Am-among festival features agri-cultural presentations

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Cultural presentations captured the celebration of the 6th Am-among celebration here in this capital town last Sept. 16.

Guest speaker Supt. Alexander Pumecha and Mayor Pascual Sacgaca exhorted the audience on importance of cultural values and practices worth sustaining and passing on to the next generation.

Folks from the town’s 16 barangays joined in the festival in synchrony with the celebration of the 102nd founding anniversary of Bontoc as a municipality.

Presentations were guided on the theme: “Ma-among ta mangamwan isnan kakakyong” and authenticity of Bontoc's cultural practises as performed by villagers, mostly youth, from the 16 barangays of barangays of Poblacion, Bontoc Ili, Samoki, Gonogon, Alab Norte, Alab Proper, Maligcong, Can-eo, Mainit, Guinaang, Dalikan, Balili, Talubin, Caluttit, Bayyo, and Balili.

Separate shows portrayed ub-ubbo (helping each other) and the tengaw (rest day) among other shows including the pechen (peace pact).

Guinaang got away with the first prize pocketing P15,500 for showing best in both cultural and street dancing competitions.

All barangays got second place with P10,500 cash prize each.

Poblacion Bontoc though was noted by the judges as the Darling of the Crowd and Tukukan with children performers distinctly portraying the Bontoc Brave with their spears and warrior-like stances. Maligcong performers came off outstanding underwear-less with their chinangta wahnes (G-string) but marred their show with some macho dancing while holding the kalasag (shield used by warriors).

A spectacular show was delivered by Bontoc Ili yet noted by the judges as very theatrical to an extent of lessening the ethnicity of cultural practice. Samoki was specially noted for performing the authentic 'inaninnit' gong playing and Gonogon playing to the tune of 'Hang down your head Tom Dooley" with their gongs.

Can-eo was specially recognized for casting elderly participants while the rest of the barangays sent mostly youth-participants.

Prizes were provided by the local government. On- the- spot donations were given by Pumecha, office of Congressman Maximo Dalog, and an anonymous donor.

Guinaang showed the most moving and synchronized portrayal on the traditional and cooperative manner of planting to harvest of rice, a vital component of am-among.

Am–among is a Bontoc traditional practice of village rest after the rice fields have been planted.

Traditionally a practice among clans, the practice has been extended to the whole community as a town occasion.

In the am-among, assigned persons kindle a small fire in nearby rice field and cook inasin( salted pork).

Rice wine is offered to Kabunian (God) and prayer is said for good harvest.On the second day, male members trek to the river to catch kachiw (river fish) while the women collect koti ( shells).

These are brought home, cooked with meat, and partaken by family members and relatives.

The fourth day usually is the proper rest day where men and women will not work in the fields and children either stay at home or bathe in the river.

In the same development, Tadian mayor Anthony Wooden invited the audience to the town’s upcoming fiesta on March 4 next year.