TADIAN, MT. PROVINCE -- Since its inception during the first Ayyoweng di Lambak ed Tadian, bahagketball, or basketball in g–string continues to hog the limelight as one of the town's main activity coinciding with the town's fiesta.
For this year's celebration, town officials emerged victorious after escaping a gritty team composed of barangay officials, 22-20 during an exhibition match as part of the indigenous games set during the festivity.
Despite suffering from blistered feet early in the game, Tadian Mayor Anthony Wooden led the squad with his good playmaking skills, managed to execute good defense, and chipped in four points for his team composed of town councilors and municipal employees.
“We make sure to have this exhibition game purposely to promote our culture through sports,” said Wooden, who also acknowledged the support given by Tadian resident themselves to make the festivity a huge success specially with the promotion of indigenous games in the municipality.
Children in their g-strings also competed in “kadang-kadang” (wooden stilt) while women in “tapis” (native wrapped around skirt) also competed in volleyball.
The Department of Education and Philippine Sports Commission have adopted “kadang-kadang” as one of the regional exhibition games.
Athletes from Apayao ruled the “kadang-kadang” event in the recent Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association.
Tadian’s famous “bahagball” has been replicated in some areas of the region, including Pinsao Pilot here in Baguio City where barangay officials have embarked a unique program that aims to inculcate to the younger generations the need to appreciate their culture through basketball games in g-string.
Punong Barangay Sotero Dulacyan took the lead role in culture preservation by appearing at the basketball court in full Igorot regalia.