Gagayam fest set March 20; Hedcor’s Ronquillo is guest of honor

SABANGAN, Mountain Province—The Gagayam Festival will be held here March 20 to 22 with engineer Rene B. Ronquillo, Hedcor president and chief operating officer as guest of honor.

Juanita L. Lampac, program committee chairperson, the steering committee headed by the Mayor, Donato L. Danglose, chose Ronquillo since Hedcor will build a mini-hydro dam in the town and it is but proper that the people of Sabangan and Hedcor officials will be acquainted to each other.

The theme of the festival will be “Tinawid ay kultura batawa, ya kataguwan, entako kawwanan.”

It means “Let’s take care of our heritage, culture, environment and the source of our livelihood.”

The theme was formulated by the steering committee to remind constituents especially the youth of their responsibilities.

The festival festival will start at 8:30 a.m. with a civic parade and street dancing by all 15 barangays.
The choreographed cultural presentation will also start at 1 p.m. at the open gym.

“Awil” will be presented by Bao-angan, “Wakley” by Bun-ayan, “Begnas” for Busa and “Bayas” for Camatagan.

Capinitan will also present “Awil.”

Data will present “Sungba.” Gayang will present “Tungo,” Lagan the “Ug-ugbo,” Losad “Binnigat” and Namatec the “Bayas.”

Also, barangays Napua, Poblacion and Supang will separately present “Leppas” while barangays Pingad and Tambingan will separately present “Begnas.”

They will be judged on originality and authenticity, costumes and props, stage rapport and skillfulness.
After the cultural presentations, parlor games for elementary pupils will follow.

On March 19, the celebration of the Patron Saint of Saint Joseph Parish Church will be held.
The evening will be the beauty and brain contest.

Search for ” Bangan ken Gatan” will open to junior and senior high school students of this municipality.

According to Dudze Velasco, committee chairman, wight pairs are vying for the prestigious title.

On the 21st, the indigenous literary musical will start at 8 a.m.

Ma. Lourdes Aliping, chairperson of coordinating committee, Dad-dad-at and Uggayam will be participated in by high school students with one student per school.

“Buyag” and “Liwlia” will be one participant per barangay for adults. “Tantandak” for the elementary pupils will have the same piece to be provided by the coordinating committee with five participants per school. Judges will be chaired by Felipa Gasmena.

One of the crowd drawing event of the festival will be indigenous games, said Anthony Las-egan, chairman of the coordinating committee of the event.

Other activities have also been lined up for the festival.