Cañao returns in Benguet Adivay

THE undying culture of the cañao in the Cordillera region will be highlighted anew in the month-long celebration of Benguet’s Adivay Festival.

Benguet Vice Governor Johnny Waguis added cañao is also one way of asking for the blessings from Kabunyan (god). Cañao, an indigenous ritual portrays “tayao,” a traditional dance with at least 21 pigs to be butchered during the celebration.

“It is but proper to have cañao as true to our culture,” said Waguis in a press conference on Thursday, October 24, at Benguet capitol.

The Benguet official added the province is blessed for the past months that it was not hit by tragedies compared to the last two staging of the festival.

In 2018, the province was hit by Typhoon Ompong, Typhoon Rosita and continuous southwest monsoon.

With the theme “Sustaining a healthier Benguet,” more than 70 various events awaits this year’s celebration of Benguet Adivay.

Governor Melchor Diclas said this year’s Adivay will also coincide with the 119th founding anniversary of the province.

“Healthier” connotes for Health, Education, Agriculture, Livelihood, Tourism, Human Resource Industry, Environment, and Responsive which are the different areas of focus of provincial government.

This year’s celebration will also pave the way for new activities such as mascot competition, civic and float parade among the 13 participating towns.

The civic and float parade, and cañao during the main program is set on November 23 at the Benguet capitol and Benguet Sports Complex.

On November 23, 13 pigs will be distributed among 13 towns and simultaneously conduct the “owik” or the traditional way of butchering of pigs.

Before the ritual, a “kading” will convene composed of one male and female pig to be butchered before the cañao proper at the Benguet Sports Complex grounds in Wangal.

Adivay, an Ibaloi term which means “coming together” is a celebration of all the 13 towns of the province which also focuses on the products and culture of different municipalities.

Benguet is home to different ethnolinguistic groups. Kankana-eys dominate the northwestern municipalities while Ibalois are concentrated on the southeast, and Kalanguyas are mostly found in the east.