Baguio gong fest to be institutionalized

>> Tuesday, November 8, 2022

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance seeking to institutionalize the Baguio Gong Festival.
    Once institutionalized, the festival will officially be part of the city’s schedule of activities.
    It will be celebrated every 29th day of October of every year, coinciding with the National Indigenous Peoples’     Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated nationwide by virtue of Proclamation 486, s. 2003.
    Under the ordinance, a Baguio City Gong Festival technical working group shall be created consisting of the city mayor as chairperson; chairperson of the city council’s committee on tourism, special events, parks and playgrounds as co-chairperson, city tourism operations officer as secretariat/ action officer and the chairperson of the city council’s committee on education, culture, creativity and historical research with representatives from the     Baguio Tourism Council and indigenous peoples groups as members.
    The activities during the festival shall include celebration of the festival vis-a-vis the National Indigenous Peoples’ Thanksgiving Day, cultural outreach workshops, indigenous and cultural art exhibits and showcasing of Cordilleran dances and games.
    To cover expenses for activities, an initial amount of P500,000 shall be included in the annual appropriations of the city government.
    The Baguio Gong Festival is a community cultural festival conducted every October of the year in consonance with Indigenous People’s Month celebration “to remember and acknowledge our ancestors” wisdom through sharing and exchange of cultural practices from Cordillera provinces.”
 “The Baguio Gong Festival is an educational activity and a venue for teaching indigenous knowledge and wisdom, especially in promoting awareness in the minds of our younger generation for them to pass on and [nurture] our authentic culture, art, skills, and values,” the proposed ordinance stated.
    According to Councilor Lilia Farinas, author of the proposed ordinance, there is a need to institutionalize the said festival in order to “preserve, share, and protect our Cordilleran cultural heritage” and “encourage a deep continuing appreciation and respect for the indigenous culture.”
    The proposed ordinance has been referred to the city council’s committee on tourism, special events, parks, and playgrounds for review. -Jordan G. Habbiling
 

0 comments:

  © Blogger templates Palm by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP  

Web Statistics