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Staff reporter
Laoag City—Once again stamping its class against all rivals in the
2014 Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals, Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival
emerged as grand champion anew for the third straight year and thereby earning
a Hall of Fame award.
Held
at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium on the evening of Nov. 29, over
30,000 people including visitors and tourists flocked to the stadium to watch
the grandest cultural festivity in the north.
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| Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival presentation (Alaric Yanos) |
Besting
all other municipalities of Ilocos Norte and the city of Batac, the making of
Laoag City as a vibrant and economic growth center of the north was performed
in a theatrical show of graceful young contingents, swaying their hips and
stomping their feet in a festive mood catching the attention of judges.
To
showcase the various dance festivals of each municipality and city of Ilocos
Norte and reflecting the unique culture whether in products, livelihood,
history, religion, tradition, natural heritage or the combination of all, the
Tan-ok ni Ilocano festival of festivals initiated by the Ilocos Norte provincial
government is a huge celebration of Ilocano greatness packed in a fun-filled
evening of diverse cultural presentation.
“Here
in Ilocos Norte, culture sells. It is the Ilocanos' livelihood and
profession," Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said in her
speech during the opening of the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals.
Like
last year, the event was also organized to raise funds. This time, all the
proceeds of the VIP tickets worth P1,000 each will benefit the small and medium
entrepreneurs of Ilocos Norte, particularly traditional craftsmen for them to
have additional capital assistance for the purchase of needed equipment in
improving their crafts and products to compete in the global market.
All
the contingents came up with their own dance interpretations of their
respective festivals that were in a battle of astounding choreography, concept,
spectacular props, and surprise acts.
The
stellar performance of Laoag City portrayed 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.
The
Dinaklisan festival of Currimao surprised the audience which emerged as second
this year with 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 or the so-called dinaklisan
in Iluko term.
Placing
third this year is Nueva Era as it portrayed a 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.
This
was followed by the Empanada Festival of Batac City. This year’s
performance portrays 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.
Other
special awards were also given to Batac for its Best Festival Music,
Judeleah Pucan, also of Batac as Best Female Performer and JR Reynon of
Currimao as Best Male Performer.
The
Magdadaran-Talio of Carasi town was also recognized as Best Ilocos Norte
Cultural Community Honorable Mention and Nueva Era as Best in Production
Design.
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