Celebrate And Experience Ifugao Culture In The Upcoming Gotad Ad Kiangan Festival

It's all systems go for this year's edition of the Gotad Ad Kiangan Festival in Kiangan, Ifugao. The primary events for the festivities have been finalized. The theme for this year's celebrations is: "Mun-ammung, Mun-am-amlong, Mi-ohha Taku Te Gotad Ad Kiyangan". Translated to English, that means: "We Gather, We Celebrate, We Unite Because It Is Gotad Ad Kiangan". The festival will run from April 29 (Saturday) until May 3 (Wednesday). Below is a quick overview of the primary events scheduled for the five-day festival.

Events on April 29:
1. Fun walk and fun bike
2. Basketball competition
3. Thanksgiving service

Events on April 30: 
1. Cultural parade 
2. Opening Program 
3. Opening of the agro-industrial fair 
4. Basketball and volleyball games 
5. Cultural events and contests in Holyat, Baltung, and A-apo 

Events on May 1: 
1. Kolong di Nuwang (butchering of the carabao) 
2. Gottadan and Dog-al (traditional rituals) 
3. Opening Program 
4. Native dance competitions on the Dinnuy-a, Pagaddut, and Bhutageh 
5. Baklen di Bimmoble 
6. Ethnic games on Guyyudan, Akkad, Caba race, Uggub, Bultung, Hinnukting, Hanggul, Going to Gotad, Kadang-Kadang, and Batawil relay race 
7. Theater and ethnic ensemble competition 

Events on May 2: 
1. Marathon in G-strings 
2. Ball and ethnic games 
3. Launching of the Kiangan Go Negosyo Center 

Events on May 3: 
1. Neo-ethnic street dancing 
2. Ball and ethnic games championship matches 
3. Awarding of prizes 
4. Closing program 
5. Evening concert

Photo by Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun