with the theme “Lumin-awa Kalinga”, all the municipalities, with some heads of offices, personalities, and officials were present during the event supporting the performers.
Guinness Official Adjudicator Kazuyoshi Kirimura witnessed the performance and noted that the province recorded the highest number of gong players with 3,440 and 4,681 pot dancers in the world.
Other members of the Adjudication Witness Panel include Stanley Anongos of Benguet State University; Atanacio Addog of NCIP-CAR; and Allen Marquez & Kenneth Maslang of St. Mary’s University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Bishop Prudencio Padilla Andaya was the Head of the Committee for the event directing the performance together with the officials of the province and municipalities. They visited and oriented all local officials prior to the event. The performance was supposed to be presented in 2020 but it was rescheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The performers were judged in consideration of the number of gongs played; the number of beat sticks used, with synchronized and simultaneous 5-minute playing.
Present also during the event were some guests namely: Hon. Ferdinand Jumapao, Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism and Hon. Carlito Galvez, Jr., Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity and Secretary of the Department of National Defense who was adopted as a son of Kalinga named “Dalutag” which means a strong and brave tribal leader.
Thereafter, all female banga dancers across the province exhibited perfectly the “Dove of Peace” symbolizing unity and peace among the people in the province promoting the local pottery industry, food security, and cultural heritage.**By Ian Jefrey Addatu
