“Kannawidan,” An Yloco Festival That Should Never Be Gone

 

             https://www.google.com/amp/s/pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1033600.amp

          The whole of Ylocandia yearly celebrates Kannawidan with pride and jubilation as a feast of its rich heritage and culture. It brings a lasting memory of its glorious past most especially its triumph against its foreign oppressors. 

          The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival is a very significant  to all Ilocanos for this is a  commemoration of  the anniversary of Ilocos Sur as a province since it was separated by virtue of a Royal Decree dated February 2, 1818 from its geographical union with La Union, Abra, and Ilocos Norte . Kannawidan is a variant of the Ilocano word "tawid" meaning heritage or inheritance. Many people from all over the world consider IIlocos Sur as a beautiful province located in the northern part of Luzon. It is a province rich in culture that represents the ancient Spanish and Filipino heritage. To show and share their treasures to the whole world, the locals conceived a festival that highlights these cultural traditions and they called it the “Kannadiwan Festival”. It has 32 municipalities and 2 cities and it is the Ilocano’s pride that one of these, the Vigan City is a New Wonder Cities of the world. 

          The Ilocanos indeed takes pride of its rich culture and heritage. Hence, the preservation of this culture and heritage is a lasting legacy that will pe passed on the next generation. The Kannawida Festival is a very strong anchor that preserves the purity of these culture and tradition and this celebration should never be gone. 

Amidst COVID-19, Celebrating the Fiesta of Vigan City Is Not a Missing Thing

            https://vigan.paradores.ph/project/vigan-town-fiesta/

          The rich culture of Vigan City is enriched with colorful and meaningful fiesta celebration in honor of its Patron Saint, Saint Paul who was earlier known as Saul in the Holy Bible. This yearly celebration is done every 25th day of January. This is a celebration that nothing can stop not even the threatening pandemic that affects the lives of many people from all walks of life. The Bigueῆos find no reason to forget the celebration for this is a big manifestation of their faith in God, the Source of healing and deliverance.

          Bigueῆos from all over the country and even abroad return to Vigan, as it is the custom of Filipinos to return to their hometown to join their family and friends in the celebration of their fiesta. They are joined by thousands of visitors from other parts of the Philippines and other countries in enjoying the cultural shows, parades and street dancing prepared by the local government with the help of the local industries and communities. There are also food fairs, arts and crafts exhibit, as well as a visiting carnival. With the traumatic emergence of the COVID-19, the celebration this year is not highlighted by the colorful parades and street dancing but the Bigueῆos find another way of celebrating it. The celebration rings in the heart of the Bigueῆos with prayer and thanksgiving instead of parading on the streets. They believe that the celebration begins in every Bigueῆos’ heart from which emanates the spirit of generosity that is very much needed in this time of crisis brought by the COVID-19.

         Amidst COVID-19, celebrating the fiesta of Vigan City is not a missing thing for this is a culture that Bigueῆos are being proud of. The pandemic is not a hindrance for the Bigueῆos to show their veneration to God who is ultimate reason of this yearly celebration.

The New Things That a New Year Brings

                                                           https://www.luckscout.com/starting-a-new-life/

One of the traditions that gives reflection to us being Filipinos is the New Year’s Celebration. New Year is one of the most awaited day of the year by many Filipino people with fun and excitement. There are the traditional preparation of foods and fruit displays by pairs, scattering coins at the door and some even wear polka-dotted clothes for a prosperous life. Others have their New Year’s resolution with their line of thinking, “Bagong Taon, Bagong Buhay!”

I am also one of those who thinks of making changes in my life as the New Year comes. I usually set plans to make things better in my life. This first day of the year makes me think of my life the previous year. I make an inventory of my life, answering these two important questions, “What went right in my life?” and “What went wrong?” I try to recall of the happy experiences that brough sunshine in my life and those bad moments that turned me down. From these experiences, I am directed to plan new things and think of strategies that will make these plans to materialize. I also consider those people who can be a part of my plan, those whom can I fully trust and believe that they will stay sincerely behind my back. I want to discover more of myself and find a better direction towards a better future. I want to establish in me a better personality with humility. Indeed, this is something magical that turns on my life with excitement as another new year begins.

The new things that a new year brings in my life are something I am excited to uncover. These new things certainly will influence me to stand firm and be directed to do what is good for me and my future. I therefore commit all these things to God who can make all things possible.