Lang-ay Festival on with exciting events

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE Vice Gov. Francis Tauli welcomes local folks and visitors during “Tekwab” or opening ceremonies of the 16^th Lang-ay Festival. Flanking him are elders of the capital town of Bontoc.

By Roger Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mountain Province - The 16th Lang-ay Festival has been opened with a civic parade of the provincial and municipal officials, provincial and municipal employees, representatives from national line agencies, private sector, civic and women’s organizations.
    “Tekwab” and “salibongbong,” a performance of ritual to start the festival, with the offering of a pig and prayers of thanksgiving for the past and incoming blessings for the province.
    After the Lang-ay prelude was a program for the opening of the Agro-Industrial Trade Fair with regional Agriculture director as guest of honor and speaker.
    During his message he mentioned the multi-million programs funded by the Dept. of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region.
    Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr., in his message, honored past leaders as a way of citing the commemoration of the 56th Foundation Day of the province.
    He said cultural heritage of the province was depicted by the Lang-ay Festival which was a brainchild of his father and namesake in 2005.
    Since then, it spawned the birth of municipal festival in the ten municipalities of the province.
    Board member Angel Moises Tamang, chairperson of the committee on cooperatives, nongovernment and people’s organizations, and Trade and Industry officials, declared the opening of the Agro-Industrial Trade fair.
Ribbon cutting followed the program.
    Events set for in the coming days are Search for Mr. and Ms. Mountain Province that will have its pageant competition on April 2 and 3.
    Coronation night will be on the 3rd of April.
    Lang-ay on the Street will be in the afternoon of April 2.
    Rep. Dalog extended his invitation to the public during his speech. “Umali kayo ta maki Lang-ay Tako Join us for the Lang-ay Festival).”
    A program will highlight the event with snacks of indigenous food and early dinner of watwat then a concert of local talents will while away the night.
    A concert by Fr. Marcial Castaneda will be held earlier at the Provincial Plaza in the night of March 31 dubbed Lang-ay Marc’s Songs.
    Thanksgiving mass and wreath laying and candle lighting at the governors’ memorial monument on April 3 will honor past governors of the province.
    Tribal dinner with Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. will be on April 4.
It will be a dinner welcome for municipal delegates who will be participating in the street dancing and cultural performances the following day.
    Street dancing and cultural showdown performances will be done on April 5, the culmination of the festival. 
    In commemoration of the 56th founding anniversary of the province, the following were invited: Senators Imee Marcos and Christopher “Bong” Go, Labor and Employment Sec. Bienvenida Laguesma, and Cordillera police director Brig. Gen, Gen. David   Peredo, Jr.
    Lawyer Joseph B. Sagandoy, Jr., deputy presidential legal officer ho traces his roots in this town, will be guest of honor and speaker.

To cap the 16th Lang-ay event, a Gangsa Night will be held night of April 5 where all the municipal contingents will converge at the provincial plaza for simultaneous beating of gongs.

Prizes of the earlier competitions will be announced.