Skip to main content

Now I understand; it’s not just dance…

Now I understand; it’s not just dance…


By Herdy La. Yumul

It’s about the propsman who does his school assignments at the practice venue during breaks.
It’s about the mother who prays that her child, who is out for practice ‘til the break of dawn, is healthy and safe.
It’s about choreographers, musicians, technicians, fashion designers, set designers, and other kindred souls squeezing and offering every bit of their creativity.
It’s about the boyfriend who supports his girlfriend who takes part in it, though it means less time for them together.
It’s about full-time workers by day who labor, all for the love of art and their locality, at night and during weekends.
It’s about new friendships gained because of collaboration or, in a few instances, lost due to differences.
It's about government acknowledging that our artistic and cultural heritage is just as important as (overpriced) infrastructure projects because artists build bridges of peace and highways of understanding.
It’s about that teenage girl who used to lack self-confidence, but who is determined to perform before tens of thousands.
It's about forgetting how much you sacrificed and the difficulties you had to go through when you hear the generous applause of an appreciative crowd.
It’s about winning, but, more importantly, about having fun.
Ultimately, it’s about immense pride in being Ilocano... a celebration of our people's truthful stories of greatness.
Yes, it’s not just dance.

It’s the 2014 Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one