Matagoan street dancing opens registration

TABUK City in Kalinga province is opening its doors for the 17th Matagoan Festival.

“Matagoan” means life giving and this year, an enhanced street dance parade competition will highlight the event on June 23 with the city calling for contingents from all over the country to join the annual celebration.

Matagoan street dancing chair and tourism officer Arlyn Ethel Odiem said there will be eight performing groups chosen to compete for the grand parade with over P500,000 up for grabs.

Odiem said the over-all champion will receive P200,000 while the 1st runner-up will get P150,000 and P100,000 for the 2nd runner-up.

Consolation prizes of P50,000 will be given for each finalist.

Financial assistance will also be given each to the contingents to augment preparation of the presentation, food and transportation.

Each entry must consist of a minimum of 50 to a maximum of 70 participants including dancers and musicians and dance to the theme “Dagti parabor ti Apo intay pagyamanan, Matagoan pagmaymaysaan, isu tulbek pag dur-asana.”

The festival aims to establish a venue of culture and arts exchange program of different communities through the Enhanced Cultural Street Dance Parade Competition for the preservation and promotion of our rich Filipino culture as well as raise awareness and appreciation of our Filipino culture most especially to the young generation.

Tabuk City is also celebrating its 11th Founding Anniversary from June 20-30 in commemoration of the commemorating the declaration of Tabuk (Municipality) as the “Zone of Life (Matagoan).”

The dance is aimed to depict the city’s life giving blessings products, industries, music, dances, indigenous arts and way of life.

Odiem said for inquiries the tourism office can be reached at 09051885554 and 09293031390 and via email at tabuktour ism@yahoo.com.