8th Kawayan Festival to highlight Abra industry and culture
BANGUED, Abra — It’s all systems go for the biggest celebration of the province – the 8th Kawayan (bamboo) Festival and 98th Abra Foundation Anniversary that kicks off today.
The 27 municipalities will participate in the colorful and unique Ilocano and Tingguian culture of Abra – a show of the rich cultural heritage of the province spread out in four days.
The Kawayan Festival was conceived in 2007 by incumbent Governor Eustaquio Bersamin when he pushed for the utilization of the abundant resource in the province – bamboo, encouraging province mates with wide idle lands to plant different varieties of bamboo as livelihood.
There are now about 100 entrepreneurs who thrive in the field of bamboo craft, some already exporting their products to other countries.
Today, farmers will showcase their agricultural produce during the Farmer’s Day Agricultural and Trade Fair and Art Exhibit. Tonight, the “Silnag,” Ilocano term meaning illumination or Parade of Lights Competition will be held.
Tomorrow is dubbed Youth Day and will start with a street dancing parade and field demonstration competition with performers garbed in bamboomaterial costumes.
Sunday is dubbed Women’s Day and feature floats and women parading in the traditional ladies’ “barong,” followed in the evening by a performance of the Bands of Kawayan Pilipinas, Inc.
The grand parade is set on Monday, which is the 98th Foundation Day of Abra, with floats representing all 27 municipalities of the province.