BONTOC, Mountain Province – The fifth edition of the home-grown Lang-ay festival next year promises to be another exciting event of festivities, cultural extravaganzas, indigenous foods, and home-brewed wine.

During the launching of Lang-ay 2009 last Friday, spectators were treated to the different cultural dances of the various municipalities of the province such as the Bontoc festival dance pattong, the takik of the western towns, and the halip of the eastern municipalities. The tukab and tebyag marked the symbolic opening of the Lang-ay.

School children, government employees, and religious folk participated in   giving a preview of what to expect in next year’s Lang-ay, which is now a huge crowd drawer.

All the spectators were also served native delicacies like the patupat, cassava suman, and native coffee. Others preferred to have the rice wine of tapuey.

Both presidential assistant Thomas Killip and retired Bishop Francisco Claver, SJ stressed the importance of embracing one’s culture.

Composed of seven parts, the launching program started with bugao, followed by a   Eucharistic celebration at the Sta. Rita Cathedral.

It ended with a meeting of the Lang-ay development council where
some comments and observations regarding the past Lang- ay festivals and suggestions for the forthcoming festival were presented. 

Other highlights include the launching of the Palit-Ilaw Mountain Province program, the unveiling of the Mountain Province capitol complex, and the inauguration of the procurement service of the Mountain Province sub-depot at the Bontoc General Hospital grounds.