Tadian’s Ubaya, Besao’s Ayyoweng festivals held

By Gina Dizon

TWO TOWN FESTIVALS were held last week in the towns of Tadian and Besao in Mountain Province.  

In Tadian, this year’s 11th Ayyoweng di Lambak ed Tadian was held March 1 – 4 themed: “Agyud ay kaugalian, Pegnad ti kataguwan ay sumyaan” (Cultural values: strong foundation of good living towards progress).

Activities included street dancing, awarding for best performing barangays and agri-industrial fair March 1-4.

The town’s major products were displayed including muscovado and heirloom rice.  

Gracing the event were OIC Labor regional director Exequiel Ronnie Guzman: presidential adviser for Northern Luzon, Raul Lambino, chief executive officer of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority; Mountain Province Polytechnique State College (MPSPC) president Rexton Chakas  and Mary Penelope Gonray, regional director of  Asia Pacific for International Non-Government  Organization (NGO).

All delivered speeches from March 1-4 respectively.

In Besao, the 115th founding anniversary and 11th Ubaya Festival were observed Feb. 28- March 4 themed: “Nan naiposgan ay kaugaliyan di i-Besao, tawid ya gameng ay aawiten olay intoy omayen" (Besao Culture: our birthright and guide wherever we reside).

Besao is a culturally rich town guided with strong customary beliefs and practices including those on agriculture and birth to death rituals that serve to enrich values on good relationships with each person in the community and others outside of the community.

Exciting events for the festive 5-day event shall were cultural presentations and indigenous games, ball games, writing and musical contests.

Ubaya means rest from a day’s work in the fields as traditionally practiced.

It is also rest day among offices in government and private institutions where the Ubaya Festival is observed.