Mayoyao, Ifugao marks 12th Lenong Festival with agri-tourism exhibit

Mayoyao, Ifugao – The municipality of Mayoyao, Ifugao under the leadership of Mayor Jimmy B. Padchanan Jr. recently marked its 12th “Lenong” (Peace) Festival, highlighting the Tourism and Agricultural Fair as means to boost production and marketing amid pandemic.

“Lenong Ad Majawjaw-An Adventure for Peace” Festival was institutionalized by the local council in August 2011 after the National Historic Institute of the Philippines unveiled a historical marker to attest the end of the Battle of Mayoyao Ridge at Mt. Nachajan during World War II.

The battle was said to have been fought between the Japanese Imperial forces and the combined Filipino and American soldiers. This led to the eventual surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao.

The inscription in the marker which is in recognition of the said battle as part of Philippine history reads: “Ang labanan sa Mayoyao. Dito naganap ang sagupaan sa pagitan ng mga pwersang Hapon at pinagsanib pwersang USAFIP-NL na kinabibilangan ng 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry; 3rd Battalion at ilang elemento ng 11th Infantry, 25 Hulyo 1945 hanggang 7 Agosto 1945, nang mabawi ang Mayoyao sa kamay ng mananakop. Natapos ang labanan, 9 Agosto 1945. Ito ang huling labanan bago sumuko si Heneral Tomoyuki Yamashita sa Kiangan, Ifugao, 2 Setyembre, 1945.”

“Lenong,” meaning peace in local dialect, is celebrated every August 09 of each year to commemorate the end of the battle, to honor the bravery and sacrifices of many Mayoyao people who joined the fight for liberty, and to instill the history lesson and evils of war in the minds and hearts of the young generation.

Lenong Festival Prayer Week

Mayoyao LGU relayed that before the “Lenong” Festival 2022, a weeklong prayer gathering was held from July 30 to August 05, 2022 to ‘pray for the serenity and favorable outcome of the upcoming festival.’

During the culmination, the local officials along with the churches, PNP, BFP and CAFGU walked in procession at Mt. Nagchajan in Barangay Chaya. Dance performances, praise and worship, reading of scripture, exhortation, and culmination prayer followed the event.

Agri-tourism trade fair

In a bid to ‘regain the losses’ brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the local government launched a six-day agri-tourism fair and ‘Balik Eskwela Diskwento Edition in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-Ifugao and Negosyo Center Aguinaldo.

In support to local Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), their products and produce were displayed at the Municipal Plaza from August 8 to 13. Among these were vegetables, processed food, seedlings, handicrafts, poultry, livestock, and other native products.

This year’s festival was anchored with the theme, “Ifugaos remain peaceful and stronger amidst the pandemic.”

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