Mt Province preps on for ‘golden foundation day,’ Lang-ay Festival

By Roger Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government and private sector are now preparing for next year’s 50th foundation day anniversary of the province and 13th Lang-ay Festival.

The steering committee met Oct.  6 to finalize the program and launching of activities for the twin events on  Oct. 24. 

Provincial administrator Amador Batay-an  said next year would be the “golden anniversary” of the province and celebrations would be elaborate.

“We have to launch the two events this early to give ample preparations for the golden anniversary of the foundation of the province”, he said.

Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan invited the Lang-ay Festival Organization to head preparations for the Lang-ay Festival 2017.

With the province reaching 50 years next year, the provincial administrator facilitated efforts of the government and private sectors in preparing for the twin events.

The theme for the two simultaneous events is “Mountain Province at 50: Reminiscing and fostering our cultural Integrity” after it went through discussion by committee members.

The theme would encompass the opportunity for reflections of the people over the past 50 years of the province and as it strides towards nurturing its cultural heritage.

Lawyer Roland Calde, regional director of National Commission for Indigenous Peoples, Cordillera Administrative Region, would be the guest speaker in recognition of the culminating activity of IP Month.

It was a repeat of the 2014 event as the Lang-ay Festival was also launched in similar occasion.

In the first meeting of steering committee Sept. 28,  participants adapted programs and activities of Lang-ay Festival 2016 which was aborted by the sudden death of the late Gov. Leonard Mayaen.

The start of Lang-at Festival 2017 would be March 31, 2017 but that it would have to be moved to a later date as the date would coincide with the first death anniversary of the late governor.

The Lang-ay Festival Organization managed staging of the provincial festival in the past two years.

Both were also launched in the months of October, first in 2014, then in 2015.