Kalinga braces for 13th Ullalim Festival

The province braces for its 13th Ullalim Festival with regal festivities of modest budget come February 14.

DTI-Kalinga Provincial Director Grace Baluyan, who is a member of the program steering committee said this year’s Ullalim Festival will be a 4-day celebration marking the province’s 13th Foundation Day, Feb. 13-16.

Kalinga and Apayao became separate provinces on Feb. 14, 1995 under RA 7878 signed by former Pres. Fidel Ramos.

Starting the 4-day affair will be the municipal and sectoral float parade that leads to the provincial capitol grounds, where the opening rite of the Ullalim Festival will be led by Gov. Floydelia Diasen.

The opening rite is signified by the recital of the Ullalim (Kalinga Epic), followed by the sounding of gongs and native Kalinga dance, tachok.

Each municipality will present its own festival based on its significance and implication. Tinglayan will do the Unoy Rice Festival, Pasil the Salip Festival, Tanudan the Tanudan Festival, Balbalan its Manchatchatong Festival, Pasingan Festival of Pinukpuk and other cultural presentations from Amung Chi Bochong of Lubuagan.

Baluyan said the committee has invited Tourism Sec. Joseph Ace Durano as Guest of Honor and Speaker and other Cordillera Tourism officials led Director Purificacion Molintas as guests.

Highlighting the celebration is the Agro-industrial Fair that offers a variety of Kalinga indigenous crops and products of world demand, under the auspices of DTI-Kalinga.

Other highlights include the ‘Provincial Skills Competition’ (PSC) for the skilled workers in the province to display their abilities in a friendly competition.

This aims to promote quality development in technical and vocational skills and develop a pool of world-class Filipino workforce whose skills help enhance both their employability and productivity.

This will be participated in by graduates of community-based training program from the municipalities, students from the private and public schools in the province, industry workers, entrepreneur, out-of-school youths, graduates and professionals, graduates from the Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority Provincial Training Center (TESDA-PTC), and even from the group of people with disabilities.

Contested areas which will be conducted in open and youth categories include Information Technology, Welding, Building Wiring, Horticulture, Automotive Servicing, Consumer Electronics, and Indigenous Crafts.

It will likewise showcase demos on beauty care like body massage, facial, foot spa, hair styling and cosmetology.

Martial arts enthusiasts will also be witnessing self defense demonstrations by the Kalinga Colleges of Science and Technology, Saint Louis College of Bulanao and the Philippine National Police.

The inclusion of the PSC in the province’s annual major event is in support to the flagship of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to create more jobs for the Filipino through the provision and promotion of skills training producing a world-class and competent workforce.

Like the Kalinga legendary washing at the waters of Chico River to end the day’s toils, participants and guests to the 4-day Ullalim Festival are invited to take the Chico River white water rafting, a 4-hour exasperating challenge on the Chico rapids.

Baluyan said the province, which is emerging as the new tourism discovery of the Cordillera, aims to develop the annual Ullalim Festival as an attraction, and later have it at the levels of Aklan’s Ati-atihan and Cebu’s Sinulog festivals.