Halloween parade in downtown LC pushes through amidst typhoon

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Typhoon Vinta’s strong winds and intermittent rainfall failed to threaten a “parade of ghosts” around downtown Laoag City on the evening of October 31, participated in by local government units in the entire province of Ilocos Norte as well as several business establishments here.

Dressed in creepy costumes of vampires, witches, fantasy and action characters, Power Puff Girls and dreaded images of couples eating flesh, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos dressed like a spider woman in a long white curly wig with a crown and a shimmering black and white gown led the ghost parade dubbed as “Parada Iloca-locana (Parade of Ghosts)” with the special guest participation of Lilia Cuntapay, queen of Philippine horror movies.

Now on its third year, Ianree Raquel, provincial tourism officer of Ilocos Norte, said Parada Iloca-locana is just one of the series of events in the weeklong Semana ti Ar-aria festival being promoted by Ilocos Norte’s Paoay Kumakaway! tourism brand to attract more tourists to visit Ilocos Norte especially during holidays where people prefer to go to provinces and spend time together with families.

After the ghost parade participated in by a hundred of Ilocanos dressed in their scariest and wackiest costumes, they proceeded to the covered centennial arena to continue their merrymaking with a rock band and comic entertainers for trick or treating. Special prizes and freebies likewise awaited winners having the best floats and those with scariest and wackiest costumes.

During the parade, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier convened at the Provincial Capitol and activated rescue teams and government frontliners to monitor and prepare relief goods for typhoon victims. Heavy equipment and rescue boats were on standby in front of the Capitol.

Just after the program, typhoon Vinta started to pound Ilocos Norte, resulting to several communication lines and electric posts that tripped off affecting parts of Ilocos Norte.

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