Play of 1,000 gongs, dancers to mark Kalinga Day, Bodong fest

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- The province of Kalinga is set to celebrate its silver founding anniversary on Feb. 14 and to mark its significance, organizers have set the play of a thousand gongs  with thousand banga dancers.

               Gov. Ferdinand B. Tubban said the event is dubbed ‘Awong Chi Gangsa, Agtun Chi Banga’ (Call of the gong, carrying the pot).

Performers would come from all municipalities of the province symbolizing unity and solidarity of Kalinga people.

The ‘call of a thousand gongs’ was first performed during the province’s founding anniversary in 2014.

This time, a thousand banga dancers are joining to make the event more exuberant.  

Adding pageantry and fun to the celebration are the ethnic street dance competition, Miss Kalinga pageant, Kalinga treasures fair, Pasil Slow Food, concert and other festivities.

Side by side with the Kalinga25th anniversary celebration is   the 4th Bodong Festival that recognizes and promotes the ‘Bodong’ or peace-pact, its time-in-memorial chord of peace among tribes. 

               One highlight of the celebration is the actual bodong rites between two tribes to establish their peace pact.

The 3-day festivities end evening of Feb. 14 with the Valentine fellowship and concert, capped by fireworks display at the provincial capitol grounds. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)