How the Kalanguya Festival Started in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

This study examines the Kalanguya Festival in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, focusing on its origins, cultural significance, and impacts on the local community. Specifically, the research explored how the festival serves as a mechanism for preserving and transmitting the cultural heritage and traditions of the Kalanguya Indigenous people in the context of modernization and cultural change. A qualitative historical-ethnographic approach was employed to gain a deeper understanding of the festival’s historical development, cultural meanings, and role in community life. Data were gathered through documentary review and semi-structured interviews with 20 key informants, including community elders, youth performers, artisans, educators, and municipal officials. The collected data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and insights related to cultural preservation and community participation. Findings revealed that the Kalanguya Festival was established in 1996 and later institutionalized through Ordinance No. 30-2002 as a response to the gradual decline of traditional Kalanguya practices, values, and identity. The festival functions as a cultural repository where rituals, dances, music, crafts, and oral traditions are continuously practiced, showcased, and shared across generations. It also strengthens community cohesion, reinforces cultural identity, promotes intercultural understanding among residents and visitors, and contributes to local economic development through tourism and indigenous handicrafts. However, the study identified challenges affecting the sustainability of the festival, including over-commercialization, diminishing use of the Kalanguya language, and reliance on informal mentorship for cultural transmission. The study concludes that sustained government support, strengthened cultural education programs, and active community engagement are essential in preserving the authenticity of the festival and ensuring its continued role in safeguarding Kalanguya heritage and identity in the Philippines.

Kalanguya Festival, Indigenous heritage, cultural preservation, intergenerational transmission, community identity

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