SAGADA, Mountain Province – The traditional street dances and cultural presentations were the climax of the 9th Sagada Etag festival in this most frequented tourist town in northern Luzon.
Jaime Dogao, Sagada’s municipal Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR), in his opening remarks, emphasized that culture is deep-rooted in the life of every I-Sagada. Moreover, he said that some of the important beliefs and practices are still being applied today such as, ub-ubbo (bayanihan), linnayad (love to other people), and the love of environment, the Igorot god Kabunyan and spirits of ancestors.
In the street dancing competition, the south central zone won the first prize, 2nd went to the eastern zone, and the central zone was 3rd. The southern and northern zones received consolation prizes.
The central zone bested the other areas in the cultural presentations; the northern zone trailed 2nd, while south central zone was proclaimed 3rd. The eastern and southern zones were bequeathed consolation prizes.
The prizes for the street dancing and cultural show competitions were sponsored by Congressman Maximo Dalog, Jr. of the lone district of Mountain Province.
According to some spectators during a random interview, they said that the flow of traffic was well organized, vehicles were parked in designated areas, the ground of SMV church where meals and snacks were sold and the main road where goods were displayed in the past years were cleared. Moreover, some observed that there were few visitors due to perception that they are afraid of the effects of the novel corona virus outbreak.
Northern zone was composed of barangays Fedilisan, Pide, Aguid, Banga-an, Tanulong, Madongo; Dagdag, Patay, Demang consisted the central zone; south central and southern zones were represented by Ambasing, Balugan, and southern zone were the barangays of Ankileng, Nacagang, Suyo, Taccong, respectively. The barangays of Antadao, Kilong, Teptep-an Sur, and Tetep-an Norte composed the eastern zone.
By Francis B. Degay
