The Ilocos Times

La Virgen Milagrosa, Baro a Badoc 2024 Bb. Badoc 2024 winners (top photo,  from left) Charmaine Joy Rabino (1st runner-up), Trisha Jane Fernandez (Bb. Badoc ABC), Bb. Badoc 2024 Mervichelle Agbayani, Kristine Joy Mayubay (Bb. Badoc Tourism) and Axl Monique Papel (2nd runner-up). Miss Gay Festival Queen winners (bottom photo). ( Photos courtesy of LGU Badoc) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Badoc , Ilocos Norte —The municipal government here successfully led the celebration of this year’s La Virgen Milagrosa, Baro a Badoc Festival highlighted by a series of programs and activities with the theme ‘’Panagtitinnunos en Panagkaykaysa, Tulbek Iti Natan-ok a Badoc; Napudno a Panagyaman, Ruangan Iti Natalged a Panagpapagayam’’. The four-day celebration started on April 14, 2024 kicked off by a “Diana Around the Town” at 4:00 in the morning followed by a Thanksgiving Mass held at the Minor Basilica of Saint John the Baptist Badoc, Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa by Reverend Father Jo

Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba speaks during the Street Pageantry and Showdown Competition of this year's Abel and Bawang Festival 2024 in Pinili. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Pinili , Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Note  2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba (AMB) graced this year’s Abel and Bawang Festival 2024 in Pinili with the theme ‘’Panangtagiben Iti Pakasaritaan, Biag Ni Nana Magdalena Pagsarmingan, Salukag Ken Gaget Ni Pinileno, Raniag Iti Masakbayan’’. Barba, who served as the guest of honor and speaker during the Street Pageantry and Showdown Competition on April 3, 2024, said in his speech that this year’s festival will not only celebrate the Pinileños tradition through the art of dance but also to embark on a captivating journey of the municipality’s beloved Inabel especially the National Living Treasure Magdalena Gamayo and the Ilocos Pride ‘’White Gold’’, the precious Ilocos garlic. Barba added that this year’s theme re

Dingras Mayor Jeofrey Saguid, Dingras Vice Mayor Erdio Valenzuela and several members of the Sangguniang Bayan lead the Floral/Grand Parade with all the participating barangays, NGOs, NGAs and schools during the celebration of this year's 21 st  Ani Festival 2024. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Another successful fiesta celebration was once again witnessed in the municipality of Dingras, the 21 st Ani Festival 2014 with a multitude of programs and activities with the  theme “Nabuslon Nga Ani, Sarikedked Dagiti Umili’’. The 11-day fiesta celebration that ran from March 14 to 24, 2024 kicked off with Bless Dingras; Opening of the Agro Industrial, Commercial and Trade Fair; and a Worship Celebration. On March 16-18, 2024, the Elementary and Secondary Day was staged wherein a Floral parade was conducted in the morning followed by the coronation of their respective King and Queens for 2024 while the coronation of the Ms. NGA’s/N

FROM  left:. Bb Marcos 2 nd  runner up Charlene Miguel Bayudan (Brgy. Elizabeth), Miss ABC Stephanie Malilay (Pacifico), Miss Marcos 2024 Ma. Ninotcha Ericka Jenee Diza (Mabuti), Miss Tourism Lyca Mae Dumaoal (Valdez) and 3 rd  runner-up Sharies Mae Argell (Daquioag) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte – Thousands of Marcoseños has successfully joined and participated in this year’s 7 th Mannalon Festival, held March 9-14, 2024, with the theme “Rambak iti Panagsalukag’’. Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to all the people behind the success of this year’s festival especially to the participants in all the activities. MARCOS  Mayor Antonio Mariano announces the success celebration of the 7th Mannalon Festival in Marcos in an interview with the members of the media. (Doms dela Cruz) The festival kicked-off with a motor show on March 9 followed by the launching of “Tiangge ni Tatang Hub”, “TESDA Day” and “Thanksgiving Night” o

Solsona Mayor Joseph De Lara opens the 14 th  Gameng Festival in Solsona with the torch lighting in front of the municipal hall held in the early morning of Jan. 29, 2021. Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipal government celebrated the one-day festival via digital connectivity thru virtual as a “new normal” setting. With a very limited time in terms of preparation, the municipal government only conducted ecumenical service attended by the different church leaders, some Sangguniang Bayan members, punong barangays and selected DepEd officials to observe health protocols and the singing of Solsona Hymn “Adda Biag Iti Leleggakan”. Additional highlights of the fiesta included a video contest for “TikTok Competition”, “Promotional Video” contest and a photography contest. (Photo courtesy of LGU-Solsona)

Batac mayor Albert D. Chua leads the lighting of the giant Christmas tree on Dec. 8, 2020 at the heart of the city. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) City of Batac —The city government here led the commemoration of the feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary—the Principal Patroness of the Philippines—and the opening of the annual city fiesta, despite the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A mass held at the Immaculate Conception Church in the morning kicked off the festivities followed by the blessing and inauguration of 43 barangay multi-purpose vehicles, which the city government later distributed to all the 43 Barangays in this city. Rev. Fr. Philip Anthony Dimagiba led the blessings of the 43-brand new multi-purpose vehicles witnessed by Batac mayor Albert D. Chua, Batac vice mayor Windell D. Chua, city councilors and all the punong barangays with their kagawads. Mr. Chua said the PHP50 million L300 multi-purpose vans are for the bar

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) City of Batac —Mayor Albert D. Chua announced that the city of Batac will not celebrate this year’s annual fiesta due to the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mr. Chua said the city government will strictly follow all the Inter Agency Task Force for Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) guidelines all other agencies concerned on the pandemic. Among these, Mr. Chua said is the prohibition of gatherings which the fiesta would be. Other than the city fiesta, Mr. Chua added they will also not allow barangay fiestas this year until further announcement. Batac is among the province’s local government units which holds various programs and activities every December. Mr. Chua, however, disclosed that the city government may conduct gift-giving events in staggered basis during the Christmas season.

  Basket weavers from Brgy. Uguis in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte present their master craft to Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc on February 3, 2020. They are among the heritage artists who were featured in the creatives’ fest as one of the highlights of the 202nd foundation anniversary of Ilocos Norte on Feb 2.  (Lei G. Adriano)  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Taking pride in its home-grown artists, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte honored on February 3, 2020 its growing number of creative artists as they showcased their genuine crafts and unique masterpiece at the “Open Capitol”, an annual event which is one of the highlights of the 202nd foundation anniversary of the province. Featuring at least 20 Ilokano visual artists who joined the creative festivity, each of them shared their inner passion for beauty while inspiring others to reach out for their dreams and aspirations too. Among them are Dindo Llana, James Michael Romaguera

  San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—For the first time in its history, Barangay 11 San Fernando in this town launched its first-ever and official “Allawagi Festival” from October 19 to 27, 2019, with Brgy.11 chairperson Dominic B. Dela Cruz leading the event. The Allawagi Festival is based on Barangay Ordinance No. 03 series of 2019, “An Ordinance Declaring Every Third Week of October Of Every Year As The Official Dates In Celebration of The Allawagi Festival of Barangay 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte And Providing Funds Thereof”, which was sponsored by all members of the Sangguniang Barangay including the chairperson. The festival started with a walkathon as opening salvo within the barangay at exactly 5:00 am of October 19, 2019, with hundreds of residents participating. This was followed by a Zumba held at the barangay basketball court. On the same day, a simple program formally opened the barangay fiesta with Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative di

Badoc, Ilocos Norte —The province of Ilocos Norte celebrated the first Pontifical Coronation Anniversary of its patron saint, La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc on May 31, 2019. As part of the celebration, a fluvial parade highlighted the last of the nine-day novena in honor of the provincial patroness. The images of La Milagrosa and Sto. Cristo Milagroso de Sinait were paraded in the waters of Badoc, reenacting the historic arrival of the Blessed Virgin in the province. It showed how La Milagrosa came to be the provincial patroness: she is said to have arrived floating in a box together with the image of Cristo Milagroso between the shores of Brgy. Paguetpet in Badoc and Brgy. Dadalaquiten, Sinait, a bordering town of Ilocos Sur. Hundreds of local spectators united and revered the blessed images while the fluvial procession sailed along the cove. The procession was followed by a novena mass officiated by Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, Most Rev. Marlo M. Pera

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —Thousands of local, domestic and foreign tourists converged in this city to witness this year’s 11 th Farmers Festival celebration held May 1-5, 2019 with the theme: Rambakan Iti Panagdur-as Iti Biag Ni Mannalaon. This year’s festival kicked off with a motorcade around the city and a thanksgiving mass held at the Immaculate Conception Parish as the Batacqueños thanked the Almighty for the fruitful agricultural blessings followed by the official opening of said festival with a “Salo-Salo Merienda” which featured native delicacies for snacks were served. On the same day was the pre-judging of booths and exhibits, best photo booths and zanjera dance competition participated by the different rural barangays. May 2, 2019 marked the judging of the “PINAKA HVCDP”, corn, fresh water fish, livestock and endangered animals; Catching Piglets; Dog Show; Laro ng Lahi, RIC Dance Competition and the coronation night of the new Ba