Kabayan ‘Bendiyan’ festival set April

KABAYAN, Benguet -- This municipality known in international tourism as unique place of centuries-old mummies will celebrate "Bendiyan" eco-tourism festival starting April 28 as the world celebrates "Earth Day".

This was learned from municipal councilor Dorothy Sental, also chair of the council committee on tourism, who said that the initial activity of the festival will be an organized mountain climbing at Mount Pulag here.

The mountain is the second highest in the country and had been one of the favorite mountain climbing sites in Luzon.

Sental said the town's eco-tourism was instrumental in the furtherance of programs on environmental protection as well as added revenues for the municipality.

She said the festival will also have other highlights like agro-fair, cultural festivals and the promotion of the town's unique tea called "Gipa" as well as brewed coffee.

Records show that this town which is one of the oldest municipalities in the old Mountain Province had been among those visited by foreign tourists especially those from Europe.