Kalinga inter-agency body adopts ‘Call of a Thousand Gongs’ for Ullalim 2014

TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) - The celebration of the Kalinga’s 19th founding anniversary and Ullalim Festival in February next year may be highlighted with the simultaneous playing of a thousand gongs.

Said proposal, which was adopted in a resolution by the Kapehan sa Kapitolyo body composed of the various provincial government department and national line agency heads, was presented by a civil society group headed by Dr. Amelia Miranda. It aims to put the name of the province in the world map through their unique and beautiful gong playing.

Miranda, who is also known for being an advocate of culture, said the proposed project is called “Awong di gangsa” or “The call of a thousand gong” proposal.

As a cultural community, the people of Kalinga find pride in their gongs which are only played during special occasions, festivities and celebrations. She said that the Kalingas have complete sets of gongs unlike the other cultural communities in the country. Governor Jocel Baac called on the group and the concerned members of the body to look into the mechanics and proper preparations of the event. This he said could also be conceptualized as a possible attempt for a Guinness World Record for the province. **Geraldine G. Dumallig/Guru Press – Aug. 5, 2013

Kalinga prepares for its anniversary

Tabuk City – As one of his first official actions on the first day of office of 2013, Governor Jocel C. Baac signed the first Order which signals a busy month for the Kalinga provincial government in preparing for the celebration of its anniversary on February 14-17.

Gov. Baac issued Executive Order No. 2013-01 last January 2 mandating a multi-sectoral “observance and participation to the 18th anniversary of the province of Kalinga and the celebration of the 2013 Ullalim Festival”.

It is expected that the various committees created under this Order will begin a loop of meetings and planning workshops in order to come up immediately a proposed line-up of activities and the corresponding budget. As stated indisputably in the Order, “Kalinga Shines”, which is the mantra of the present dispensation, will be the theme of the celebration”, and all activities should give meaning to it.

Highlights of the anniversary celebration and Ullalim Festival will be the agro-industrial and tourism fair, cultural and tourism events, Miss Kalinga and Laga fashion show, skills fair, variety shows, municipal bands and social dances presentation, and drum and lyre competition.

It is recalled that the then Kalinga-Apayao province was subdivided into two distinct provinces on February 14, 1995 by virtue of R.A. 7878. Since then Kalinga province observes its founding anniversary and afterward institutionalized and integrated into its celebration the Ullalim Festival. **ken atiwag