Lang-ay Festival cancelled in deference to gov’s death

By Roger Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mtn. Province – The Lang-ay Council in a meeting last week decided to cancel the staging of the Lang-ay Festival 2016 due to public demands to observe “afig” and out of respect for the death of the late Gov. Leonard Mayaen.

The common sentiment voiced out during the meeting was that it is the culture of the Igorots that if a member of the family, in this case, the father of the province, the members of the family will observe days of mourning for the loss of a father.

Mayors present echoed elders’ sentiments whom they consulted in their areas of jurisdictions, said that Lang-ay activities are joyful ones involving the playing of gongs, dancing, and merriment which are taboo in times of mourning.

Either postponing the activities after the elections which could be also after the 40 days of mourning or after the elections was not given credence since holding celebrations during election season would not be good.

Another justification for the cancellation was that participants were  either not interested anymore or have withdrawn participation as they were  going somewhere else like the students who will be taking summer classes.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey posed a question saying a provincial ordinance mandates staging of the Lang-ay Festival as part of celebration of the Foundation Day of the province which is April 7. Resetting it to after elections, he said, might need legislative action.

As to suggestions to continue with the activities without the playing of “gangsa”/gongs, the proponents opted to go with the decision to cancel the provincial festival this year and have it in 2017.

Meanwhile, the cancellation might be a prelude to better celebrations to prepare for next year as the province will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

“Golden anniversaries usually entail more elaborate celebrations” commented a participant saying the foundation anniversary and Lang-ay Festival 2017 should be events to await.