Friday, December 14, 2007 Bontoc hosts CICM centennial Dec. 15
THE capital town of Bontoc in Mt. Province is hosting four events this December, the biggest of which is the celebration of the CICM centennial in the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe at the Sta. Rita Parish from December 12-15.
Apostolic Nuncio Most Reverend Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and Consul Rene Peepers would grace the occasion. Latest report said President Gloria Arroyo would also be gracing the affair on December 15.
The theme for this event in the 100 years celebration with the CICM in the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe is "Remembering, Re-rooting, Revitalizing."
CICM stands for Congregacio Immaculada Cordis Mariae.
Father Andrew Claver said various activities have already been lined up. December 12 was the arrival of delegations from the different vicariate schools and mission stations of Bontoc-Lagawe and other visitors.
Thursday, December 13, the activities started with a Eucharistic celebration care of Mountain Province district followed by a parade with street dancing and cultural dance competition among vicariate schools.
The untying of ribbon by Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, D.D. and Mrs. Cecilia Dalog and the viewing of exhibits of the Bontoc Museum followed in the afternoon. There would also be an indigenous cooking/games competition for vicariate schools. In the evening was a play (tiny shoots) choral-dance, song; and SMU Bayombong concert with Father Marcs and company.
On the 14th, activities would start with a Eucharistic celebration c/o Ifugao district. After which, A symposium inside Sta. Rita de Casia Cathedral will be held. Speakers would include Bishop Beltran, who would talk on 'Remembering (Vicariate history); Bishop Francisco Claver, S.J., D.D., on 'Re-rooting of Faith and Culture' and Fr. Brendan Lovett, MSCC on 'Revitalizing (Ecology and Spirituality)'.
In the afternoon would be a raffle draw care of the Sta. Rita Parish PPC followed by a cultural festival by the mission stations.
December 15 would be the rite unveiling of the bust, blessing of memorial stones of Father Jules Sepulchre, CICM/BP Constant Jurgens, CICM. After which, a Eucharistic celebration to be presided by the Apostolic Nuncio will be made.
Another event hosted by the municipality is the Regional School Press Conference (RSPC) for elementary and secondary students started from December 12-16.
The event is an annual school activity of the Department of Education (DepEd) to hone the writing skills of the students through a competition in the different aspects of campus journalism such as feature writing, editorial writing, news writing, sports writing, cartooning, photo journalism and a group contest on school paper and radio broadcasting.
The Mt. Province Division Office said this is the first time that Bontoc would be hosting the RSPC but the second time for the province to host. The first was held in Sagada.
Theme for this year's RSPC is "Promoting Culture of Peace Thru Campus Journalism".
The other two events are the provincial craft exposition from December 10-14 and the provincial meet on December 16-20.
The craft expo is a yearly provincial trade fair highlighting various locally produced products. It also includes the One Town, One Product (Otop) of the different municipalities of the province.
The holding of the annual provincial meet is not just a sports competition but also a medium of fostering unity among the 12 districts of the province. There would be 15 games to be contested in the elementary level and 17 games in the secondary level.
The meet carries the theme "Moving Forward. One Community, One Heritage Gawis ay Mt. Province."
