Time was short, talent was not: Kalinga clinches Best Provincial Presentation Award during 7th Mangan Taku Food Fest

FEATURE

Despite having limited time to prepare, the Province of Kalinga emerged victorious, clinching the Best Provincial Presentation Award (BPPA)—represented by the municipality of Balbalan—during the 7th Mangan Taku Food Fest (MTFF) held at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park, Baguio City from April 23 to 27.

The MTFF, an annual food event in Baguio City, celebrates both traditional and modern dishes of the Cordillera region. It is usually held in April as part of Filipino Food Month and is organized by the Department of Tourism.

Behind Kalinga’s winning performance, however, was a story of urgency, determination, and resilience.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Mikee Gayban Diaz, a rising iKalinga talent and member of the Balbalan Student Organization (BSO) Baguio Chapter, shared that their group had very little time to prepare after receiving notice on short notice.

Despite circulating posts claiming that the BSO was unable to perform, Diaz clarified that the group did take the stage.

“Hindi po canceled ang performance namin during the MTFF, we were only informed on short notice and given limited time. We the BSO Baguio -Chapter also had a very little time to practice. Actually an hour lang before the actual performance on stage…9 AM practice—10AM on stage,” she clarified.

Still, what could have been a setback became a moment of pride.

Despite the challenge, the group delivered a smooth and compelling performance that highlighted Kalinga’s rich cultural heritage. According to Diaz, their presentation featured a blend of original iKalinga songs and traditional folk music, including pieces in the Balbalan dialect, arranged into a single, cohesive performance.

Among the songs they performed were Balbalan by Native Works, Kultura by Ferlina Meana, Binungor by Simple Tone Band, and Bodong Matagoan composed by Arnel Banasan.

“All the songs we performed were originally composed by iKalinga singers. Some of the songs were in the Balbalan dialect. We arranged all of these into a mixed-song performance. We also included traditional folk songs such as ‘Uggayam’ and ‘Dummiwas’, which are native folk songs of our hometown, Balbalan,” Diaz said.

Beyond the stage, Kalinga’s excellence extended to the culinary arena. Alongside the BPPA, Kalinga delegates also earned recognition in the Cook Fest Community-Based Category, where Freda C. Lanipao and Veronica Caliboso from Balbalan secured first place, while representatives from the Pasil Slow Food Community placed second.

Kalinga’s strong showing reflected its continuing efforts to preserve and promote its rich culture and cuisine. It was also a testament to the talent, resilience, and pride of its people—proving that even with limited preparation, excellence can still rise to the occasion.