Laoag City tops Tan-ok for third straight year; wows live crowd of 50,000

THREE-PEAT: The Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag City portrays the resiliency of Laoagueños. Rising from the aftermath of a great earthquake which shattered every corner of their land, the people rebuilt their homes in safer ground and thereafter establish a new community that would emerge as the center of economy and development in the north.

By Grazielle Mae A. Sales

PGIN-CMO

The City of Laoag bagged the dance showdown for the third time and its P350,000 cash prize in the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals on November 29, 2014.

The Pamulinawen Festival presentation featured child performers who took the roles as native settlers in the newly named then town of Laoag during the Spanish era. Clad in colorful baro’t saya, they wowed the crowd and the judges with their energetic number.  

The twist of the storyline was when the townsfolk’s resiliency was tested by nature—a great earthquake toppled the Laoagueños’ houses and forced them out of the Ermita Hill to rebuild in a safer, lower ground. Soon, the recovered community became the center of economy and development in the entire province.

Ace dance choreographer Christian Espiritu said they made sure that their piece this year would be “original” especially “in terms of storytelling and casting”, owing their win to the “small kids” who have performed.  

Currimao surprises in second

Winning the second place was the coastal town of Currimao which came as the biggest surprise of this year for executing a vibrant rendition of the Dinaklisan Festival.

The story focused on a young fisherman who dreamt of getting the love of his life by offering her the great bounties of the sea. He was not failed by the rich seas of his town and the help of his fellow fishers who helped him pull his catch to the shore through a sturdy rope (dinaklisan). Real fishing boat, giant jellyfishes made of umbrella and shimmering life-sized replicas of fish sewn on nets were some of the stunning props flaunted by the group.

JR Reynon, the hero of the story, was also awarded as the Best Male Performer.

Nueva Era takes third

Nueva Era’s Tadek Festival, which won the second place last year, placed third this time and won a special award as Best in Production Design requested on the spot by the board of judges. Gigantic engkanto made of twigs, enormous heritage baskets and mascots of wild boars and monkeys were some of the parts of the awarded production.

Batac settles for fourth

Batac's Empanada Festival

The Empanada Festival of Batac City seized the fourth spot. They presented in a Broadway concept the history of the famed Batac Empanada which dates back to the Spanish era. Determined to address the changing preference of the Ilustrados, the native Batacqueños invented the Batac Empanada, a fusion of a Western cuisine and local ingredients such as papaya, eggs and the famous longganisa.

Judeleah Pucan, one of the heroines, was again awarded as the Best Female Performer. 

The group also won the prize for Best in Festival Music.

Adams makes mark in fifth place

The least populated town in the province, Adams, placed fifth, making it their first ever win for the past four years. The Ginginubat Festival portrayed an ancient war between two distinct tribes in the mountainous town—the Imallod and the Yapayao—which eventually ended up with a peace pact and a massive feast. An actual flowing waterfall was one of the unique props of the group.

All are winners

“For us, there are really 23 winners. They all deserve to win,” board of judges’ chairperson, Edna Vida Froilan, said. Ms. Froilan is a former member of Ballet Philippines and resident choreographer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Her performing and creative career had brought her recognition as one of the leading artists in the Philippines today.

Other members of the judging panel were also esteemed personalities from various fields of arts, such as Floy Quintos, an awarded theater, TV and event director; Dexter Santos, a notable choreographer and theater director; Ohm David, a resident designer of Dulaang UP and faculty of the department of Theater Arts in UP Diliman; Prof. Estrelleta Navalta-Corpuz, president of the Philippine Folk Dance society (CAR chapter and college professor in the Institute of Human Kinetics, Benguet State University; Junjet Primor, artistic director of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City; and Jeremiah “Maia” Carandang, one of the founders of the five-time dance champion in the world, the Philippine All-Stars.

Ilocano stronghold

Over 50,000 spectators filled up the bleachers and the huge space outside the stadium to watch the performance live and on projector screens respectively, the biggest figure so far since the festival’s inception in 2011. The Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office also said that it had to deploy 130 of its members just to handle and organize the crowd.

In her speech, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said that Tan-ok is one of the many ways of the province in keeping the Ilocano culture alive.

“Ang kultura at sining ay hindi hilig o luho lamang ng mayayaman at matataas kundi hanapbuhay at propesyon ng napakarami sa atin,” she said.

Ms. Marcos delineated the creation of a “cultural policy” she had first mentioned during her most recent State of the Province Address. She said that the provincial policy should not only recognize museums and artifacts but rather enable arts spaces, supports school of arts, architecture, literature, history and dance as well as the workers of art.

“We, here in Ilocos Norte, keep alive that culture, making certain that all generations, each one of us will be proud to be Ilocano. Pinagmamalaki natin ang kakaiba at katangi-tanging kultura ng ating probinsia, kakaiba sapagkat ang tao natin ang tanging kayamanan. The values that distinguish us as a people beyond the artifacts and skills and pioneering spirit that have brought Ilocanos in every corner of the world,” she added.

Nineteen-year old Rochelle Ann Marquez of Laoag City who attended the festival said that she was “happy” that her city topped the competition once again. She said that she sees Tan-ok as “an avenue to learn more and understand the culture of her fellow Ilocanos in other towns.”

“I believe that this is also what’s happening with the rest of the nation. That through Tan-ok, more people will know more about Ilocano culture—that we’re not only all about pinakbet and the Paoay church. We’re also about being hardworking, resilient and united,” Ms. Marquez added.

surprise Second Place: The Dinaklisan Festival of Currimao this year portrays the story of a young fisherman who wants to offer the greatest bounties of the sea to his love. Fortunately, he was not failed by the rich aquatic heritage of his town and his fellow fishers who helped him take his catch to the shore.

Third place: The Tadek Festival of Nueva Era portrays close family ties as the core value that the Ilocanos observe, most especially in the community of Tingguians. They follow a folktale about a chieftain’s young son who was touched by spirits and was eventually healed with the unity and faith of the people. 

Alaric A. Yanos

Fourth Place: The Empanada Festival of Batac City showcased the history of the Batac Empanada as Batacqueños’ answer to the changing preference of the Ilustrados who grew tired of the usual Western dishes during the Spanish era. Today, this gustatory delight largely contributes to Ilocos Norte’s stature as a culinary mecca in the North.

Alaric A. Yanos

FIFTH PLACE: The Ginginubat Festival of Adams depicts the ancient feast marked by the peace pact made after a tribal war between the Imallods and the Yapayaos. The celebration thrives until today as the Ginginubat [Yapayao term for kababantayan or mountainous] Festival.

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Piddig Basi Festival

Pasuquin Sunflower Festival 

San Nicolas Damili Festival 

Sarrat Binakol Festival

Solsona Gameng Festival