The Isneg tribe of Dumalneg, a remote town 73 kilometers northeast of Laoag City, will mark its annual Panagwawagi Festival on Wednesday, celebrating unity, cultural heritage, and community pride.
Panagwawagi, an Isneg word for brotherhood, commemorates the traditional peace pact between tribes. The festival features vibrant ethnic dances with indigenous instruments, a communal boodle fight of native dishes, traditional games, and a colorful costume parade.
“Panagwawagi Festival is significant for me because it fosters a sense of solidarity among the people of Dumalneg, building a closer connection and reinforcing our shared identity,” said Vanessa Aguinaldo, principal of Dumalneg National High School.
Dumalneg Mayor Francis Espiritu Jr. described this year’s celebration as a moment of gratitude. “Dumalneg is in the season of breakthroughs. Hence, as we celebrate this year’s Panagwawagi Festival, let’s take a moment to express our gratitude,” he said.
Festival manager and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Arlene Domingo added, “This celebration calls us to uphold and cherish what is truly valuable: our heritage, our togetherness, and our commitment to build a future marked by harmony and progress.”
The town, made up of three villages—Cabaritan, Kalaw, and Quibel—comes together each year for the festival, strengthening the bonds that tie the community and honoring their shared cultural roots.