BENGUET ALL SET FOR 2024 ADIVAY FESTIVAL, NOV. 5- DEC. 3

November 1, 2024 Provincial

More than P8-M allocated for the celebration

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

All systems go for this year’s Adivay Festival, bringing together indigenous communities from the 13 towns of the province an extravaganza that allows the sharing of cultural beliefs and traditional practices. ‘Embracing our Heritage, co-creating a Healthier Benguet; is this year’s theme. More than P8- million, sourced mainly from the province’ general fund is budgeted for this annual celebration, featuring some 40 events to include grand canao
and agri-tourism fair which got the biggest allocation , organizers said.

Some 35 swine (pigs) and two cows will butchered in the Nov 23 canao. Governor Melchor Diclas and Vice Governor Ericson Felipe, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), led other provincial officials to include heads of the different departments in the Kapihan held on Oct. 28 at the Provincial Capitol’s Ben Palispis Hall. Gov. Diclas said the celebration is in recognition of the countless contributions of elders and past officials of the
province , and also the collaborative efforts of local government units officials and the communities.

Resiliency, innovations and empowered people of Benguet marked the sustainabability of the festival. In the early going of the Kapihan, Diclas briefly outlined his administration’s accomplishments to include the establishments of some 10 dialysis centers across the province. Vice Governor Felipe for his part said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has always been supportive to the leadership of Gov. Diclas anchored on the latter ’s Healthier Benguet advocacy.

This year’s edition of the festival, premiered in 2005 Adivay -named after the Ibaloi term meaning ‘coming
together,’ present a cross-section community led events such as kiddie-youth-senior’s day, sports, cooking
contest, on top a ‘farmers day’ on the agriculture, conspicuously, small scale miners day is not included in this year program. Small scale miners are sulking Vice Gov. Felipe quipped right after the Kapihan.

The festival will also banner Benguet Gong Awards in Business Achievement, recognizing enterprising businesses and which are taxes compliant; and Benguet Awards honoring locals for their sterling works to be given in three categories namely-Outstanding, Everlasting and Benguet Icon.

Primo Agatep/ABN