Sadanga, Mountain Province announced the suspension of this year’s Fvegnash Festival which is traditionally celebrated this June due to a territorial dispute between the barangay Bekigan and Bugnay, one of the Kalinga tribes.
According to Miriam Pangket, Sadanga Municipal Office Public Information Officer, the Fvegnash Festival, which used to be celebrated by the municipality every two years was canceled as disagreement escalated into a declared tribal war which endangered lives.
Efforts by government agencies to intervene have been held up due to a separate set of laws being followed by the tribal communities. In an article published in Baguio Herald, the members of the provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in Bontoc Mountain province called for sobriety in January 2024 amidst the high tension between Bugnay of Tinglayan, Kalinga, and Bekigan of Sadanga, Mountain Province.
“The conflict persists as government agencies cannot intervene due to some independent legal system. The tribal war will end if both parties will be in territorial peace,” Pangket explained.
As a result, Sadanga will only celebrate its foundation day. Usually, the Fvegnash Festival is celebrated along with the town’s Foundation Anniversary.
Fvegnash Festival, also known as Thanksgiving Day is an ingrained cultural tradition in Sadanga passed down to the younger generations. The culture strengthens the bond between communities and unites them as one tribe.
The Fvegnash Festival is a biennial celebration that happens in June after the harvest season in Sadanga, the festival serves as a time to appreciate the bountiful harvests.
With the ongoing tribal conflict, the festival’s core message of gratitude and unity contrasts the situation, highlighting the importance of finding a peaceful solution.
Likewise, Sadanga residents are hopeful to end the conflict peacefully so they can come together once more in celebration.
“We are praying and hoping that one day, all of this conflict will be settled and there will be no more painful happenings like this. Ikarkararag kan in namnama ai umali na ishay argew ai gumawis kuma kan umawid sina dati ai tarna nan amin. maagashan kuma amin gesh na ligat nan pamilya ai namaidan gapo si shana ai pasamak,” a resident of Sadanga said.