Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Inspiring the Future

Kannawidan Festival is the provincial festivity in Ilocos Sur celebrated every year at Vigan City for the commemoration of the founding anniversary of the province, dated in 1818. Kannawidan is a grand festivity of Ilocano heritage, traditions, and culture where affluent province traditions are brought back for future generations. It is abundant with cultural spectacles such as traditional dances, music, and rituals that highlight the rich heritage of the Ilocanos. One of its finest features is the "One Town, One Product" (OTOP) trade show featuring products from local entrepreneurs and craftsmen like abel weaving (handwoven fabrics), basi (wine made of sugarcane), Vigan longganisa (native sausage), bagnet (fried pork), and burnay (clay pots). These not only promote local handicrafts, but also help ensure the economic progress of the province by attracting investors and tourists.

Apart from its religious and economic significance, Kannawaidu Festival has strong roots in religious culture as well. The festival remembers the patron saint of Vigan, St. Paul the Apostle, through religious processions and thanksgiving masses. The festival season is also when Ilocanos go back to their origin as most home-based locals who originated from other locations within the nation come home to their hometown town to partake in the festivity. The festival is also executed through different adrenaline-pumping competitions and entertainment activities such as street dancing, beauty pageant, traditional games, rodeo acts, and cooking competitions which depict the wisdom, ingenuity, and courage of the Ilocano.

Aside from the celebration, Kannawidian also strengthens the Ilocano identity as solidarity and pride of its citizens. It brings together local government units, schools, companies, and other communities in a single effort to conserve and pay tribute to the unique history and culture of Ilocos Sur. Through this yearly celebration, the younger generations learn about their heritage, and foreign tourists from all over the country and world enrich the Ilocano culture even more. Lastly, the Kannawidan Festival is not only a celebration, but a demonstration of the Ilocano people's resilience, intelligence, and depth that makes it a valuable experience in the Philippines' rich cultural heritage.

References: 

Saluyot, V. a. P. B. (2015, February 2). Kannawidan Ylocos Festival 2015. Ilocandia. https://saluyot.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/kannawidan-ylocos-festival-2015/

The IlOCoS sur Kannawidan Festival 2023 Street Dance Competition | Province of Ilocos Sur. (2023, February 12). https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/2023/02/12/the-ilocos-sur-kannawidan-festival-2023-street-dance-competition/

Suyo2024_Admin. (2020, January 30). Kannawidan Festival opening ritual by the Suyo District Teachers and Students - Official website Suyo Municipality, Province of Ilocos Sur. Official Website Suyo Municipality, Province of Ilocos Sur. https://www.suyoilocossur.gov.ph/kannawidan-festival-opening-ritual-by-the-suyo-district-teachers-and-students/

Kannawidan Ylocos Festival: Pride of the Ilocano culture. (n.d.). Vigattin Tourism (ARTICLES) - Philippines. https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Kannawidan-Ylocos-Festival-Pride-of-the-Ilocano-Culture

Love Gets Wild, No Limits

Valentine's Day is not all about chocolates, roses, and fancy dinner dates. At its core, it is a celebration of love in all forms—romantic, platonic, family, and self-love. It is a day that makes us remember to sit back and value those who give life meaning.

We celebrate Valentine's Day because love, whether in whatever shape, is worth celebrating. It has a past history of being associated with love tales and legends, like Saint Valentine defying a Roman emperor to wed couples in secret. It was made a day where individuals openly talk about their love, whether an extravagant gesture or simply an act of benevolence.

I celebrate Valentine's Day by spending quality time with the loved ones I have, whether it's a casual meal, a love letter, or just a little but thoughtful gesture. It's also about self-love—getting something nice or just taking the time to recharge. For me, it's everything about making my loved ones feel loved.

At the end of the day, Valentine's Day is all just a reminder—a little push to say to the people you're with, "Hey, you matter to me." And let's be honest, that's something to be commemorated every single day of the year.

References:

Confidentparentsconfidentkids. (2015, February 12). For Valentine’s Day – unconditional love and attention. Confident Parents Confident Kids. https://confidentparentsconfidentkids.org/2015/02/12/for-valentines-day-unconditional-love-and-attention/

Khan, S. M. (2025). Valentine’s Day. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Valentine%27s_Day/

Fineman, L. (2021, February 14). Seven days of Self-love — LEKA FINEMAN. LEKA FINEMAN. https://www.lekafineman.com/new-blog-1/seven-ways-to-practice-self-love

Blomquist, L. (2023, February 3). 54 Unique Valentine's Day Ideas for Any Relationship Stage. Brides. https://www.brides.com/things-to-do-on-valentines-day-4788071

Lunar Luck: A Fusion of Traditions

 

Chinese culture in the Philippines has been found to be very strong in the country, as Filipinos typically celebrate through eating Chinese Food, seeking the advice of Feng Shui masters for good fortune, and reading their Chinese horoscope. Chinese-Filipinos, though not a majority, have been a vital member of the Philippine society, most prominently their presence in business.

 

Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines observe Lunar New Year annually with the expectation
of ushering in prosperity, closer family bond and peace. The majority of Filipino-Chinese families typically clean the house thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red packets, have sweet foods and put various food and fruits on a table, which is said to bring good fortune. People also engage in parades and dragon dances, which are organized in China Towns in various cities in the Philippines.

 

In essence, Chinese New Year celebration in the Philippines is a reflection of the country's adoption and appreciation of cultural diversity. It is a time to reflect, renew, and anticipate a better new year, and therefore a necessary and cherished tradition that brings Filipinos together in the country.

References:

Mysak, S., & Nicdao, J. (2025b, January 10). Chinese New Year 2025 in Philippines. Rove.me. https://rove.me/to/philippines/chinese-new-year

Author, K. (2023, March 24). Chinese New Year food to make at home. Knorr. https://www.knorr.com/ph/tips-and-tricks/chinese-new-year-food-at-home.html

Why Chinese New Year is important for Filipinos. (n.d.). Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/8/why-chinese-new-year-is-important-for-filipinos

Why celebrate Chinese New Year? A look at Philippine, China economic ties. (2014, January 27). Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/business/2014/01/27/1283587/why-celebrate-chinese-new-year-look-philippine-china-economic-ties

Spiharu. (n.d.). 9,800+ Lunar New Year Fireworks stock illustrations, Royalty-Free vector graphics & clip art - iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/lunar-new-year-fireworks

Doon Po Sa Amin, May Nakatago sa mga Bahay: Wisdom on Papers - The Masters of War

Exploring Vigan’s Literary and Historical Roots

📍 Vigan Museum - January 5, 2025

Our research journey began at the Vigan Museum, where we delved into the city’s rich literary and
historical heritage. This visit helped us uncover valuable insights about the colonial influences on Ilocano literature and culture.

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Cultural Mapping of Burburtia and Pagsasao

📍 Vigan City Hall

We conducted interviews in various historical households and in the Vigan City Hall, particularly the tourism office, to document the oral traditions of Ilocano riddles (Burburtia) and poetry (Pagsasao). These narratives, passed down through generations, reflect the wit and resilience of the Ilocano people. 

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Remembering General Major Sakae Narioka

📍 Vigan Museum 

We revisited the story of General Major Sakae Narioka, the Japanese officer who spared Vigan from destruction during World War II. His wife, Belen Castillo, and their daughter, Emiko Teresita Narioka, later shared letters that shed light on this historical event. 

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Letters That Saved Vigan

📍 Vigan Museum - Document Archive

The Japanese letters that played a crucial role in saving Vigan from American bombings were officially handed over to the city government. This moment symbolizes the reconciliation and historical understanding between former wartime adversaries. 

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Exploring the Life of Floro Crisologo

📍 Crisologo Museum

We examined the preserved belongings and literary works of Floro Crisologo, a prominent politician and writer. His legacy, tragically cut short, remains influential in Ilocano history. 

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The Award and the Poem

📍 Crisologo Museum - Recognition Display

Alongside Floro Crisologo’s achievements, a poem dedicated to his contributions was displayed. This literary piece highlights his impact on Philippine politics and culture. 

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Newspapers as Witnesses of History

📍 Crisologo Museum - Archives 

We analyzed newspaper coverage of Floro Crisologo’s assassination, demonstrating how journalism preserves historical narratives and influences public memory. 

📍 El Ilocano 

Established by Isabelo de los Reyes in 1889, holds a significant place in Philippine journalism history as one of the first vernacular newspapers in the country. Published in both Spanish and Ilocano, it fostered local pride and cultural identity. 

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Finalizing Our Research

📍 Vigan City - January 5, 2025

Our research journey concluded with the final review of collected data. The experience deepened our appreciation for Ilocano literature and history, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage. 

Cracking the Code of Learning

 This quarter, I learned two major topics, community-based research and coding for a webpage. In community-based research I gained experience and insights into how local issues can be studied and addressed by gathering information directly from the people of the community, the particular topic that we studied was colonial literature in Vigan City, the study aimed to inform and give awareness about the literature of Vigan City and how it affected and shaped the city that we know today. On the other hand, coding for a webpage taught me to be creative to build a functional and visually appealing web pages, and introduced me the technical side of web development.

 

One of the biggest difficulties I encountered was dealing with the errors on our webpage code. Fixing and improving our code required patience and attention to detail. Additionally, conducting interviews for our research was challenging. Some of the respondents are hesitant to share their opinion and information, and scheduling interviews were difficult. To overcome these challenges, I sought help from various sources in the internet and from my friends in troubleshooting my codes. For our research interviews, I learned to be more patient, respectful, and adaptable in conducting our interviews.

 

I will improve my coding skills by practicing and exploring different techniques in web development and be more prepared when engaging with the community. With these experiences, I aim to become more confident and efficient in both technical and research-based tasks in the future.

References: 

Barlow, E. (2023, January 31). What is Coding? StudyStream Blog. https://www.studystream.live/blog/what-is-coding/

Community-Based Participatory research. (n.d.). Center for Social Science Research. https://cssr.gmu.edu/capabilities/community-based-participatory-research