Ilocos Norte gears for La Virgen Milagrosa Festival

Ilocanos as well as tourists enjoy different sand sport activities as part of the Himala sa Buhangin! Arts and Music Festival. (Alaric Yanos)

By John Michael Mugas

PGIN-CMO

Preparations are now in full swing for the upcoming celebration of Ilocos Norte’s provincial fiesta which honors its patroness La Virgen Milagrosa, revealed by Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO).

The province-wide festival was initiated by Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos in 2012 to harness the unity of Ilocanos in the development of Ilocos Norte.

INTO Head Ianree Raquel noted that this year’s celebration will center on the rich culture and tradition of the province inspired by the patroness.

Drawing thousands of Ilocanos across the province as well as tourists, the festival will begin with a nine-day novena mass next month in the grand churches of Badoc town down to those in the Diocese of Laoag.

Revelers will also be basking in the union of music, art and culture at the majestic Paoay Sand Dunes with the fourth installment of the Himala sa Buhangin! Arts and Music Festival tentatively set on May 14.

The one-day event will feature musical acts as well as different art installations and sculptures made by renowned visual artists.

In the past years, the festival resident artist Leeroy New, who is acclaimed internationally for his massive, public space interventions, transformed the sprawling sand dunes to a haven of avant-garde art installations.

Sculptures of ‘Elsa,’ the iconic character played by award-winning actress Nora Aunor in the 1984 film Himala as well as ‘Flavio’ played by the late Fernando Poe JR. from the classic film series ‘Ang Panday’ are also installed in the site.

Both of the aforementioned legendary movies were filmed in the location recognizing the Paoay Sand Dunes as the ‘Center of Film Tourism’ in the Philippines in 2014.

Mr. Raquel also noted that this year’s celebration will be highlighted by the comeback of a bigger Miss Ilocos Norte on May 18, adding that the pageant has produced representatives for national competitions most recently of which is Miss Ilocos Norte 2014–Second runner-up Sheena Dalo who competed in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas.

“We are hoping that every municipality and city in the province will be able to send their representatives, so far we already have candidates from some towns,” said Mr. Raquel.

Comments

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...

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...

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