Commemorating The Ilocano Culture

 

Kannawidan Ylocos festival is the celebration of the foundation of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is a celebration that lasts from the last week of January and ends on the first week of February. It is a tradition that during the opening of the festival, there is usually a mass held at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. It is followed usually by a procession of the Patron Saints of the 40 parishes and images of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary around Vigan City, where DepEd Officials of the province and other people usually join.

The Ilocano's fundamental religion is reflected by the event. It is difficult to implement this celebration in the midst of the pandemic since a large number of cases are still ascending, it is also difficult to shift from the new normal. The administration, on the other hand, did everything it could to handle the situation. Last February 1, 2022, Governor Ryan Luis Singson of Ilocos Sur formally declared and opened the celebration of the 15th Kannawidan Ylocos Festival. 

The majority of the events will be around the rich culture of the Ilocano people, as well as other aspects of the festival. Typically, this festival is organized to highlight the province's rich culture in several aspects like as arts, agriculture, dance and music, food, and province-based goods, also known as OTOP (One Town One Product), the amusement parks, where children are excited to, is excluded this year, since the pandemic is still ongoing. Tamag Grounds, Tamag Vigan City, is the regular venue of this event, where multiple activities are conducted and a variety of booths where you can buy souvenirs, meals, and other items. 

However, the new Bicentennial Park beside the Quirino Stadium is now ready for the event.  Dancing fountain and drone show, and also fireworks are also displayed in the Park and Plaza Salcedo. Tourists, people from other provinces, and even celebrities attend this event. There are still a variety of events, such as art and food contests, carnivals, variety shows, booths/stalls where all of the province's OTOP are displayed and sold to visitors and tourists, famous band performances, and pageants, such as the

Saniata Ylocos Sur Pageant, where different municipalities of Ilocos Sur competes for the crown and pageant title, and for the first time in a while, Mrs. Vigan City took home the crown and pageant title 

All in all, celebrating this kind of festivals really strengthens a place, it helps people to remember and give importance to the rich different cultures, traditions, festivals, and many more. Let us remember to keep looking forward into our different traditions that we are accustomed to, even though challenges may occur.

 

References:

https://depedilocossur.info/?p=2011
https://steemit.com/travel/@pengrojas/kannawidan-ylocos-festival-the-bicentennial-celebration

References (pictures):

https://www.bomboradyo.com/vigan/suporta-ti-vigan-city-inspirasyon-ti-pannangabak-ni-saniata-ti-ylocos-2022-richelle-anne-presto/
https://web.facebook.com/search/photos/?q=kanniwidan
https://www.bomboradyo.com/vigan/kannawidan-ylocos-festival-2022-pormalen-a-nalukatan/