One Province, One Spirit: The Timeless Legacy of Kannawidan Festival

     “To know where you’re going, you must first understand where you come from.” This testament perfectly captures the essence of the Kannawidan Festival in Ilocos Sur, a celebration that breathes life into the province’s rich history, culture, and deep sense of community. The festival is a showcase of tradition and a heartfelt tribute to the identity of the Ilocano people, echoing stories of resilience and pride across generations.

  Throughout the entire province of Ilocos Sur, Kannawidan brings towns together in a lively and colorful celebration. The One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) trade fair turns into a vibrant marketplace, where each municipality proudly displays their own products. These products represents their municipality’s tradition and history where it carries the heart and soul of the locals who pour their skill and dedication into keeping Ilocano traditions alive. The streets come alive with music and movement, as street dancers, floats, and people of Ilocos Sur fill the air with excitement. Every performance is a living expression of the province’s rich culture and tradition.

     Kannawidan Festival is a time to strengthen the ties that bind the community. Local talents shine on stage through different competitions, and the iconic Mr. and Ms. Ilocos Sur pageant, where contestants embody both beauty and the wisdom of their heritage. These events gives opportunities for people to reconnect with their talents and celebrate what makes their culture unique. Both locals and tourists gather to watch and be part of the experience, creating shared memories that stretch beyond the duration of the festival.

     Kannawidan keeps Ilocano culture alive, acting as a bridge that connects the past with the future. It inspires younger generations to rediscover the beauty of their traditions, to learn the dances, taste the dishes, and hear the songs that have been passed down through time. Each performance, every local delicacy, and every handmade craft serves as a reminder that the province’s rich history is something to be remembered, cherished and nurtured. As the festival grows year after year, it stands as a living testament to the enduring pride and unity of the Ilocano people.

   What makes Kannawidan truly special is its ability to unite people from all walks of life. Whether you’re a local revisiting childhood memories, an artist showcasing your craft, or a tourist discovering the beauty of Ilocano culture for the first time, the festival welcomes everyone with open arms. It’s a time to share stories, savor local delicacies, and dance to the rhythm of Ilocos Sur’s history. This sense of belonging makes Kannawidan more than just a festival, it becomes a shared experience that lingers in the hearts of everyone who takes part.

     As night falls and the festivities wind down, the spirit of Kannawidan remains. The festival may end, but its impact ripples through time, inspiring Ilocanos to carry their heritage with pride. “Culture is not a thing of the past, it’s a flame we carry into the future.” And as long as Ilocos Sur continues to celebrate Kannawidan, that flame will burn brightly, lighting the way for generations to come.

References:

Esponela, J. (2017, November 11). Fall in love with Ilocos Sur!. Medium. https://medium.com/@jonalynesponela25/falling-in-love-with-ilocos-sur-aa4ddc704c76

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

CGV The Explorer. (2025). Ilocos Sur Festival Grand Parade 2025. Facebook. https://images.app.goo.gl/rCjGVGMGzm9VpYzT6

Politiko North Luzon. (2024, February 7). Mayor Henry S. Gallardo joins Ilocos Sur Festival Tawid and Kultura Trade Fair 2024. Politiko North Luzon. https://northluzon.politiko.com.ph/2024/02/07/mayor-henry-s-gallardo-joins-ilocos-sur-festival-tawid-and-kultura-trade-fair-2024/daily-feed/

A Love That Endures

"Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey." — Lord Byron

     

    Love has always been a force that defies the odds. It pushes through barriers, withstands storms, and finds a way to exist even in the most difficult circumstances. That’s what makes Valentine’s Day so special, it’s not just a celebration of love when it’s easy, but also when it’s tested. True love, in any form, is about perseverance. It’s about choosing each other even when things are hard, about standing strong in the face of doubt, and about walking paths that others might fear to tread.

    Love finds a way, even when the world says it cannot. Not all love stories are easy, and that’s what makes them meaningful. Some people express love through grand gestures, but more often than not, love is proven in the quiet and unseen moments, the sacrifices made, the patience shown, and the forgiveness given. It’s about commitment, about holding on when things get tough, about understanding instead of walking away, and about finding light even in the darkest of times. 

    For me, the best way to express love is through time and presence. In a world where people are always rushing, simply choosing to stay, to listen, and to be there is one of the most powerful acts of love. It’s easy to tell someone you love them during good times, but love shows its true strength in difficult times. It’s in the deep conversations that mend wounds, in the laughter that pushes away fear, in the simple, steady reassurance that says, "I'm here, no matter what." That’s the kind of love that endures.

    While Valentine’s Day is usually for couples, it’s also for anyone who has ever fought for love, in any form. The connections that have survived misunderstandings, for the family members who have stood by each other through thick and thin, and for those who have learned to love themselves despite the world telling them otherwise. Love isn’t always easy, but the most meaningful kinds never are. They require strength, faith, and the courage to walk a path that others might fear.

    Valentine’s Day is a reminder that love isn’t about always about ease and happy moments, it’s about endurance. It’s about believing that love is worth the fight, even when the road is uncertain. Because true love, the kind that lasts, is the one that braves the wolves, walks through the dark, and still finds its way home.

References:

Angel [@lisoovaa]. (n.d.). Flowers store. Pinterest. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://pin.it/2D3Md2F7n

Kyra [@kyra3156]. (n.d.). [Image of flowers] [Pinterest post]. Pinterest. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://pin.it/1iFP5sIuC

Telling the Tales of Caoayan: A Web Design Adventure

 

    When our CBR category was assigned, we started to choose the topic that we want to work on. We decided to focus on the biological life (flora and fauna) of our chosen community which is Caoayan, Ilocos Sur with a particular focus on its marine resources. We started to gather initial information we could research about our topic. Then, we planned who will work on each the part of our CBR project and distributed it. 

    We started making our paper and we used the internet to gather and research information that we could put to each part of our research. We shared ideas but worked individually on each part to ensure fairness and have our research completed effectively and properly. 

    To gather more information for our research, we decided to conduct face to face interviews with the fishermen of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. My groupmates went to interview the fishermen of Fuerte, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, to get a more personal, in-depth look at their lives and work. By engaging directly with them, they hoped to capture a more authentic perspective on the challenges they face and the impact of their work on the community. This face-to-face approach allowed them to gather valuable insights and better understand the realities of the fishermen's everyday experiences, providing crucial data to support the overall objectives of our study.

    This is during the interview and my groupmates had the chance to talk to the fishermen and hear their stories. The fishermen shared what their days are like, how they deal with not always catching enough fish, and how the weather and the environment are changing things for them. They also talked about how close-knit the fishing community is and how important their traditions are. The interviews weren’t just about gathering information; they were about listening to the real-life experiences of the fishermen and understanding what their job means to them.

    After gathering all the information from the interviews, we started working on creating a webpage for our Community-Based Research (CBR). The goal was to make it easy to share what we learned with others and highlight the importance of fishing to the people of Caoayan. We decided to include key findings, photos from the interviews, and personal stories to give the webpage a more personal touch. It took a lot of teamwork to make sure everything looked good and was easy to understand, but in the end, we were proud of how it turned out. The webpage became a way to show the importance of the fishermen’s work and its importance to their culture and economy. 

    We worked together to create a simple and easy-to-use design. We wanted to make sure people could easily find every contents of our community-based research. We used HTML and some basic styling with CSS to make the page look nice and neat. It was a fun learning experience for everyone, and we were all happy with how it turned out. The webpage ended up being a great way to share everything we learned in a way that was easy to understand and interesting to look at.

    On the homepage, we made sure the layout was simple, with easy links to different sections like the community profile, brief research description, and other parts of our research. The goal was to grab people’s attention right away and make them want to explore more about the community and their work. It was a lot of fun, and seeing it all come together felt like a big accomplishment

    Lastly, we presented our CBR webpage to the class. We started by explaining the purpose of the webpage and how it helped us share the stories of the fishermen and the results of our research. Then, we walked them through the different sections, showing how we organized everything to make it easy to follow. We also pointed out some of the photos and key findings we included to make it more engaging.

References:

Blogger. https://www.blogger.com

Three Quarters Through, What’s Next to Pursue?

 

"Growth comes from challenges, and every lesson learned is a step closer to becoming who we’re meant to be."

     The third quarter has been a whirlwind of challenges, discoveries, and growth. From learning about Community-Based Research (CBR) to figuring out how to make a webpage and getting hands-on with HTML lists and frames, it's been a journey filled with both challenges and exciting moments. There were definitely times I felt frustrated, but those challenges turned into moments of accomplishment that made everything worth it. 

     The first lesson we tackled this quarter was Community-Based Research (CBR). This lesson taught me a whole new perspective on research. It’s not just about gathering facts and data, it’s also about working together with the community to know better and make real, positive changes. We worked side by side with people to figure out issues that matter to them, and it felt rewarding to know that our research could make a difference. 

   Along with that, we also made a webpage to show our CBR project’s contents and although I am not that good with HTML and CSS, it was fun seeing our ideas and files work. It was a bit challenging at first especially when it came to layout and design, but as we kept practicing, it started to click, and we were able to create a webpage that really showcased our work.

  Another part of the learning process was learning about html frames, ordered lists, unordered lists, and nested lists in HTML. These were part of a separate lesson, but they were really helpful for organizing information in a clear way on our webpage. Ordered lists were great for showing steps or sequences, unordered lists made organizing general information easy, and nested lists allowed us to create more complex structures within the lists. HTML frames let me display different web pages in one window, making it easier to organize content in separate sections. They were very helpful and made the contents clear and easy to follow.

     If I’m being honest, the biggest struggle was creating our webpage for the CBR project. Since I was a complete beginner with HTML and CSS, it felt like I was just throwing things together and hoping it would work. There were definitely moments when I wanted to give up. So, I watched tutorials, asked questions, and tried again. Slowly but surely, I started to get the hang of it, and eventually, our webpage was successfully finished. It taught me that sometimes things don’t come together right away, but persistence and practice really pay off.

     Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep improving my HTML and CSS skills. I want to get better at designing better, and maybe even start learning more advanced techniques. I also plan to keep using ordered lists and nested lists in future projects to keep things organized and neat. The lessons I learned from Community-Based Research will stay with me, too. I’ll always remember the importance of listening to the community and working together to make a positive impact.

     This quarter has taught me a lot about resilience. It’s easy to get discouraged when things aren’t going well, but it’s all part of the process. I’m looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned and continuing to grow as I take on more challenges in the future.

References:

Blogger. https://www.blogger.com

A Holiday That is More Than Just a Celebration

 Chinese New Year is an important celebration in the Philippines because of the long history between Filipinos and Chinese immigrants. Over the years, Chinese culture has influenced the way Filipinos celebrate, and now, Chinese New Year is a big event that many Filipinos look forward to. The streets are decorated with red lanterns and bright colors, and everyone gets excited because the festival is about beginnings, good luck, and prosperity. Filipinos celebrate this tradition not just because of Chinese roots, but because the holiday brings joy and hope to everyone.

    What makes Chinese New Year special in the Philippines is how inclusive it is. People from all different backgrounds come together to celebrate, even if they’re not Chinese. In the Philippines, this custom has grown to show kindness and generosity, not just within families but also to friends and sometimes even strangers. It’s a way for everyone to spread good vibes and show how much they care for each other, making the event feel extra special and welcoming for everyone.

    Food is another part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Filipino and Chinese dishes are served together, and the table is filled with food that represents good fortune. Dishes like tikoy, which is a sweet sticky rice cake, and dumplings are enjoyed by everyone. Families come together to eat, share stories, and have fun. This tradition helps strengthen relationships and brings a sense of community, where people share what they have and enjoy each other's company. It’s a way of showing love and care for one another.

     Aside from the fun, Chinese New Year is also a time for reflection and starting fresh. Families visit temples and pray for health, happiness, and success in the new year. It’s a chance to leave bad memories behind and look forward to a better future. Chinese New Year in the Philippines brings together different generations and helps people pass down old traditions. It’s not just about having fun, it’s about celebrating the beauty of different cultures coming together and creating unity among all Filipinos.

    Chinese New Year in the Philippines is a special celebration that brings everyone together. On this day, families and friends join in the fun by decorating streets with red lanterns, enjoying a mix of Filipino and Chinese foods, and sharing warm wishes for a bright future. It’s a time to start fresh, let go of old worries, and hope for good luck in the new year. It is more than just a holiday, it teaches us about unity, kindness, and the beauty of celebrating different cultures together.

References:

Lucero, J. (2024, February 9). Why Chinese New Year is important for Filipinos. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/8/why-chinese-new-year-is-important-for-filipinos#google_vignette

NBC News. (2017, January 23). 10 Lunar New Year facts to help answer your pressing questions. NBC News. https://images.app.goo.gl/Fyt4Bb8qQqmH1EWb8

Wurzburger, A. (2024, January 17). Lunar New Year 2024: What to Know About the Holiday. People. https://people.com/lifestyle/lunar-new-year-explainer-who-celebrates-traditions-and-more/