Mt Province celebrates 48th foundation day, Lang-ay fest

By Juliet Saley and Novy Afidchao

BONTOC, Mountain Province – This province is holding activities for the whole month of April in commemoration of its 48th foundation anniversary (April 7) alongside its Lang-ay Festival with the theme, “Progress through peace and unity.”

Provincial human resource and management officer Leonila Malla-ao, chairman of program committee,  said foundation activities started April 6  with  the blessing of the newly constructed open shade at the provincial plaza followed by a thanksgiving mass and opening of agro fair.

Medical and dental mission, operation “Tule” and acupuncture were also held April 6 and at Bontoc General Hospital.

A civic parade then a program was held April 7 with Emmanuel W. Diaz, District Engineer of Pangasinan 3rd District Engineering Office as guest speaker.

On April 8,the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist conducted technology demonstration on fish deboning and other fish by-products.

The Provincial Population Office here in coordination with the Ugnayan at Tulong para sa Maralitang Pamilya (UGAT) Foundation  also conducted  “Anak nang ibang Bansa Aruga at Kaagapay (ANAK) workshop, and ANAK mentoring and support tract to children of overseas workers studying in two high schools  here.

The OPAG also conducted cost structure preparation on selected commodities on April 9 and 10.

On April 10, the Provincial Cooperative Office held forum on executive development with cooperatives organizations in the province.

For the past nine years, the foundation anniversary was celebrated alongside Lang-ay Festival.

This year, the Lang-ay, which is a cultural celebration was slated April 10-30.

In 2010, when Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen was back as governor, he mandated April 7 of each year as observance of Mountain Province Foundation Day and that Lang-ay Festival be distinctly treated as separate occasions.  

Mayaen said this would give more essence and political identity to celebration of MP Foundation Day.

Mayaen said this was anchored on Presidential Proclamation No. 144 (Proclamation declaring April 7, 1993 and every year thereafter as foundation day of Mountain Province) signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on February 26, 1993. 

On June 10, 1980, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province approved Resolution No. 69 adopting April 7 as Mountain Province Day.  

It was observed in the past that simultaneous holding of activities for the Mountain Province Foundation Day and Lang-ay Festival resulted to overlapping of activities and made the essence of a foundation day, it being a charter day, overshadowed in the process.

Initially, one main reason of holding the Lang-ay in April was to enhance celebration of the Mountain Province Foundation Day.

In the past, highlights of the Lang-ay Cultural Festival fell on the same day with MP Foundation Day, hence programs have extended way beyond lunch time.

The current schedules, therefore, (i.e. MP 48th Foundation Day on April 7 and Lang-ay Cultural Festival on April 25) addressed some earlier predicaments like overlapping of activities.

Meanwhile, for the Lang-ay Festival, Mayaen said its management was given to private sector, but the provincial government is still very much involved as 90% of the funds for the events was provided by the provincial government including  90 % of human resource.

In its 2015 budget, P25 was set by the provincial government for Lang-ay Festival.