CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) -- It’s official. Kalinga Province   is the Guinness World Record holder for the “Largest Gong Ensemble” and “Largest Pot Dance”.

The two world records were achieved in a grand spectacle dubbed “Awong chi Gangsa, Ad’tun chi Banga "(Call of a Thousand Gongs, Dance of a Thousand Pots) on February 15, 2023 at the Kalinga Sports Complex, as a highlight of the 28th Kalinga Foundation Anniversary and 4th Bodong Festival.

Kazuyoshi Kirimura, Guinness Official Adjudicator, made the official declaration at 9:00 PM shortly after the presentation.

Based on the official adjudication results, the number of gong players reached 3,440 while the “banga” or pot dancers numbered 4,681.

The procedure in the count required the gong and pot dancers to pass through a scanner being recorded online at the entrance.

Members of the Adjudication Witnesses Panel include Stanley Anongos of Benguet State University; Atanacio Addog of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples -Cordillera and Allen Marquez and Kenneth Maslang of St. Mary’s University.

Governor James S. Edduba joined people of Kalinga in their jubilation for the honor and pride the Awong chi Gangsa, ad’tun chi Banga has brought to the province.

Again, the sound of harmony, peace and joy, the gongs reverberated had wrapped us as one united and solid province, Edduba said.

Bishop Prudencio Andaya Jr, Chair of the Event Committee, expressed deep appreciation to the high response of the various local government units for their support and participation in said event. All the municipalities  and Tabuk City fielded their respective participants.

Today, we had seen that our culture of togetherness can bring us something to be proud of to the entire world, he said.

The presentation was not stopped by the rains that added drama to this  historical  event. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)