LGUs gearing up for Tan-ok

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—All local government units (LGUs) in the province are in the thick of preparations for the coming 4^th Tan-ok Festival of Festivals set on Nov. 29, 2014.

Tan-ok showcases all the festivals of Ilocos Norte’s municipalities and city.

Laoag set to defend title

Laoag City mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas said the city will continue the story of Pamulinawen Festival, last year’s grand champion.

Ms. Fariñas said the Pamulinawen Festival tells the story from Laoag’s discovery up to the present.

She said the choreographers have conducted auditions for dancers, which primarily would be from elementary and secondary schools.

Ms. Fariñas disclosed that the city government has allocated P1 million for their participation for this year’s Tan-ok. She related that the big budget would be for participants, which would include drummers, their meals and snacks, honoraria for trainers and choreographers, and for costumes, props and others.

She hopes the allocation would suffice since old props from last year can still be utilized for this year.

“We are praying really hard for the gold”, the mayor said adding that it’s not the cash prize that matters but it’s the fame and prestige for Laoag.

Laoag is the defending back-to-back champions, winning in 2012 and 2013.

It was learned that Laoag already won twice in 2012 1nd 2013 since Tan-ok was launched in 2011 where the city of Batac were the first champion.

Batac to reclaim throne

Batac City, the grand champion of the 1^st Tan-ok Festival in 2011, is also in the thick of preparations to reclaim the top prize.

Batac City government administrator and organizer Atty. Chito Nalupta said that this year’s Batac Empanada Festival presentation will have three scenes that focuses on the Spanish times.

The city’s performers/dancers for this dance drama will be played by the city’s pride beauty queens and basketball players while the original dancers will serve as background performers.

Mr. Nalupta disclosed the allocated budget for the city’s Tan-ok presentation is not more than the grand prize of last year, which is P350,000.00.

He added that props would be recycle and only the costumes would be new.

Dingras, San Nicolas ready

Dingras mayor Erjo Valenzuela, meanwhile said that their contingent is now busy practicing.

Mr. Valenzuela said the Ani Festival will be more presentable and competitive this year compared to the past years.

The past Ani Festival presentations depicted the legend of Dingras but this year it would be purely focused on harvest time.

The mayor said that he also consulted the Dept. of Education for their assistance regarding the old history of harvesting with the hope that Dingras would also be on top this year.

The Damili Festival of San Nicolas is also being prepared for a “mega presentation” this year.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog