“From Kalinga to Abra and Mountain Province”: Board Member Kitongan eyes inter-provincial expansion of Lumin-Awa Trek

Tabuk City, Kalinga – During the second night of the Lumin-Awa Trek Fourth Edition that was conducted from February 5-7, 2026, Board Member Emilio Kitongan announced plans to expand it beyond provincial borders.

Kitongan made the statement while speaking to trekkers in Barangay Tulgao, Tinglayan, Kalinga - one of the stops in the host town.

Said trekking activity was held as part of the series of activities for the celebration of the 31st Kalinga Founding Anniversary and the 7th Bodong Festival.

With the aim to bring together trekkers and mountaineers on a journey through three culturally significant villages in Tinglayan, the Provincial Government of Kalinga staged said fourth edition of the Lumin-Awa Trek.

The trek kicked off at the jump-off point in Sitio Char-ig, Barangay Mallango, passing through Barangay Sumadel and Barangay Tulgao before culminating at the famed Buscalan Tattoo Village.

During the solidarity night in Barangay Tulgao, BM Kitongan revealed that the organizing committee is currently formulating plans to expand the Lumin-Awa Trek beyond Kalinga to neighboring provinces.

“I am a member of the committee for this trekking activity. We will continue doing this within the province and eventually make it interprovincial. There are plans, maybe from Kalinga to Mountain Province or Kalinga to Abra. As challenging as this trek is now, we want to make it even more challenging,” Kitongan said.

He also expressed gratitude to uniformed personnel, the municipal local government unit of Tinglayan, the business sector, and barangay officials for the successful staging of the event, emphasizing that the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) could not have accomplished it alone.

“I would like to thank our PLGU partners, the Army, PNP, BFP, our business partners, the MLGU of Tinglayan, the entire officialdom of Tinglayan, and all barangay officials. The PLGU cannot carry out an activity like this on its own,” he added.

With expansion plans now underway, the Lumin-Awa Trek is expected to further strengthen Kalinga’s eco-tourism initiatives while promoting cultural appreciation and collaboration with neighboring provinces.