Baguio hosts CAR’s Festival of Festivals

BAGUIO CITY — Despite slight rainshowers, the fourth Festival of Festivals in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) pushed through along Session Road on Friday morning.

Representatives from across the region performed their respective festivals, showcasing CAR’s rich heritage and the passion of its people.

For Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco, the festival was a proud moment as a Filipino.

“Each festival was distinct, evincing a diversity that really makes you appreciate the richness of Filipino culture,” she said.

“The authenticity of each of the festivals, because you will see, by way of their performances, they are showing their age-old traditions, the rituals, the stories,” Frasco added.

Benguet’s Adivay Festival won the Best Traditional Performance award, while Mountain Province’s Lang-Ay Festival received the Spirit of the Festival title.

Abra won the Most Creative Choreography award with its Kawayan Festival, while Apayao’s Say-am and Kalinga’s Bodong Festival both received the Outstanding Musical Arrangement title.

Baguio City earned the Crowd Favorite award for its Panagbenga performance, City of Tabuk’s Matagoan Festival captured the Cultural Ambassador award, and Gotad-ad Ifugao’s performance of Ifugaos won Best Storytelling.