LC:Tan-ok champion for 3 years in a row

LAOAG CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) — Laoag City, known as sunshine city of the north, bagged for the third time the grand champion award of the province’s 4th “Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival” of Festivals held last Nov. 29 at Marcos Stadium here.

Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival topped the 21 towns and city in the dance showdown featuring various cultures, traditions and practices. It received the P350,000 grand prize.

Laoag Mayor Chevylle Fariñas was overwhelmed with the latest achievement of her fellow Laoageños in the most grandeur dance festival of north that drew thousands of spectators.

“Laoag City made a history of being the champion for three consecutive years from 2012, 2013 and 2014 in the Tan-ok ni Ilokano Festival of the festivals. Next year, we hope to retain the championship crown,” she told a press interview Thursday.

Among the contingent of the Pamulinawen festival includes the students from Shamrock Elementary School, Laoag Central Elementary School, Gabaldon Elementary School, A.P. Santos Elementary School, Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades (INCAT); and Ilocos Norte National High School (INNHS).

Pamulinawen festival portrayed the discovery of the city started via a legend when villagers uttering – “naglaoag, naglaoag”, thus, Laoag got its name.

The performers also demonstrated the preparation of the Laoageños rising from a great earthquake and natural calamity and the establishment of productive center of economy in the north.

“The presentations of our concepts and storylines during the dance showdown were our great advantages from the other contingents, hence, we impressed the panel of judges,” said Christian Espiritu, dance choreographer. (JCR/FGL with Grace Ann I. Pajinag/Interns-MMSU-DevCom/PIA-I, Ilocos Norte)