Indigenous folk’s cultural heritage gets boost in Panagdadapun Festival

EXHIBIT. An exhibitor on Sunday, Sept. 11, tends to an agro-trade fair booth in the Panagdadapun Festival that marks the 51st founding anniversary of Quirino province. The festival was staged again after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic. Photo by Villamor Visaya Jr.

CABARROGUIS, Quirino – The rich cultural heritage of indigenous folk in Quirino was highlighted anew as the province celebrated its Panagdadapun Festival to mark the province’s 51st founding anniversary.

“The Quirino’s cultural heritage of the Dumagats, Ifugaos, Isinays, Bugkalots, and Gaddang indigenous folk, and lowland villagers like the Ilocanos are always cherished for their contributions in the province,” Governor Dakila Carlo Cua said in an interview Sunday, Sept. 11.

With the theme “I Love Quirino @ 51: A Celebration of Strength, Resiliency and Unity,” the festival is celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 7, until Sunday, Sept. 11, this year.

Staged anew after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic, the Panagdadapun (local term for “gathering”) brought villagers from six towns for the historical dances, exhibits, agro-trade fairs, job fair, coffee table book launching, waste management, street dancing, family games, fun run, concert, dancing and singing contests, beauty pageant, medical-dental service, sports festival, tree planting, bike race, and others.

A grand parade featured a floral offering and another parade showcased the town festivals which includes the Penenkakasisit of Nagtipunan, Pagay-Pagay of Saguday, Panagsasalog of Maddela, Ginnamuluan of Cabarroguis, Pammadayaw of Diffun, and Panagsalukag of Aglipay.

Carved from Nueva Vizcaya on September 10, 1971, Quirino became a separate province with “viable economic, political, and governance gains,” Cua said.

Since then, the province has consistently won the Department of Interior and Local Government Seal of Good Local Governance Award for its excellence in financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order, he said.

The popular natural attractions of Quirino includes Governor Rapids at the Cagayan River in Maddela, Aglipay Caves and Provincial Forest Park, Siitan Nature Park and Landingan in Nagtipunan. The province also has various waterfalls and caves, and other natural hotspots.

/MUF