Paeng disrupts Ilocandia ‘Undas’ activities

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—Bracing for Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae), the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur cancelled activities lined up for the Halloween or “Undas” season.

In Ilocos Norte, the activities for ‘Semana ti Ar-aria’ festival from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 would be rescheduled, the provincial government said in an advisory Saturday, Oct. 29.

Among the highlights of the festival is an in-person film screening to honor Ilocana actress Lilia Cuntapay who was known as the “Queen of Philippine Horror Movies.”

The screening at the Ilocos Norte Capitol complex was set to showcase homegrown talents who created films highlighting the province’s unique tradition in remembering the departed.

No postponement, however, has been made for holding on Nov. 1 of the centuries-old ‘Tumba-tumba’, an “endemic cultural tradition” which involved local communities in Paoay town to come together to honor their departed loved ones.

In Ilocos Sur, the float parade of the famed Raniag Twilight Festival, also an event which served to commemorate the dead, scheduled on Saturday was rescheduled to Sunday, Oct. 30.

The Vigan City government, however, said that the event would still be postponed until further notice if rough weather conditions persist on Sunday.

Last Oct. 25, a candle floating activity at the Meztizo River opened the Raniag festival.

It was meant to represent the “strong spiritual faith of the Bigueños as well as [to remember] their departed loved ones,” the city government said.

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