BAGUIO CITY – A midget woman wowed the audience with her energetic performance during the grand street dancing competition of the grand celebration of the 30th Panagbenga Festival with the themed ‘Blooming Without End’ in Baguio City, on February 28.
The said midget dancer is part of the Tribu Siglat- Tinungbo Festival continegt of Pugo, La Union, and showed their rich culture of the Bago Tribethrough traditional dances such as Manmanok, Sadong, and Tadek, accompanied by gongs and bamboo instruments—elements that reflect their origins and beliefs.
Aside from their colorful traditions, an important part of their lifestyle is farming and fishing, known as Panagkammel. Their livelihood is based on agriculture—growing rice, vegetables, and other crops—as well as the abundant natural resources of their environment. Panagkammel is not only a livelihood but also a symbol of their hard work, cooperation, and deep connection with nature.
They also maintain customs such as Tinungbo, cooking food inside a bamboo, which shows their creativity and environmentalism.
The seven other participants in the Festival Dance are the Lamut Harvest Festival Dance of Ifugao, Pagibang Damara Festival of SanJose, Nueva Ecija, Tribu Balitok a Pagey of Malasique, Pangasinan, Tribu Bagtas, Alisto SDO of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur, Tribu Bannuar Ilocandia of Balaoan, La Union, Tribu Eulogiano-Baggak Festival of Bauang, La Union, and Tribu Kanluran Jones-PiniUsa Festival of Jones, Isabela.
In addition, the six participants in the Elementary Drum and Lyre Streetdancing competition on February 1 will also be paraded on Saturday, to continue their remaining 70 percent performance, as only 30 percent was taken from their performance during the grand opening of the Panagbenga Festival.
The participants include Tuba Central School Drum and Lyre Corps; Pugo Central School, El Tribu D’Lucban Elementary School. Baguio Central School, Lucban Elementary School, Puguis Elementary School and Mabini Elementary School.
The participants will once again showcase their skills in the showdown competition as the finale at the Melvin Jones Football ground, Burnham Park, Baguio City.(By Zaldy Comanda)
