Sister and neighbor towns want to partake of the good in Sagada Etag Festival

Gina Dizon

SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – Leaders of sister and some neighboring towns of  Sagada were enthusiastic in wanting to partake of the good in what is in Sagada during the celebration of the town’s 4rth Etag Festival participated in by the town’s 19 barangays, leaders of the town led by mayor Eduardo Latawan and Congressman Maximo Dalog.

Mayor James Edduba of sister town Pasil, Kalinga said there are some similarities in Pasil comparable to Sagada as to its ecotourism potential further saying that Pasil can be reached on foot via a six hour trek from Colayo via the  Langsayan ride in northern Sagada.   

Tourism is a major source of livelihood among the residents of Sagada blessed with eco-cultural sites  and visited by nearly 50,000 tourists a year.

Neighboring Bontoc municipality led by mayor Franklin Odsey further echoed Sagada’s slogan-ipeyas nan gawis-hoping that Bontoc shall also share with the good that is in Sagada.

Pasil is one of Sagada’s four sister municipalities Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; Hungduan, Ifugao; Kabayan, Benguet who joined the parade and participated in some activities of Sagada’s Etag Festival from January 30- February 2 this year.

Similar hopes in partaking of the good of what is in Sagada were echoed by three other sister towns led by Mayor Faustino Aquisan of Kabayan, Benguet, Mayor Jose Bonuan of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur and  Vice Mayor Gloria Ananayo of Hungduan, Ifugao.

Three other sister towns of Sagada are the City of Makati, Dingalan, Aurora; and LaTrinidad, Benguet.

Respective  delegates from sister municipalities who joined the event performed  cultural presentations during the  solidarity night on the 30th of February. Guided  tours on the town’s attractions  happened afternoon of the 3oth and the 31st of January.  Simultaneously,  friendship games saw  action between sister towns on the same afternoon of  January 30th .

Celebration of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary  happens February 2 with the celebration of the holy eucharist. An open concert  follows in the evening  with musicians Atok Pagano at mga Nitibo on the last day of the festival on Feb 2.

Musical competitions  and Sagada Also Got Talent was observed 31st of  January.

Sports as traditionally done daily  were participated in by visiting delegates from municipalities and other visitor  teams, children games, grappling match, indigenous games and the usual games between and among delegates from elementary and high schools in the municipality.

The  Sagada Etag Festival was first held  January 29 to February 2, 2011 taking note of ‘etag’ (smoked meat) as part of daily life for the Sagada community.