Unity gong relay drums up support to endeavor
By
Pamela Mariz Geminiano
LAGAWE, Ifugao – Top
Cordillera officials pushed support for realization of a Cordillera Autonomous
Region as Cordillera Day is commemorated today with main activities in this
capital town.
For the sixth
year in a row, Cordillera officials and folks held the annual week-long “unity gong
relay” last week, culminating on the region's foundation day on July 15.
The unity
gong relay is the ceremonial bringing of a symbolic gong to all the provinces
and cities in the Cordillera, with the heads of localities doing the honors of
beating the gong.
Since 2012,
the festive ceremony was done yearly to drum up support to the region's call
for autonomy.
"It
links one province to the next and brings all into one," said Milagros
Rimando, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority in
Cordillera, said Tuesday, the second day of the Unity Gong Relay rites.
"It is a venue to join hands in discussing the end dream of
autonomy."
For this
year, the 31st founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region,
the unity gong relay kicked off Monday in this town.
Ifugao Gov.
Pedro Mayam-o was the first to hit the symbolic gong, to usher the celebration
bearing the theme "Regional Autonomy for Good Governance”, symbolically
announcing the Cordillerans' renewed call for autonomy.
The
Cordillera Regional Development Council, which Rimando co-chairs, is pushing
for the region's autonomous status towards federalism.
Baguio Mayor
Mauricio Domogan aired the same view saying other so-called groups who claimed
to be supporters of President Dutrete and advocating federalism were confusing
people with their pronouncements.
Domogan
stressed the RDC’s thrust is Cordillera autonomy to federalism.
On Monday,
the gong was transported to Mountain Province, where the convoy of government
line agencies in Ifugao was received by Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio
Lacwasan and his constituents, then passed on to the province's Sagada town,
where more festivities took place.
On Tuesday
afternoon, the gong was brought to Kalinga province, amid more festivities in
Tinglayan town, then to the capital city of Tabuk, where a welcome program was
held in the evening.
After
Kalinga, the gong relay travelled to Conner, Apayao amid another welcome
program on Wednesday.
Later in the
day, indigenous friendship games were held in the capital town of Kabugao.
On Thursday,
the unity gong travelled from Luna, Apayao to Bangued, Abra, where the convoy
was met by the Abra delegation at the boundary of Abra and Ilocos Sur before
another welcome program at the Abra Provincial Capitol.
From Bangued,
Abra, the gong travelled to Baguio City, amid yet another welcome program at
the Baguio City Hall grounds.
The gong was
then passed on to the local officials of Benguet province at the Benguet
Provincial Capitol in La Trinidad town for more festivities.
Yesterday, the
unity gong travelled back to Ifugao, where it was received by the members of
the Ifugao official delegation in Lamut town, capped by a tree-growing activity
at the Panudpudan District Hospital.
In the
Cordillera, the gong is a traditional tool in indigenous people's rituals,
gatherings, and celebrations.
The beating
and resonant sound of the huge metal disc seem to call everyone to action and
to celebrate the people's camaraderie and oneness.
Some tribes
of the Cordillera also use the gong in rituals to drive away evil spirits and
bring forth prosperity among the people. -- PNA
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