LA UNION CELEBRATES 9th AYAT FESTIVAL

By: Vice Mamaril, GPC - PIO

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To further promote the language, culture and the arts of the province, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) staged the 9th Ayat Festival Celebration in August 2019 with the theme “Talek, Namnama ken Ayat ti Puspuso Tayo.”

The month-long celebration featured seven activities, namely: IlokOlympics; KantaSala; La Union Henio; Iskrabiloko; Salip ti Deklamasion; Letter Writing Contest and Timek ti Ayat Vocal Solo Competition.

The festival formally opened through a ceremonial lighting of the torch led Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III during the IlokOlympics participated in by PGLU employees held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, San Fernando City, La Union on August 7, 2019. On the same day, KantaSala, a sing and dance competition and Timek ti Ayat, a vocal solo competition were both held at DMMMSU-MLUC Covered Court, San Fernando City, La Union. Saint Mary’s Academy of Agoo hailed as the champion of KantaSala followed by La Luna of Luna and DFLOMNHS Chorale of Bangar as First Runner-up and Second Runner-up, respectively. Sudipen hit the grand prize for the Timek ti Ayat while Aringay landed as 1st Runner-up and Agoo as the 2nd Runner-up.

The Iskrabiloko Competition, an Ilokano version of scrabble game, took place at the La Union Technology and Livelihood Development Center on August 16, 2019. In the high school category, the champion was Bacnotan while runners up were San Juan and Bangar. In the elementary category, Pugo won as champion, and runners-up were Balaoan and Agoo. Simultaneously, the Letter Writing Contest was also held at Eriguel Conference Hall, SP Building wherein Bagulin landed as the champion and runners-up were Sudipen and Balaoan. For the La Union Henio Version 2.0 held at the Diego Silang Hall, the City of San Fernando emerged as champion for both elementary and high school categories. Meanwhile, Sudipen and Caba won as first and second runners-up respectfully in the elementary category, while Naguilian and Bangar for the high school category.

The Salip ti Deklamasion took place at the Diego Silang Hall on August 23, 2019. In the elementary category, the champion was Pugo’s Ezekiel Gallardo, and runners up were the speakers from Balaoan and Agoo. Topping the high school category was Rosario’s Unies Tamondon, while runners up were representatives from San Fernando, Bangar and Pugo. Closing and awarding ceremonies immediately followed after the contest.

The Ayat Festival is an annual series of events celebrating and fostering local language, culture and talent, in accordance with Provincial Ordinance 026-2012, the Local Language Code of La Union otherwise known as the Iloko Code. Ayat Festival is one of the keystones of the province’s efforts to popularize La Union’s local language as well as culture and local talent in line with the province’s advocacy to develop a native yet modern identity so that it continues to be used, particularly by youth and for generations to come.