Kabayan street dancers win again in flower fest

BAGUIO CITY — For the third year in a row, Kabayan dancers from Kamora National High School again showcased the Ibaloi culture and tradition in a spectacular way to win last week’s street dancing competition, one of the highlights of the 19th Panagbenga Festival, here.

Thousands of viewers were struck with awe as the group performed the “Adivay” Festival of Benguet.

With Panagbenga’s theme “Inspiring the community for greener tomorrow”, the group centered their performance in the four elements of nature – earth, wind, fire, water, that did not only touch the judges but the viewers, giving them the win.

The performance’s story line being the ever generous provider, “Gatan,” the goddess of earth provided the native inhabitants with vast greenery of natural resources and rich hunting grounds.

As they celebrate their bountiful harvest with a ritual called “Bendiyan”, they forgot to invite “Bentawan” the goddess of fire. Bentawan felt so offended that she burned the whole forest surrounding their community.

Having no more source of livelihood, the tribe chanted and prayed to “Kabunian” (God) for mercy and bounty. Kabunian saw their sincerity and conveyed to “Angban” the goddess of water to provide them with enough rain. When the soil became fertile again, the natives started to generate their forest by planting trees, crops and flowers.

With the help of “Kabigat” the goddess of wind, seeds were spread rapidly and the lush natural resources came to life. Soon enough the “Panagbenga”, so called the Season of Blooming came to pass.

With ecological balance finally restored in their community, they celebrated once again with a “Canao” called “Adivay”, a native term meaning “to come together and have fun”.