Adivay means shared joy

Participant in the Adivay celebration dons a traditional dress.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Provincial Government of Benguet leads the Kankanaey, Ibaloi and other indigenous peoples (IP) together with visitors and migrants in starting the month-long celebration of the 119th foundation anniversary of the province dubbed “Adivay” (celebrating together as one community).

The theme of this year’s celebration is Health, Education, Agriculture, Livelihood, Tourism, Human Resource, Infrastructure, Environment, and Responsive (Healthier) Benguet. The battlecry of the celebration is the Province of Benguet as “A haven of sustainable communities.”

Before the opening program at the Provincial Capitol of Benguet, elders led by a Mambunong (Igorot priest) offered pigs to God and the ancestors through the traditional “Owik.” This is a traditional practice of Benguet to ensure the success of each occasion.

Benguet Provincial Governor Melchor Diclas formally declared the opening of the Adivay 2019 festival with the blowing of the horn and beating of the gongs by the Capitol employees.

According to Diclas, the Adivay celebration is a manifestation that the people of the province work and live as one in improving their lives and ensure a sustainable community.

The main celebration will be on 23 November 2019 at the Wangal, La Trinidad where all the residents of the 13 municipalities of Benguet will showcase their cultural practices and traditions.

Booths setup by each of the municipalities will display their agricultural produces and other products.