First Ilocos Norte Christmas Festival

The Province of Ilocos Norte celebrated its First Christmas Festival on the 21st of December 2007 with an adult choir competition, a lantern parade and contest, and food fair featuring local delicacies of the holiday season. It was organized by the Office of Governor Michael M. Keon, through the Provincial Tourism Office headed by Rene E. Guatlo and his assistant Joegie B. Jimenez, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Region 1, and Provincial Board members Yvonne Ranada (head of HARALIN), and Portia Respicio Salenda (Tourism Committee chair). The finals for Zoom IN, a photography contest sponsored by the Office of Board Member Kris Ablan, in cooperation with the DOT sub-office in Laoag and the Provincial Tourism Office, also coincided with the festival.

Adult choirs from ten towns and Laoag City competed in a colorful program at the Provincial Auditorium attended by no less than Governor Michael M. Keon, together with Board Members Yvonne Ranada, Dr. Robert Castro, Engr. Albert Chua, Portia Respicio Salenda, PPDO Engr. Pedro Agcaoili Jr., Provincial Treasurer Mrs. Josie Calajate, and other department representatives were also present. Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar, Sarrat, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Dingras, Piddig, Paoay and Currimao participated in the choir competition, with Mayor and Mrs. Marlon Sales (Pagudpud), Mrs. Imelda Garcia (Burgos), Mayor Generoso Aquino (Piddig), Mayor Marynette Romero Gamboa (Dingras), Mayor Boying Valdez (San Nicolas) leading their respective choirs. Mayor Edito Balintona likewise witnessed the performance of the Sarrat choir.

The board of judges, chaired by Mrs. Ma. Lourdes Hermo, choir master and conductor of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, with members Ms. Febe Bose of the Narvacan National High School, and regional Dr. Miriam Najera, was impressed with the quality of singing, and the free choice pieces which were mostly Ilocano Christmas songs. The contest piece, Pasko na Sinta Ko, was an especially poignant and nostalgic piece, suited to the sentiments of the season.

Laoag City emerged as champion , with Sarrat placing second, and Pagudpud, third. The rest were declared runners up, with no definite ranking—in acknowledgement of the excellent performances of all the participants.

The lantern parade and competition was likewise well attended, with 18 LGUs and three NGOs represented. The entries creatively used indigenous materials such as mongo, corn, rice, and other grains; coconut fruit, fronds and leaves; even the lowly walis tambo. Mrs. Ma. Lourdes Hermo and Ilocos Times writer Steve Barreiro served as judges for the contest.

The first prize was won by Dingras, which innovatively used the star shape as a base for a stylized Belen, with wood pieces serving as figures for the nativity scene. Bangui, which featured a lighted windmill as theme, won the second prize, while Laoag and Adams tied for third. The Barangay Health workers was one of the largest group of participants with several hundred in attendance; they likewise had the largest lantern. Mayor Basi Cimatu of Bangui, Mayor Cris Garcia of Burgos, Mayor Aldrin Garvida of Nueva Era, Mayor Edito Balintona of Sarrat, Mayor Marynette Gamboa of Dingras, Mayor Generoso Aquino of Piddig, Mayor Jose Foronda of Vintar, Mayor Francis Espiritu Jr. of Dumalneg, accompanied their municipalities’ lantern entries during the parade which started at the Marcos Stadium and culminated at the provincial capitol grounds.

The food fair at the Capitol driveway was well attended, with participation by 12 municipalities—Pagudpud, Bangui, Nueva Era, Dingras, San Nicolas, Batac, Adams, Sarrat, Vintar, Currimao, Marcos, Laoag. HARALIN, led by Provincial Board Member Yvonne Ranada, helped organize the food fair, with offerings from the main food and beverage establishments in Laoag City. Employees of the province, elected officials and visitors enjoyed the traditional holiday delicacies like tinupig, sapin-sapin, suman, pichi-pichi, bibingka—as well as hard to find items like red mountain rice and kamangeg. Batac’s famous empanada, San Nicolas bagnet, and variations of the garlic-flavored Ilocos longanisa were also in abundance.

The awarding ceremony was held in front of the Capitol, with Governor Keon, Vice Governor Chua, members of the provincial board, and municipal mayors in attendance. It was graced by the presence of Miss Teen Hawaii Melissa McMurray who flew in under the auspices of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii—which sponsored the cash prizes for the choir and lantern competitions. The ceremony was capped by an extended fireworks display sponsored by Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino.

The Festival featured lighted parol from the various government units and NGOs, in keeping with the name of the provincial capital—Laoag—Ilocano for “light.” It is hoped that the light of the lanterns will guide the way for prosperity and progress in this part of the North, and that the voices of the choirs will unite the entire province in one harmonious melody.