BONTOC, Mt. Province -- Preparations for the 50th founding anniversary of the province and the Lang-ay Festival 2017 will be formally launched on November 8.
A civic parade will kick off the launching of the two biggest event in the province which will celebrate its golden anniversary and the 13th staging of the festival.
Provincial administrator Atty. Amador Batay-an said next year’s golden anniversary will be a grand celebration for the province.
“We have to launch the two events this early to give ample preparations for the golden anniversary of the foundation of the province,” he said.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. invited the Lang-ay Festival Organization to spearhead the preparations for the Lang-ay Festival 2017 in tandem with the provincial government to sustain the partnership.
However, the partnership includes the commemoration of the golden anniversary as the provincial administrator called for the concerted efforts of the government and private sectors in preparing for the twin events.
The theme for the two simultaneous events is “Mountain Province at 50: Reminiscing and fostering our cultural Integrity” after it went through diligent discussions by the committee members.
The theme encompasses the opportunity for reflections of the people over the past 50 years as the province strides toward the future nurturing the unique cultural heritage of the people.
National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) – Cordillera regional director Atty. Roland Calde will be the guest speaker in recognition of the culminating activity of the IP Month.
It was a repeat of the 2014 event as the Lang-ay Festival was also launched in the similar occasion of IP Month celebrations. Now, it was delayed because of the road closures caused by Typhoon Lawin.
Vice Governor Francis Tauli will perform the “sikmat” of the tapey during the indigenous ritual of the “tukab”.
Orignally, the Lang-at Festival 2017 is being eyed to start March 31, 2017 but was moved to a later date is it coincides with the first death anniversary of the late governor Leonard Mayaen.
Highlight of the the Lang-ay Festival 2017 will be from April 3-10, 2017 and the Foundation Day celebration would be on April 7, 2017.
The Lang-ay Festival Organization has managed the staging of the provincial festival in the past two years. Both were also launched in the months of October in 2014 and 2015. This year, the festival was cancelled due to the sudden death of Mayaen. (Roger Sacyaten)