Kannawidan Ylocos Festival: A Showcase of Ilocanos’ Rich Culture
The Philippines is home to many lively and vibrant festivals; it is a time where Filipinos get together and celebrate moments in history that shaped the identity, polity, and locality of their community. Every country, province, or city has its own way of expressing its own endeavor and beliefs at any festival. A festival is a special event for feasting or celebration, often partnered with religious themes. Alongside the religious themes, culture and traditions are also showcased in these special events.
Ilocos Sur is a beautiful province located in the northwestern part of the island of Luzon; it is a culturally and historically rich province that represents ancient Spanish and Filipino ancestors. The province of Ilocos Sur has a lot to offer when it comes to vibrant and culturally rich festivals. Among the festivals of Ilocos Sur is the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, a celebration that lasts from the last week of January to the first week of February. It is a festival that celebrates Ilocos Sur’s abundant culture and traditions and its separation from Ilocos Norte. The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival was conceived by the Ilocanos to show and share the Ilocanos’ treasures with the rest of the world; it is a festival that highlights our rich culture.
The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival is one of the many famous festivals in Ilocos Sur; this festival plays a crucial role in the culture and history of Ilocos Sur. According to many articles, the festival pays more attention to the Ilocano children because most Ilocano cultures are said to be not recognized by the younger generations in the province anymore. The province has a rich heritage and unique cultures that needs to be preserved for the next generations. However, many of these traditions, songs, dances, and other Ilocano cultures are not familiar already to the younger generations due to the influence of technology and the internet. For this reason, the local government of Ilocos Sur considered this festival as an encouragement for the younger generations to appreciate their rich culture and tradition and learn the indigenous songs and dances of the province.
The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival is not only exclusive to the Ilocano children but the whole Ilocano community as well. In this special event, the rich heritage, tradition, culture, arts, crafts, and delicacies of Ilocos Sur is showcased and highlighted. Moreover, the festival is also a showcase of indigenous performances, religious rituals, and as well as cooking demos featuring the best of Ilocano dishes. Different municipalities of Ilocos Sur also unite with each other by displaying their products under the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) booth inside the trade fair. Different contested activities are also organized in this festival such as the zarzuela, choir competition, street dance, and the most awaited event which is the Saniata ti Ylocos; a showcase of the beauty and brains of Ilocanas. With these festivities, people get another chance to gather, watch, and participate in the different fun activities.
The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival has become significant to every Ilocano not only because of the commemoration of the founding of Ilocos Sur but it has also become a venue for us to showcase our rich history and culture to the whole world. The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival captivated local and foreign tourists' interests as more entertaining events have been included in the celebration. This is another way of reviving the traditional practices that the Ilocano elders have passed to us.
Festivals are like vibrant seasons that come and bring us joy and add new colors to our lives. Celebrating festivals like this teaches us something that will give us morale for the rest of our lives. The values of the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival must be preserved, archived, and passed down to future generations. We must preserve our cultural values, respect the ways of life left by our forefathers, and maintain a long-lasting and harmonious culture.
Hi Randel! I like how you displayed a lot of information regarding Kannawidan Festival here in Ilocos Sur. I think it is important that we celebrate this festival as to show our tradition and culture to the world! :)
ReplyDelete