The Agutaynens of San Vicente opens the year via Ayeg Festival, a celebration of culture and camaraderie of the first group of people that settled in the picturesque northern town of Palawan. Ayeg is an Agutaynen word that means ‘harvest’ and is a reflection of these indigenous tribes that are known for farming and fishing.
The Ayeg Festival opens Thursday, January 9 and will last until Sunday, January 12 in Barangay New Agutaya of San Vicente. It will highlight cultural interactions through dance and music, along with socio-civic activities such as medical missions and jobs fair.
Ayeg Festival Director and founding Chairman Alex Baaco told Palawan Daily News that the main reason behind the festival is to give tribute and honor successful Agutaynens who excelled in their chosen fields and were able to finish schooling. These numerous Agutaynens who come from different places in the country and in the world will be given citations on the last day of the festival.
“Gusto namin maging inspiration sila sa ibang Agutaynen, na mabibigyan din sila ng pagkakilala kung mag-aaral sila ng mabuti,” Baaco said.
Ayeg Festival 2020 is an initiative of the local barangay council of New Agutaya. They aim to gather the almost 10,000 Agutaynens in the whole of San Vicente during the four-day festivities, supported by the local government of San Vicente through the leadership of Mayor Amy Alvarez. They wish to make it big in the coming years and to declare it a non-working holiday in their area.
“Kaya naging hapon ang opening kasi may mga periodical exam pa sa mga school, adjust na lang namin para makasama yung iba, pero next year sana ma-declare na sya ng walang pasok thru the help of Sangguniang Bayan,” Baaco explained.
