Kannawidan Festival!

Fifteen years ago, a noble idea developed in the minds of a group of civic spirited Ilocanos who wanted to promote cultural awareness and preserve the rich historical and cultural heritage of Ilocos Norte. They wanted to rekindle in the youth and future generations the pride of their heritage. The magnificent idea developed and is now a living reality, KANNAWIDAN, the Iloko Foundation of Arts and Culture. Kannawidan has its beginnings in 1992 when Guia Monroy Valenciano, then vice-president of PCI Bank, began sounding out to friends about establishing a museum in Laoag City. Her son Al, an artist, and the late Perlita Alviar-Foz, who once served as a curator of the Ayala Museumin Vigan, encouraged her. The idea caught on fast. Among the instant converts were: Ogie Balmaceda Alviar and Alice Raval Ventura, the wife of then city mayor Cesar Ventura. Together with Guia and Al, they called on Francis Ablan, then Caltex Phils. President.

On January 29 to February 04, 2014 several activities were lined up for the celebration. Various festivities were staged from trade, agriculture, aqua and livestock while a display of farm products opened the six-day festival. To carve young talents in the field of arts, an array of talent competitions gathered the youth from choral, marching bands, traditional street dancing, traditional music ensemble , dance drama, traditional folk dancing , painting, design making and photo exhibits. Residents displayed products under the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) namely: onions, garlic products from pickled and dried garlic and garlic polvoron for Sinait town; bamboo products such as trays and baskets for Cabugao; buri palm leaves products such as mat, bags, baskets, fan, hats for San Juan; corn husk bags, flowers, curtains, slippers for Magsingal; local wine called for San Ildefonso; sugar cane products namely vinegar, basi, balikutsa, muscovado and made of rice cake and raw sugar topped with coconut fat for Santa Maria; ˜nata de cocoa for San Esteban; blacksmith products, knives, bolos, scythes for Santa; vegetables for Santa Catalina and yellow ginger or turmeric for Gregorio Del Pilar. A battle of brains and beauty was witnessed during the Saniata ti Ilocos Sur pageant. Art exhibitions and competitions were also conducted.

For the community, Kannawidan is  the best place to enjoy nature’s gifts, it is the best place to create a coalescing community.