Photo essay: Despite drought, Cordillera tribes celebrate culture of sharing

Click here for larger version. The Lang-ay Festival in Bontoc, Mountain Province is an annual celebration of cultural diversity of the ethnic groups who live here. “Lang-ay" means to share, and it is in this spirit that natives share their cultural heritage in this colorful event. Organized by the Lang-ay Development Council, it is now on its sixth year and continues to capture the attention of many tourists who flock to Bontoc. Photojournalist Sonny Yabao, who is currently wrapping up his portfolio on the Cordilleras, said that he wanted to capture the life of people in the villages, and to see the influence of technology on their culture. He observed that there was a stark contrast between the pomp of the celebrations and the degradation of the environment. El Niño has greatly affected the natural resources of these villages, making farming difficult. Despite these challenges, the villagers put on a smile and their best foot forward as they take part in the festivities. The festival took place last April 4 to 12. Sonny Yabao has been a photographer for over 30 years. He takes a journalistic approach in shooting for newspapers, travel books and other publications. He has photographed for Unicef, World Health Organization and Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. -GMANews.TV