President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., and the first family arrives in Malacañang Palace after he was sworn in as the 17th president of the Philippines on Thursday, June 30, 2022. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
LAOAG CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday said he and his family are looking forward to witness the return of the Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival in Laoag City.
Marcos will be in his hometown Ilocos Norte on Friday, the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution, which toppled the regime of his father and namesake.
The festival, which means the “Greatness of the Ilocano”, will be held at the newly refurbished Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City.
“My family and I send our warmest greetings to our fellow Ilocanos as we celebrate the Tan-ok ni Ilokano!” the President said in a Twitter post.
“We look forward to witnessing the unique history, heritage, and culture of Ilocos Norte being celebrated and displayed for the world to see. Agbiag ti Ilocano!” he added.
My family and I send our warmest greetings to our fellow Ilocanos as we celebrate the Tan-ok ni Ilokano!
We look forward to witnessing the unique history, heritage, and culture of Ilocos Norte being celebrated and displayed for the world to see. Agbiag ti Ilocano! pic.twitter.com/dRVAAFlCju
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) February 24, 2023
The “Tan-ok Ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals”, which is Ilocos Norte’s cultural festival, resumes on Friday after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival was launched in 2011 during the administration of then governor and now senator Imee Marcos with the aim of reviving “cultural pride and Ilokano identity by focusing on narrative-driven presentations produced by local creatives.”
Thousands are expected to troop to the stadium to see performers from Ilocos Norte’s 21 towns and two cities.