2nd ‘Himala’: Paoay sand dunes to sizzle with arts, music on May 10

The first Himala sa Buhangin

By Grazielle Mae A. Sales

PGIN-CMO

Fun activities, soul-stirring music and art installations to be turned into giant campfires are set to enliven the famous Paoay sand dunes as the Province of Ilocos Norte’s ‘Himala’ (Miracle) festival comes back this May 10 in time for the summer vacation.

Dubbed ‘Himala sa Buhangin’, this biggest offbeat outdoor arts and music festival in the north is expected to gather the biggest party-ready crowd up north as with its debut which had a turnout of at least 5,000 people. 

Awaiting revelers are sand sports like 4×4 racing competitions, sand castle making, sand boarding, Zorb riding, sand castle and other entertainment like belly and fire dancing. Various unique art installations and Arabian-inspired parties are also back in the lineup.

Slated May 10, the whole-day event will make a comeback that brings together the hottest rock bands and artists in the country, headlined by the “Prince of Rock” Bamboo, the former Rivermaya front man and one of the resident judges of the hit reality singing competition, “The Voice of the Philippines”.

He is best known for the phenomenal rock songs “Noypi”, “Much Has Been Said” and “Tatsulok”. Also sharing the festival bill are up-and-coming local bands.

Remarkable debut

The venue for the first ‘Himala’ festival, Paoay sand dunes, is an 88-kilometer sand formation at the borders of Paoay town. With various local films and Hollywood films shot in the said site, it was chosen by the provincial government as the venue for the event to further strengthen its potentials as an all-around venue for the arts.

Thousands of attendees to the fest’s debut were entertained through various sand and sports activities in the morning. Murals by Gerilya Artists Collective were also displayed. They feature the famous Ilocano epic hero Lam-Ang and superstar Nora Aunor’s trademark pose in the renowned Filipino classic movie where she uttered "Walang Himala!" (There are no miracles!), which in turn became the inspiration for the festival’s name.

In the evening, visitors were warmly received into Moroccan-inspired tents and to a banquet of various Asian dishes as they were kept amused through a free concert which featured famous Filipino bands like Up Dharma Down and Wolfgang as well as other Manila-based acts: Powerpuff Corn, Hidden Nikki, and Sleepwalk Circus.

Massive art installations headlined by “Chrysalis”, a massive art installation by the international Filipino visual artist, Leeroy New, was the highlight of the event.

Chrysalis, an alternative term for a hard-shelled pupa of a butterfly, was the name aptly given to the indigenous sculpture to symbolize Ilocos Norte’s budding tourism industry. In history however, it is an artistic representation of the toppled galleon that brought the 400-year-old image of the province’s patroness, La Virgen Milagrosa, to the shores of the town of Badoc.

All art installations in the venue, except for the Chrysalis were burned during the event to symbolize the Provincial Government’s call to gather everybody to celebrate Ilocos Norte’s successes.            

Festival talk   

According to Elaine Lubguban, the media incentives desk officer and one of the organizers of the event, New is returning for another installation.

She also revealed that Gerry Leonardo, a Philippine High School for the Arts art teacher and famous Filipino visual artist, will also be crafting a fiber glass sculpture of Elsa, the iconic protagonist from the most celebrated classic Filipino film, “Himala”. It will be publicly unveiled during the event.

The 88-kilometer sand formation at the borders of Paoay town was chosen as the venue for the event as an opportunity to further strengthen its potential in tourism.

“Before, the folks in Paoay would cry over these sand dunes because they couldn’t farm there, but movie directors here and abroad love it. Tourists are fascinated as well that 4X4 rides and sand boarding start to provide income to the people. Indeed, this is the true ‘himala’,” Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said in an interview.

The Himala sa Buhangin Festival is one of the major events under La Milagrosa Provincial Fiesta which was launched in 2012 to honor the patroness of the province, La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc.

For more info and updates: Check out www.tourismilocosnorte.com and the following media sites: facebook.com/IlocosNorteOfficial, facebook.com/LaMilagrosaFestival andtwitter.com/Ilocos_Norte. Use the hashtag #Himala2014 in all your posts and tweets.