The Ani Festival is an annual event in the municipality of Dingras. Unlike most Philippine festivals that celebrate in the name of their Patron Saint, Ani festival serves as a thanksgiving celebration of Dingras farmers for their bountiful lands and abundant harvests. Generally, the celebration starts on Sunday and ends on a Friday. It is one of the highly anticipated festivals in Ilocos Norte along with Burgos Town Festival, Dulang Food Festival, Calesa Festival, Gameng Festival, Mannalon Festival, and others.
The History of Ani Festival
Unfortunately, there are no known accounts about when the first Ani Festival was celebrated or how it has been conceptualized. Nevertheless, the Ani Festival is held every year to celebrate the municipality’s land fertility and abundance in agricultural products. Its purpose is similar to that of Quezon province’s Pahiyas festival. This festival is the primary tourist attraction in this municipality.
Agriculture has been the primary way of life in Dingras prior to the arrival of Spanish colonizers. The accounts of Augustinian friars testify to the fertility of the soil in this area. In the Augustinian’s 1851 report to the Spanish crown, it was stated that Dingras has the most fertile and most productive soil in Ilocos.
Also known as the Rice Granary of the Province of Ilocos Norte, rice is the major agricultural product of Dingras followed by tobacco. Dingras farmers cultivate other agricultural products as well including corn, garlic, vegetables, bananas and coffee. Non-agricultural products include livestock production, swine production and other livelihood projects.
Programs and Events
The Ani Festival is a major attraction in the region due to its week long celebration programs. Generally, the celebration kicks off with Dingras Night or Bless Dingras Night wherein a Thanksgiving mass is held.
Another anticipated activity during the Ani Festival is the Agro-industrial fair, which is very popular to businessmen and traders. During thee fair, various products of local Dingras farmers are showcased, exhibited and sold to merchants. The prepared program for entertainment is also a must-see in these agro-industrial fairs.
The highlight of Ani Festival is the series of dance parades featuring ethnic dances of Dingras, Komedya Ilokana, Choir competition, dance competition and food fest. This takes place on the streets of Dingras. The Dingras dancers are famous for their graceful interpretation of ethnic dances and colorful costumes.
Other programs may include concerts, floral parades, Ms. Ani pageant coronation and other barangay pageants, elementary day (elementary ground demonstration), modern dance competitions, and St. Joseph Institute Grand Alumni Home Coming.