Tabuk City, Kalinga- Loud drums and colorful dances are coming to Tabuk anew this 2025, as the city is set to celebrate 75 years of unity and progress with the Matagoan Festival in June.
The Matagoan Festival, comes from the Kalinga word “Matagoan,” meaning “zone of life” or “place of peace", celebrates the unity of different cultural groups in the city living together in harmony. The festival is known for showing the rich traditions of the Kalinga people through dances, rituals, native clothing, and cultural exhibits.
With this year's theme, “Celebrating 75 Years: Sustaining Cultural Heritage, Embracing Progress," the event honors the city’s proud past while looking forward to a better and brighter future.
In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, the Tabuk City Tourism Office said the 2025 Matagoan Festival will be extra special because it is Tabuk’s Diamond Jubilee. Many exciting events are being prepared, and sister local government units (LGUs) have been invited to join the celebration.
There will be a display of local products, and a concert by the famous Filipino band Rivermaya at the Tabuk City National High School.
Other events include the Matagoan Enhanced Cultural Street Dance Competition and Ground Showdown on June 18. Dance groups wearing colorful traditional outfits will perform powerful dances that tell stories of the Tabukeños way of life.
"This year’s founding anniversary will be our Diamond Jubilee. There will be Exciting activities po, Our sister LGUs were invited, Invitational Street dancing, Rivermaya Concert, display of local products etc.." the agency relayed.
Participants of the specific event will receive cash prizes - P150,000 for first place, P100,000 for second place, P75,000 for third place, P20,000 for consolation prizes, and 30,000 in support for each group that will join the contest.
The screening of entries will be conducted on May 23, and the final 7 groups will be announced on May 25.
Interested groups can now register through this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeNzSH4TtAJPY5etQZu-yajPZSa7mNybfXMZoYcTXLeQAZ5g/viewform.
The tourism office added that the full schedule of activities will be posted soon on their Facebook page. Organizers are now working hard to make sure everything is well-planned and memorable for everyone.
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