Hingyon, Ifugao celebrates Gotad Festival to honor farmers and customs

Hingyon, Ifugao - Drumbeats echoing through the mountains and dancers in traditional attire are making Hingyon, Ifugao, bustle with energy as the town celebrates its 2025 Gotad Festival.

Rooted in the town's rich cultural traditions, the Gotad Ad Hingyon is an annual Thanksgiving festivity that honors bountiful harvests, ancestral customs, and the continued unity of the people in the community. 

With this year’s theme, “Adopting Culture to Broadening Horizons,” the five-day festivity kicked off on Monday, April 28, with a Thanksgiving mass, followed by an opening program and an indigenous dance competition at the municipal gymnasium. 

The launching of Agro-Tourism and Industrial Trade Fair also took place, showcasing a range of locally made products.  

Mayor Florencio Nalula, in his interview with the Philippine Information Agency—Ifugao, emphasized that the festival serves not only as a tribute to the town’s rich cultural heritage but also as a means to honor the farmers who supply heirloom rice and other agricultural goods that are essential to the municipality’s progress.  

“We are not just showcasing traditional dances and crafts; we are showcasing the fruits of our farmers’ labor,” said the mayor.  

The Gotad Ad Hingyon continues until May 2, promising more cultural displays, competitions, and community engagement. Events include traditional dance performances, music, rituals, and a job fair and Diskwento Caravan in collaboration with various government agencies.