Benguet tones down celebration for Adivay

A SEND-off for the victims of Typhoon Ompong thru an indigenous ritual will highlight the Adivay 2018 celebration.

Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso disclosed for this year’s Adivay, a solemn tribute will be set in view of the recent damages and disaster experienced by the province.

This after, the province was the hardest hit with the most number of casualties in the country during the onslaught of rains brought by Ompong in September.

At least 89 were declared dead while

scores are still missing in Sitio 070, barangay Ucab, Itogon following a massive landslide.

According to Pacalso, elders need to perform a ritual for the whole province in order to avoid similar disasters to occur in the future.

"We really have to perform ritual to them as send off," added the governor.

The celebration includes the Benguet tribes of Ibaloy, Kankana-ey and Kalanguya. The governor also announced a revamp on the schedule of Adivay.

Instead of the November 23, cultural celebration and conduct of the indigenous ritual moved on November 30.

On the 23rd is the Benguet Foundation Day parade and the 2018 Benguet Awards in the afternoon.

Pacalso attributed the revamp for municipalities to attend the main event as it was found that several municipalities are also celebrating its Foundation day indulging the towns of Atok, Kibungan, Kapangan, Tublay and Sablan.

With the theme: “Benguet Culture Unity, Industry, Prosperity: Managing Adversities with Excellence thru Enhanced Indigenous Resilience,” activities for this year’s Adivay include the agri-trade fair, Dongba ni Kavajo, job fair, boodle fight meal for farmers, cultural dance performance, indigenous peoples games, small scale mining congress, land congress, and Mr. and Ms. Benguet among others.

Adivay is an annual celebration of Benguet, which means coming together in celebration of the culture and tradition of the province.