The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival from drew local and foreign tourists as more entertaining events had been included in the celebrations.
From the PIA, now on its 5th year, the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival had already established its identity as the prime festival of the province. The festival was launched in 2008 under the leadership of then Governor Deogracias Victor B. Savellano to commemorate the 190th foundation day of Ilocos Sur as separate province through the approval of a Spanish Royal Decree on February 2, 1818.
“Through this “Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, we are preserving and sustaining our old traditions, attractive products and practices as we are also promoting our tourism industry,” Savellano said.
According to Governor Luis Chavit Singson, the province has a rich heritage and unique cultures that need to be preserved for the next generations. However, many of these traditions, songs, dances and other Ilocano cultures were not already familiar to the younger generations due to the influence of the television, computer and internet.
“But, through our Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, these traditions, customs and cultures are revived to become more entertaining to give more fun and attractions to the visiting tourists in the province,” Singson said.
“Through our Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, which is the official annual festival of the province our tourism industry was enhanced and helped boost the demand of our products, more job opportunities and livelihood opportunities were crated and more income for our people were generated,” he added.
The 2012 Kannawidan Ylocos Festival opened with a concelebrated mass held at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a procession of the patron saints of the 40 parishes including the images of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary around the province’s capital city in the afternoon of on January 29.
Reverend Father Roque Reyes, who officiated the mass, said that the mass and the procession were the acts of thanksgiving to the God almighty for the blessings received by the province and the exhibition of the strong religious belief of the Ilocano families.
After the procession, a dinner for all was enjoined to all bystanders, tourists and visitors at Plaza Salcedo followed by fireworks display to signify the formal start of the different events of the weeklong festival.
On same night, the members of the Bayanihan Dance Company entertained the Ilocanos with their world class performance of the Beauty of the Philippines through dances, music and sounds. Their graceful movements and excellent rendition of songs and playing the indigenous musical instruments drew attractions from the crowd.
On the following day, a traditional opening ritual was performed by the students of the Ilocos Sur Special High School for Culture and the Arts in Suyo, Ilocos Sur. Vice Governor Savellano and the officials of the Department of Education Division of Ilocos Sur signified the start of the different contests for elementary and high school students. These include traditional tribal rituals, choir and glee club competition, marching band contest, traditional music ensemble, dance drama, traditional and folk dances, contemporary dance competition and street dancing showdown. These events aimed to encourage young Ilocanos to learn these indigenous songs and dances for sustainability and preservation.
Partuat ken Patanor Trade and Agri Fair also opened on the same day. Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Thelma Dumpit Murillo graced the occasion.
The trade and agri fair displayed all products from the different towns of the Ilocos Sur and its nearby provinces. The annual “Pinaka Contest” was also held to give citations the local farmers’ extraordinary farm and fishery products and livestock.