March 28, 2024

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Traditional street dances and cultural presentations highlighted the 9th Sagada Etag Festival in this most frequented tourist town in northern Luzon.
In the street dancing competition, the performance of the south central zone won the first prize, followed by the eastern zone and the central zone in second and third places, respectively. The southern and northern zones received consolation prizes.
The central zone bested the other areas in the cultural presentations. The northern zone followed in second, while south central zone was proclaimed third place. The eastern and southern zones were given consolation prizes.
Prizes for both events were sponsored by Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr.
The northern zone is composed of barangays Fedilisan, Pide, Aguid, Banga-an, Tanulong, Madongo; Dagdag, Patay, Demang consisted the central zone; south central and southern zones were represented by Ambasing, Balugan; and southern zone were the barangays of Ankileng, Nacagang, Suyo, Taccong, respectively. The barangays of Antadao, Kilong, Teptep-an Sur, and Tetep-an Norte composed the eastern zone.
Jaime Dogao, Sagada indigenous peoples’ mandatory representative, said culture is deeply rooted in the life of every I-sagada. He said some of the important beliefs and practices are still being applied today, such as ub-ubbo (bayanihan), linnayad (love to other people), and the love of environment, the Igorot god Kabunyan, and spirits of ancestors
The flow of traffic during the events was observed as well organized. Vehicles were parked in designated areas. Meals and snacks were sold at the SMV Church grounds while goods were displayed along the main road as done in the past years.
Few visitors were observed due to the novel corona virus outbreak. – Francis B. Degay