Call of a thousand gongs:All systems go for 19th Kalinga Day, Ullalim fest

By Peter Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- It’ s all systems go for the 19th Kalinga Founding Anniversary and 2014 Ullalim Festival  on Feb. 12-16  that will showcase the rich cultural heritage of  the province.

Kristian Wandag, provincial legal officer and event management committee chairman, said everything is final. “All invited guests and entertainers confirmed their attendance, venues of events are prepared, and the P1.5 million for expenses is released,” he said.

For the first time, the celebration will feature “Awong chi Gangsa (Call of a Thousand Gongs) on Feb. 13.

On Feb. 2 motocross at the Kalinga Sports Complex will be participated in by local motor clubs and those of Region 2.

Last year, the event was one of the crowd drawers in three categories: children, amateur, and experts.

On Feb. 3, the trade and industrial fair located at the national highway fronting St. Tonis College was opened.

On Feb. 10 is the opening of the agro exhibit at Capitol by the different municipalities and this city.

It will be simultaneous with the opening of the tourism fair featuring the last living tattoo artist “Wanghud” from Buscalan, Tinglayan also at Capitol grass area.

Scheduled on Feb.  12-13  were skills and jobs fair, mobile licensing, and Pag-ibig and GSIS inquiry service desk back of Capitol.

Feb. 12 will be celebrated as schools day to start with the usual street parade with the Balikbayan night at Capitol park in the evening.

Feb.13 is ‘Municipalities Day at the CARAA grounds after the street dancing. Aside from the “Awong chi Gangsa” will be a cultural presentation by the municipalities of Tinglayan, Balbalan, Pasil and Rizal in the afternoon and Search for Miss Kalinga 2014 in the evening. 

Invited guest speakers are Civil Service Commissioner Nieves Osorio and Senator Peter Alan Cayetano

Feb. 14  is the anniversary day to start with the grand civic parade and program at the Capitol gymnasium with National Irrigation Administration Administrator Claro Maranan as guest speaker.

The municipalities of Lubuagan, Pinukpuk, Tanudan and Tabuk city will have their  cultural presentation  in the afternoon and TM Dance showdown and Valentines concert at the Capitol canopy in the evening.

On Feb. 15  is the ‘Farmers Day to start with a bike fest at 6:30AM,  a parade by the different farmer groups; program at Capitol gym with Outstanding Rice Farmer Engr. TeodoroKub-ao Jr. as guest speaker; drum and lyre competition by secondary schools, concert by Kalinga Echoes and Badjao.

It culminates on Feb. 16. “Family Day’ with an acrobatic show at Capitol gymnasium.

The 5-day celebration will be covered live by Radyong Bayan and  documented by Living Asia.

Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac said the Ullalim festival is a “cultural even to  immortalize the dignified pageantry and grandeur of arts and celebration of our visions and aspirations.”