No Adivay this year says Diclas

September 14, 2020 Community Billboard

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 11(PIA) – The provincial government of Benguet is toning down the celebration of the Adivay festivities this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Melchor Diclas said that with the COVID-19 pandemic still persisting and continues to affect greatly people and the economy, there will just be simple celebration to mark the 120th founding anniversary of the province of Benguet on November 23.
The celebration will be a thanksgiving despite the pandemic and also in remembrance of the former provincial leaders who already passed on. The annual foundation anniversary coincides with the Adivay Festival, a-month long festivities culminating with the grand celebration at the Benguet Sports Complex participated by all the 13 municipalities of the province.
Diclas said that with the COVID-19 pandemic being experienced, suspending many of the events would lessen the further spread of the virus in the province.
He said the traditional “owik” rituals will still be performed but with lesser number of animals to be butchered and offered. He stressed that health protocols should be observed even with the simple activities including the rituals to be undertaken.
This is not the first time that the grand celebration of the Benguet foundation anniversary is subdued. In 2009, the Adivay was toned down because of the effects of the typhoon Pepeng that buried and killed more than 70 people in Little Kibungan in La Trinidad.
In 2013, it was in consideration of the devastation wrought by super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas particularly in Tacloban City. and in 2016 it due to the effects of typhoon Lawin in the different parts of the Cordillera region.
The festivities in 2018 was also toned down due to devastation caused by typhoon Ompong in Benguet, most notably the landslide in Barangay Ucab, Itogon which killed at least 80 people and leaving hundreds of families homeless.
JDP/RMC- PIA CAR