UNESCO World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day and cultural festival successfully held September 8 – 11

Solidarity Day and cultural festival successfully held September 8 – 11.
Pages of history came alive in the major streets of Vigan City as the pageantry of the Repazzo de Vigan unfolded once again to showcase the glorious past of Cuidad Fernandina de Vigan last Sept 11, 2010 to celebrate the UNESCO World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day.
Opened formally on Sept 8, the event started with a eucharistic celebration and a renewal of pledge (see page 7) to heritage conservation followed by an opening of a trade and food fair, a garden show and Tawid ti Amianan art exhibit of UP alumni and UNP students. Plaza Burgos, Florentino Street and the Vigan Culture and Trade Center served as venues to these activities. Mayor Eva Marie Medina, Vice Mayor Ryan Singson and members of the City Council led the opening ceremonies of the said events witnessed by friends of the city among which were Provincial Board Member Jeremias Singson and former Governor Carmeling Crisologo.
A cultural festival took place in the evenings of September 8-12. Participants from 39 barangays and 30 schools competed in cultural events such as the Repazzo de Vigan, Historia Oral, daniw, dallot, vocal chorus Sabayang Pagbigkas and folk dance competition. This celebration is one way of promoting our intangible heritage and passing them on to our children. It also introduces to students, teachers and people in the community the importance of our local arts and culture.
As the only Heritage City in the Philippines, Vigan takes the initiative to highlight the best of our preserved character during the UNESCO World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day to build bridges of understanding even among distinct and unique cultures.
The awarding ceremonies and a cultural show presented by the Vigan City Cultural Troupe capped the celebration.
Cluster 4, headed by Mrs. Margarita Somera of Pantay Elementary School was the runaway overall champion. This group composed of Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, Pantay Laud, Pantay Fatima, Pantay Daya, Capangpangan, Burgos Memorial School West, Burgos Memorial School East, Ilocos Sur National High School, Capangpangan Elementary School and Pantay Elementary School and Immaculate Concepcion School of Theology won Php 60,000.00.
Cluster 3 composed of Salindeg, Pong-ol, Barraca, Bulala, Paratong, San Pedro, Mindoro, Vigan National High School West, Salindeg Elementary School, Governor Evaristo “Titong” Singson Elementary School, Mindoro Elementary School, Bulala-Paratong Elementary School and St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur bagged 2nd place and Php 50,000.00. Cluster 2 ( Beddeng Laud, Beddeng Daya, Camanggaan, Bongtolan, Cabaroan Laud, Cabaroan Daya, Cabalengan, Camangaan Elementary School, Cabaroan-Cabalangegan Elementary School, Ilocos Sur Community College, Builders Institute of Technology, Divine Word College of Vigan, Immaculate Concepcion Minor Seminary and Marian Institute ), Cluster 5 ( 5, 6,7,8,9, Ayusan Sur, Ayusan Norte, Paoa, Tamag, UNP, Vigan Central School, Ayusan-Paoa Elementary School and Tamag Elementary School ) and Cluster 1 ( Barangays San Jose, San Julian Sur, San Julian Norte, Nagsangalan, Purok a Bassit, Purok a Dakkel, Rugsuanan, Raois, Nagsangalan Elementary School, San Julian Elementary School, Rugsuanan Elementary School, Raois Elementary School, Vigan National High School East and Data Center College )placed 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.//dado_76@yahoo.com