A Festival that's Full of Fun, Kannawidan!

 

    

    The Kannawidan Festival is a significant cultural event in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, celebrated annually to commemorate the foundation anniversary of Ilocos Sur while showcasing its rich heritage, traditions, and local products. It is a fun festival because it preserve Ilocano culture and traditions by promoting traditional music, dances, crafts, and indigenous practices, ensuring that they are passed down to future generations. The festival also serves as a platform for showcasing local products, where artist and farmers exhibit Ilocano delicacies, handwoven fabrics, and other traditional products.

 

    Beyond cultural preservation, Kannawidan contributes to boosting tourism and the local economy, attracting visitors from different regions and benefiting businesses across the province. It also serves as a tribute to history, celebrating the creation of Ilocos Sur as a province in 1818, reinforcing the pride of its people in their heritage. Additionally, the festival fosters unity and community spirit, bringing together various towns and strengthening the bonds among Ilocanos. More than just a celebration, the Kannawidan Festival is a testament to Ilocos Sur’s identity, ensuring that its cultural legacy remains strong and vibrant for future generations.

References:
Rojas, P. (n.d.). Kannawidan Ylocos Festival: The bicentennial celebration. Teemit. Retrieved [insert date of access], from(https://teemit.com/travel/@pengrojas/kannawidan-ylocos-festival-the-bicentennial-celebration#:~:text=KANNAWIDAN%20YLOCOS%20FESTIVAL%3A%20THE%20BICENTENNIAL%20CELEBRATION,-pengrojas%20(47)%20in&text=Kannawidan%3A%20In%20tagalog%20means%20'nakaugalian,(One%20Town%20One%20Product).

Ilocos Sur Provincial Government. (2023, February 12). The Ilocos Sur Kannawidan Festival 2023 street dance competition. Ilocos Sur Management Information System. Retrieved [insert date of access], from https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/2023/02/12/the-ilocos-sur-kannawidan-festival-2023-street-dance-competition/
Boses ti Amianan. (n.d.). Kannawidan Ylocos Festival ipinagdiwang sa Ilocos Sur. Retrieved [insert date of access], from https://bosestiamianan.com/kannawidan-ylocos-festival-ipinagdiwang-sa-ilocos-sur/
Ilocos Sur Provincial Government. (2023, February 7). The Ilocos Sur Kannawidan Festival 2023 celebrity night. Ilocos Sur Management Information System. Retrieved [insert date of access], from https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/2023/02/07/the-ilocos-sur-kannawidan-festival-2023-celebrity-night/

A Day to Show Love

    

    Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and affection, often associated with romantic relationships but also extending to friendships and family bonds. It is believed to have originated from St. Valentine, a figure associated with acts of love and kindness. It has, over time, evolved into a day where people express their gratitude to their loved ones in ways like giving them gifts, writing letters, or spending quality time with them.

 

    We celebrate Valentine's Day to remind ourselves of the importance of love in our lives. It is a day to show appreciation, build relationships, and be compassionate. Either through large deeds or simple deeds of kindness, it's a day that reminds us of love in any shape or form.

 

    Being affectionate can take many forms, such as a loving letter, a thoughtful gift, or simply being present and listening. For me to show affection is i do like a small gesture, like a soft word or an embrace, spending quality time, saying "I appreciate you," or "I'm here for you", and being there for them during  their difficult times. Let's remember that Valentine's Day is not about the gifts but about letting people know they are loved and valued.




References:

Pinterest. (n.d.). [Heartfelt Valentine’s Day message with romantic design]. Pinterest. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/889812838889176566/
Peterson, L. (2024, February 13). Valentine’s Day couples dish on what it takes to have a happy union. Patch. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://patch.com/us/across-america/valentine-s-day-couples-dish-what-it-takes-have-happy-union
Khatun, G. (2022, August 18). National Couple’s Day 2022: How to celebrate? Check here. Prag News. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://pragnews.com/national/national-couple-day-2022-how-to-celebrate

Our CBR Journey

    In this picture, we are brainstorming additional ideas and information to include in our Community-Based Research paper. We are also discussing how we will conduct interviews with people after completing our surveys.

    In these pictures, we interviewed the former barangay captain and the current barangay captain of Don Dimas Querubin and Don Lorenzo. They shared that the "Three Dons" barangays were once a single community called "Poblacion" in the past. It was later divided to create a better-managed community, with the highest-ranking official of Poblacion assigning the three Dons, marking the beginning of the separation. We also obtained two historical documents about Poblacion, which were provided by the barangay captain of Don Dimas Querubin.

Making our CBR paper, and doing our parts given to our leader.

    In this picture, we are designing a web page based on the content of our paper. Although we encountered some coding challenges, we overcame them through the magic of teamwork.

    In this picture, we are halfway through our web page design; we just need to add some pictures and colors.

    Finally, in this picture, we have completed our web page design and briefly polished it, resulting in a great outcome. We also presented our web page design, and the result was excellent.

    I believe we couldn't have made this Community-Based Research (CBR) successful without proper communication and teamwork. Just enjoy and learn throughout the process—it will all be worth it! :))

 

Third Wave

     During this learning period, I gained valuable knowledge in coding HTML frames and lists. This experience helped me understand how to structure web pages and organize content effectively. Additionally, we conducted a community-based research (CBR) project, which allowed me to develop research skills and apply them to a real-world topic. After completing the research, we created a web design based on our findings, and I was assigned to write the conclusion, which helped me improve my summarization and analytical skills.

    One of the challenges I encountered during the CBR project was gathering reliable data from the community. Some of the respondents were unresponsive or hesitant to share their insights, which made it difficult to complete the research on time. The lack of sufficient data delayed our progress and added stress to the project.

    Another challenge I faced was designing the layout of our web project. I struggled with making it visually appealing and user-friendly. Since I was not very confident in web design, I found it difficult to choose the right structure, colors, and elements to make the website both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

    To overcome these challenges, I sought help from my friend. For the CBR issue, I reached out to additional community members and clarified the purpose of the research to gain more support. For the design challenge, my friend guided me in making better design choices and provided useful suggestions to improve the layout. Their assistance helped me gain more confidence and learn new techniques that I can apply in future projects.

    Moving forward, I will continue to improve my web design skills by practicing and exploring different design techniques. I will also enhance my problem-solving abilities to handle future challenges more independently and efficiently.

Year of the Snake

     Chinese New Year, more commonly known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most widely celebrated events in the world. In the Philippines, it remains significant for many Filipinos and particularly within communities holding strong Chinese influence. But why do Filipinos celebrate Chinese New Year? Let's dive into how deep the roots of connection between the two cultures are and how this exciting tradition continues to gain much-needed momentum in the country.

    First, Chinese traders have been in the history of interplay with the Philippines dating back to the pre-colonial times. Over time, Chinese migrants became part of the life that makes up the Filipino society, and Filipinos have business, food, and language from China as well as traditions. Most Filipinos keep up their culture and celebrating Chinese New Year a way of paying respects to one's parentage.

    Second, one of the most critical reasons for Filipinos to join in the Chinese New Year celebration is because of their belief that good luck and prosperity will shower the new year on them. Filipino families of different ancestry tend to embrace Chinese traditions like showing lucky charms, wearing red, and doing special dishes believed to bring good fortune.

    Meanwhile, however, other streets in Chinatown, which is the oldest in the world, especially areas like Binondo, in China, erupt with glorious celebrations for Chinese New Year. The most significant activity seen there is dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and ang pao, which are red envelopes containing money. Even shopping malls, schools, and offices hold cultural performances and give exclusive promotions.

    The celebration of Chinese New Year in the Philippines reflects the country's rich multicultural identity. The event showcases the warmth with which Filipinos take on traditions of other cultures, embracing them to become part of their own traditions. The holidays provide a strong opportunity to reenforce familial bonds, spread unity, and bring joy throughout communities. As we celebrate Chinese New Year 2025, we meet again as Filipinos in the spirit of festivity for this tradition, which symbolizes prosperity, harmony, and respect for another culture.

 Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Chinese New Year. Britannica. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year

Better Homes & Gardens. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.bhg.com/holidays/new-years/traditions/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/

Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.kkday.com/en-sg/blog/27383/asia-philippines-why-experiencing-the-lunar-new-year-in-binondo-manila-is-a-must

Asia Society Philippines. (n.d.). Chinese New Year celebrated in the Philippines. Asia Society. https://asiasociety.org/philippines/chinese-new-year-celebrated-philippines

Time and Date AS. (n.d.). Lunar New Year's Day 2025 in Philippines. Time and Date. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/lunar-new-year-day