Kadaclan Menaliyam Festival set at ‘Shangrila on the Edge’

Usec Banaag  guest speaker 

By Dionie Chungalan

BARLIG, Mountain Province – Officials of this town amid forests have slated the crowd-drawing Menaliyma Festival on April 17-20.

This was agreed upon in a joint meeting conducted by the Kadaclan Association of Barangay Officials (KABO) and Menaliyam Council here last Jan. 8.

The village 18^th festival shall be done to commemorate also the  Kadaclan 38^th foundation anniversary in 4-day activities.

Kadaclan is composed of four conglomerated barangays of Chupac, Kaleo, Lunas and Ogo-og.

Kadklan is located at the foot of Mt. Amuyao and encircled by the mountain ranges of Mao-woy and Mura.

It envelopes the locality like a bowl where the Siffu river originates.

It is beautiful, brimming with trekking wonders the Asian Social Institiute (ASI) writers from Manila in an adventure visit named Kadaclan as ‘Shangrila on the Edge,’

That was many years back when vehicular road did not reach the hamlet yet.

After hearing of the wonders of this town, former President Gloria M. Arroyo landed the presidential helicopter in 2001 in Kadaclan.

“I was informed that Koreans and Japanese visitors frequented this rural community, and so here I am, a lady president to visit you coming from Mansion House, Baguio City to lest you know that government cares for you,’ she said then.

In the Jan. 8 meeting, Benedicto Nabunat-Chupac, punong barangay said, “These two activities are in one celebration so we must invite one ‘kailian’ (villagemate) as speaker to bolster our culture as part of global family.”

It was agreed Undersecretary Marie Rafael-Banaag, under the Office of the President Communication Department would be guest speaker. Suggested theme was, “One caring and sharing community.”

Issues on sustainable eco-tourism promotion as part of the program was explained by Patrick Pul-agan, chairman on Kadaclan Environmental Guides Organization.

He said they contacted Francis Degay, provincial tourism officer and Robert Pangod from the Red Cross for talks on the matter.“We made request addressed to them that a date be set for technical and financial assistance service training and mountaineering procedures.”

Because the place has mossy forests, it is considered the home of rain. The area is cool throughout the year and abundance of water keeps the Siffu  source roaring down Isabela.

Due to these natural resources, a corporation plans to construct a mini-hydro power at Sabfiang water tributaries.

According to barangay officials, developmental projects like this which have been long denied shall uplift this tourism site to lessen poverty.

With improvement of the Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis national road that crosses the village, local folks were urged to produce marketable and trading products from indigenous resources as these could be easily transported to the markets.

To date, Evelyn Lamagan, a retired school principal with head teacher Jonelia Sao-ang both officials of Menaliyam Council are sending out invitations here and abroad saying, “ Ammay ta umali kayo paat ad fiabroy ta mekimaliyam kayo (Good to invite you home for a visit to join our customary feast).”