Lunch are served in banana trunk plates.Photo and story by: Carl C. Taawan
Kapangan, Benguet has recently concluded its second Anitap Festival on March 17, 2009. The community activity was attended by the 15 different barangays of the municipality.
Councilor Bentres, the tourism officer of the municipality explained that “the Anitap tree is the source of the indigenous musical instrument called the “tallak” which is used in the performance of the Tallak dance.” Anitap, scientifically known as Macaranga Cumingii, is abundant in Kapangan. Bentres said that “Tallak was not only used by the people of Kapangan but the whole of Benguet in celebrating the canao long before the coming of the metal gongs.”
“The municipality decided to name its cultural celebration in recognition of this old age plant that has been part of the heritage of the people of Kapangan and of Benguet” said Bentres.
Mayor Canuto thanked the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) as the “major contributor in bringing cultural awareness to the people of Kapangan.“ NCCA allocated 138,000 for the event. Other major contributor is Governor Fongwan, the office of Congressman Dangwa and the Department of Tourism.
Department of Tourism Purification Molintas expressed her plan to establish a commission “to train the facilitators of the festival to improve the activities further. This way, the cordillera municipalities could establish world class festivals.”
Director Molintas voiced her delight on the “young people of Benguet starting to learn the cultures and customs which few years ago were not taught to them.” DOT has donated 275 t-shirts worn by the participants of the program.
All participants of the event including visitors were given lunch in the “watwat” style Igorot custom. The Anitap Festival is now an annual event.
