Dapil Festival held in Abra

BANGUED, Abra -- The Dapil Festival of this capital town recently presented traditional sugarcane industry of the place themed, “Sustaining a Tradition of Excellence.”

 The festival  showcased patience and ingenuity of farmers of Bangued, in  tedious process of sugarcane industry -- from crop cultivation to harvesting and processing of the sugarcane-based products enacted in the various cultural presentations.

Dapil is an Ilocano term derived from the word “dadapilan,” an  equipment used to extract juice from sugar cane to produce molasses or mscovado, “balikutya”, wine called “basi” and  vinegar.

While cooking molasses, people can also cook with it the mouth-watering “cascaron,” a delicacy made of glutinous rice as well as other food items like “kinalti” out of various tropical fruits and root crops.

The traditional technology of the sugarcane industry using the carabao-driven “dadapilan” has improved with modern machinery and farm implements, and though tedious, said industry is being sustained in tune with the One Town One Product (OTOP) of the municipality that is food processing.

In his message during the Coronation Night of the Search for Miss Bangued,  Gov.  EstaquioBersamin urged the people of this capital town to institutionalize the Dapil Festival to inspire the sugarcane farmers to develop and sustain the industry, not only for fun but to improve their economic condition.

Other events were trade fairs where agri-based products were sold, sports tournaments, beauty pageant like Search for Miss Bangued and the Miss Gay; parades, cultural and variety shows inspired by celebrities, amazing race among the tricycle operators and drivers associations; mountain trail bike challenge and motocross.

The Dapil Festival was conceptualized by rep. Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos when she was still a member of the SangguniangPanlalawigan, and was adopted by the town in 2008.-- Maria Teresa Benas