Gotad Ad Ifugao focuses on culture, people and progress

By Julie G. Fianza

LAGAWE, Ifuygao – For the cultured and curious, “Gotad ad Ifugao” activities here June 12 to 18 offers sights and sounds of ethnic yet modern provincial life.

In a media forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Ifugao Gov. Denis Habawel extended invitations for the festival which coincides with the province’s 50th founding anniversary.

Provincial administrator Evelyn Dulnuan and planning and development officer Carmelita Buyuccan echoed his call.     

“Gotad” is an Ifugao term for celebration, or large gathering for thanksgiving, thus for people, culture and progress, the officials said.

A pre-Gotad event targets the youth, a biking event through rugged and mountainous terrain, ending at the Capitol Plaza, Lagawe, on June 11.

On June 12, an 8 a.m. thanksgiving mass will be celebrated at the St. Mary Magdalene Church, with an interfaith program, 6PM at the Lagawe Central School ) gymnasium.

The next day, a civic parade and opening program is scheduled at 8 a.m. at the Capitol Plaza. An indigenous culinary arts competition opens at 10 a.m.

The Overseas Foreign Worker forum is at  2 p.m. with the grand Gotad ball at 7 p.m.

The last event is a formal affair for dance enthusiasts. 

The agri-industrial trade fair opens June 14 with a statistical extravaganza and photo exhibit; performing arts winner exhibition, demonstration of ethnic skills winners and judging of “Baya” (rice wine) entries in the afternoon; and pre-pageant night for Bugan ya Wigan (Mr. and Miss) di Gotad 2016.

On June 15, the LCS gym is the venue for a job fair, Professional Regulations Commission licensing and free legal services; with a show from the “Mundakdak and Muntuknul,” school of living traditions. The Don Bosco High School (DBHS) auditorium is host to the film showing of Ifugao History, followed by the Ifugao development symposium at the Ifugao Native Village; and the Musical Cultural Theatre Festival at LCS Gym.

A marathon with participants in G-string starts early in the morning of June 16, timed with arrival at 8 a.m. to open the cultural sports competition at the public plaza.

The cultural ethnic sports competition includes the “Bultong,” or the Ifugao version of wrestling. Used in customary justice system to settle lot boundary disputes where wrestlers play on the disputed area, the victor throws the loser further upon which the boundary would be marked. With the use of various techniques, it is now a game to prove one’s strength.

Other ethnic sports to be played are the, Kayyatan or pole-climbing is a team game where flags are used to mark the poles climbed be each members. Guyyudan is the local “tug of war,” where municipal teams compete. Uggub is a game of grass shoot darts called “alo” used on an opponent’s back. The player having the most number of “hits” is the winner.

Coconut shell (Ungut) traditional stilt race contest for children is played through teams. A race for women with a basket (labba) full of camote carried on the head is also played.

Hinukkting  is a game where players steadily holds a bent leg towards the buttocks and the other arm holds the g-string. The player then limps and bumps his opponent with either the shoulder and foream. The game could be played with two or several players, with players stumbling or loses his grip on the bended leg losing. The remaining player is the winner.

Akkad, the stilts game for children shall also be played. The stilts approximately six feet in height with a foot support at about two feet from the base are used by children to race towards a goal. Batawil or a race with a wooden/bamboo pole on the shoulders loaded with palay bundles at both ends tests the endurance of the men in the community.

The jobs fair and PRC licensing continues for the day. The coronation of Bugan ya Wigan happens in the evening of the 16th.

On June 17, the float contest with competing Local Government Units and an open category starts at 8 AM. A quiz bee on Ifugao culture and history is conducted starting at 1PM, with a cultural extravaganza for each municipality at the public plaza at 6PM.

On the final festival day, June 18, a cultural parade with a grand Gotad program is conducted at national highway to the public plaza. The Punhidaan or community lunch is served for the communities to partake.                      

The theme for this celebration is “Haggiyo, Ifugao!”

Spread over Ifugao province are interesting places; the Philippine War Memorial Shrine in Kiangan, the Million dollar hill, Gen. Yamashita surrender site, Mt. Nagchayan, Kiangan Museum, Tam-an and Bokiawan Village, Pula and Cambilo Native Village, Appo Burial, Makaliwagha and Lebhong burial caves, the Lumauig stone, caves, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes, rice terraces, Mt. Napulawan and Mt. Anapawan. The province also plays host to Mt. Amuyao, the 8th highest peak between Ifugao and Mt. Province; where scenic areas of Mt. Province, Ifugao, Isabel and Nueva Vizcaya could be viewed.