Ilocos Norte town wins Tan-ok championship

By Freddie Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The town of Nueva Era bagged the grand championship in the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals Feb. 2  at the Marcos Memorial Stadium.

Tan-ok was the highlight of the celebration of the 201st foundation anniversary of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

Nueva Era is a member of the Ilocos Norte Cultural Community (INCC). Since 2013, the town has garnered second place three times, and the third place twice.

There was no Tan-ok in 2017 to make it coincide with Ilocos Norte’s Bicentennial or 200th anniversary.

Tan-ok features festivals from the towns and cities of Ilocos Norte performed onstage. Twenty-one towns and one city competed this year, portraying the diversity of stories, rich history, and distinct culture of Ilocanos through dance, music, vibrant props, theatrics, and an accompanying video projected from LED backdrop.

Nueva Era’s winning performance centered on the love story of the hunter Apo-ni-tulao and village beauty Apo-ni-bulinawen, who hold fast to the “tadek” dance as a healing ritual in times of difficulty and to prayer before Kabunian (the mountain goddess). The contingent finished with a “pakalon” (Tingguian wedding) celebrating the main characters’ safety, love, and reunion.

In addition to the P350,000 grand prize, Nueva Era also garnered three special awards: Best Festival Music, Best Production Design, and Best Choreography and Direction.

“We will have our grandest celebration because we have been aiming for the championship for a long time, and it is finally ours,” Nueva Era Mayor Caroline Garvida said.

Second place went to the La Virgen Milagrosa Festival of Badoc celebrating the provincial patroness, and the third to the Empanada Festival of the City of Batac highlighting the tradition and innovation behind the classic Ilocano dish.

Badoc’s Christian Cave Cainglit was recognized as Best Male Performer. Batac also garnered the award for Best Video Presentation and Best Female Performer through Ms. Judelea Pucan.

Winners were decided according to story, performance, choreography, production design, and originality.

               Nueva Era’s winning performance centered on the love story of the hunter Apo-ni-tulao and village beauty Apo-ni-bulinawen, who hold fast