TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Festival Consultant Leonilo Agustin, who served as the guest of honor and speaker during the Tourism and Cultural Day on June 26, observed that the city has preserved the cultural values of Tabuk during the Matagoan Festival.
Agustin, also as the consultant for the festival, narrated that the Matagoan Cultural Day has showcased the rich culture of the city through the artistic performances of the different barangays highlighting their respective festivals.
Through the celebration, the festival showed the expression of the communal effort of the people who preserved their respective local festivals.
“Unlike other festivals in the Philippines, I can see a very bright future—the Matagoan Festival being able to sustain the cultural value and significance of the festival,” Agustin expressed.
Agustin has engaged himself in the city since 2009 by conducting seminar workshops and festival planning. Through the years, the city has improved, showing cultural relevance, until this year’s festival.
“The other festivals in the Philippines may not be compared to the festival of Tabuk City – Matagoan. …in terms of costumes, in terms of movement, in terms of props, and other elements of your performances,” the consultant stressed.
He explained that the Matagoan Festival is unique and distinct and can only be found in Tabuk City.
“Yours will be very different because they are definitely culturally and historically rooted,” Agustin added.
In this year’s Festival of Festivals, 13 barangays from Tabuk City competed against each other to showcase their respective festivals during the Barangay Tourism Festival Parade and Showdown at the Tabuk City National High School Grounds.
Among the participating barangays, New Tanglag’s Lachock Festival was hailed as the champion, followed by Bagumbayan showcasing Kape Dekot Festival and Balawag highlighting Kape Festival, respectively.
Other barangays presented their own to include the Bayas Festival of Lucog, the Sallagadaw Festival of Magnao, the Bamboo Festival of Dupag, the Nateng Festival of San Julian, the Patopat Festival of Cabaritan, the Gabbok Festival of Guilayon, the Pagay Festival of Balong, the Iyog Festival of Suyang, the Bayas Festival of Ipil, and the Prutas Festival of Bantay. By Ian Addatu
