It will be a grand convergence of cultures as the Province of Quirino marks another milestone with the celebration of its 52nd founding anniversary and Panagdadapun Festival, which will showcase its rich history and cultural heritage.
With the theme “Upholding Resilience, Innovation and Excellence”, celebrations opened on Sept. 2 with an array of events, such as indigenous arts and crafts exhibit, job fair, beauty pageant, sports activities, concerts featuring the hottest bands, and socio-civic events.
A crowd-drawer is the Tourism and Investment Fair which showcases the tourism, food, native crafts and agricultural products of the different municipalities through pavilion displays around the Provincial Capitol Complex in Cabarroguis town.
Literally meaning “gathering” in the Ilocano language, the festival’s highlight is Sept. 10 with the grand parade, foundation anniversary program and the street dancing show.
To be featured are the municipal festivals of Penenkakasisit of Nagtipunan, Pagay-Pagay of Saguday, Panagsasalog of Maddela, Ginnamuluan of Cabarroguis, Pammadayaw of Diffun, and Panagsalukag of Aglipay, which depict the indigenous and local small-town way of life.
Quirino governor Dakila Carlo Cua said that the celebration will underscore the economic, political and governance gains the province has achieved since its creation as a province and separation in 1971 from Nueva Vizcaya.
He noted that the festival is a means to put the spotlight on the province’s potentials as an emerging eco-tourism and agricultural powerhouse in the Cagayan Valley region.
This year’s celebration is the second post-pandemic staging of the annual fest, with the full resumption last year of the Panagdadapun and launch of its “Basket of Happiness” tourism branding which helped Quirino regain its momentum.
Beyond the festival, guests can marvel and experience the natural charm and exciting adventure of its ecotourism attractions, such as the Aglipay Caves and Campsite in Aglipay, Ganano Falls in Diffun, Siitan Nature Park, Landingan Viewpoint and Diamond Cave in Nagtipunan, and Governor Rapids at the Cagayan River in Maddela.
Moreover, trekkers can chase waterfalls, quite literally, which are tucked inside the lush forests of the various towns.
The province is also gaining popularity as a mecca for motocross for its annual Quirino Motorismo, the country’s biggest motorcycle sports festival, which features an endurance ride around northern Luzon.
For a glimpse of Quirino’s cultural heritage, guests can visit the P rovincial Museum in Cabarroguis, the repository of the Dumagat, Ifugao, Isinay, Bugkalot and Gaddang indigenous peoples, and Ilocano way of life.
The sprawling 110-hectare capitol complex also boasts of the spring water-fed Quirino Watersports Complex, north Luzon’s only full course world-class and tournament-grade wakepark, an Orchidarium, Tree for Legacy Park, Bamboo Eco-Park, plant nurseries, and the tree-lined lake for a boating nirvana.
