A SEND-off for the victims of Typhoon Ompong through an indigenous ritual will highlight the Adivay 2018 celebration.
Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso disclosed that for this year's Adivay, a solemn tribute will be held in view of the recent typhoon damage in the province.
The province was hit hardest by the typhoon, racking up the highest number of casualties.
At least 89 were declared dead while scores are still missing in Sitio 070, Barangay Ucab, Itogon following a massive landslide.
According to Pacalso, elders need to perform a ritual for the whole province in order to avoid similar disasters in the future.
"We really have to perform ritual to them as send off," added the governor.
The celebration includes the Benguet tribes of Ibaloy, Kankana-ey and Kalanguya.
The governor also announced a change in the schedule of Adivay. Instead of November 23, the cultural celebration and conduct of the indigenous ritual will be held on November 30.
On the 23rd is the Benguet Foundation Day parade and the 2018 Benguet Awards in the afternoon.
Pacalso said the schedule was changed to allow municipalities to attend the main event as it was found that several municipalities are also celebrating their own foundation day such as Atok, Kibungan, Kapangan, Tublay and Sablan.
With the theme: "Benguet Culture- Unity, Industry, Prosperity: Managing Adversities with Excellence thru Enhanced Indigenous Resilience," Adivay will also include an agri-trade fair, Dongba ni Kavajo, job fair, boodle fight meal for farmers, cultural dance performance, indigenous peoples games, small scale mining congress, land congress, and Mr. and Ms. Benguet, among others.
Adivay is an annual celebration of Benguet, which means coming together in celebration of the culture and tradition of the province.
