TADIAN, Mountain Province -- This sleepy town in the hinterlands is set to brace for the influx of more tourists following the launching of the municipality’s eco-tourism as sustainable socio-economic program.
Mayor Anthony Wooden said with the sustained tourism program of the municipality, they are expecting the influx of tourist during the celebration of its 10th Ayyoweng di Lambaked Tadian with the theme “Ayowan di Inong-an, Baked di Agyod ay Kaugaliansi Mat-awan” (Nurturing Children Through Cultural Values Towards Perpetration of Cultural Values) on March 1-4.
“As we go on with our activities with the active participation of our children, may we be reminded and emulate on the good cultural values of our ancestors and may our children not only understand and appreciate our good cultural heritage but be impressed upon the good values as tribe with unique indigenous qualities,” Wooden said of this year’s theme.
Wooden has also been encouraging the private sector in the town to help them establish accommodation facilities.
“We encouraged our people to establish their inns and homestays for our tourist to have a feel of the Tadian way of life. We already have four guesthouses which can accommodate around a hundred individuals,” Wooden said.
Ayyoweng di Lambak ed Tadian is a celebration and thanksgiving where residents of the town communicate their varied emotions to the outside world. It serves as avenue where the many beautiful and value-laden cultural practices of the past, especially those that are almost forgotten, can resurface to give inspirations especially to the young generation.
The festival formally kicked off March 1 with the opening of the agri-industrial fair with Dr. Eddie Dorotan, founder of Galing Pook Foundation, as guest speaker during a short program.
A Brethren to Brethren II -- a concert for a cause featuring the clergies of the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe and the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Luzon -- was slated in the evening.
Highlights of the festivity are the ethnic and ballgames including the now familiar basketball players in "bahag" (g-string) and volleyball women in "gabey" (tapis) and lama (native topper). (Roderick Osis)