Pamulinawen Festival

     

     First of all, Naimbag nga pista ken pagkasangay Laoag City,my home city. Been away here for almost 8 years but I am glad I'm back and rediscovering it. It would appropriate to write something about my city.

     So February 10 is our city fiesta and is called Pamulinawen. Yes it is today, the death anniversary of Saint William the Hermit our patron saint. He is known as the saint with holding a skull bone. Yet why not call it Feast of Saint Williams just like the Feast of Black Nazarene. Actually, if you look at the most Philippine festivals you see the trend of naming festivals based from a town's product (Batac City's empanada festival,Dagupan's Bangus festival e.g.), activity (Cebu's Sinulog) or just anything under the sun. Some people would complain that the fiesta's religious value is losing to more commercial purpose. It is valid objection but however I think in Laoag's case, it is a great move.

     So what is Pamulinawen? Actually it should be who is she? Pamulinawen is a  famous Ilocano love song. The singer is sereneding a girl named Pamulinawen. It is a typical Ilocano song. Actually most of Ilocano songs that I've heard talks about love. Remember Ti Ayat ti Maysa Ubing (Love of a Youth)? It was sang by President Marcos to Imelda. Who could have melt the heart of a Waray than an Ilokano. Some lyrics of the song are sang by the Eraserheads in Toyang (the line ti ayat ti maysa a baro). It has always been love even up to the present to a point you want to turn off the radio because it's becoming cheesy.

   The song itself reflects the Ilocano virtue of being romantic. This might be self serving but it is. I attest to that. So the move of the local government of naming the festival as such is just perfect. And let us not forget what would happen on February 14. Valentines Day.