Bontoc marks 117th founding anniversary and 21st Am-Among festival

In a vibrant cultural display and a strong sense of community, the Municipality of Bontoc celebrated its 117th Founding Anniversary alongside the 21st Am-among Festival on September 16, 2025.

The foundation day of the municipality is celebrated every 16th of September by virtue of Municipal Ordinance No. 35, s. 1997, citing that Bontoc was proclaimed as the capital town of old Mountain Province on September 16, 1908, based on official records.

With the theme “Bontoc in Step with One Cordillera: Stronger Together,” the event featured the town’s rich heritage through cultural competitions, traditional dances, songs and games.

Among highlight of the celebration was the Am-among Festival Skills Challenge on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, where trained responders from Bontoc and other Cordillera towns showcased best practices in disaster preparedness, camaraderie and climate adaptation.

Municipal Mayor Franklin Odsey said, as cited by PIA – CAR, the celebration reinforces a shared vision of a united Cordillera through community collaboration, saying, “Bontoc has been a convergence of culture, traditions, and communities. As the capital town of the old Mountain Province, it embodies the strength of the Cordillera—strong yet compassionate, diverse yet united, rooted in heritage but open to new possibilities.”

The event was graced by Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go—the event’s guest of honor, represented by Florinda Princess Duque, provincial and barangay officials, residents and other stakeholders.

With the successful celebration, Bontoc’s heritage and progress remain rooted within the place and its people, as leaders renew their pledge to unity, service, and sustainability.