Festivity of Roots

The old and the new in Ilocano culture are both featured in this year’s Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, the festival of Ilocos Sur that celebrates its being a separate province from Ilocos Norte, and its being a treasure chest of traditions and culture.

Ilocos Sur is 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

Held in this city on Jan. 28 to Feb. 17, the festival opened with the residents’ expression of gratitude to the blessings of God on Jan. 28. Government workers from national and local offices, public officials and members of non-government organizations united in the Holy Mass concelebrated at Saint Paul Cathedral in this city, and the procession afterwards. As people of faith in the Christian world, Ilocanos gather in their religious events on special feast days of patron saints.

One mission of the festival is paying more attention to the children. It is because of the observation that many traditions, songs, dances, and other Ilocano culture are not recognized by the younger generations of the province. Instead, children are paying more attention to the modern and novelty dances they see television than the traditional ones. It is one of the reasons why the Kannadiwan Festival is conducted.

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