RAIN OF FIRE

The San Nicolas Damili Festival
CESAR G. BONILLA

SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte -- The greatest national hero of all time, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, is always an example whose teachings we should practice if we want to be useful to our country. His works are known not only in his native land but to the whole world. But however great and admirable they are, I consider more admirable the lessons which we can get from the acts and thoughts that he had expressed in confidence.

Rizal is known for his honesty, ingenuity, will-power, constancy and, above all, his patriotism which he manifested during his execution at Bagumbayan field. Through this, with the fervor he generated among the people, he fought and defeated one of the powerful empires in history -- Spanish colonialism particularly in the East.

Rizal was the personification of probity and honesty. Exploitation was the business of the Spaniard from the Governor-General down, and the only business that was attended to with diligence. In Rizal’s time the encomiendero was replaced by the local governor and the friar as the principal exploiters of the natives.

Our hero declared that our country was like a patient with long-continuing disease. The doctor attributes the failure of his drugs to the hopeless debility of the patient’s system, while the patient ascribes his condition to the doctor’s remedies.

With desperation, the attendants lose their heads and, instead of seeking the causes of the disease in order to remove them, devote themselves merely to attacking the symptoms, with blood-letting or taxation or forced labor. In following the good works and living principles of Rizal, we become better persons worthy to be proud of by our Motherland.
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Benazir Bhutto was a well-known political figure in Pakistan. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was the founder of the famous Pakistan People’s Party and became a president and prime minister of his country. Educated in the US and on England, he returned to Pakistan and served in several cabinet positions.

He took the reign of power after the secession of Bangladesh. Ousted by a military coup in 1997, Bhutto was convicted and executed on a charge of having ordered the murder of a political opponent. Bhutto died in the hands of an attacker who shot her to death and then blew himself up as Bhutto left a political rally in Rawalpindi.

She was voted as prime minister in 1988 and regained her lost glory in 1993 after her successor, Nawaz Sharif, was forced to resign. Her father, when he was still alive, encouraged Benazir to feel part of the greater world. She traveled with him in the foreign minister’s private railway carriage in the autumn of 1963.

That was the time when a great tragedy, the assassination of United States of America’s brilliant President, the charismatic John F. Kennedy. Her father advised the young Benazir to read about Napoleon Bonaparte, the most complete man of modern history. Read about the American revolution and about Abraham Lincoln. Read about Bismarck and Lenin, Ataturk and Mao Tse-Tung. Reading them, he told her, would make her understand more her beloved country Pakistan.
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The Damili Festival in the town of San Nicholas is an annual endeavor to celebrate the feast dedicated to the patron saint, San Nicholas de Tolentino. During such occasions, this progressive municipality showcases the worthiness and remarkable achievements of the town’s people.

It is a conglomeration of different cultural activities showcasing traditions and customs in songs and unique dances of the Ilocano ethnic group. The street pageant is amazing. This is street dancing in its finest depicting Ilocano customs and traditions.

There is also the usual tradition of Filipinos celebrating the Christmas Season by way of decorating their homes, buildings, offices with Christmas decors and other Yuletide art objects.

The traditional sugarcane milling or the traditional sugarcane juice extraction and processing represents the noble culture of the San Nicholenos and their characters: industry, humility, jolly disposition and love for the arts.

The festival also showcases the frugality of the Ilocanos. The celebration of the centennial of Filipino migration to Hawaii in 2006 induced pride with the sisterhood relationship with Hawaii. Mayor Alfredo Valdez Jr., together with Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii made a compact of friendship for the promotion of vital industries and tourism in San Nicholas.

This highlight of the San Nicholas town fiesta was the coronation of Miss Damili Festival 2007 and Barangay Night. The guest of honor and speaker was the mayor of the city and county of Honolulu, State of Hawaii Mufi Hanneman.

He was represented by Danny Agsalog, executive director of Oahu Workforce Investment Program of the City and Country of Honolulu, Hawaii. The balikbayan mayor in this year’s town fiesta was Edgar Vicente.
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Mayor Alfredo Valdez, Jr. was thankful to all balikbayans from the US and other countries for their support and dedication to the program of growth and development within the municipality.

The visiting balikbayans were: Balikbayan Queen Cher Honor Knight and Mr. Honor Gudoy-Knight, Balikbayan Queen Jenny Martinez, Balikbayan Queen Evelyn Martin, Balikbayan Queen Josephine Arzaga, Balikbayan Queen Sandra Pati, Balikbayan Queen Marites Panotan, Balikbayan Queen Betty Tolentino, Mr. and Mrs. Elo V. Badua, Juanito Martin and 2006 outstanding San Nicholeno engineer Rodolfo dela Cruz, Dr. Romulo C. Madamba and other guests.

Her Majesty Queen Shantelle B. Dumlao-I of Barangay 7, San Miguel was crowned by Danny Agsalog and Frances Dianne Pascua, the honorable mayor and Cris Martinez. First Princess Love Joy C. Antonio was crowned by honorable and Mr. Angelo Marcos Barba, PB and Mrs. Dionicio Duldulao, Gregorio Vergara, Jr. and police Insp. Crisente P. Sadino.

Love Joy is from Barangay 17, Sta. Asuncion. Second Princess is Richelle B. Adriano of Brgy. 18, San Pedro. She was crowned by Dr. and Mrs. Francisco Randa III, Engr. Rodolfo dela Cruz, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Barba and Mr. and Mrs. Joel Vicente.

Third Princess April Michelle T. Magbual hails from Barangay 11, San Fernando. She was crowned by Atty. and Mrs. Ramon Leano, PB Linda Badua, engineers Jerry Ancheta and Jessie Pumaras, Mrs. Virginia Obien and engineer and Mrs. Manuelito Datoc.

Fourth Princess was Ma. Kristel Kae Sacoco of Barangay 22, San Guillermo. She was crowned by Hon. And Mrs. Norberto D. Dadiz, PB Randy Andres, Mr. Aaron Mukai, Ret. Lt. Alfredo Valdez, Sr. Ms. Grace Sales and Mr. Mrs. Gerry Casiano.

Muses from different barangays showed much elegance and confidence during the momentous affair. The faculty of Sta. Rosa Academy under the leadership of Milagros Joe ushered the guests and prominent personalities during the coronation pageant. The invocation was delivered by Msgr. Mario R. Garaza. Dr. Wilson dela Cruz and Ms. Mercedita Reyes were master of ceremonies. Dur-
as, San Nicolas!