KANNAWIDAN: a feast of rich heritage 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. To show and share their treasures to the whole world, the locals conceived a festival that highlights these cultural traditions and they called it the “Kannadiwan Festival”.
Ilocos Sur has 32 municipalities and 2 cities. Let us learn how they differ from traditions, products, and culture.
VIGAN CITY
Vigan is said to be a fifth class city in the province of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. Most importantly, it is a marvelous place which has been included in the roster of heavenly and alluring sites; with endearing and worth knowing historical significance. Accordingly, it is a city province which has a Hispanic atmosphere which can be clearly seen in its cobblestone streets. In addition, this truly mesmerizing and awesome feature of Vigan, Ilocos Sur is an architectural masterpiece which has perfectly and harmoniously combined both Oriental and Philippine building designs.
Vigan longanisa is an Ilocano sausage delicacy with a plenty of garlic and spices in the mixture. This longganisa is distinct from other native longganisa version because it is small and plump, it is not sweet unlike the popular longganisa we used to eat. The way to describe its taste is, it is spicy, salty, tangy and garlicky.
Binatbatan Festival traces its roots from the abel weaving industry of Vigan which has been in existence even before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines. It comes from the word batbat, a pair of bamboo stick used to separate cotton pods that come from a tall tree called kapas sanglay. The word “kapas” from kapas sanglay means “cotton” in Ilocano.
CANDON CITY
Candon is a fourth class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 57,884 people. Dubbed as the “Tobacco Capital of the Philippines” the city is the country’s largest producer of Virginia-type tobacco. As the district center of southern Ilocos Sur, the city plays a vital role in the development of adjacent municipalities.
Tobacco Festival is an Annual Festival to promote major industry of the city, tobacco, and is celebrated during the cityhood anniversary. Activities include open street dancing competition, marching band competition, Miss Virginia Tobacco, tobacco rolling, calamay (rice cake) eating contest, basketball with celebrities, beach bikini open, Search for Miss Gay Ilocandia, concerts, singing contests, motocross, mountain bike competition and boxing.
Candon City boasts of its unbelievably unadulterated, and a distance of 200 meters from the water to a thin strip of freshwater. The beach is between a small river and the sea, think of it as an oversized sandbar in lowtide. It also offers an array of restaurants to provide entertainment and leisure to promenaders.
The Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church, locally known as the Candon Church, is a church situated in the city of Candon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Constructed with an Earthquake Baroque design, the church is maintained and is still being used up to present. The church’s four-storey octagonal bell tower has an alternating open and blind apertures, a balustrade and is topped by a campanille.
BANTAY
Bantay, officially the Municipality of Bantay, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 35,731 people. It is situated just north-east of Vigan, the Provincial Capital. he early Spanish settlers made the town beautiful by building the ‘tribunal’, otherwise known as the town hall, the church, bell tower, roads and streets by forced labor. The St. Augustine Church was originally made of bamboo and cogon structure by Bantay residents to house the miraculous Image of Our Lady of Charity, but it was later-on changed into a permanent edifice (built and completed in 1590) because of the good fortune it brought to the people.
One of Bantay’s most iconic symbols is the Bantay Bell Tower. First built in 1591, it served as the town’s watchtower before being turned into a bell tower by the nearby church in 1857. Located roughly 10 minutes from the town of Vigan, it’s located in the town of Bantay, Ilocos Sur.
This scenic arch bridge traversing the Abra River is located between two beautiful mountains and is built to honor then-President Elpidio Quirino. It was once partly destroyed by Super Typhoon Feria, hence a different-looking third quarter portion.
SINAIT
Sinait, officially the Municipality of Sinait, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 25,640 people.
It is the northernmost municipality of the province and is 36 kilometres (22 mi) from the provincial capital, Vigan, 46 kilometres (29 mi) from Laoag, and 441 kilometres (274 mi) from Manila.
Sinait houses the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Statue of the Black Nazarene (El Santo Cristo Milagroso), fondly called by its residents as “Apo Lakay,” and a treasure of Ilocandia.
Bawang is the Filipino word for garlic of which the town of Sinait known as the Garlic Center of the Philippines. Competitions and exhibits include pinaka-Garlic bulb (e.g. biggest garlic), longest and most creative twined garlic bulbs, and the Search for the Garlic Festival Queen.
The Garlic Festival is held in Sinait, Ilocos Sur known as the Garlic Center of the North. It is held during the 1st to 3rd of May. This festival aims to showcase the talent, ingenuity and hard work of the Ilocano farmers.
CABUGAO
When the Spaniards arrived, his subjects called him “Cabo Aggao” meant chief. Finding difficulty in pronouncing the headman’s name, the Spaniards contracted it to “ Cabugao” denoting not only the ruler but also the place he ruled.
As time passed, Kabu Angaw or Cabogao was transformed into Cabugao.
Pug-os Located along the national highway and two (2) kilometers north of the poblacion, boasts of its fine beach — its white sand stretching to more than half a kilometer. This attribute and the gradually sloping seabed make it a top favorite among town mates and tourists for swimming, picnics or fun hiking. Two hotel beach resorts, Ponce del Mar and restaurant, and the privately leased municipality-owned Cabugao Public Beach and Park (renamed Cabugao Beach Resort) serve as venues for conventions, conferences, seminars and social occasions such as weddings, baptisms and birthdays
Strength and Beauty of Cabugao: The present administration is bent on promoting “kawayan” (Bamboo), the tallest grass, as a prime agricultural and forecast product. Bamboo culture from the choice of their planting materials to the manufacturing or fabrication of bamboo products or furniture demands strength and beauty of the character of our people. The people of Cabugao can always look up to Malakas (Strength) and Maganda (Beauty) who came from the “Kawayan” as paragons of virtues for the development of the town.
The annual town fiesta is held in honor of the town’s patron saint, St, Mark the Evangelist, whose feast day falls on April 25. It is usually a week-long festivity led by the municipal government and the church. Agro-industrial fairs, sports fests, indigenous cultural shows, coordinated and implemented with the assistance of farmers’ groups, sports’ associations, and cultural groups enliven the merrymaking.
TAGUDIN
The name of the municipality was derived from a native cotton drying rack called “tagudan.” A Spaniard who came to the place asking its name wrote it as its name when told by a resident, who thought that he was asking the name of the traditional apparatus she’s using.
Tagudin Sundials are Spanish-era structures. The two sundials of Tagudin are the oldest sundials in the Philippines and the only sundial used during the Spanish regime.
Tagudin Church is a must-see in Tagudin. It has a Baroque architecture and was completed by Fr. Juan Sorolla in 1832.
So you want a silent beach in Tagudin? There are several beaches but it is only the Farola beach that I was able to see. It is located near the Farola lighthouse. This beach is the landing site of Belgian missionaries.
SUYO
The town got its name SUYO from one of the barangays named Suyo Proper because it was in this barangay where the first seat of government was established under Wayet Infiel, the first township president. Suyo was derived from the Ilocano word “NAISUYO” meaning thrown because according to the old folks, said barangays was formed by the soil that accumulated at the river bank when the river overflowed its banks.
Suyo is endowed with natural wonders. To mention a few are the Church Cave of Sitio Nabantey, the Waterfall at Dawara where a mini Hydro Power Plant is erected, the Left Foot Print of Angalo at Sitio Tapao, Poblacion and the Stone Tower at Sitio Timmorre.
Although Suyo has a mountainous terrain, it has adequate arable lands where the people could grow productive agricultural crops. Although limited, the presence of an irrigation system enables the people to plant rice thrice a year in the barangays Baringcucurong, Poblacion and Suyo Proper. The lands are fertile and the climate is favorable for the production of tobacco, coffee, cacao, bananas, ginger, camote, tiger grass, fruit trees and vegetables. These are being produced in commercial scale.
CERVANTES
The Municipality of Cervantes could be considered one of the destinations less travelled because of its location within the Cordillera Mountain ranges. It is some 399 km North of Manila and about 169 km Southeast of the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur, the City of Vigan. It is pretty far by most people’s estimation, but it is definitely worth making a detour.
Although not a tourist attraction per se, the 0.98 kilometer stretch of the Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Road has some natural features worth checking out. The breathtaking scenery along the way will make the long road trip less tiresome. There are mountains, waterfalls and rock formations that one will find along the way. Wet rocks have also become a sort of attraction, since they remain wet the whole year round due to the small amount of water that trickles from the top of the mountain to the highway.
The Nakayang View Deck is where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful valley that is Cervantes. Getting to it, however, would be an adventure in itself, because of the trail that winds through streams, meadows and grasslands.
Other attractions worth visiting in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur are the number of waterfalls, including Gambang and Budong, the Parish of Sto. Nino de Praga (Holy Child Jesus of Prague), and the long stretch of green filled with pine trees. No wonder Cervantes is the Summer Capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur.
STO DOMINGO
A place whose vision is to enhance the growth and development of our beloved town, into a peaceful, self-reliant, progressive and healthy community to live in and be proud of thru active and meaningful people participation and corp of dedicated and professional civil servants, we shall promote peace and order, ensure public safety and strengthen government capabilities for the efficient and effective delivery of basic services.
The Municipality is basically agricultural, in which 80% of the Constituents engage in agriculture. 2847 hectares are used for agricultural purposes. The major crops produced are: rice, corn, sugarcane, tobacco, and various vegetables.
The St Dominic Parish Church, People’s Coliseum, Municipal Plaza, Municipal Hall, and the Public Market are all situated in the Metro Poblacion Area. A total of one (1) Private Hospital and Seven (7) clinics are also situated in the said Area.
Main transport system of the municipality is consist of cars, jeepneys, mini-buses, tricycles, and motorcycles.
ALILEM
Long before the Spanish colonizers landed on the Philippine shores, there were already natives living in this place. These people live in huts built on the hillsides located at the northern and eastern parts of the valley. The people moved their homes to the valley and named the place ALILEM after the “ALICONO” and “LEMLEM”.
BANAYOYO
The municipality of Banayoyo was originally called “Bacsayan”. How it got its present name could be recounted by the following story: in the eastern part of Poblacion, there was a big tree, which was called “Banayoyo”. The people built a “Dap-ay” under the shady branches of the big tree, where the old folks held their meetings and settled any disputes or criminal acts committed by the barangay folks. After every bountiful harvest, the people gathered around the “Banayoyo” tree and offered their thanksgiving in a festivity called “Kaniaw”, the rituals lasting for three days
Due to old age, the big “Banayoyo” tree died. The death of the big tree brought famine and drought. The calamity prompted the older folks to gather in the “Dap-ay” and decided to change the name of the community. The people thought of a name so that the big “Banayoyo” tree will always be remembered, and called the place “Banayoyo” instead of “Bacsayan”.
Settlements in the municipality are mostly established along the roads and in the areas near the people’s sources of livelihood. With limited economic opportunities in the municipality, some residents of the town have also left their town to seek higher education, better employment opportunities, better opportunities for trade and commerce not only to other more developed areas in the country but even abroad.
CAOAYAN
During pre-Spanish times the port of Pandan was an important trading post for Chinese and inter-island vessels, and one of the commodities once traded there was bamboo. With the arrival of the Spaniards came the project to identify the names of places in the Philippines. Spaniards, patrolling the area for pirates known as tirong, came to a place near the island called Puro, and asked the name of the place. Thinking that the Spaniards wanted to know the name of the bamboo floating in rafts on the Baggoc River waiting to be traded, they answered “kawayan.” The Spaniard then listed the place’s name as Caoayan.
Caoayan, which was once a barrio of Ciudad Fernandina, now Vigan, became a municipality in 1911. Don Dimas Querubin was the town’s founder and got elected as the first municipal mayor. He was succeeded by his son, Don Asterio Q. Querubin I, who served for four terms and became president of the Mayors’ League of Ilocos Sur.
The OBOP has now produced a wide array of local products: processed Rosangis (clam shells), Bagoong Ipon, native Cakes and Delicacies, processed peanuts, Pickled Singkamas (turnips), Smoked Tilapia, Corn Husk souvenir items, Water Lily handicrafts, Smoked/De-boned Bangus (milkfish), with others that are following soon. Abel Iloko weavers have also undergone training programs that will enable them to come up with high-end Abel outputs.
STA. CATALINA
When the conquistador Juan de Salcedo travelled inland, he also was looking for fresh water, since the area where he landed yielded only salty water. When they finally found fresh water, one of his men saw an apparition of Saint Catherine of Alexandria near the place where he drank. He reported this to Salcedo, and named the place Santa Catalina. A replica of the cross once planted by Salcedo and his party — to signify that the Spanish has conquered the area — stands near the entrance to the municipality.
Dubbed as the “The Vegetable Bowl of the North”, Sta. Catalina’s vegetable production brings a lot of income to farmers. The town is utilized for crop production and next to rice/corn season, farmers also plant vegetables like onions, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet pepper, eggplant, beans, tomato, sweet potato, yam beans, mongo and peanut.
Livestock such as cows and water buffalo were being raised to help farmers in their farm needs and serves as working animal. Likewise goats were raised but not in herds and these are for local and home consumption of the farmers. Most farmers raised fighting cocks which commands higher prices in the market. There are also presences of fishponds around the town. It has a Light-Medium bamboo craft industry located at Barangay Pangada which is at present exporting bamboo-based finished products
MAGSINGAL
The name of the municipality came from the term “Mayisingal,” an Ilocano term which means “to be moved.” It was applied when the belltower was moved from a previous location to its current site.
Captain Juan de Salcedo had a hand in founding the municipality. But before he reached the current site of the poblacion, he came to a village called Malongon, about one-half kilometer to the south. The leader of the village refused Salcedo’s request to establish a municipality there, but suggested that he establish the town a half kilometer north of the village, and the belltower be moved to that site, hence the origin of the town’s name.
Itnegs were the original inhabitants of the place when Salcedo arrived. He worked for the conversion of the people to Christianity, but not all accepted the new faith. Those who refused conversion fled the town and settled east of Bantay Bul-lagaw (Bul-lagaw Mountain).
SAN ILDEFONSO
San Ildefonso, like many other places in the provinces at the beginning of the Spanish Regime, did not have a name. Sometime in 1625, its inhabitants decided to give it a name, but nothing came out after more than five hours of discussions. So while thinking of a name, they decided to go fishing for a week. And while preparing to go fishing, they saw a box floating not far from shore. Wading to reach the box and carrying it ashore, they opened the box to find a statue of Saint Ildephonsus.
The town is rich in rice, corn, sugarcane, malunggay, katuday & fruit-bearing trees such as star apple, chico, mango, camachile & atis. Its main product is basi, a wine made from fermented sugarcane juice; as well as cane vinegar. They also make nutritious ice cream made up of vegetables in Barangay Bungro, and is being popularized by the town’s local government.
San Ildefonso was a former rancheria of Bantay before it became a municipality, but because of its size it was annexed to Santo Domingo as a barrio. In 1921, Assemblyman (and future Philippine president) Elpidio Quirino worked to convert San Ildefonso into a municipality again.
NARCAVAN
Narvacan was discovered by a Spanish expeditionary force sent from Vigan by the military officer and navigator, Captain Juan de Salcedo. The Spanish expeditionary force was shipwrecked along the town’s coast. When they were being rescued by the natives, the Spaniards asked the natives what was the name of their place. The resident’s leader replied in an Ilocano dialect by asking the Spaniards “Nalbakan?” (Are you shipwrecked?). The Spaniards thought this to be the answer to their question, and from then on the place was referred to as Narvacan.
Salcedo befriended the small tribe of indigenous valley peoples that resided in the area while Spanish families established a township in 1576. As part of the modern township, a Roman Catholic parish was established by the Augustinian religious order on 25 April 1587. The Narvacan parish would become one of the first Roman Catholic parishes in present-day Ilocos Sur.
Narvacan was organized under the traditions of the royal government of Spain. The Habsburg royal family served as the heads of state which in turn appointed Santiago de Vera as President of the Royal Audiencia — governor over the region in which Narvacan was situated. In 1589, Governor Vera appointed Nicolas de Figueroa as the first Encomendero de Narvacan — principal administrator of the town and its neighbors in the encomienda system. His role eventually evolved into the office of alcalde.
SALCEDO
In the foot of the Cordillera, a cool place known for its high value commercial fruits like rambutans, sweet tamarinds, export quality mangoes, avocados and others — lies strategically between cornerstones of adjoining interior municipalities. It is also known for its abundance of spring waters which has invited the attention of orchard growers and even fighting cock breeders. And it has been frequented by trekkers and mountaineers, since it is the gateway leading to the famous historical sites of Tirad Pass.
With two national roads leading to the place, the Municipality of Salcedo is accessible through Salcedo-Sta. Lucia National Road leading to Manila in the North and the Dona Alicia National Highway leading to Candon and Vigan City to the South.
It is the second largest interior municipality based on population, and its road networks are connected to the Municipalities of Sta. Cruz in the south, Sta. Lucia in the West, Candon and Galimuyod in the North, and Sigay and G. del Pilar in the East. With lush green and virgin forest land, the place has more wet seasons than any part of the region. And along midsection, this town is traversed by the Buaya River and its tributaries which are the main source of water.
LIDLIDDA
Lidlidda, officially the Municipality of Lidlidda, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 4,647 people.
It is home to the Lidlidda Protected Landscape, a protected area situated in the municipality’s watershed.
The surrounding hills and mountains abundantly covered with tall trees and bamboo could provide them with shade and fruit. The immediate belief that soon a peaceful, progressive and happy community would be positively established in the said place compelled the travelers to stop their seemingly nomadic existence and settle on the area.
Lidlidda Day Celebration- being held every 6 January featuring the various cultural songs and dances, native delicacies, indigenous games, and many more, and is actively participated by all townspeople of Lidlidda that even our folks in far places try to find time to come home to personally witness and experience the gracefulness of the celebration.
SAN EMILIO
The Municipality of San Emilio, Ilocos Sur is located within the geographical location of the Cordillera was formerly a part of the Old Mountain Province during the Spanish Colonial Regime.
In 1890, tribal elders of Tiangan as well as residents transferred their residency and able to enlist themselves as lowland residents to avoid the hard and compulsory labor imposed by the Spanish Government under Comandante Rafael Yanguas for the construction of road passing through Tirad Pass and so with the stone municipal building and school in Platoc
San Emilio has existed for a long time as municipal district headed by a local executive called Presidents installed and appointment by virtue of an irregular election usually supervise by the Provincial Board or Deputy Governor. In the year 1964, it finally gained its status as regular municipality when it reached the minimum income requirements of a 6thclass municipality.
GALIMUYOD
Galimuyod, officially the Municipality of Galimuyod, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 10,748 people.
This town, formerly known as Cabisilan, was once the biggest barrio of Candon during the Spanish Regime. A land dispute between them and residents of neighboring Sapang, another barrio of Candon, resulted in a “gin-nuyod” (Ilocano for “tug-of-war”) contest, a common game during those days, to settle it. The people of Cabisilan won over the people of Sapang, making Cabisilan the center of barrios near it. The old folks renamed the barrio Galimuyod, from the Ilocano words tali (“rope”) and ginuyod (“pulled”).
The municipality of Galimuyod is located 2.8 kilometers east of Candon. It is bounded in the north by the municipalities of Banayoyo and Candon, Ilocos Sur, in the south by the municipalities of Salcedo and San Emilio, and in the west also by Candon, Ilocos Sur.
GREGORIO DEL PILAR
Gregorio del Pilar, officially the Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 4,875 people.[3]
Formerly named Concepcion (in honor of its patron saint, Nuestra Senora de Concepcion), it was renamed after general Gregorio del Pilar by virtue of Republic Act №1246 on June 10, 1955.[4] It was sponsored by Congressman Ricardo Gacula. The municipality was the site of the Battle of Tirad Pass where General Pilar fought to the death against the Americans.
On December 2, 1899, American forces, who slept and rested during the night on newly harvested rice fields just below the Tirad Pass, got up and prepared for an assault of the Filipino forces fortification under the Command of General Gregorio del Pilar. On the narrow trail of Tirad Pass, the Filipino soldiers watched as their enemies began to move up the trail. On around a few hundreds yards above the pass, General Gregorio del Pilar with his staff and accompanied by two civilians from Sitio Mabatano, stood up and took his spy glass and scan it the surroundings area. He spotted the American forces as they were starting to move. But as he watched, he noticed that the American forces broke formations and instead sent a messenger on horse back with a white banner on his band. As the messenger was coming near the fortification of Filipino forces, the sound of gun was heard and the messenger fell. The American forces divided themselves into three separate groups. One group followed the trail towards the pass.
