Aguinaldo, Ifugao – Planning for an escapade? Join the fun-filled eco-walk, cycling race, and trailblazing challenge that is expected to provide ultimate immersion into the landscapes and culture of Aguinaldo, Ifugao.
Participants in the town’s planned activities during the celebration of its “Apar Ad Aguinaldo” Festival will experience a unique and memorable adventure with a scenic backdrop.
“Apar Ad Aguinaldo” Festival
“Apar” is a local term for hunting camp for wild animals or fish. The festival is a commemoration of the town’s population, giving a glimpse of the municipality being a “home of bounty and adventures.”
In the old days, the whole area of Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista used to be mere hunting grounds of the municipalities’ forefathers who were then residing in Mayoyao. The hunters would set up a camp called by locals as “apar”, relayed Municipal Tourism Officer Melissa Lapugan-Domingo.
“The apar is a sense of ownership kasi kapag gumawa ka ng apar mo, the following hunting season, hindi pwedeng tirhan ng iba yung hunting camp mo. Since may ownership, pwede mong ipamana sa anak mo o sa next generation,” she added.
As time went by, the hunting camps were developed as permanent residence thus, the population of Aguinaldo.
Since the first settlers in town were from Mayoyao, the people in Aguinaldo observed Mayoyao’s “Igkhumtad” or harvest festival during their fiesta, until the institutionalization of “Apar” Festival in 2011.
Every time the municipality marks its anniversary, it highlights its vast rice, corn, and banana plantations, including its tourist destinations such as waterfalls, the sea of clouds, and the spectacular scenery of its mountains - Rolling Hills and Sleeping Dinosaur, among others.
Following the hunting season period, the local government usually celebrates the festival in a month, starting from March 28. However, with the budget cut, the locality will not pursue the supposed month-long festivities.
Eagle of the Mountain Fun Bike
For this year, among the activities prepared by the local government under the leadership of Mayor Gaspar Chilagan Jr. is what is dubbed as “Eagle of the Mountain – Fun Bike.”
Registration fee for this event which is slated for March 24 is P300.
After the registration at 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. of said day, the race will start by 7:00 a.m. at the Banana Processing Center, Posnaan, Aguinaldo up to the Municipal Hall. Cyclists must be physically fit to finish the 26-kilometer race.
For those youth aged 19 years old and below, including those under the men category (20-45 years old) and men executive category (46 years old and above), the target race time is 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours. For women, the target time is 1 hour, 30 minutes to 3 hours.
The top three winners of each category will get trophies and P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 cash prizes, respectively.
Also set to be conducted on the same day is the 37.2-kilometer “Alab ng Aguinaldo Riders - Trail Blazing Challenge.” This is an open category.
Registration fee for riders is P300 and P200 for non-riders, inclusive of certificate, T-shirt, and lunch. The registration begins at 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Participants will follow the route: Banana Processing Center, Posnaan – Ubao – Chalalo – Mongayang – Awayan – Damag – Jacmal – Ta-ang – Bunhian – Trail Site – Municipal Hall, Galonogon.
For further details on this activity, those interested may contact 0997-618-2737.
If cycling and trailblazing are not your thing, try the 2.15-kilometer eco-walk from Saddle, Galonogon, Aguinaldo viewpoint, to the Municipal Plaza. This will be held on March 29.
The P350 environmental registration for this event will end on March 20.
Those who will be completing the 3 hours, 30 minutes to 4 hours eco-walk challenge will be given a certificate, T-shirt, trail food, and lunch.
Mayor Gaspar Jr. and those under the umbrella of Aguinaldo LGU are inviting the public to take part in said fun-packed activities.
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