Department of Agriculture Sec. Francis Laurel, Jr. and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. will grace this year’s Gotad Ad Ifugao celebrations.
Gov. Jerry Dalipog said Laurel was invited to speak during the kick-off of the festival on June 10 while Galvez will speak on the culmination program on June 18.
“We are hopeful that they will grace our festival,” Dalipog said, adding Laurel and Galvez recently visited the province with their respective agency’s programs.
This year’s theme is “Ifugao Gotad 2024: Ipaptok tayo nan eyyen di immipuggu ta madonodnong tayo hi pidwana (Nurture our culture to ensure our future)” set from June 1 to 18.
Jumpstarting the festival will be the Gotad zumba for-a-cause on June 1 at the Capitol while June 3 will be the Gotad thanksgiving mass, Hipun di Amlag (launching of the agro-tourism and industrial trade fair) at the Lagawe Central School gym.
Trekathon is set on June 8; the civic parade will be on June 10 followed by the photo exhibit and cultural arts display until June 15; and the public services such as jobs fair and diskwento caravan on June 10 to 11; national ID and civil registration service and service caravan for GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-ibig on June 10 to 13; and free legal service on June 10 to 11.
The Kapkapyan di Bimmoble (Performing arts competition) is set on June 11 at the DBHS gym featuring the tayo contest, gong beating contest, creative ethnic ensemble and demonstrations on Hudhud chanting, liwliwa andbaltung chantings, and contemporary arts on-the-spot painting, and the pre-pageant of the Wigan Ya Bugan Di Gotad 2024.
June 12 will be the Independence Day celebration followed by a concert, both at the Capitol, and on June 13 to 14 will be the Professional Regulation Commission services at the LCS gym.
On June 13 will be the Gotad debate challenge at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Hall; ethnic skills competition and the Gotad ball and OFW night at the DBHS gym; June 14 will be the street dance competition followed by the indigenous games contests and culinary arts competition; while on June 15 will be the Gotad bike race and zumba, and the grand coronation night of the Wigan Ya Bugan di Gotad at the DBHS gym.
The float contest will roll on June 17 at the main thoroughfares of Lagawe, followed by the continuation of the indi-genous games at the LCS grounds, and the “Holyat: A Cultural night” at the Capitol lobby.
The culmination program is set on June 18 with the cultural parade, followed by the grand Gotad program followed by a public lunch at the DBHS gym and lower grounds to celebrate the festival. – Ofelia C. Empian
