LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial government formally launched the month-long conduct of the 2022 Adivay Festival and the province’s 122nd founding anniversary as part of the ongoing efforts to bring back face-to-face gatherings after a 2-year lull due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theme of the “Adivay” 2022 is “A People’s festival of culture, nature and the future” where most of the lined-up activities are focused on bringing back the vibrance of the economy to help people with their livelihoods.
Adivay is an Ibaloy term that refers to the spirit of togetherness both in the celebration of gatherings and oneness as a community of united people.
Gov. Melchor D. Diclas disclosed that Benguet has been featured locally and globally as the most liveable province primarily because of the high standard of living and the promise of good life.
He said that the province owes the said distinction from the people coming from all walks of life because they are hardworking, especially the vegetable farmers, the businessmen and all who have contributed to the progress of the province through the years.
The provincial government has lined up numerous monthly-long activities to celebrate the Adivay Festival and the province’s founding anniversary that highlight the rich culture and traditions of the indigenous peoples aside from civic and other events that promote agriculture, tourism and the preservation and protection of the environment.
On November 23, 2022, people from the 13 municipalities, guests and visitors from neighboring provinces and regions will be converging at the Wangal Sports Complex for the conduct of the traditional cañao where there will be merrymaking through the performance of traditional dances aside from the butchering of pigs that will be offered for the sustainable growth and progress of Benguet in the coming years.
Locally-made products and agricultural crops will also be featured in an agro-industrial fair throughout the month-long activities to promote and market these and regain their market that was lost during the pandemic.
Benguet is also known as the source of quality semi-template vegetables being sold in the different markets around the country as more than 80 percent of the supply of the said vegetables are produced in the province and some parts of Mountain Province and Ifugao.
Further, the province also is one of the major ecotourism destinations in the Cordillera being the location of the Mount Pulag National Park, the second highest mountain peak in the country and the highest mountain peak in Luzon, the scenic flower and vegetable gardens carved along mountain slopes, numerous waterfalls and trekking destinations, among other nature destinations being frequented by foreign and domestic tourists. Earlier, Benguet was recognized as among the top revenue-generating provinces in the country because of its substantial internally-generated income over the past year.
Photo from Governor Melchor Diclas -Benguet Facebook