A Significance of KANNAWIDAN

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 and its being a treasure chest of traditions and culture. 

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

To show this deeply-rooted culture of the people of Ilocos Sur, 40 icons of the Catholic Saints were part of the procession, including those of the Virgin Mary as Apo Namacpacan de La Union, Apo Remedios de Pangasinan, and Apo Caridad or Our Lady of Charity, among others.  The icons of Jesus Christ on procession, too, were as Santo Nino, Señor Nazareno, Santo Cristo Milagroso of Sinait and Vigan, and Kristo nga Ari or Nasantoan a Puso ni Hesus. 

During the opening of the festival on January 29 at Kannawidan grounds in Barangay Tamag, an ethnic dance called ‘tadek’ was performed by 100 students of Grades 7 to 12 and teachers of San Emilio National High School. “Tadek” is an indigenous opening ritual. Some of the students continued performing ‘tadek’ during the formal opening of the food, trade fairs, and exhibits.

Gov. Singson acknowledged the help of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the conduct of provincial activities. He reminded the teachers who attended the first day of the festival that the event not only showcases their history, culture and traditions, what they are as Ilocanos, but it also reminds them that on February 2, 1818,  Ilocos Sur became an independent province. And this year is the 201st anniversary.

The DepEd Ilocos Sur Division led the Education Day where thousands of teachers joined, and hundreds of students performed folk dances and folk songs through rondalla and chorale competitions. Gemma Tacuycuy, the schools division superintendent, said the DepEd is thankful of the festival which gathers the students and teachers to preserve, cherish and promote Ilocos Sur’s indigenous culture, folk music, and art.

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