by Vency D. Bulayungan

Kiangan, Ifugao (1 October) -- Folks in barangay Ambabag here celebrated a thanksgiving entitled Bakle Festival 2010 as part of the celebration of the Philippines as ASEAN Cultural Capital for 2010-2011.

Barangay Captain Jayson Bayawon said in his cultural welcome address called "gopa" that the culture of the Ifugaos revolves around the rice terraces and the bakle is a one day celebration of the Tuwali tribe here after harvest season in thanksgiving for all the blessings.

"Our forefathers did not go to school, but they knew how to say thank you. They were aware that someone unseen is providing them with blessings', Bayawon said. "Our rich culture which our forefathers handed to us should not be taken for granted and will not be forgotten," he added.

Bayawon shared that according to his grandfather, in this cultural event is not only the merrymaking of the community that can be felt but also joy of the men and women pounding the gluttonous rice as manifested by the the sound produced by the pestle and mortar.

Recognizing the importance and cultural implication of this event and its true worth as contributory to the development of the Philippine culture and arts, the government through the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA)NCCA has strongly supported its implementation and preservation.

The NCAA provided P71,000.00 funding for the holding of this year's bakle, Bayawon said. Aside from cultural presentations, the Ifugao epic called "hud-hud and native dances were contested among the sitios here.

Performers from the Poblacion School of Living Traditions also served as hud-hud guest performers.