For Lang-ay and Foundation fest
BONTOC, Mtn. Prov.– President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been requested by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here to issue a presidential proclamation declaring April 8, 2019, a Monday, as a non-working holiday in the province.
April 7 is the Foundation Day of the province and falls on a Sunday. “It is for this reason that the provincial government of Mountain Province requests the issuance of a presidential proclamation declaring Monday, April 8, 2019, in lieu of April 7, 2019, as a special non-working holiday in Mountain Province to provide the employees and the people of the province the full opportunity to participate in all the activities and programs lined up for the celebration of the province’ foundations anniversary”, read the Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution.
The 52nd Foundation Day and the 15th Lang-ay Festival will be staged in this capital town the first week of April 2019.
Resolution No. 2018-489 was approved on December 4, 2018 but was only released last January 9, 2019.
Meanwhile, preparations for this year’s Lang-ay Festival are being undertaken.
It was known on the second meeting of the steering committee chaired by Provincial Administrator Amador Batay-an conducted last January 16, 2019 that a new major event will be showcased. The known Lang-ay by the Street will be no more and a Lang-ay Night Market with Concert will take its place.
From 5:00 p.m. to midnight, the main street will be closed to give way to the Night Market with Concert as a main feature. It will be a series of merry making from April 2, 3, and 5, 2019. However, the details are still being worked out.
Foods and drinks will flood the street but not free. “Nothing free now, you have to buy”, remarked Paula Acofo, the Bontoc Market Vendors Association (BOMARVA) president.
Aside from beer in cans only as intoxicating liquor, fruit wines like the Lang-ay wine and bugnay wine, and food delights such as patopat, linapet, sinab-ang, etc. will be served but must be bought.
The main feature is that the market vendors will have the option to bring out the usual commodities inside the market to be sold during the night market. New clothings, not wagwagan items, will be sold.
The new event will be spearheaded by the Bontoc Market Vendors Association (BOMARVA).
Paula Acofo said that the event will also feature a “fancy fair” ala perya while drinks and pulutans will be served.
It was known from the secretariat that all the private sector initiatives of the Lang-ay Festival Foundation will not be showcased during this year’s festival. Even the popular Igorot showdown and Fashion show will not be conducted.
The Indigenous games will also be limited as a cost cutting measure. **Roger Sacyaten
