A community festival is celebrating a town’s cultural heritage.

Bokod town’s “Ba-diw ni Batbat,” a two-day festival honoring culture and heritage starts with traditional prayers asking for good health and blessings for the community.

The two-day ” Ba-diw ni Batbat”, is themed “Valuing, Nurturing and Honoring Indigenous Peoples Indigenous knowledge,” Benguet State University (BSU) Bokod, Ambangeg Campus, November 6, 2024.

From the Ibaloy and Kalanguya communities, the ba’diw are chants or songs that express sentiments performed during a batbat, a typical celebration.

Elders and youth from the community present traditional dances and songs followed by an exposition of local arts and crafts, as the event aims to recognize youth as the present generation of cultural bearers.

During the opening program, present were BSU President Felipe Comila with Bokod Campus Executive Dean Shakira Herman, Dean of College of Education Chester Esnara, Benguet State University, and Charles Beray Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR).

During the festival, BSU announced the offering of Cordillera 101 in the curriculum, dedicated to understanding the rich Indigenous Knowledge, traditions, values, and practices of Indigenous Peoples communities.

The festival showcased traditional crafts, food, music, dance, sports, and arts starting with the “Batbat” highlighted by the offering of a pig to ask for good health, harvest, leadership educational attainment, and community wellness, and ends with the ‘Ehkol,” a prayer for all who helped make the festival a success.

The Ba-diw ni Batbat, now in its third year, has been institutionalized by the Municipality of Bokod as it reflects the deep respect for indigenous peoples’ heritage and a commitment to preserve traditions for future generations. Dave Leprozo Jr.