Sec Dureza to grace Cordillera Day

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- In its long-time struggle towards an autonomous region, the Cordillera Administrative Region will celebrate its 30th founding anniversary the whole month of July through pipelined activities.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus “Jess” Dureza will be the Guest of Honor and Speaker on July 15 during the Cordillera Foundation Day Program at the Benguet Sports Center Multipurpose Gym in Wangal.

With the theme, “CAR@30: A Celebration of Cordillera Unity”, the month-long celebration was launched through a kapihan last June 28 at the Gov. Ben Palispis Hall, Provincial Capitol.

The Sectoral Committee on Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns of the Regional Development Council chaired by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) spearheads the celebrations to be hosted by the Benguet provincial government.

Different events for the Foundation Day will be held in the province. Apart from the program will be a parade at 7AM

while a whole day Coffee Pavilion and Trade Exhibit will take place at the Wangal Sports Center spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Benguet Provincial Government, and the Department of Agriculture. At 5PM will be a Fashion Show but will be held at the Events Center in SM Baguio showcasing ethnicinspired attires.

One of the highlights of the events will be the Unity Gong Relay which kicked off on July 8 at the Provincial Capitol and ends July 14 through a Fellowship Night at the Gov. Ben Palispis Hall, Provincial Capitol.

This features the passing on of the symbolic unity gong around the Cordillera provinces as a call for unity towards achieving an autonomous status of the Cordillera region.

For a widespread celebration, there will also be provincial celebrations during the month thru the conduct of information education campaign activities on regional autonomy and development alongside with tree planting activities of the NCIP educational assistance program and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and other stakeholders.

The University of the Philippines Baguio Cordillera Studies Center will host the Second International Conference on Cordillera Studies from July 12 – 14 at the CAP-John Hay, Baguio City.

A Cordillera Got Talent showdown will take place regionwide on July 14 spearheaded by DSWD and the State Universities and Colleges. On the same day, there will also be a Youth Concert for Regional Autonomy at the Benguet State University spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority.

On July 27, a conference will be held at the Benguet State University on the History of Struggle Against the Chico Dam and Cellophil Project led by BSU and other SUCS, Benguet Provincial Government and NEDA.

The month-long festivities will culminate on July 28 thru a Cultural Summit tagged, “Celebrating Cordillera Heritage” at the Gov. Ben Palispis Hall, Provincial Capitol. Susan Aro/ PIA CAR