LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A festival celebrating a rich harvest is being pushed here.
Tuba town officials are pushing for the institutionalization of the annual "Ava" Festival here through an ordinance, which will regularize funding for the event.
Tuba is known for its production of gabi or "ava," in the local dialect.
The Ordinance stresses the root crop has performed a significant role in serving as a staple food from simple occasions to festivals.
"It it also in our culture where ava has been included in out histories and chants," it states.
Proponents councilors Adora Paus Gabino, Garey Behis, Rebecca Apil, Roger Kitma, Maria Carantes, Nestor Baban, Peter Bengwasan and Arnulfo Milo pushed for the approval of the law, which was forwarded to the provincial board for their comments.
In Tuba there are other major crops like sweet potatoes, beans, peas and palay but the “palay produce is for home consumption only, while vegetables and other fruit crops are sold to the nearest market.
Backyard Poultry and livestock raising is common in the community but mostly for home consumption.”
Aldermen said the town is known to produce quality ava in the province “since time in memorial, ava is a commodity being used by people of Tuba during community gatherings, family celebrations and observance of cultural practices.
In the town traditional system and practices such as “Cañao, Adoyon, Gamal, Kalon and Tongtong” are still being practiced. In resolving conflicts, the council of elders is still recognized and influential in matters regarding community affairs.
“The establishement of the Ava Festival in the municipality is a strategy to trigger economic activities and at the same time enhance cultural preservation,” the ordinance stressed.
The festival is eyed to be celebrated every 2nd of December and will be highlighted by an agro industrial trade fair, parade, street dancing, food processing competition using ava as a raw material, symposium on production.
A budget of P300,000 is eyed for the annual celebration.