LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Fun-filled and thrill-packed events await locals and tourists alike on the fourth eco-tourism and Bendiyan Festival of Kabayan, home to centuries old mummies, come April 28-30.

Highlights of the three-day event will be the launching of the one-day 1st Mt. Pulag Endurance Challenge and the cultural dance performances of Bendiyan including the Ethnic Grand March, tayao dance, butterly dance, monkey dance, and social dances spice up the festivities.

To kick-off the three-day event, on April 28 will be an early morning fun run from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. at the municipal ground to Tabalan and back. This coincides with World Health Day and Earth Day which gives an experience of the town's cool fresh morning breeze for a participation fee of P20 per head.

After the run is the “Mansijop tan Mansibol” at the municipal grounds. According to Kabayan councilor and Committee on Tourism chair Dorothy Sental, Mansijop tan Mansibol means to drink and eat for a taste of Kabayan's indigenous drinks like a cup of “kape” native term for coffee or gipah tea and food like “dokto” or sweet potato, “aba” or taro, and “kakoy” or cassava.

Offering the activity to the Almighty would be an Ecumenical Service followed by an opening program with Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles as guest of honor and speaker.

The agro-trade fair will also follow suit showcasing the local products or "One Barangay, One Product" at the Kabayan Central School.

The Adibay ni Aaki chi Itogon activity is intended to trace the roots and bloodlines from Itogon through storytelling and genealogy.

An inter-agency cultural competitions is a venue to learn and be apt on bad-iw and tayao, the Ibaloi dance.

The Search for Kabayan Mystical Beauty is a competition for Mr. and Miss Kabayan which showcases the town's beauty and intelligence.

The Endurance Challenge to be held on April 29 is an open competition with prizes at stake for experienced mountaineers passing through the Akiki trail.

Other fun-filled activities slated on April 29 are indigenous games, continuing storytelling in tracing the roots and bloodlines in La Trinidad, and a culminating activity of the endurance challenge for community immersion and entertainment.

The cultural dance performances that spice up the festivities will be held on April 30.

There would be a parade with indigenous musical instruments accompaniment aside from the Philippine National Police band at 7:30 a.m. followed by competitions on indigenous games such as “eshel ni baboy” or pig catching, “owik” or pig butchering, and ”tayao” or basic Ibaloi dance.

Winners to the endurance challenge will be awarded on the last day.

To be launched would be a campaign on a locally-initiated raffle draw program to encourage taxpayers to pay taxes dubbed, “Binis Mo, Bayad Mo, Maysingpet pay e Papel Mo.”

There would also be distribution of patents to Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program beneficiaries.

A variety show that brings out the local talents and a community concert would be the finale activity in the evening. * (SA-PIA CAR/Benguet)