ILOCANDIA TREASURES AND THE WORLD

The Panagwawagi Festival of Dumalneg

It was my fourth time to visit the town of Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte and still being fascinated by the mountains surrounding her. Besides that, it was so colorful to see the indigenous peoples clad in their native costumes and the men wore the g-string.

Last week, when I joined the press staff of the provincial government, I was lucky to witness the celebration of the town’s fiesta called Panagwawagi Festival. The term means brotherhood. Its an annual celebration to preserve and promote the indigenous culture.

I saw again some familiar faces. I greeted Mayor and Mrs Francis Espiritu when we arrived at the auditorium. I have seen the elders busy playing the indigenous musical instruments.

A little later, they started their ethnic dances. The men that sport long hair are members of the lamplighters. They too participated in the dancing. I saw also a toddler who wears a g-string but with a diaper underneath. So cute to see and watch him as he went at the middle of the auditorium.

Governor Imee Marcos was the guest speaker for the event. She mentioned that Dumalneg came to be an independent town during her father’s regime. She watched the competition for the Sayaw Kalikasan. There were three groups competed and they depicted nature and environment. Their dances imparted a message to protect and preserve Mother Earth.

The Magdadaran Talip Festival of Carasi

I had the opportunity to go to the town of Carasi through the kindness of my colleague Alaric. He had to cover the governor for her visit as guest speaker for the festival event so I hitched with their vehicle.

The town of Carasi in Ilocos Norte is a 5th class municipality. It has only three barangays namely; Angset, Barbaqueso and Virbira. It is headed by Mayor Joy Bannaqui Fernandez. This is one of the towns in Ilocos Norte which is inhabited by indigenous peoples. Most of the IPs here are Isnag.

They call their celebration as Magdadaran Talip Festival. It means they get together and dance. It was 14 years ago when I first went to this town. I remember that you have to pass an unpaved road. Still same as today. Rocky and dusty in midnoon when we went there. Upon alighting from the vehicle we used, I saw people clad in their festival costumes. It’s a dance parade and showdown for the the three competing barangays.

What fascinated me most are the colorful costumes and dances of the Isnag people. I met young people in the group as well as the old alike. They were so welcoming and actively strike a pose when asked to be photographed.

Even under the scorching heat, each contingent showed their skills in dancing as they paraded to the town hall up to the amphitheather. Locals have really watched the different groups.

Bankathon and Fishing Competition in Mindoro Beach

In celebration of the Binatbatan Festival of the Arts in the Heritage City of Vigan, a bankathon and a fishing competition was held in Mindoro Beach on the fourth day of the festival.

This competition was participated in by fishermen and owners of fishing boats from the coastal areas of Vigan. They competed for the prize of 5 thousand pesos as the grand prize and runners up of 4 thousand and 3 thousand pesos.

It was a long distance trip on a tricycle going to Mindoro Beach. The road was rocky and dusty but its worth it because its enjoyable to watch the contest. Many people watched this competition, young and old alike.

There were four batches and the winners for each batch competed for the final round. Some of the boats were disqualified because they used plywood that makes the boat run faster.

Right after the bankathon, we went infront of the Playa de Oro resort where fishing competition was ongoing. There were people fixing their fishing rods and some had already their catch. Only small kinds of fish were caught such as osoos and tudingan. I have seen some children enjoying the beach water and playing with the sand.

An Evening of Abel Fashion

Last month, I was asked by my colleagues in photography to help them cover the national convention of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). Several events were conducted. One of which was the fellowship night entitled Gameng Iloko.

It was held at the Malacanang ti Amianan. There was a showcase of Ilocano cultural performances, an awarding ceremony, a performance by violinist Jay Cayuca and of course the abel fashion show.

The abel fashion show was participated by no less than the members of the Ilocos Norte Medical Society and some from the ACCP. These doctors took off their scrub suits and sthetoscopes for the meantime and looked glamorous with their beautifully designed abel gowns and suits as they sashayed down the ramp.

I was surprised to see some of my friends who participated in this event. It was such a feast for the eyes when everyone was glued to the event as the models came out one by one with the abel suits from casual to evening gowns of varied designs.

The doctors that I saw in the fashion were Dr and Mrs Francis Ranada III, Dr and Mrs Robert Bueno, Dr. Liza Marie Paz Tan, Dr. Baluran, Dr and Mrs Formoso, Dr Isaias Alipio, Dr and Mrs Nonilone Corpuz and Dr. Rey Mamaclay with their gowns and suits designed by various local designers.

The highlight of the show was the presentation of a wedding gown made of abel and other indigenous materials. The bouquet had a twist, at first glance it may look like flowers but it’s actually a bundle of garlic bulbs. It was indeed a creative design.

I am so proud of this Ilocos handicraft abel which is truly a world class and uniquely Ilocano. It is a product of Ilocano ingenuity.

The Cutud Lenten Rites of Pampanga

It has been a long time that I wanted to cover this annual event in Pampanga. It is only now that I had that chance to go and see. It was fulfilling to witness the Cutud Lenten Rites. It was like going also on penitence since I went to San Fernando City and took a walk for a kilometer under the scorching heat of the sun to the village of San Pedro. This event created traffic towards the direction of the venue since a lot people local and foreign alike went to see this event.

San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is world-famous for the re-enactment of the Christ's Passion and Death. It usually takes place on Good Friday. It is a passion play that culminates in the nailing of the three penitents on the wooden cross. This year there were eleven who submitted themselves for nailing. Mostly men who are being nailed on the cross but there were occasions women do. They are being nailed with the use of two-inch stainless steel soaked in a bottle of alcohol to disinfect them.

From the city, I walked with some people then later I saw some young men going on flagellation. They were lined up with the first one carrying the big cross and the rest whipped their backs with a bundle of sticks. Their heads were covered with black cloth and torns were placed on their heads. Their backs were bleeding as they constantly whip.

Streaks of blood got into my white shirt and cannot avoid since they just suddenly appear on your side or back. I have seen that they really have to cut the skin with blades and whip it to continue on bleeding. These group had to stop at a church they passed by. They lied in prone position and they are being whipped by somebody else and turned their bodies in four quarters.

The passion play started at the barangay hall of the San Pedro. It started at 12 noon. People were waiting for the capture of the character Jesus Christ. His hands were tied while he was presented and was sentenced by Pontius Pilate at the stage. It was Boy Padilla who represented as Pontius Pilate. I was able to have him for a short interview. There were horses and a chariot who took Jesus Christ. Later he was taken around for the different stations of the cross. It was another kilometer that I walked under the sun and dust. Then Jesus Christ character carried his cross to the calvary. Along the stations, three women in his life appeared, cried and prayed for him.

A 50 year old Kapampangan carpenter Boy Inange is the character of Jesus Christ. He was nailed on a wooden cross for the 25th time after his first in 1985. He was taken to the top of the hill in Cutud and was crucified there. All guests were restricted to get close to the hill as it was fenced for the final ceremony. After two batches of penitents nailed, the public went up the hill and got to see up close the nailing of the hands and feet of penitents on the crosses. They shout loud as they were being nailed. It was too painful I can say. After getting some close up photos of the penitents on the hill, I was so exhausted because of the heat.But I had a meaningful Good Friday. Learning much more of the love of God to all people.

One of the popular landmarks of Laoag City is the sinking bell tower. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the province of Ilocos Norte.

They say that it is sinking because a person on horseback ride is able to enter doors of the tower in the old days but now a person has to stoop to get through the entrance. The structure is so heavy and it was built on a soft sandy foundations.

This massive structure of 45-meter high (150 feet) was built in 1612 by the Augustinians. This belfry is far separated from St. William’s Cathedral with a distance of approximately 85 meters.

This belfry is still functional. They rang the bells in special occasions. It is lighted at every night. Tourists are allowed to enter it upon request. I have tried once to go inside and get to its top. One can see the picturesque and lovely view of the city especially the bridge and the river.

I am worried because demolition of buildings on its periphery was on going. What could be its future in the midst of these demolitions and putting up new business establishments. I hope they would protect and preserve it. I have seen its back view and it’s much more beautiful with its exposed old red bricks sans the cables. It is more exposed now so I hope they could just set up a park around it to give it a breathing space.