Gagayam Festival set on March 20-21

Gabriel Moguet

SABANGAN, Mountain Province -- The Gagayam Festival, now on its fifth year, will be held here March 20-21.

Mayor Donato Danglose bared this, adding the celebration of the Patron Saint of Saint Joseph Parish Church will be celebrated on the 19th.

Events include street dancing, cultural shows like indigenous games and literary musical contest where even old folks could participate.

During the first Gagayam Festival, an indigenous game locally called ak-akad caught the attention of national dailies.

On the Evening of March 20 , the search for “Bangan” and “ Gatan” of Sabangan will be held.

This affair is the most awaited especially among youngsters as the search for “Bangan” and “Gatan” of Sabangan is not just a search for pretty faces but on wit and talents.

Local said the celebration would boost tourism in this town. During past celebrations, foreign and local tourists ran to thousands.

Meanwhile, Danglose and Vice Mayor Joseph Bernardez, turned over to the new town police chief Insp. Jabbar Wanna, one brand new laptop computer and also a new desktop compute r on Jan. 17.

The new chief of police, conveyed their gratitude but a school principal said the festival will be a test to Wanna if he would allow illegal gambling during the festival.

The past celebrations, despite letter of appeal from students to people concerned and a memorandum from the mayor to the chief of police, illegal gambling was allowed which was considered a major insult to the religious sector as it was operated just a few meters away from the Saint Joseph Parish Church.