ANGELES CITY – Native pulchritude, traditional games, and cultural heritage took centerstage at the 2nd Ayta Day held at Sitio Target, Barangay Sapangbato here on Saturday.
Underscoring Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin’s agenda for the inclusivity and empowerment of the city’s indigenous peoples, the Ayta communities took the lead in the planning and execution of the Ayta Day program with the city government providing full support.
The cultural program featured traditional IP contests such as pana (archery) and sulbatana (blowgun), along with culinary and craft demonstrations including binulo cooking and Hawong-inspired nipa hut construction.
Indigenous performances showcased a range of songs and dances, including sayaw unggoy, sayaw palaka, sayaw langaw, sayaw matubag, sayaw ligawan, and sayaw pasasalamat.
A highlight of the day was the presentation of the of eight contestants to the Lagu ning Ayta pageant in native attire, celebrating the community’s cultural aesthetics and heritage.
The event also recognized newly licensed Ayta social workers, Isaias Baclay and Marie Carmela David, for their service to the community. Delegations traveled from Sitio Bliss, Sitio Sapangbato, Sitio Balaraw, and Sitio Babo, reflecting broad participation across Ayta settlements.
The celebration aimed to preserve Ayta cultural heritage while highlighting biodiversity within their communities, and to instill pride and cultural awareness among the younger Ayta generation to ensure that their rich traditions are passed on to future generations. By foregrounding IPs and other marginalized groups, the city reinforced its commitment to inclusive governance and community-led development.
Mayor Jon stressed that genuine inclusivity requires sustained collaboration with Indigenous communities and ongoing opportunities for their leadership to shape programs that affect them directly.
His administration reiterated ongoing efforts to integrate IP perspectives into city planning, cultural preservation, and local development initiatives.
The mayor was joined by Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Carlos P. Salvador, Sitio Target Integrated School principal Rendon B. Coloma, city tourism officer Louie Lazatin, and local barangay officials and representatives of Ayta communities from Sitio Bliss, Sitio Sapangbato, Sitio Balaraw, and Sitio Bobo.
Angeles CIO
