KIBUNGAN, BENGUET?Teodoro Danglay, barangay chair of Tacadang, had to walk almost a day to reach the plaza here on Sunday in time for the town?s foundation day celebration.

Tacadang is the town?s farthest village. From there, one has to pass by deep ravines and rugged mountain slopes to get to the municipal hall.

?I had to pass by those cliffs since I wanted to join my town mates for the festivities of our foundation day,? Danglay, 60, said.

Like him, the residents joined officials and elders in a cultural feast marking a new kind of life after Kibungan (pop: 15,687) was isolated for weeks as landslides triggered by Tropical Depression ?Pepeng? blocked all access roads.

The gathering also served as a form of relief for people who had to endure the typhoon and its effects, said businessman Dave Molitas, a native of the town.

Days after the typhoon, the supply of rice and basic food items ran short. Power was cut off and radio signals sputtered.

Vegetable farms were destroyed and many houses were damaged.

Left with no option, Mayor Benito Siadto had to appeal for immediate assistance.

Thanks to the provincial government and agencies like the United Nations, the town was able to pull through, Siadto said.

He said people might have panicked but their culture and strong beliefs had helped them face uncertainty, he said.

?Now, we celebrate,? Siadto said, as he led the tayaw (traditional dance) to the beating of gongs and the solibao (native drum).

On Sunday, both young and old greeted each other as if they had not met for years.

Native rice wine varieties called balatinao and tapuey and native pig meat cooked the traditional way were served.

?Rain birds? (water sprinklers) were busy watering farms planted with chayote, one of the town?s major products.

Gov. Nestor Fongwan joined the celebration of people from the town?s seven villages?Badeo, Lubo, Madaymen, Palina, Poblacion, Sagpat and Tacadang.

Fongwan shelved this year?s Adivay, the province?s annual cultural festival, due to the deaths and damage caused by Pepeng.

But in the case of Kibungan, Fongwan said he allowed the event to push through.

?I know what you went through. You may not have the casualties compared to the other towns but the disaster was something you had to put an end to,? he said.

Kibungan is only 62 kilometers from Baguio City but travel would take close to four hours because the repair of major roads has yet to be completed more than a month after Pepeng struck. Delmar Cariño, Inquirer Northern Luzon