Brgy 11 (San Nicolas) holds 2nd Allawagi Festival

MISS GAY ALLAWAGI WINNERS. (Counterclockwise) Miss Kyle Ranada (1^st runner-up); Miss Gay Allawagi 2022 Miss Joanne Garduque (center); Miss Shane Marva San Jose ( 2^nd runner-up); Miss Allen Inigo Butay and Miss KC Andrez.(Photo courtesy of Brgy. 11 SK officials)

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—Residents of Brgy. 11 in this town celebrated their Allawagi Festival Year 2 from Oct. 26-30, 2022 with a series of activities.

“Napalaos man iti pinagyaman ko kadagiti amin nga adda iti likudan iti pannaka-selebrar iti Allawagi Fesival Year II kalpasan a duwa a tawen a saan tayo a sinelebraran gapu iti saan a napak-pakadaan nga isasangbay iti COVID-19 pandemic” Brgy. 11 Punong Barangay Dominic Dela Cruz said in his message during the Miss Gay Allawagi 2022.

The weeklong Allawagi Festival Year II celebration kicked off with a Walkathon, Zumba, Holy Mass in commemoration of the barangay’s patron saint San Fernando and a barangay assembly on Oct. 26, 2022 followed by the opening of the basketball tournament in the evening.

On Oct. 27, 2022 both children and adults were given the chance to participate in the “Laro ng Lahi” in participation of the teachers and in he said barangay.

Highlighting the celebration was the participation of the LGBTQ+ for the Miss Gay Allawagi 2022 on Oct. 28, 2022.

The pageant featured 14 candidates from the different towns and provinces of Ilocos Norte showcasing their production number, fantasy costume, talent, swimsuit and evening gowns.

Miss Joanne Garduque of Batac won the title Miss Gay Allawagi 2022; other winners are Kyle Ranada (first runner-up), Shane Marva San Jose (second runner-up), Allen Inigo Butay (third runner-up), and KC Andrez (fourth runner-up).

The winners received cash prizes, trophy, certificates of participation, bouquet, token and a crown while non-winners also received a consolation prizes, certificates of participation and a token.

Aside from the major and minor cash prizes, selected and chosen candidates also received 60 corporate and special awards from here and abroad with cash prizes plus tokens. The pageant was hosted by Karen Bonilla and Romar Piscante.

Serving as judges are: Laoag City information officer Atty. Charito Malicad; businessman and Brgy. 1 (Laoag City) kagawad  Manny Morales; freelance model Ian Calaranan; San Nicolas Music Express Liveshow and ZAK Photo and Liveshow secretary Benlowie Macaganda; San Nicolas Sangguniang Bayan member Chona Hernandez; the owner of Door Bob Kitchen Liability Company in Honolulu, Hawaii, Founder of La Casa De Asha Feeding Program of San Nicolas, and the owner of Paradise Café Tribu Ilocos located in Batac City, and a balikbayan from Kapolei, Hawaii Miss Phemy Rose Javier; and Freeland Model, former Binibining Gapan City in Nueva Ecija and owner of Jelly’s Beauty Salon and Spa Jellly Ann Duca.

“Ipeksak man met ti innak pinagyaman kadagiti agkakalaing nga organizers kas kada Darien, Ruthsen ken Arphie, barangay and SK officials, candidates, judges ken kangrunaan na man dagiti sponsors a taga ditoy lugar tayo ken kadagiti papagayam ken kababagyak nga adda idiay ballasiw taw as far as Hawaii, California, North Carolina, Ireland, Canada ken KSA a nayaat a timmulong kangrunaan na iti finances ,” Dela Cruz added.

"The unexpected influx of people made me happy despite of the effects of typhoon Paeng which never became a hindrance to pursue the celebration because it was a much-awaited big event of my barangay mates”, the punong barangay stressed. 

The festival continued with a Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat on Oct. 29, 2022 with at least 30 children participating in the most horrifying/scariest look. Six winners, three boys and three girls received cash prizes of PHP500.00 from Dela Cruz.

Culminating the festival was a bloodletting activity, with the participation of the Mariano Marcos Memorial and Medical Center on Oct. 30, 2022  at the Barangay Multi-Purpose Hall wherein 25 donors donated blood. The donors were residents and members of the PNP-Ilocos Norte CIDG and Forensic Unit. (Rutsen Faye G. Madamba)