LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (9 October) -- The essay writing contest on material culture and its indigenous uses in the province is on.

The competition which is in line with the celebration of Adivay Festival and the 106th Founding Anniversary of the province is open to high school and college students.

Deadline for submission of entries will be on October 16, 2006. Participants are advised to secure entry forms from their respective mayors and submit their finished entries to the Provincial Tourism Office.

The essay writing contest was conceptualized by a Special Technical Working Committee who are members of the Provincial Council for Culture and Arts chaired by Governor Borromeo Melchor.

Committee chair and former Board Member Bial Palaez who represents a non-government organization stressed the primary importance of documenting and preserving worthy cultural material practices and indigenous uses during important cultural events held in the community by the indigenous people of Benguet like the Ibalois, Kankana-eys, Kalanguyas, Ikaraos, Bagos and others.

Among the priorities set by the committee include the material culture for rituals, for kitchen wares, for armaments, for farm tools and others.

Cash prizes await the top three winners while the succeeding ten winners will be accorded consolation prizes and certificates of participation. Winners will be announced and awarded on December 2, 2006 at the Benguet State University.

The provincial board approved the amount of P53,000.00 budget for the activity.

Members of the working committee include Edward Moltio, Department of Education; Lita Colting , Provincial Tourism Council Chair; Jaime Galasgas, former board member and retired teacher; Asuncion Belardo, NGO representative; Lynette Grace Carantes-Bibal; Clarita Prudencio , Tourism Operations Officer; and Teresita Fianza , PTC Vice Chair. Camilo Alumit, who is also the acting culture-in-charge,heads the Secretariat