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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