Ashley

          Ilocos Sur is a beautiful province located in the northern part of Luzon. It is a province rich in culture that represents the ancient Spanish and Filipino heritage. To show and share their treasures to the whole world, the locals conceived a festival that highlights these cultural traditions and they called it the “Kannadiwan Festival”.      They call it the KANNAWIDAN Ylocos Festival, it is also a time to commemorate the anniversary of Ilocos Sur as a province since it was separated on February 3, 1818. Kannawidan is a variant of the Ilocano word "tawid" meaning heritage or inheritance. This festival at the end of January celebrates the best of Ilocos Sur culture, from traditional dress and folk dance to tribal rituals and marching band contests. This is a festival of Ilocos Sur that celebrates its being a separate province and its being a treasure chest of traditions and culture.      One mission of the festival is pa...

      Change is the only permanent thing in the world. It  happens whether we like it or not and regardless of whether we do anything about it.  Many feel the task of positive change is impossible, h owever, I believe each and every one of us can make a difference. And we can start this moment.        Blessed with intellect and a set of skills, we, the human race, have been placed on Earth for a purpose, and it is our duty in life to discover exactly what that purpose is.  We can lead change and make our world a better place if we start with ourselves.  Changing the world begins with improving who we are on the inside. We each have a unique identity and our own distinct thoughts. These thoughts often propel us to act. So, by mindfully centering our thoughts in a positive direction, we can improve our actions and thus our character.       The positive impact I can make starts within myself; by becoming a truly givi...

          The Vigan City Fiesta is held in honor of St. Paul the Apostle, the city’s patron saint, on 25 January each year. Locals and tourists gather to experience and see the street dancing, carnivals, food fairs, and arts and crafts, adding to the attraction of this UNESCO World Heritage City.           Participants from the different neighboring provinces in the northern region are also sent to compete in the various games and activities, particularly the street dancing competition. Within the Vigan City Fiesta days, the Longganisa Festival is also celebrated. The city has a longganisa-themed parade and at one time attempted to set a record for having the longest longganisa ever made. Biguenos attribute this to the fact that the making of Vigan longganisa is a centuries-old tradition of the local makers and all if not most of the ingredients used in making the native sausage is sourced from Vigan. Vigan’s garlic and sugarcane v...

      Time flies so fast. New year is a time when many people around the world make promises, however, many of the promises made by people are rarely completed. It is a special day for the people as this day is the beginning of the new year and they welcome the upcoming year in their way. People start the preparations for the new year celebration many days earlier. People buy new clothes, gifts and many new things from the market. This day has a special relevance for people. People belonging to different walks of life welcome New Year in their own hearty ways.              My New Year’s resolution is to be more productive, organize my things, and boost my confidence. When talking about productivity there are a lot of things involved. School! I want to perform efficiently to have good grades. This New Year, a good resolution is to avoid procrastination. Why do tomorrow, what I can do today? I want to use my time wisely. And I w...