Nueva Viscaya’s Ammungan Festival 2014 in Photos
Each province in the Philippines has its own festival. As for Nueva Viscaya, they celebrated their 175th founding anniversary with the Ammungan Festival held from May 21 to May 24, 2014. Ammungan is a Gaddang word which means ‘to gather together’. The activities of Nueva Viscaya’s Ammungan Festival included a street parade and dance competition, agri-trade fair, pageants, float competition, free medical and dental services, traditional games, a skydiving exhibition, a kite and lantern festival, and a fireworks display, amongst other things.
One of the main activities of the Ammungan festival is the streetdancing parade and competition. This year, it was held at the municipality of Solano with representatives from 10 of the 15 municipalities of Nueva Viscaya.
Another one of the highlights of the week-long celebration is the agri-trade fair, wherein municipalities showcase their local products from fruits, vegetables, vinegar, spices to handwoven bags and baskets.
During the last day of the agri-trade fair, a traditional Isinai-tribe wedding was reenacted, which included a pig slaughtered in front of a live audience. The liver of the pig was then inspected by elders. If the organ is healthy, it is said to indicate a good marriage.
