Lang-ay fest also a showcase of products

HAPPY WEEKEND
By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Processed items made from the province’s agricultural products including peanut brittle, potato chips, etag (smoked/salted meat), abaca baskets, and lang-ay wines displayed economic potential during the recently held 7th Lang-ay Festival and 44rth Foundation Day of Mountain Province last April 4-8, 2011.

The products were displayed in booths made of indigenous materials representing the province’s municipalities. Conducted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the structures were judged for displaying the best agri-industrial booth as to completeness of display, quality of products, product promotion , and sustainability.

The display of Tadian municipality bagged 1st place having contained all the product items - grains, root crops, vegetables, fruits, fishery, animals, recycled materials, processed food, industrial items, and organic inputs.

Among its special products, Tadian displayed its organic heirloom rice ‘balatinaw’. Agnes Cadiogan, Tadian’s municipal agriculturist said, the Revitalize Indigenous Cordilleran Entrepreneurs Inc. (RICE) a partner of US Based Eighth Wonder, purchases heirloom rice grown from the barangays of Bantey, Tadian Poblacion, Lubon and and Masla.

Tadian is a 4th class municipality with a partially urban category noted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

The neighboring vegetable producing town of Bauko got 2nd place with its consistent display of products during the four day- festival. Bauko is specially noted for its Lang-ay wines having pioneered in producing the fruit wines. Lang-ay wines reached its popularity and orders having already been taken from business entrepreneurs from the capital city of Manila.

Bauko specially featured its fading clay pots made in Bila barangay. Caroline Benbenen, Bauko’s municipal agriculturist said the age-old traditional industry is being revitalized. The 4rth class municipality is the most heavily populated with 29 thousand residents as of 2007.

The3rd place for best agri-industrial booth was taken by the tourist town of Sagada with its neat display of coffee Arabica and etag (smoked meat). Etag was especially featured during the municipality’s fiesta celebration dubbed Etag Festival February this year. Sagada also promoted the popular Sagada oranges and squash noodles. Partially-urban Sagada is categorized as a 5th class municipality.

Other municipalities got consolacion prizes.

The eastern town of Barlig specially focused display of its woven rattan products like the traditional sangi (back pack), and rattan-made jar. Barlig is also known for its heirloom rice purchased by RICE Inc.

The far-flung town of Sadanga is noted for its legumes and peanuts. Beans come in all kinds- white beans, red beans, batong (black beans), kardis, and cow peas, kidney beans which go best with inasin or etag when cooked. Processed peanut products include brittle and salted or sweetened peanuts. Municipal agriculturist Lucia Fumakchong said Sadanga’s processed products are sold in the Mountain Province Display Center.

Sadanga is also noted for its heirloom rice called kotinaw and gumiki. RICE Inc purchases organic kotinaw and gumiki varieties from Sadanga farmers and exports these to the US.

Also, Sadanga with its prolific growth of sugarcane plants is noted for its popular fyayash (sugarcane wine). Adolf Ganggangan, Sadanga- based Kalahi staff, says at least 80% of the locally made fyayash is purchased by kakailyan based in Baguio.

Besao had its muscovado neatly displayed along with mountain tea and balatinaw. Muscovado is Besao’s One Town One Product (OTOP). Too, 5t h class Sabangan shows processed potato chips and neatly packaged coffee and fruit wines specially produced by Maggon Rural Improvement Club (RIC).

Sabangan town is popular for covering Mt. Kalawitan within its territory. Mt Kalawitan is a thickly forested mossy jungle housing rich flora and fauna including leeches, wild cats, wild pigs and bids of different species. The watershed cradles waters cascading down the headwaters of the mighty Chico River downwards to the lowlands in Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.

Fourth class Natonin municipality is especially famous for its abaca products. Natonin’s abaka growers and producers belonging to Arang Multipurpose Cooperative were especially supported by Fiber Industrial Development Authority (FIDA) , the Department of Trade and Idustry (DTI) and the Central Cordillera Agricultural Program (CECAP).

Bontoc is known for its patopat (glutinuous rice wrapped in banana leaves), popularly sold in Bontoc’s bus terminals. It specially displayed its processed vinegar made from banana peelings. Bontoc, the capital town of the province is a 2nd class partial urban municipality with a vibrant source of income sourced from business taxes.

The yearly Lang-ay Festival is a potential source of income for the province’s entrepreneurs and farmers. Gina Peter, an entrepreneur who annually displays woven products from Paracelis said there have been few sales in this year’s festival.
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Mountain Province has risen to a 4rth class province from being 5th class for a long time, and graduated from being one of the 20 poverty stricken provinces in the latter years.

The offices- Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region, Cordillera Highland Agriculture Resource Management Project and the Montanosa Research and Development Office and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist judged booth entries of participating municipalities.