The Department of Tourism hosted a big show in Baguio City with street parade, dancing, and performances of various festivals of the different provinces of the Cordillera along Session Road over the weekend.
Dubbed as “Festival of Festivals Show 2022”, the activity brought together the festivals of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Baguio City in grand performances at the Malcolm Square last Oct. 15.
Abra showcased the Laga Festival of Lagayan with the laga dancers of the municipality as performers while Apayao presented the Pinya Festival of Pudtol, the reigning cultural performance champion of the province’s Say-am festival.
For Benguet, the Benguet State University Kontad Cultural Dancers performed the bendyan dance. The Gotad Ad Ifugao festival was showcased by the Ifugao Provincial Government Cultural Ensemble.
For Kalinga, Rizal’s National School of Arts and Trades presented the province’s Bodong Festival while the Mountain Province Lang-ay Festival demonstrated the chinakhon, the capital town of Bontoc’s traditional rites for planting season and bountiful harvest.
Completing the show is Baguio City’s Flower Festival popularly known as Panagbenga with performance by the Saint Louis University Center for Culture and the Arts.
“This event signifies the reawakening of our culture in the highlands characterized by opulence and creativity. It transcends our mutual unity and genuine cooperation. This very event reminds us of the beautiful tapestry made from the different strands, of color and material,” DOT-CAR Director Jovita Ganongan said. DOT Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco, in her message read by Ganongan, congratulated the organizers, partners, and participants of the Festival of Festival Show for showcasing the region’s rich culture and traditions through festival dances, chants, and songs. – Carlito C. Dar
