December 19th, 2008 -- Posted in City Tours, Delicacies, Entertainments, Festivals, Fiestas, Pangasinan, Travel |
San Carlos City is called the “Mango-Bamboo Capital of the Philippines.” It has the largest number of fruiting mango trees - their fruits are among the most delicious in the country - and a flourishing bamboocraft industry. An agro-industrial city, San Carlos also engages in livestock raising, crop production, inland fishing, pottery, food processing, tourism, and commerce. The city is said to have an ideal investment potential because of its large land area, big population and strategic location, being in the center of Pangasinan. Those are the reasons why San Carlos is considered as among the liveliest places in the Province of Pangasinan in terms of economic activity.
November 27th, 2008 -- Posted in City Tours, Delicacies, Festivals, Fiestas, Pangasinan |
The talaba (oyster) is one of the gems of seafood cooking in many of the city’s households, especially those near the sea. A festival is held in celebration of its succulent taste that grace many dishes, casual and exotic alike. People can be found cheering the contestants in an oyster-shucking contest or licking their lips at the floating aroma and creative presentations of various delectable dishes entered in a cooking showdown or maybe do more than just watching and just tucking in to an oyster feast in one of the local dining houses, which often give generous extras during the celebration. Exhibits can’t be left out. Usually, there’s also a beauty pageant and some performances of local bands.
November 26th, 2008 -- Posted in City Tours, Festivals, Fiestas, Pangasinan, Travel |
Trick or treat season used to be just a school delight or a barangay mini activity. It is a kind of get together for neighbors to catch up on what they’ve missed about each other. Now, it’s a city festivity. One can indulge in spooky delights by wearing either a scary mask from the movie ‘Scream” or a simply horrific mummy costume, join street parades and dances filled with ecstatic ‘zombies’ and maybe sample a bit of every Halloween promo of some establishments in the city, like discounts on ‘scream fest movies’ from video rental shops or a special Halloween food treat in diners. Another Halloween regular is a heart pounding, hair-raising ride or mini-trip in Halloween booths and tunnels. Young people also enjoy planning ghost quests, visiting rumored haunted houses like the one near the public elementary school and for a few daring souls, the cemetery at midnight. The rumored ghosts may not be real but during Halloween, one never knows the spooky surprise that lies in every corner.
Street parties are the best crowd drawers and have maximum showcase potential, thus their frequency in national and local celebrations. Vibrant colors, innovative choreography and rhythmic beats are the regulars in each Alaminos street party.
November 24th, 2008 -- Posted in City Tours, Fiestas, Pangasinan, Tourists Spots, Travel |
Filipino fiestas are busy, festive and vibrant and when its turn to celebrate comes around, Alaminos City is one that can be counted upon to do so with gusto. The weeklong celebration (that usually starts on March 17) is often buzzing with activity, with events and fairs decorating the whole city before, during and after the actual date of the fiesta. Alaminians can choose between concerts of famous artists, beauty pageants and sports competitions to keep them on their feet. Food and product fairs entice everyone to sample the ingenuity and distinct quality of the city’s resources. The action and spectacle continues till the wee hours of the evening, sometimes with grand finales like fireworks.
With all these better entertainment treats, people still flock to the carnival and enjoy the rides like the Ferris Wheel or Merry-Go-Round, and can never forget to venture around the tiangges, hoping to score a coffee mug 50% off or a bunch of pillowcases on sale or indulge themselves to a few breaks in the many different games that promise a winning night. Children especially enjoy going to the circus, chomping and gulping treats as their eyes silently gape at trapeze artists, magicians and sword eaters.
A barangay fiesta in Alaminos is city fiesta scaled down. Amazing local bands take the place of famous recording groups, pageants for ladies and gays and sometimes mini fashion shows decorate the evening, while basketball competition is a popular day event. Tiangges cannot be left out and sumptuous food overflows from each household, ready to welcome guests from neighboring barangays.
September 18th, 2008 -- Posted in Fiestas, Ilocos, La Union, Patron Saints, Travel |
The Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay is an annual activity in La Union held every December. Sports activities, beauty contest, and painting contest are among the featured events visitors enjoy. It is also a time to give importance to Filipino balikbayans through free tours and a balikbayan night.
The Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando celebrates the Feast of Our Lady by bringing the original statue from Taal, Batangas to the temple for the weeklong activities held on the second week of September which is the 5th day of August in the Lunar calendar.
September 14th, 2008 -- Posted in Fiestas, La Union, Patron Saints, Travel |
San Fernando City celebrates its annual fiesta in honor of Saint William the Hermit every month of February. There are various religious activities being held like National Bible celebration, thanksgiving mass, Parish Pastoral Night and a Fiesta Mass. Other highlights include sports activities (boxing, mountain bike/BMX race kicked off), social and cultural activities (acrobatic shows, disabled persons program, field demonstration of schools, dog show, bingo socials, band concert, and more), grand civic and military parade, agricultural trade fair and beauty and talent searches.
August 30th, 2008 -- Posted in Churches, Fiestas, Ilocos Sur, Patron Saints, Religious Shrines |
The church itself is simple with the façade flanked by two square columns wherein the main attraction of the church is the statue of the crucified Christ. The feast of Santo Cristo Milagroso or “Apo Lacay” as local folks call him, stands out among other religious celebrations in Ilocandia. Every year, thousands of devotees within the region and outside flock to the shrine of Apo Lacay in Sinait several days before his feast which is on the 3rd of May. According to the old tales, boxes containing the images of Apo Lacay and La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc drifted ashore in Logo, a sitio of Dadalaquiten along the boundary of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Although the versions of the origin of the statues vary in some details, they all agree of one thing: Apo Lacay and La Virgen Milagrosa chose where they wanted their images to be. The people of Sinait wanted to bring home La Virgen Milagrosa while Badoc wanted the Crucified Christ. The respective parish priests of Sinait and Badoc ordered men to carry their respective statues home. To their dismay, the statues could not be moved despite the number of men trying to carry them. After failing, the priests tried exchanging the icons instead. The first miracle of the images happened! The images were lifted without difficulty: the Virgin to Badoc, the Crucified Christ to Sinait.
Today, the Sto. Cristo Milagroso attracts devotees just like the Black Nazarene of Quiapo ant the faithful pay homage to Apo Lacay inside the Church. These are annual pilgrimages to the shrine and there is an impenetrable crowd in the church on the first Friday of every month.
August 30th, 2008 -- Posted in Churches, Fiestas, Ilocos Sur, Patron Saints, Religious Shrines |
The church, classified by experts as Baroque, is famous for its antique wooden altar (retablo) which is still being used. An old choir loft and the pulpit have been preserved but no longer functional.
The beautifully carved three-layered retablo is divided into eight niches, each occupied by saint. Two pairs of three-tiered slender columns flank the church’s façade. A statue of the parish’s patron saint, St. William the Hermit, in the church façade greets visitors and devotees. Magsingal became an independent parish in 1676 and the feast day of St. William the Hermit is celebrated on February 10.
August 30th, 2008 -- Posted in Churches, Fiestas, Ilocos Sur, Patron Saints, Religious Shrines |
Miracles are attributed to the parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, thus attracting pilgrims from far and near. The church façade has two layers of columns divided by ornate architraves. The convoluted cornices in the church’s top section add beauty to the structure. Octagonal columns top with mini-domes rise from the base on both sides of the church’s façade. The ornate wooden pulpit is still preserved. The parish was established in 1795 and the feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer is celebrated on April 5.
August 7th, 2008 -- Posted in Festivals, Fiestas, Ilocos Norte |
This festival is being held in Laoag City from February 02-11. The celebration is being held on the feast day of the town’s patron saint, Saint William the Hermit, to commemorate the founding of the city and highlighted by floral and dance parade around the city proper.
The fiesta in Laoag City is being held every February 11 to give honor and thanksgiving to their patron saint who as believed by the Laoagueños, with his intercession to the Lord the city has been blessed and spared from calamities and disasters.
Like any other town in the Philippines, the Pamulinawen Festival and the city’s fiesta are among the much awaited celebrations in Laoag City.
