Kannawidan Ylocos Celebration: A Feast Amidst the Pandemic

 

            A celebration commemorating the 1818 split of the two Ilocos provinces in the province of Ilocos Sur. This celebration features cultural performances, religious rites, and cookery demonstrations highlighting the best of Ilocano cuisine. Kannawidan Ylocos Celebration has already established itself as the province's most important festival. The celebration began in 2008, under the direction of then-Governor Deogracias Victor B. Savellano, to honor the 190th anniversary of the establishment of Ilocos Sur as a distinct province, which was made possible by the adoption of a Spanish Royal Decree on February 2, 1818.

            It is customary for a mass to be celebrated in the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral to mark the beginning of the festival. A parade of the Patron Saints of the 40 parishes, as well as representations of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, is then held around Vigan City. Provincial DepEd officials frequently attend the liturgy and parade. This celebration highlights the Ilocanos' deep-rooted religion, with a special focus on Ilocano children. It's because the province's younger generations are unfamiliar with Ilocano culture. Instead, the focus is on current dances. Through such efforts, Ilocano youngsters may learn about their rich culture and customs.

            But today as the world continues to heal from the pandemic, our community opened the celebration of Kannawidan Festival, night was welcomed with a dancing fountain show, drone light show followed by fireworks display brightly blazed at the top of the New Legislative Building to savour the event. The drone light show highlighted the strong spirit of Ilocosurians not to give up amidst pandemic and as a tribute to all front liners. Following this was a comedy night held at the Quirino Stadium.

            There is a great impact along economic, social, and cultural to the lives of the people of Ilocos Sur. This festival shows the history has contributed. We must study about the past to comprehend why we live the way we do and why we are where we are as a species and as a country. Studying history helps us to learn from our ancestors' failures so that we do not repeat their mistakes and seek to make the world a better place.

References:

https://philippines.travel/events/kannawidan-ylocos-festival

https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/The-Kannawidan-Ylocos-Festival

https://depedilocossur.info/?p=2011

https://scontent.fcrk2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/273005704_490375255793260_6452417989758032229_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_eui2=AeHAGJmjTGTgktodixrAO8S1cXFstcC9wfJxcWy1wL3B8q0ucDPvvCTviRdYUT1hrG-O1NclekrpCUHfRJparvx_&_nc_ohc=hyoBcWM9a5YAX9hcotn&_nc_ht=scontent.fcrk2-1.fna&oh=00_AT_qUsR5DUZpFW6dgDRQLC_YglbFkqnUbQcXTynCePKu_A&oe=626E1327

Bigueños Celebrates Christmas amidst the Pandemic

 

            Christmas is about God’s mercy and compassion; this event proves us that we take him to be our savior. We are all waiting for this moment to arise, where all of us prepare to celebrate and to have fun. Excitement can’t make us feel the normal celebration, we had before because of the pandemic, this deadly disease has already claimed many lives, opportunities, and expectations. But don’t be blue because Bigueños are ready to make our expectations come true, from the events to competitions, activities to entertainments and many more, people of Vigan City will not make you hopeless. This may take a lot of efforts to fulfill our happiness during the Christmas season, but this will help the nation to have a fun celebration.

            Vigan City conducted many activities and preparations, this said events includes all the people of the city, from barangays and students from different schools. This activity highlights the tradition of Vigan City in the past years, even we are amidst the pandemic, bigueños still know how to participate. November 2021, the month preparation for the Vigan City Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, this is led by our Mayor Juan Carlos Medina and our Vice Mayor Lourdes Baquiran, Sangguniang Members, City Department Heads and Division Chiefs.

            Many activities were conducted in the first week of December, like Card Making Competitions, Santa Baby (Photo Competition), SA May Bahay Christmas Carol Competition, Christmas Street Painting Competition, Inter-barangay Christmas Tree Competiton and Inter-office Christmas Tree Competition. Many participants joined this said program, and many prizes were given to all the lucky winners. This may not be all but I’ll tell you that Vigan prepared many things to lift our happy faces for the Christmas celebration.

            This year gives us a lot definition of Christmas, where we celebrate the most with our beloved family, relatives, and friends. This celebration tells us that even though we are still coping up to the new normal, the tradition stays within us.

 

References:

https://scontent.fmnl25-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/259401818_4749088495137266_4676307978513840885_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_eui2=AeHav7sz3Y0hYOQIU0NM2HNxelAasBGx-CF6UBqwEbH4IU7A0rEnKLDlzQVknjY2QCNS684FZezY9WpXfrgRSIVB&_nc_ohc=HciuTelP3ToAX-7Ejg2&_nc_ht=scontent.fmnl25-2.fna&oh=00_AT8zTdGxd2xZc-7kOtKWQ70UeZbJyzF3NWWsbefjQbcnyg&oe=620949BF (image)

Quarter 2 Ends Here

 

            I am very thankful that I survived two quarters already, I know it's hard, but keeping the best in me is what I do most of these days. This quarter I discovered a lot for my education and for myself. This second quarter makes me feel that I am near to my dreams, we all do, we are halfway to our moving up and resigning as a junior high school student. And I’m looking forward to that day that I will be learning more on this subject.

            This quarter I learned a lot of HTML tags, different types of tags with a different purpose. And I also learned to use my skills in creating blogs about what is happening around me. Clearly, the lessons that I took did not give me a hard time to understand, in fact, it is easy to know the meaning and explains more about what will be the output would come. Even though we have limited session for an online class, we still know how to adjust and to submit the tasks needed at the right time.

            I know that I can do more in the next quarter, but I am thankful to accomplish the second quarter. My willingness, confidence, and trust to myself can help me to be more effective for the next quarter, thank you and good luck to all of us.

 Reference:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7XyUgnXY6PhT73SUTC7dMC--mJTtqXYZTGQ&usqp=CAU (image)

Celebrating the Fiesta as a Bigueño

 

            This year, events start to happen, and celebrations are beginning to come up from the situations happen last year. Many competitions start to open and people are starting to enjoy the life being in this new normal. We may now enter into premises, those events are being held with much precaution and following safety protocols, we may feel that we are now free, but the alternate side is still with us, the virus is still around and we must know the dos and don’ts to be outside and not staying in our homes.

            By the time goes by, we still have in our hearts the activities that happen during the fiesta back then, January 25 is the most awaited day of all the Bigueños, a long-week celebration will start in honor of St. Paul the Apostle. The City of Vigan prepares many events and activities, there will be carnivals, exhibits, and locals performing street dancing where all people are scattered around the city from all provinces or cities around the Philippines. Tourist from other countries or cities are free to taste the most famous delicacy a Bigueño would have, the famous Longganisa, where people are coming back and trusting only the Vigan Longganisa.

            We will not forget about all the happenings, but this year, I am sure enough to tell you that Vigan City is ready to celebrate with safety precautions, we are still adjusting to this new normal but that doesn’t stop us being a Bigueño.

 

Reference:

https://live.staticflickr.com/5243/5379808973_823d4423e7_b.jpg (image)

A Better Me this 2022

 

            A single strike on the clock, the world turns happy faces and brought loud noises, many people are celebrating and serving their twelve dishes and having fun with family, relatives, and friends. New year is a new chance for us to start changing ourselves for the best, leaving the past and bad memories behind. New year influences us to bring happiness and have a clean slate, making positive changes has a huge impact on us to be a good model and to learn more day by day. This is not only celebrations and resolutions, but this motivates us to be more effective in the coming years.

            Last year, were captivated by many situations and problems that makes the world desperate for freedom. Being one of the people who are struggling to cope up with the situations can say that I can do better than this, especially now that I can start new beginnings again. For the past year I have upgraded myself and to become more mature in the ways that I do, they say that I changed a lot, but all I can see is a change for my best, because acting that way I act before can’t help me to level up. Being this way taught me a lot of things, it gives me the realization and acceptance that I need to change whether I like it or not, it gave me the ability to be wiser in deciding or choosing the right path and to grow up to be a big person to my little self.

            Another new 365-day to make new journey, memories and to have more chances, this life with many situations that will happen, I’ll promise to myself to be more effective in this upcoming year, I’ll be wiser than yesterday and be tough day by day, I won’t let myself fall into depths but to rise into the light, a light that brings me hope, and achieve my dreams. I will show this year a better version of myself, if not, then I’ll try to be better.

 

References:

https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/12/16/16/iStock-1347103285.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp (image)

Bring Happiness amidst the Pandemic

 

        If Ber months start to appear on your calendars while ripping them off one by one as the months passed, then be ready because Filipinos are starting to buy decorations, design their own houses and start to play songs of the famous Filipino who made Christmas songs every year. We all know that September is the month where we start to feel Christmas vibes in the Philippines, yes, it is too early, but even though it will take three more months to arrive at December Filipinos are very proud that they are preparing to give gifts, receive stiff money from our relatives, and to prepare the dishes that will serve after the countdown. This is not just the reason they are early to show and give vibes, it's not all about the tradition, we are all waiting for, but it is the day where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

            Excitement can’t make us feel the normal celebration, we had before because of the pandemic, this deadly disease has already claimed many lives, opportunities, and expectations. We are all surrounded by travel restrictions, isolations, protocols, quarantines, and swab tests. The traditional events may not be applied in this kind of situation, but Filipinos can’t stop us to be happy and celebrate with the tradition by following and being careful in any health protocols. This may take a lot of efforts to fulfill our happiness during the Christmas season, but this will help the nation to have a peaceful celebration.

            With a focus on the Covid virus, we are preoccupied with guidelines on how to celebrate Christmas this year– with only members of the family who are living in the same household, to continue wearing masks, observe social distancing, or to wash hands frequently. We are being discouraged from visiting one another for our mutual protection and safety. The usual Christmas glee and merriment that we have been accustomed to is not possible this year. But our celebration of Christmas should not be dampened by Covid! Let us spread more hope, peace, joy and love this Season!

           

References:

https://su.edu.ph/reflections/celebrate-christmas-amidst-the-covid-19-pandemic/

https://cdn.shrm.org/image/upload/c_crop,h_747,w_1328,x_0,y_0/c_fit,f_auto,q_auto,w_767/v1/People%20Managers/COVID_and_Christmas_PHOTO_wwminh?databtoa=eyIxNng5Ijp7IngiOjAsInkiOjAsIngyIjoxMzI4LCJ5MiI6NzQ3LCJ3IjoxMzI4LCJoIjo3NDd9fQ%3D%3D (image)