KANNAWIDAN YLOCOS FESTIVAL

        Celebrating feasts and festivals is a part of our culture and tradition as a Filipino. We have so many different festivals around the country, on each region wherein various things were featured and experienced. Most festivals in the Philippines are religious in origin, but nowadays the religious component is usually secondary to the general spirit of celebration. Filipino hospitality is legendary and at no time, it is more in evidence than at festival time.

        It is a great advantage to the province of Ilocos Sur to be blessed with a rich heritage. Centuries of cultural exchange endowed us with customs and traditions that give distinction to the Ilocano culture. However, with the effects of modernization, these customs and traditions have slowly been disappearing. The passion to practice has greatly dampened. Children nowadays put more attention on the things they see on the television, and on the internet. They are fond of the modern dances and songs but even forget the significance of their own traditional dances and Ilocano songs. So, there is really a need to revive and rekindle the spirit of the Ilocano. There is a need to initiate programs to make Ilocano aware of their customs and traditions, to pave the way in preserving them; and thus, preserve the distinctions of our culture. These are the reasons behind the conceptualization of the "Kannawidan Ylocos Festival". This became an annual festival that aims to create awareness on the preservation of the province' rich cultural heritage, practices and traditions, and a showcase of the different agriculture and industry products. It is very significant to every resident in the province as we are celebrating the foundation of Ilocos Sur as a province by virtue of the Royal Decree signed on February 2, 1818. This colorful week-long event was meant to be a living museum to showcase the customs and traditions of Ilocos Sur that people do not normally see or experience. It sets the stage for a religious procession with miraculous saints from different municipalities, a trade fair featuring dances and crafts and local products, events such as cultural dances and ethnic rituals, a zarzuela performance, traditional games, and a food fest featuring traditional local cuisine. Many different sectors help to make this event possible. Local government units, non-government organizations, the Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, the religious and the private sector, all give their support to the project. Incidentally, the birth of Kannawidan festival coincides with the 1900th anniversary of the foundation of Ilocos Sur. Our province is really great; it has a rich historical background and each municipalities have their own products to be proud of. The Kannawidan Festival was opened with a mass at St. Paul Cathedral to give thanks as well as to pray for blessings in the coming festivities. The Partuat Ken Patanor or Trade and Agriculture Fair, is one of the programs which aims to highlight the ability and skill of the Ilocanos in making native products. This desire to endorse Ilocano products coincides with the national government's One Town One Product (OTOP) campaign. The priority of this campaign is to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs. It encourages local executives of each city and municipality on identifying and developing a specific product, skill, or service that would have a competitive edge. Aside from the OTOP, towns also featured their "pinaka" or "most outstanding" product, which translates to the biggest and sweetest, smallest and most unique products among others. It is important to Ilocos for the reason that it proves our province to truly have the best of the best. Other activities such as the Traditional Tribal Ritual, choir, drum and lyre, street dancing showdown, traditional music ensemble, dance drama, traditional folk dance and contemporary dance are participated by students in elementary and high school to reveal the glimpses of the depth of our province' culture and identity; the Abel Fashion Show to display beautiful and elegant wardrobes weaved by the use of "abel"; the Saniata ti Ylocos to let people see that Ilocanas are beautiful, smart, talented and gorgeous women. 

        Kannawidan has really lived up to its mission and vision: preserving and perpetuating the rich Iloco cultural, artistic, historical and intellectual heritage. Kannawidan gatherings have always been a venue for Ilocanos, relations and friends, sharing and exchanging thoughts, views and insights on how to preserve and perpetuate the beautiful customs and traditions. May this continue and we, Ilocanos must work as one in the spirit of unity, to love our own culture and arts. We must be do these things always, not only during festivals. Ilocos Sur is an amazing, wonderful, magnificent place! Be proud you're an Ilocano! :)