Rationale

The Cordillera Administrative Region has rich cultural heritage that its people should be proud of. A conglomerate of tribes, each has diverse but unified culture sharing common beliefs and practices. It has its identity expressed through foods, native dances, chants, and other ethnic rituals.

 We do not only speak of culture because of ethnicity but how the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of the Cordillera relate to food, land and people.

 It is lamentable that current efforts to showcase Cordillera culture are focused on dances and rituals more often than not purposely for tourism purposes.

 This, however, may not be fully appreciated and given attention to because there is no coordinated and sustained efforts to showcase and educate both the present and next generation of Cordillerans and the public at large as part of their own dynamic culture.

 With the fast trend of global modernization and the influence of time, there is a threat that the Cordillera IP identity expressed through customs and traditions could diminish if not lost in the process.

 With these realities, there is a need to revisit our heritage and contribute our share of affirming our identity; and enriching, developing and sustaining the rich culture we came to know since birth. 

 Hence, a festival is proposed to showcase and educate our people of the Cordillera’s rich culture and ethnic foods unique from the other cultures of the country.  

 The activity will counterpart existing initiatives in showcasing Cordillera culture and support plans and programs such as the mega region program of the present administration which eyes the Cordillera as a major tourist destination.