Sagada church, Etag Festival events slated

 By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Culture and Christ are harmonized in joint celebration of the upcoming 9th Sagada Etag festival and the Feast of the Purification of St Mary the Virgin and Presentation of Christ in the Temple of the Church of St Mary the Virgin(CSMV) this January 30- February 2, 2020.

Guest speaker Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. in his message printed in the program event noted the event theme-social dynamics church and cultural harmony- “reminds us of our bounded duty to be devoted to church teachings at all times as taught to us by the early missionaries and at the same time, to be at home with our roots and culture as taught to us by our forefathers.”

Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) Bishop Brent Alawas said “this joint celebration it itself an affirmation and a manifestation of the dynamic and harmonious relationship between Christianity and the local culture. It is not by coincidence that these church fest and community festival are being celebrated together.”

“What is quite remarkable is that through the decades of radical change, the Sagada community has retained many of the positive indigenous cultural values and practices of the past.  We must be vigilant lest we lose these positive cultural values and Christians teachings especially in this world stressed by the pressures of globalization, secularism and commercialism”, Alawas added.

Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr said “because of culture, people share common customs which compose the very backbone of a community.”

“The theme for this year appropriately pictures the collaboration among the people in every Sagada community. it speaks of how people of Sagada blended religious and cultural belief into a unique way of life”, Lacwasan added.

Sagada Mayor James Pooten Jr said, “while we come together to enjoy, we must also be thankful of the many blessings that we have received and take note of the challenges that have beset us. Blessings have brought us prosperity and challenges have been excellent opportunities for growth as these have tested our resolve and commitment to our goals and aspirations.”  

In this year’s fest, events are lined up including a civic parade participated by schools, organizations, private and public institutions from sitio Daoangan to the CSMV for the ecumenical service.

This shall be followed by the opening program with the town’s constituents and government officials and Rep. Dalog Jr. as guest speaker.

Ground demonstrations by elementary and high school students follow at the softball ground.

Search for the best recycled waste bins shall be done at the municipal plaza on the first day in observance of the town’s drive for a clean and green town.

The search for Miss Sagada at St Mary’ School gymnasium follows evening on the first day of the town fiesta.

Concerts fill the air with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) clergy on Jan. 31 at the CSMV  and a battle of the bands participated by the town’s youth and adult bands on the last day of the event on Feb. 2 including a concert by Fr. Marcs Castaneda.

The usual street dancing shall be held on the cultural day on Feb. 1 with cultural presentations and indigenous games including ‘depap di beteg’.

A run of 6 to 24-km categories start at 5 a.m. of Feb. 2 with assembly at the municipal plaza.

The bible quiz bee shall be held at CSMV and the anticipated tug- of -war on the last day of the event.