Aritao holds 100 years centennial celebration on June 24-30

June 25, 2017 Community Billboard

ARITAO, NUEVA VIZCAYA – This municipality noted the unprecedented arrival of hundreds of tourists in this town before the grand opening of 100 years centennial celebration on June 24-30, 2017.
The theme for this year is “Pagbabalik tanaw pasasalamat at pagbubunyi”.
“What is most important is that we celebration the 100 years centennial in this town as gesture of thanksgiving to the lord almighty for the blessing he bestowed in this municipality,” Mayor Lucita L. Tan said.
The weeklong activities this year include decorated trade fair booths will offer visitors the chance to sample various one-barangay, one products coming from 22 barangays, mass wedding, parade feature 22 gaily decorated floats, coofest competition, mountain bike, street dancing competition, pageant, lechonan, cultural show, larong lahi, circus or acrobat, “wat-wat” or sharing of consecrated meat which is similar to the tradition of “padigu” among Ilocanos, among others.
“I hope this centennial celebration will serve as a catalyst to strengthen our camaraderie and invigorate our enthusiasm in serving the Aritaoenos,” Tan added.
The town of Aritao was the onion capital in Cagayan Valley region.
Aritao was previously called “Ajanas”. This name was later changed to Aritao, after an Isinay word “Ari-Tau” meaning “Our King” originated from a famous Igorot King Mengal.
One day, in January 1767, the intrepid Fr. Manuel Corripio, a Spanish missionary, succeeded in persuading an Igorot King called Ari Mengal and his tribe to live in the lowland which is the seat of the municipality of Aritao. These people were later converted to Christianism by Fr. Tomas Gutieres.
On June 30, 1917, through the initiative of councilor Jose Aleman, the application for township of Aritao to higher authorities has been formally and finally approved by the secretary of Interior. PNA / ABN