Pamulinawen Festival 2012

Background

The Pamulinawen Festival is held every first week of the February. It is the Laoag City’s entry for the Best Tourism Practices Contest of the Department of Tourism. The word Laoag means "the place of light or clarity" in Ilokano and now, Laoag City is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

The festival corresponds with the Feast Day of Saint William the Hermit, which is the city’s Patron Saint. It started from a simple celebration of the Feast Day of Saint William, then it has grown into a more spectacular festival featuring the culture and heritage of the city through a variety of social-civic activities, civic-military parade, a parade of floats, and its centerpiece, the Street Dancing Competition. It includes the Dulang Food Festival, Calesa Festival, and Miss Laoag Pamulinawen Festival Beauty Pageant, among others.

The name of the festival, Pamulinawen, came from the the name of a woman made popular in the classic Ilocano song titled “Pamulinawen”. The festival also aims to to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie.

The Pamulinawen Festival recognized as the Country’s Best Festival in the Culture and Arts Category in 2009 by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines. It was a champion in the National Float Competition in the ALIWAN Fiesta for almost five years - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.

 Activities and Events

• Dulang Food Festival

Dulang Food Festival is also called the Pinakbet and Bawang Festival. We all know that Ilocanos, particularly the Laoagueños, are so great when it comes to cooking. The Dulang Festival is part of the Pamulinawen Festival and established in the year 2000. The festival showcases the Laoagueño food which is prepared using the indigenous kitchen belongings such as “ Banag, Dalikan, Tinudok, and Silyasi”. During the Festival, everybody can taste the food prepared and presented by the locals.

The country's longest longganisa (sausage) is also featured in the festival, measuring more than two kilometers. The festival aims to maintain another facet of the Ilocano culture through foods and delicacies.                   

• Civic-Military Parade

It is a parade presenting the the soldiers in gala attire with marching band and majorettes to entertain the crowds.

• Street Pageantry

It is one of the highlights of the festival, sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the KANNAWIDA Foundation. A large number of the audience and guest are expected in the area during this event.

• Drum and Lyre Competition

 The drum and lyre competition also features the talents of high school bands from different areas in Laoag. The winners in the competition will get a cash prize and an award from the local government.

• Kalesa Festival
  

The traditional kalesa or horse-drawn carriage in the Philippines is also included in the festival. It is a parade of kalesa dressed with so much decorations. It is a competition of who will have the best and beautiful kalesa in the parade. The person who owns the most stunning kalesa among the contenders will be awarded. During the judgement of the winner, the kalesas are displayed on the stage of the Capitol.

• Mountain Bike Race

For those who love biking, there is also a race of mountain bikes organized by City Hall Bikers. The competition is open not only for residents but also for the guests who want to join. The race starts at the City Hall of Laoag.

Other Activities

• Agro-Industrial Trade Fair
• Grand Parade of Floats 
• Search for Miss Pamulinawen
• Shootfest
• Sandboarding competition
• Horse-racing
• 4x4 fun race

Accommodations

Should you decide to stay in the province for several days, you’ll definitely find great lodging at the nearest hotels in Pagupud. Other prominent hotels in Ilocos Norte include:

• Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel - Brgy. 37 Calayab, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Ilocos Region, Philippines
• Pamulinawen Hotel - National Highway, Brgy. 22, 2901 San Nicholas, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Ilocos Region, Philippines
• Java Hotel - Laoag (Ilocos Norte) 55B Salet Gen. Segundo Avenue, Laoag City, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Ilocos Region, Philippines
• Pannzian Beach Mountain and Resort - Barangay Pancian, Pagudpud (Ilocos Norte), Ilocos Region, Philippines
• Plaza Del Norte Hotel and Convention Center - 15 Suba, Paoay, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Ilocos Region, Philippines

Getting there

By Air Travel

From Manila you will ride a plane – Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines – going to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

By Land Travel

If you plan to travel by land going to Ilocos Norte, you need to ride a bus in Manila because there are regular trips going to the place. The travel time takes more or less 10 hours.

Bus companies with trips to Laoag usually have costs ranging from 700-800 pesos.

Jeepneys and tricycles are available as a mode of transportation in the province.