Awards and cultural events cap Ayyoweng ed Tadian, DOT head is guest speaker

By Gina Dizon

TADIAN, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE –Awards on exemplary barangay performances and cultural events  are lined up on the conduct of the 6th Ayyoweng di Lambak ed Tadian from  March 6  to 9. 

This, while Tadian’s attractions- among these Gawaan Lake, Mount Mogao and Pey-asan Falls- of the town’s eco-tourism  program shall be launched with  the Department of Tourism regional Director Purification Molintas as guest speaker on March 8.

March 8 is a cultural day with the observance of Tukab di Koob with ceremonial prayers for  unity, prosperity and good health specially said by elders and barangay chairmen Ignacio Ngagan of  Kayan East, Marcos  Balog-as of Bantey and Artemio Dapdapig of Bana-ao. Cultural presentations and street dancing delegations from the 19 participating barangays and the Sokob ed Tadian for the synchronized lunch are scheduled on March 8.

Jibing with the same festival dates, the municipality also celebrates Women’s Month on March 8.

The  four- day event specially sees the  awarding of  best performing barangays in serving their  respective constituents namely barangays Balaoa, Banaao, Bantey, Batayan, Bunga, Cadad-anan, Cagubatan, Duagan, Dacudac, Kayan East, Kayan West, Lenga, Lubon, Mabalite, Masla, Pandayan, Poblacion, Sumadel and Tue.

Tadian mayor Anthony Wooden  sees the occasion  as  the “best venue where we can all feel the spirit of oneness towards better opportunities and stronger force against animosities. The activities of the occasion would also let our people refreshed of the events that had shaped the history of Tadian until its present pedestal.Partly, the way to achieve prosperity or “sika” in the old folks tongue is portrayed in the various cultural presentations with a common end point – “hardwork and perseverance” jibing with  theme “Sumika ka Tadian: Ilin di mabikas ya litaguan”.  

Preceeded by a search from its 19 barangays done February, awards are given to most child- friendly barangay garnered by  Masla  bagging first place, second by  Banaao and third by Poblacion.

The best functional barangay agriculture and fishery council goes to award- winning Masla, followed by Lubon and third place by  Kayan West. The most functional Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council was won by Kayan East followed by  Masla and third to Kayan West.           

Awards are given to the most functional barangay office with Poblacion taking first place, second by Masla and third by Kayan West. The most peaceful and orderly barangay inched by Masla, second by Lubon and third by  Kayan West. Kayan East clinched the cleanest and greenest barangay followed by Masla and third by Banaao; and  best health practices noted in Kayan West, second by Kayan East followed by Masla.

Search for  the best Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) was bagged by  Kayan Elementary School followed by Masla Elementary School, and third  by Tadian Central School & Subabab National High School.  Eight retiring barangay health workers  are specially cited.

The opening day on March 6 witnesses the opening of the agro-industrial fair  with Provincial  director  Juliet P. Lucas of the  Dept of Industry-Mountain Province and  Provincial director Samuel Lasdacan of the Department of  Labor and Employment Mountain Province saying their messages.  Dr Cameron Odsey,manager of  the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource and Management  Project (CHARMP)- Dept of the Agriculture is the guest speaker on March 7.     

Tadian prides itself with its Kadad-anan  Arabica coffee, heirloom  balatinaw rice, organic crops, tilapia, processed muscovado from  milled  sugarcane and metal works.

Contests on the first day of the festival  identify the best dressed booth,  best package product,  most sustainable booth,  most organic booth, top grosser booth, and most varied display booth.

Sabangan mayor Donato Danglose, president of the Mountain Province-League of Mayors of the Philippines delivers  his message of solidarity on March 8 and Judge  Mario Anacleto M. Bañez  of the Regional Trial Court of  Tagudin Ilocos Sur to grace the occasion on March 9.

Indigenous games including the second holding of the bahagketball especially see action on March 8. Indigenous sports innagtowan, sanggol, torsi, damdama, tinubakan, alakad are played by representatives from selected barangays; inobonan di dagom and kinotiman open to  senior citizens, galgal-o for elementary pupils, kinnaban di kawayan played by boys ages 12 and below; depap di manok and ginuyudan di tali played by representative zones; and binayowan  by  representative husband and wife per zone.

The event was preceeded by the 2nd Mayor Anthony D. Wooden Invitational Cup  shooting competition at  Camp  Babalaan held  March 1 and seminar on responsible gun ownership  held February 22.

Coronation of Miss Tadian night of  March 6  is followed by a  concert for a cause with  proceeds to form part of the construction of Sumadel Epiphany Church. A balikbayan night specially held for  homecoming residents of Tadian who migrated to other places is specially scheduled to welcome  their presence on March 8.

An Ayyoweng  wedding was observed February 27 with solemnizing officer mayor Wooden garbed in cultural attire giving the legal solemnities of the ceremony  to nine couples with the oldest couple- Enrique Guines aged 55 and spouse Feliza Farol, 50 and the youngest  Virginia Pukate, 19 and husband Allan Awisan, 21 all wearing their traditional attire.

And as Tadian vice mayor Laurence Atipen specially says, “Umat abes hinan ka apo apo masapul amu da ay mangisapo hinan wanes, bakget ya gateng tako dapay ta adi kalitaw han naeteng ay gawis ay insulsulon di kaala alapo”.(And it shall also be done that our children and their childrens’ children shall know how to wear their traditional tapis and G-string and that traditional values taught by our forefathers shall forever be practiced). 

Salibongbong observed by cultural  gong playing of the ‘takik’  led by elders heed good blessings on the last day of the  festival  with the liwat di salibongbong done by Lakay Manuel Ayubo.