History of Gotad ad Ifugao
Gotad ad Ifugao comes from the word gotad, which means big gathering or celebration. It is taken from the language of the distinct ethnolinguistic group called Ifugao, which is also the name of the province. Gotad refers to a phase of uya-oy, a prestige rite that is observed in the elevation of status of a rich family or clan. People gather together, invited or not. It is marked with the consumption of bayah, a local alcoholic beverage, and revelries such as music and dance.
Ifugao is surrounded by land and it is part of the Cordillera Administrative Region that also includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. Its people are believed to be migrants from territories belonging to Mountain Province. During over three hundred years of Spanish rule, it mounted resistance against waves of colonizing efforts of the Spaniards and as a result it was never truly conquered. In the American era, it became part of Mt. Province through the passage of Act. No. 1876 of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1908. Its status remained so for the succeeding decades.
Gotad ad Ifugao as a fest commemorates the establishment of Ifugao as a province. It was made possible through the promulgation of Republic Act No. 4695 on June 18, 1966. The law marked the boundaries of Mountain Province and the newly created provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga-Apayao (which further split into Apayao and Kalinga in 1995.)
Moreover Republic Act No. 11101 was enacted in 2018, which declares that the 18th of June every year is going to be known as Ifugao Foundation Day and that the day is a special nonworking holiday in the province of Ifugao.
Gotad ad Ifugao SummaryNameGotad ad IfugaoCelebrationCulture, Founding anniversaryCountryPhilippinesDateJune 18Duration1 weekEmailpgocapitol2019@gmail.comFacebookweb.facebook.comLocationIfugaoOrganizerProvincial Government of IfugaoWebsiteifugao.gov.ph
Gotad ad Ifugao Activities
Most activities are in Lagawe, the capital of the province. There are also other events that are scheduled in other areas. It boasts of sporting events, trade fair, public services, job fair, thanksgiving mass and interfaith service,cook-fest of indigenous recipes, fashion show, beauty pageant called Search for Bugan ya Wigan di Gotad and showcase of ethnic traditions, sports, games, and skills. It is also marked with a grand parade with colorful floats.
Buses are available from Manila going to Banaue, Ifugao.
Gotad ad Ifugao Summary
Kiangan Fiesta: April 31 – May 3
Gotad Ad Kiyangan: May 1
GOTAD AD KIYANGAN is the annual festival of Ifugao performing arts of dancing, chanting and folk singing centered at Kiangan. The festival has now grown to a 4-day fiesta with May 1 as the main event.
The celebration aims to create, intensify and sustain understanding of interest in and appreciation for the Ifugao performing arts. By witnessing the performances during the festival, the young Ifugao, hopefully, will understand and appreciate their own ethnic performing arts and be inspired to perform them themselves, thus insuring promotion and preservation of these important aspects of our cultural heritage.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has been funding the GOTAD AD KIYANGAN starting in 1996 with the Municipal Government of Kiangan putting a minimal amount as its counterpart. Starting in 2001, Kiangan continued to sponsor the arts festival on its own.
Gotad is an Ifugao Tuwali word which has two distinct but related meanings. Ordinarily, the word means a big gathering of people. In ritual usage, it refers to the day-long phase in the performance of the prestige rites. These rites are the ballihong, balog, uyauy and hagabi. During this particular phase of any of these rites, people from far and near converge in the village of the family sponsoring the rite. They will come in their best attire and adorned with their personal accessories. The rich make the gotad the appropriate occasion for them to display their jewels and other valuable personal adornments.
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Integral to the uya-uy is the observance of the “holyat” which culminates the long nights of observing the naba. The holyat then is a prelude and the start of the celebration of “gotad” when the whole community joins in the festivity with the beating of gongs, butchering of animals, drinking of rice wine, and dancing.
The festival celebration started with a “Dog-al” which means to drive away. This was a practice by the Ifugao ancestors to drive away whatever was harmful or detrimental in the homes and the environment.
Some of the highlights of the festival were the indigenous dances, chants, and games, and iKiangan Got Talent Competition among others.
Kiangan Mayor Raldis Andrei Bulayungan thanked the Almighty, the people and the guests for the success of the two-day festival after the two-year postponement.
“This pandemic brought us closer together. It made us work closer together. It became an opportunity for us to be more hardworking, to exert more effort in combatting, protecting and guiding our people,” said Bulayungan.
Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano also shared that the province adopted an Ordinance establishing the Ifugao Provincial Heritage Museum, and its operation and management that aims to gather the culture, traditions or artifacts of Ifugao to maintain and preserve the Ifugao culture and a means of educating its people.
“There are many challenges today especially to our culture, and the best thing that we should do is not to get tired of practicing our culture,” said Prudenciano.(JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)
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Gotad ad Ifugao is a cultural festival and founding anniversary celebration in Ifugao, Philippines that is held every 18th of June annually. A week-long and province-wide affair, it is a fest that is participated by its constituent localities and showcases the proud customs and tradition and indigenous practices of its people.
The foundation day is also a special holiday in the province by virtue of Republic Act No. 11101 that was approved on October 26, 2018. The 18th of June is also called “Ifugao Foundation Day.”
