Halloween parade in downtown LC pushes through amidst typhoon

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Typhoon Vinta’s strong winds and intermittent rainfall failed to threaten a “parade of ghosts” around downtown Laoag City on the evening of October 31, participated in by local government units in the entire province of Ilocos Norte as well as several business establishments here.

Dressed in creepy costumes of vampires, witches, fantasy and action characters, Power Puff Girls and dreaded images of couples eating flesh, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos dressed like a spider woman in a long white curly wig with a crown and a shimmering black and white gown led the ghost parade dubbed as “Parada Iloca-locana (Parade of Ghosts)” with the special guest participation of Lilia Cuntapay, queen of Philippine horror movies.

Now on its third year, Ianree Raquel, provincial tourism officer of Ilocos Norte, said Parada Iloca-locana is just one of the series of events in the weeklong Semana ti Ar-aria festival being promoted by Ilocos Norte’s Paoay Kumakaway! tourism brand to attract more tourists to visit Ilocos Norte especially during holidays where people prefer to go to provinces and spend time together with families.

After the ghost parade participated in by a hundred of Ilocanos dressed in their scariest and wackiest costumes, they proceeded to the covered centennial arena to continue their merrymaking with a rock band and comic entertainers for trick or treating. Special prizes and freebies likewise awaited winners having the best floats and those with scariest and wackiest costumes.

During the parade, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier convened at the Provincial Capitol and activated rescue teams and government frontliners to monitor and prepare relief goods for typhoon victims. Heavy equipment and rescue boats were on standby in front of the Capitol.

Just after the program, typhoon Vinta started to pound Ilocos Norte, resulting to several communication lines and electric posts that tripped off affecting parts of Ilocos Norte.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog