BARLIG, Mountain Province – The Kadaclan Association of Barangay Officials (KABO) with Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) have decided to resume the celebration of their Menaliyam Festival during a meeting held March 23, 2022 at the Glen Mason gymnasium.
Patrick Pulagan who heads the KABO of four punong barangays and kagawad shortened the usual 4-day to 3-day affair to start off the resumption of the celebration of the festival after an absence of 2 years caused by Covid-19.
The theme “Activating Kadaclan Culture after Pandenic” has been adopted for the festival scheduled on April 21-23, 2022.
It would be the 18th year of celebration since it was founded by this writer. Kadaclan, whom former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited in 2001 to spur domestic tourism, is a conglomeration of 4 barangays showcasing varied gong musical dances namely for Chupac brgy is “‘sapor,” for Kaleo- “Kallito,” Lunas-” pes-el,” and Ogo-og brgy is “tufob'” of the Ifugaos.
Selected traditional games and sports to be joined in by visitors shall be managed by committees. Homemade and ethnic products will displayed for sale.
Keji Finsocna, President of the Kadaclan Environmental Tour Guide Association KETGO) said, “We will be ready to accompany tourists to see and explore Kadaclan beauty spots from waterfalls to cave, rice terraces to lush trekking greeneries.”
Mayor Clark Ngaya, Vice Mayor David Fomocod and Sangguniang Kabataan Chair Ferjinal Lomas-e will be speakers, while the Municipal IPMR will expound on the primacy of customary laws in a fast changing world.
Benedicto Nabunat, Chupac Barangay Captain invites everybody “to witness and mingle once again the revival of this crowd-drawing Menaliyam Festival 2022.”
By Dionie Chungalan