Rituals highlight Benguet’s Adivay2018

SEVERAL rituals were performed to commemorate the celebration of Adivay Festival and the 118th founding anniversary of Benguet province.

Governor Crescencio Pacalso said the various rituals were performed for former officials including those who perished during the previous typhoon which hit the province.

The governor added although activities during the Adivay were downgraded, the festival, which means coming together in Ibalao has enjoyed fair attendance from the 13 municipalities in the different activities slates during the monthlong celebration.

“The sound of gongs is noticeably absent, it is part of the downgrading of ritual instead of a big thanksgiving, victory ritual, more on offering for former officials and a ritual for those who perished in Typhoon Ompong. Hope they are all in peace,” said Pacalso.

Simeon Marciano, one of the mambunong added they have asked for the blessing of Kabunyan (God) and former officials in Benguet during the ‘pammakan’ where 13 municipalities were allotted one native black pigs each for them to share aside from the additional 10 pigs from the province.

On November 23, a ‘daw-es’ (cleansing) and pakde (barrier for Benguet) rituals were conducted for those who perished, survivors, and rescuers.

Photo by Redjie Melvic Cawis OFFERING. The 118th Benguet Founding Anniversary celebration and the Adivay Festival 2018 culminated with indigenous rituals with the toned down festivities in lieu of the recent tragedy that happened to the province in the past months. Here, Benguet elder Simeon Marciano shows the chicken used for the rituals and explains to provincial officials and employees led by Gov. Crescencio Pacalso the rituals performed was successful and a better future for the province is expected in 2019.