CITY OF TABUK,Kalinga(PIA)–Kalinga’s annual festival will soon have its own distinct musical identity with the approval of the proposal to compose an official Bodong Festival hymn.
The inter-agency Kapehan body in its regular meeting on Monday, May 6, adopted the proposal and endorsed it for funding to the local finance committee.
The official hymn will be a marching band song characterized by wind, string, and percussion instruments, and incorporates Kalinga traditional sounds, said Lorraine A. Ngao-i, supervising tourism operations officer and local cultural affairs officer.
“[The] melody will be developed muna and then after that to follow na ang lyrics niya just like with the Kalinga Hymn,” Ngao-i said.
Kalinga showcases its traditional bamboo instruments during the opening of the 4th Bodong Festival in 2023.
“The purpose is to use this during the cultural parade, not only for the street dancers but for the cultural parade, para magkaron tayo ng identity,” she added.
The development of the song will be supervised by the Kalinga Culture and Arts Council.
Ngao-i said it will be up to the council to decide whether to hold competitions to create the melody and the lyrics of the song as suggested by some members of the Kapehan body.
The council is set to hold a meeting on May 14 to tackle the subject, Ngao-i said.
Celebrated every February, the Bodong Festival is centered on Kalinga’s centuries-old unique peace-keeping system. It brings together all the sub-tribes of Kalinga and showcases the rich culture of the province.(IOS-PIA Kalinga)
