The 17th Grand Ammungan Festival Director General Hon. Eunice Galima-Gambol, in coordination with the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office, convened a meeting on January 20, 2026 at the Ammungan Hall Capitol, to present and discuss the activities, mechanics, and guidelines for the upcoming festivities.
During the meeting, officials discussed the overall schedule and lineup of festival events to be staged throughout the Ammungan Festival season. Highlights include the Nueva Vizcaya Travel and Tourism Expo, “Saniata ti Nueva Vizcaya”, and the Street Dance Competition, all of which aim to showcase the province’s cultural diversity, local products, and tourism potential.
Event criteria and guidelines were presented and reviewed, with adjustments made in response to issues encountered in previous festivals. One of the concerns addressed were matters involving Indigenous Peoples (IP) dances. This cultural concern was noted and will be referred to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to ensure sensitivity and proper representation.
Several decisions were put to a vote by the bodies present, including representatives from the Municipal Tourism Offices. It was noted during the meeting that a Tabulation Committee has already been formed to ensure transparency in judging and results.
For the competitive events, organizers announced that LGU winners will receive financial incentives alongside trophies. The overall winner will receive a ₱1 million tourism project grant, while the first runner-up will receive ₱500,000 and the second runner-up ₱300,000. Consolation prizes will also be given to all contested events. In addition, the “Best Performing MLGU” special award will be reinstated this year. However, MLGUs that fail to participate in any of the three major events will be subject to disqualification for the special award.
In regards to the Travel and Tourism Expo, LGUs will feature booths showcasing their unique products, with emphasis on theme water and weaves. To promote sustainability, the use of plastic materials will be discouraged, while the use of canopies and tents will not be allowed.
Other notable arrangements include holding the Street Dance Competition later in the afternoon instead of the morning due to high temperatures expected in the month of May, the use of drones instead of fireworks for special displays, and the conduct of People’s Night activities to involve not only the PGNV employees but also municipal, barangay LGUs, and partner agencies.
Officials emphasized that the Ammungan Festival remains rooted in its core purpose in bringing together the people of Nueva Vizcaya once a year to celebrate unity and allow visitors and residents alike to discover the unique identity of each municipality through cultural presentations and the booth expo.
Municipal tourism officers from across the province attended the meeting, reaffirming their commitment to a more organized, inclusive, and culturally respectful Grand Ammungan Festival in 2026. /faa
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya. For PGNV updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
