๐๐จ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Josef Angelo Alfred Casem and PIO Baguio | Date: March 20, 2022
The Namacpacan Streetdancers representing the Municipality of Luna, La Union was hailed as First Runner-up in the recently concluded Festival Dance Category of the 27th Panagbenga Festival Dance Competition on March 20, 2022 at the Baguio City.
Embodying the townโs former name โNamacpacan'' which means the one who feeds, the group from Luna, along with 10 other competing contingents in two categories, showcased spectacles of colors and motions during the field demonstration performances immediately after the parade along the cityโs Burnham Park.
Wearing colorful attire, the group performed an Ilokano dance bannering their townโs celebration for a bountiful harvest through the Pinnakan Festival. First celebrated in 2018, the featured festival is a commemoration of celebrating the joyous people of Luna who fed the travelers during the Spanish era. It also depicts the abundance of fish from the sea as a blessing to the local folk and thanksgiving to the townโs patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria. The dance narrated the story of the people of Luna whose main livelihood is fishing. It also showcased how the municipality was able to recover from the effects of the current pandemic.
During the interview with the La Union Provincial Tourism Office โ Culture and Arts Unit staff, dance choreographers Josef Angelo Alfred Casem and Jefferzon Navidad shared that it only took two weeks for them to practice the dance routines. They were very happy and thankful as this is the first Panagbenga streetdance competition after three years of hiatus.
The Provincial Government of La Union is steadfast in supporting various avenues and platforms that banner the #tatakLUcal genius of our Kaprobinsiaans in culture and the arts.
