It's More Fun in VIGAN

Ilocos Sur especially Vigan is branded as the Heart of Ilocandia by the Philippine Historical Committee. It’s a province very rich in culture and heritage. In order to showcase these, we have important festives just to exhibit and promote products of ours and precious cultures of Ilocanos to attract and invite tourists to come and visit Ilocos. The Vigan City Fiesta is held every January 25. It is celebrated during the feast day of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. St. Paul is Vigan City’s patron saint. Before his conversion, St. Paul was known as Saul, a zealous persecutor of Christians. After he was touched by a personal encounter with Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus, his name was changed to Paul and he endured a lot of hardships and danger to spread the word of God to far places. The city has a longganisa-themed parade and at one time attempted to set a record for having the longest longganisa ever made. The festival has become a crowd-drawer as Vigan longganisa, a native version of Mexican salami, has a distinct garlicky taste that has become a favorite of the Filipino palate. At the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, there is a mass held on the opening day of the festival. This festivity is the time to thank the Almighty not only for the abundance He showered for the province but also the rich heritage of the place including the strong ties among the Ilocano families. This shows the deep rooted religiosity of the Ilocanos. The festival is also a show of the province’s trade and agriculture products and is a livelihood training ground for women and students through the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture. Within the Vigan City Fiesta days, the Longganisa Festival is also celebrated.

In this new normal, everyone makes the occasion more memorable by looking forward to celebrating it with friends and family. Due to the celebration, lots of individuals might also take some time to unwind and have fun, and both locals and tourists might discover and advertise every local product. The Vigan Festival is never boring and is always fun because of the fascinating events that go on in the town. You can enjoy the following activities with your family. Highlights include the members of the Bayanihan Dance Company entertained the Ilocanos with their world class performance of the Beauty of the Philippines through dances, music and sounds. Their graceful movements and excellent rendition of songs and playing the indigenous musical instruments drew attractions from the crowd. These events aimed to encourage young Ilocanos to learn these indigenous songs and dances for sustainability and preservation. We, Ilocanos should all be proud of with this because we are having this for tourists to appreciate our rich culture. Moreover, let us all preserve these cultures for next generations and this will serve as our trademark as an Ilocano.

By these, I learned that by celebrating our festivals, we are also showing our talents so I learned that these festivals are platforms to show our talents and to be proud of them.

VIVA VIGAN!!

Reference:

Photos- Vigan City PH Facebook Page

Quite There, 2 More!

   Time flies really so fast, the second quarter from my Grade 10 journey has again ended and two more quarters before I will complete my Grade 10 year. I learned more than enough this quarter. We talked all about internet, on how we access the internet and also one of the things that I enjoyed doing was creating an HTML file. It was fun but also challenging. We had learned the different types of internet access and a lot more about html.

   

The challenges that I faced during the second quarter are, again, doing all the articles needed to be submitted. But anyway that was part of being a student, many activities and quizzes to be done.

  

   Moving on, I would like to appreciate what I learned from this Quarter and use these again on our own goodness. Also I want to thank my teacher for teaching us that made us do things independently. Thank you because, I know that in the near future we will apply these things. The second quarter is already done and hoping there are things to come and to discover again the next quarter.

Newly

   "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next years word awaits another voice. To make and end is to make a new beginning."

   January 1st the first day that our year starts. We tend to celebrate our day to welcome a very wonderful year for us. We have fireworks displays, our noche buena, and many more things we do to make noise as we celebrate the year. New year is we all about changing all the bad sides, changing for the better. Its a new start, and new chance to change what should be changed in you. We should be thankful to Him, that he haha ​​gave us another year, we should all be grateful for he will give us more blessings for the coming days.

   "New Year, New Me" means to be able to change something with yourself. For me, I think that the word "change" is not the right term because it means to make or become different. I don't want to change anything about me, instead I want to improve. I want to develop and make myself grow more, mentally and emotionally. Now that a new year has come again, I realized how much I improved. I can differentiate myself in the past and myself now. One achievement that I have done so far is loving myself little by little. Loving or accepting me has been the hardest thing I've tried to achieve. My January has been very tiring but I had a lot of fun and all of those hard works had been paid off, because I always keep in mind that everything will be fine as long as I have fun especially now that I am still young.

   2022 was a great year for me. I learned and discovered many new things that made me enhance more, and I always believe in the saying that "God's plans will always be greater and more beautiful than all of your disappointments". That is why I didn't give up that easily, and now that 2022 has ended I believe that other challenges are waiting for me. I am looking forward to aiming more goals/objectives. Thank God for another year!

   So this 2023, I will be the newer version of myself. I will not be the one who has many insecurities. I will truly accept myself even with my flaws and imperfections. I will be the one who worships God with my whole heart. New year, newly me.

The Magic of Christmas

   Christmas Day. This is the day that most of us celebrate this season. But I think people are starting to lose what the real meaning of Christmas is. Christ, our Lord and Savior, was born to us. He is the gift of Love from God the Father in Heaven. He came to earth with us and lives with us. And eventually he died for us. We were the reason that he suffered and died. He gave all he could give. That by His wounds, all those who believe in Him, sins are forgiven, diseases are healed and restored.

   Eventhough how hurt I am, there are so many reasons to take a smile. Eventhough the past months killed me with sadness, there'll always be a reason to be happy again. We have now reached the most awaited month. It's that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real essence of Christmas? Is it the gifts under your Christmas tree, the different kinds and colors of lights in the windows, the cards that you will receive from your admirer, dinner with family and friends, socks hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass in the streets? Is this really Christmas? For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow.They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends.

   Christmas is all about Him. Let's celebrate it as God wanted it to be. Let's all celebrate Christmas with Him. We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. Let us love one another as respect to our savior, Jesus Christ. The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met. Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!