Laoag completes hat trick; earns Hall of Fame award in Tan-ok Festival

THREE-PEAT. Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival wins for the third straight year earning a Hall of Fame award in the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals. (Alaric Yanos)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

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.

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.