AFTER being hit hard by typhoon Lawin, Benguet is tonning down its annual Adivay celebration.

Governor Crescencio Pacalso said the committee of the festival decided to tone down the celebration and instead focus on giving much needed assistance to those hard hit by the typhoon.

Pacalso said the festival, which coincides with the founding anniversary of the province will have a simple opening ritual to show respect to officials and ancestors who have gone ahead.

“We will forego with the Cañao and the parade but instead, the awarding ceremonies will be the highlight of the festival which will happen on Nov.23,” said Pacalso.

The province is set to honor individuals, organizations, local government units, and other entities who have contributed to the development of the province.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara is expected to grace the celebration as a guest of honor and speaker.

“Several thousand individuals have been affected by the storm and we’ll be sharing part of the feast to the typhoon victims and increase support to the affected,” Pacalso explained.

Aside from the P2 million funds allotted for the festival, Pacalso added the province will also source out from sponsors and for additional funding.

“Even though there were other proposed activities, we cannot accommodate it all because we have a limited budget,” he said.

Kicking off the Adivay month long celebration is the media presentation of the Mr. and Miss Benguet candidates at the Ben Palispis Hall while an ecumenical service will be held on November 11 that will be followed by the opening program at the Capitol lobby and the pre – pageant of Mr. and Miss Benguet.

Slated on November 12 is the “Dongba ni Kavajo” from KM.3 to Wangal Sports Complex.

Sports competitions, trade fair from the different towns in the province, health and jobs fair events, caravans, concerts, mass weddings, congress, forums and conference are also part of the annual celebrations.

With the theme “Benguet gains – our pride: Adopting change for inclusive human development,” derived from last year’s “Sustaining Benguet’s Gains” and the new administration’s campaign phrase “Change is Coming.”

“The Adivay fest will focus on the gains of the Benguet people as our pride. We adapted change for human development because it is where Benguet stands out and inclusive because we want to reach out to everyone for human development,” Pacalso said.