BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of Tourism hosted a big show here in the city with street parade and dancing down Session Road  as well as performances of  the various festivals of the different provinces of the  Cordillera over the weekend.

 Dubbed as “Festival of Festivals Show 2022”, it brought together the festivals of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City in grand performances at the Malcolm Square last Saturday (October 15).  

For the province of Abra, showcased  is the Laga Festival of Lagayan with the Laga dancers of the municipality as performers. For Apayao, the Pinya Festival of Pudtol, the reigning cultural performance champion of the province’s Say-am festival.

For Benguet, the Benguet State University KONTAD Cultural Dancers performed the Bendyan dance.  The Gotad Ad Ifugao festival was showcased by the Ifugao Provincial Government Cultural Ensemble.

For Kalinga, the municipality of Rizal’s National School of Arts and Trades presented the province’s Bodong Festival while the Mountain Province Lang – ay festival demonstrated   the Chinakhon, the capital town of Bontoc’s traditional rites for planting season and bountiful harvest. 

Completing the show is Baguio City’s Flower Festival or more popularly known as “Panagbenga” with performance by the Saint Louis University Center for Culture and the Arts.

“This event signifies the re-awakening of our culture in the highlands characterized by opulence and creativity.  It transcends our mutual unity and genuine cooperation. This very event reminds us of the beautiful tapestry made from the different strands, of color and material gathered and each contributes to the overall.of the weave artistic textile,” DOT – CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said.

 “We are not the melting pot of mere cultures, rather we are the melting pot of flourishing and evolving cultural heritages,” she added.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, in her message read by Ganongan, congratulated   the organizers, partners and participants of the Festival of Festival Show for showcasing the region’s rich culture and traditions through festival dances, chants and songs.

“It warms my heart to know that the Cordillera Region—the country's gateway to Northern Luzon's natural wonders, with a distinct culture and colorful traditions of the Cordillera's indigenous peoples—has banded together to promote culture and heritage through a showcase of the region's premier and iconic highlights of festivals and events.”

As the country's new administration marked its 100th day in office, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is focusing on a whole-of-government approach to tourism in order to improve the overall tourist experience, diversify tourism products through multidimensional tourism, and maximize domestic tourism. Certainly, the Cordillera Festival of Festivals Show is an impactful and exciting event that is perfectly aligned with the DOT's goals of inclusive, participatory, and sustainable tourism,” Frasco said. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)