Will Ifugao join 2026 Cordillera Festival of Festivals? Participants say they were told "NO FUNDING"

AGUINALDO, Ifugao – Performers from Aguinaldo who won the Gotad ad Ifugao 2026 street-dancing competition will not represent Ifugao in the upcoming Cordillera Festival of Festivals 2026, according to the municipal government.

Aguinaldo emerged as champion in the provincial street-dancing competition during the 2026 Gotad ad Ifugao celebration in June. Independent reports also confirmed the victory, with Zigzag Weekly reporting that Aguinaldo topped five participating municipalities and received a P100,000 prize.

The performers had initially been informed that the winning group would represent Ifugao in the regional-level Festival of Festivals scheduled for October 17, 2026 in Baguio City, according to the participants.

However, as the regional event drew closer, the young dancers were informed that they would not be able to participate due to funding and other considerations.

Participants express disappointment

One of the participants, Keirrine Angel Pinkihan, expressed her frustration in a post on the Ifugao Cyberspace Watchdog Facebook group.

Pinkihan said the group became excited after winning the provincial competition, believing that they would have an opportunity to represent Aguinaldo and Ifugao on a bigger stage.

“Behind the championship title are people who worked hard, sacrificed, and believed that they were finally getting their chance to represent the province... We didn't just dance to win. We danced because we were ready to represent Aguinaldo and Ifugao,” she said.

“It's disappointing to be told ‘you're going,’ only to hear ‘you're not going’ when the event is already getting closer. It literally explains the word ‘PINAASA,’” she added.

Pinkihan said she hoped future competitions would be planned and coordinated earlier so participants would have clear expectations regarding their participation.

The Ifugao Cyberspace Watchdog is an established Facebook community that has previously served as a platform for discussions and concerns among Ifugaos.

Aguinaldo LGU: ‘We should have planned earlier’

In a statement released a day after Pinkihan's post, the Aguinaldo municipal government confirmed that the student-dancers would not participate in this year's regional Festival of Festivals.

The LGU acknowledged the talent and enthusiasm of the young performers and their willingness to represent the province, while also admitting that preparations should have started earlier.

One of the considerations cited by the municipal government was the Department of Education's policy on avoiding disruption to students' academic activities, noting that the students' studies must remain a priority.

The LGU also explained that participation in the regional competition had not been included in its earlier plans and budget because preparations for the event came at a later stage.

“Another consideration is that the participation was not part of our earlier plans and budget, as preparations for the competition only came at a later stage. This left limited time to properly organize the training, logistics, funding, and other requirements needed for a competitive and responsible participation,” the LGU said.

The municipal government said the situation should serve as a lesson for future competitions.

“We take this as a lesson... This may not be our time to compete, but we hope it will be the beginning of a better-prepared Aguinaldo Street Dance Team for future competitions. Agyaman kami, kabataan ti Aguinaldo. We are proud of you,” it said.

No replacement representative confirmed

As of the publication of the statement cited in the article, there was no confirmation on whether another municipality would step in to represent Ifugao in the 2026 regional Festival of Festivals or whether the province would not participate in this year's showcase.

The Cordillera Festival of Festivals is a DOT-CAR initiative that brings together major festivals from the region's provinces and cities in a single cultural showcase. The event has previously featured Gotad ad Ifugao among the region's major festivals.