Philouise’s Weblog

“Come, let’s celebrate: Anitap Festival ed Kapangan”

Last Sunday, we had a choice spot in Mandarin Restaurant as we watched the Panagbenga Float Parade. My interest was triggered when my sister Marlene text the night before that they were still out doing the Assemblies of God float. So that information made me decide to watch. In Mandarin we joined some friends, including Robert and Rose Tinda-an, applause specially during the street dancing of the bands. The Country Club float deserve to be a Hall of Fame Awardee and I was expecting the previous awardees to be there as well, but I was disappointed as this was my first time to watch the Panagbenga Float Parade. After the parade the mass of people covered session road and it took some time clear before we could find our way to post office and finally to Athletic Bowl where members of the family took photographs of the float and the people.

Wikipedia defines festival as an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community. Among many religions, a feast or festival is a set of celebrations in honor of God or gods. The term “feast” has also entered common secular parlance as a synonym for any large or elaborate meal.

In the Christian Calendar, Christmas and Easter are the major festivals. Pentecost is one of the prominent celebrations named by Jewish traditions to be the 50 days after the offering of the barley leaf during the Passover feast. During the existence of the Temple the first fruits were offered as well as a sacrifice to two loaves of bread were made. This was likewise celebrated with much fun fare. After the book of Acts, Pentecost was celebrated to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. This was celebrated with prolonged worship. In the United Kingdom Pentecost is also called Whit Sunday, Whitsun, Whitsunday, Whitty Sunday.

For the first time, Kapangan will hold the “Anitap Festival ed Kapangan”, a cultural festivity that will showcase indigenous cultural and traditional practices of the people on March 17, 2009. This is part of the town fiesta celebration which will be held on March 14 – 18, 2009 with lined up activities of merriment and entertainment. The name of the festival is derived from the Anitap tree or scientifically known as Macaranga Cumingii.

It is the source of material for an indigenous musical instrument called Tallak used in the performance of Tallak dance. A traditional instrument and dance used during caňaos long before the coming of the gongs. Anitap festival is an undertaking sponsored by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as part of its campaign in preservation culture and tradition. A worthwhile project inspired by the Benguet Tourism Operations Office under Mrs. Claire Prudencio, who is also the cluster head for Benguet – NCCA. The community of Kapangan in combination of its elders and the youth will come together to perform their unique heritage and aims to display authentic performances of rituals with corresponding dances like Tallak, Temmo, Bayani ritual with Tinmongao dance, Binan-noy / Ginalding and others. A must see cultural show for the public who are at the same time encouraged to come in their own native costume. Be part of this historical event with the people of Kapangan and get the chance to taste the best tapuey or rice wine in town especially made by old folks for this momentous occasion. Kalajo meki dadsak son sikami! For more details please contact Andrew @ 09189419837 / Manny @ 09189420527 / Chris @ 09216043242 & Rose @ 0920431804.

Likewise, NCAA and Kapangan will conduct School of Living traditions like the Kankanaey Buko-making with Gadang Unified Youth Organization (GUYO), the Kankanaey Performing Arts with the Kapangan Ibaloi Kankanaey Indigenous Peoples Organization (KIKIPO) and the Ibaloi Performing Arts with Kapangan Central National High School (KCNHS).

(philian weygan, March 5, 2009)