ITOGON, Benguet – Preserving its rich culture, Barangay Tinongdan highlighted the indigenous practices of the community in celebration of Colos Festival along with its 77th founding anniversary which commenced from February 14 to 16 at Sitio Keweng, Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet.
Using their local language, ibaloi, the theme of the festivity was dubbed as, “Damot dja epajos, agmapospospos,” which means the roots of the community’s traditions shall never end as long as they are celebrated.
“Considering na maraming mga rich cultures, traditions, and practices ng mga IP kaya yung colos festival na magaganap, dun po namin i-highlight yung mga magandang kultura, yung mga traditions, indigenous practices ng mga indigenous peoples along the colos community,”
Councilor Norberto Pacio of Itogon enthused. (The colos community is filled with rich cultures, traditions, and practices of the indigenous peoples which are the main highlights of the festival.)
The Colos Festival aims to celebrate its people as well as the traditions that were practiced by the ancestors of the community. It was established in 2008 and had been decided by the barangay to be celebrated every February along with the founding anniversary of Barangay Tinongdan.
“Ang colos festival, ito po’y naumpisahan nung 2008, pagkatapos ng pagkakonsulta ng mga kabarangay ay na-schedule ito sa February kasi ang foundation ng barangay ay 1948, august pero pag du’n mo i-celebrate maulan ‘yun so nadecide ng barangay na February nalang tapos maisabay sa feb 14, valentine’s day,” Councilor Pacio emphasized. (The colos festival started in 2008, when it was finally consulted by the barangay to schedule the celebration in the month of February along with the founding anniversary, that is supposedly in August. But, since it’s the month of the rainy season, the founding anniversary was moved to February 14 which is also valentine’s day.)
He also shared that the places where the agno river passes are called colos.
Included in the festivity is the celebration of women’s day, senior’s day, PWD day, DepEd day, and cultural day among other activities.
“At saka may mass wedding kasi doon po din sa February magaganap yung civil registration month na free kaya naisabay yun,” he enthused. (Since February is the civil registration month, there will also be a free mass wedding.)
To celebrate its roots, living up to the festival’s theme, the traditional practice of Ibaloys which is the ‘Keddot’ was also commemorated.
“Accordingly, dito po sa tinongdan na part po ng colos is dito rin po naganap yung unang cañao, yung ‘keddot’ na yan po yung cañao po ng mga mayaman,” Councilor Pacio furthered. (Accordingly, the first cañao for ‘keddot’, the cultural practice of ibaloys, happened in tinongdan which is part of the colos community.)
He added that the term ‘ibaloy’ originated from the name of one of the sitios of barangay Tinongdan which is sitio Baloy where the original settlers spoke the language.
Apart from celebrating its culture, the local farmers were also honored through putting up the agro-industrial fare wherein farmers from different sitios are encouraged to sell their products in each booth that represent their sitios.
“Wara iray dokto, kamote ya kwan sha, mani, tan pising, agat, tan eshahel pay nem waray beans, hatan da era,” a local farmer from sitio Bagueng, Aurora Aligmayo, said. (There are sweet potatoes, peanuts, ginger, and others like beans.)
She also shared that their sales have declined and one of the reasons why they generated less income might be because many products from Nueva Vizcaya have entered the market which might have urged the locals to buy from them instead of what was displayed in the booths.
“Na-encourage kami ya no next ale isaganaan mi e idaho me mwan ale. Planok met nga naynayunak pay ti agmula tapno makalako kami no next,” Aurora added. (We were encouraged to prepare our products that we will be selling for the next fare. It’s my plan to plant more so that we would be able to sell once again.)
The Agro-industrial fare had been supporting the farmers in selling their products that were grown in their own backyards and farms ever since the festival was celebrated.
“Na-e-encourage sila na magtanim, tapos sana tuloy-tuloy na ganun para madagdagan ‘yung livelihood nila (at) para ma-encourage sila na magtanim,” Barangay Captain of Tinongdan, Hon. Edwin Atompag, said. (The farmers are encouraged to plant and hopefully they will continue the practice for their livelihood to flourish and for them to be encouraged to plant more.)
According to him, aside from the avenue it provided for the local farmers to sell their products, the agro-industrial fare also promotes the people to get together and prepare.
“Yan pinaghahandaan nila ‘yan so na-u-unite ‘yung mga tao sa pagtatanim nila, ‘yung alam nila na piyasta dapat ito ang kailangan natin,” he said. (The agro-industrial fare motivates the people to prepare for the festival which leads them to unite in planting their agricultural products.) By Lyka Capsula
