The University of Northern Philippines provided expert technical services through the CONNECT (Creating Opportunities for Next-Gen Network, Education, Culture and Technology) program of the College of Communication and Information Technology (CCIT) for the Kaldingan Festival in Bantay, Ilocos Sur on May 1-3, 2024.

The CCIT tabulation team offered its services through the electronic tabulation system that expedited the process of tallying and computing scores from the board of judges in the festival’s Battle of the Bands, Pinakagoat Contest, and Ms. Bantay 2024.

“Through the automated tabulation system, we were able to compute automatically the results of the competitions with speed and accuracy,” Mr. Richard Soria, the organizer and master of ceremony, said during the Battle of the Bands Competition.

He also added that the team from CCIT did not only elevate the festival’s competitions but also highlighted the importance of integrating technology, education, and cultural traditions.

In the same manner, during his speech, Mayor Sammy Boy GF Parilla II expressed gratitude to the tabulation team for their support to the different events of the Kaldingan Festival.

CCIT, ITIMDO, and the University Extension Office organized the extension activities. 

The Bantay Kaldingan Festival, a cultural and agricultural celebration, honors the town’s thriving goat farming industry, which is an integral part of the municipality’s economy and cultural heritage. 

The extension activities aim to have a long-term impact on the community, promoting a deeper understanding of local culture and innovation. This is also aligned to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

Article and photo by Arpee Arruejo and Gian Paolo Cabanas