CAPTIVATING TREASURES

Different Municipalities. Colorful flaglets. Huge banners. Astonishing booths. Unique decorations.

     Year 2020, the grandest and most colorful festival of Ilocos Sur. The KANNAWIDAN YLOCOS FESTIVAL, showcasing our culture and traditions as Ilocanos. Come and celebrate with us! It’s more fun in Vigan! Explore Ilocos! 

       We can stand up and proudly say "I am an Ilocano." For we, Ilocano’s, can boast the preservation of arts and cultures in which no one can really beat us.

      It's always a great salutation for Bigueños, because of unique festivities marking the start of the year! Ilocos Sur is known as the Heart of Ilocandia depicting richness in culture and heritage that we Ilocanos must be proud of. As highlight to commemorate the jubilee of Ilocos Sur, the province has to showcase all through the festivity of  Kannawidan.

     Celebrating feasts and festivals is a part of our culture and tradition as a Filipino. There are  various festivals around the country, wherein various things were featured and experienced. Most festivals in the Philippines are religious in origin, but the component is usually secondary to the general spirit of celebration. Filipino hospitality is legendary and more in evidence than at festival time.

      Our province is truly blessed with a very rich heritage. Customs and traditions that gives the province itself a foremost oddness. But as time passes by, these customs and traditions are slowly vanishing. Most children spend most of their time on their gadgets. They are very fond of the modern dances and foreign songs that they aren’t even aware of the significance of their own traditional dances and songs. Because of the culture’s extinction, there is a need to revive and rekindle the soul of every Ilocano. A need to conduct programs and celebrations to make Ilocano aware of their customs and traditions, to pave the way in preserving them; and thus, preserve the distinctions of our culture. Some of 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.

     For the community, Kannawidan is the best place to enjoy nature’s gifts, the best place to create a unity. And also it is a place for showcasing talents, brains, beauties, and the creative hospitality that we, Filipinos, especially we Ilocano’s have.

    For the people, Kannawidan is one way for them to experience, know, learn, and love the different cuisines, cultures, traditions, and exhibits of their own province, of their own place. It has great impact to the people for it shows how their province lived and lives.

    For traders, Kannawidan is a place, an activity and a way of how their living worked and works. A place for showcasing products like furniture, crafts, cuisines, the province’s OTOP, and products coming from external towns and/or provinces. Kannawidan is an activity that unites dealers/merchants to one place and creates a market of beauty, food, and creativity.

       

      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. 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 and also with the collective efforts of the Ilocanos and the provincial officials, Ilocos Sur Sur is an amazing, wonderful, magnificent place and will continue shining not only in the Philippines but also around the globe. Be proud you're an Ilocano!