The 2013 Laoag Pamulinawen Festival commenced with a civil-military parade. Rather than going west, the pink-dominated ribbon of people moved to the east, ending at the Laoag City Supermarket. Could it be the start of a new tradition? Or it might be the city’s latest feng shui:)

Fellow Laoagueños, happy fiesta time!

- Laoag City Mayor Michael Versoza Fariñas, nearing the end of his term of office. Beside him is wife, Social Concerns and Tourism Chair and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Chevylle Villanueva Fariñas, who’s running for Laoag City Mayor this coming midterm elections.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

‘Tis the time of the year to celebrate my most revered display of true Laoagueño tradition and culture. The officials of the city might be moving too fast, changing the landscape and exacerbating the traffic issue, yet the oldest mode of transportation in Laoag endures. Until when? In God we trust.

Eco-friendly ka pa!

Lots of love and hugs to all the balikbayans who are visiting town. BlauEarth can’t thank enough the wonderful blog readers from New York, Canada, California, Hawaii, the Philippines, and other parts of the globe. You know who you are:) Enjoy the sunshine, peeps!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Glamour is back at the recent floral parade of the Pamulinawen Festival. Smiles as bright as the sunshine… modern Filipiniana regalia… gay princesses and fairies… farm animals making merry… adorned miniature landmarks… a vibrant touch of Chinese red to mark the new Year of the Water Snake… just what Laoag needs in 2013!

Miss Laoag International 2012 Aiyana Camille “AJ” Mikiewicz

The tradition of tagapulot-making.

Gloss… pretty ladies in figure flattering cheongsams.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

The Rizal Street, the main street of Laoag, was more blazing than ever, fitting droves of performers, revelers, devotees and onlookers.

The main entrance of the Laoag Supermarket was converted into a grandstand, accommodating the VIPs attending the Pamulinawen Festival 2013 Street Pageantry. I had a little unpleasant experience at the foot of the stage — the blogger that I am, I wanted to get a closer view of the dances, but I was shooed away by a man in pink tee, perhaps a city hall employee, ‘coz only photogs/media with pink IDs were allowed at the area according to him, as if I’d be causing a major distraction, LOL, me no amalayer. I just went back again, and squatted (literally on the ground) beside the quietly seated Councilor Tamayo. It’s my city, too, hello?! In fairness, everyone else was nice and seemed to be having a good time under the scorching heat.

Happy to share my overexposed photos, I like the look though:)

- Laoag’s pride, ace choreographer Christian Espiritu, the force behind the Laoag City Gymnastics Group.

On the right: all the way from Barcelona, Spain, nineteener Maverick Gomez, TFC Europe Star Search winner.

- The Laoag Mayor’s wife, the indefatigable Chevylle Fariñas.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Downhillers from all over the Philippines, along with the One Ilocos DH Team of Batibols Bikers and Boondatz Racing, clinched the 2nd leg of the DROP Downhill Philippines National Series 2013, at the US Embassy-Kadaklan, organized by Baguio’s TwentysSixHundred led by Jason Herbolario.

DROP officials, steered by President Erwin Benipayo and Coach Arjuna Saulo, managed the cutthroat racing, The cool weather enveloping Camp John Hay liberated bikers and spectators alike.

Jackie de la Cruz of Batibols Bikers bagged the 3rd place-expert category.

Biking with the county’s tough and highly skilled bikers on rugged meandering trails with technical kicks already makes one a winner. Getting ready for the Dayawen 2013 in La Union.

 To camera freaks, a dream opening for insane action throughout spectacular landscape!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

The winners of “My Summer, My Havaianas Sandboarding and 4×4 Wheel Drive Adventure” (the first quarter promo of Havaianas via the Ilocos Red Dot stores) made the scene with their family and friends in the dunes of La Paz Laoag.

Manong Francis Flores, the passionate and enterprising landscape artist and owner of Hidden Garden in Vigan was spotted among the winners.

A point of fact, I was the unapologetic gatecrasher, protocol wise. I glued myself to the seat of the LEAD Movement truck which Brandon and Marc took to La Paz.

Picture swapping with Marianne G.Pasion. She took these cool photos of me while I shot her with her Eric in the montage above.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Just a quick post about what I wore to the press luau event for Make Your Own Havaianas yesterday. Yes, you heard it right, people of Ilocos, coming soon this May 24-26, the chance (finally!) to come up with the pair, hahah, maybe pairs of Havaianas of your dreams, with unique Ilocos pride pins to embellish your step.  Details to follow soon.

Would you believe I had these white Havaianas since 2005? I got the sequined top and white denim shorts from Red Dot, Plains and Prints of course.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

For the launch of the mini Make Your Own Havaianas this May, living up to the breezy culture of Hawaii and the serene, the inspiration behind the creation of the stylish Brazilian rubber flip-flops, Havaianas gathered an eclectic bunch in a fashionable luau at the befiiting Java Hotel poolside.

Make Your Own Havaianas (MYOH) allows you to customize your own Havaianas, which means you can fashion your soles and straps as you wish and embellish them with pins like the limited edition Ilocos pins in the photo below.

A first in Northern Luzon. And a dream come true for Havaianaticos in Ilocos like myself!

- With blogger/book author Herdy La Yumul and Visionaire CEO and Red Dot owner, Mary Ann Cua Macaraeg.

Me-Ann was happy to announce that Ilocos consistently makes the three top-selling  Havaianas areas in the country. She thought of the Ilocos pins featuring the iconic tourism products of the North to highlight the always summer lifestyle and what’s there to see and do in Ilocos.

- Herdy and my fave photog Marianne.

- Looking cool and relaxed in Havaianas, the Ilocos Times editor-in-chief Jay Ramos.

- With tourism expert Ms. Angel Lao. Loving her new do, btw!

- Herdy and another tourism expert, Ian Raquel.

- Cuties fashion designer Jaynny Lao and the James Burn (Burnaman).

- Kit Mandac (center) is the super creative cake/event expert of the couple behind Ava’s Cakes.

- Brains and spunk, budding  journo Raine Mateo Calucag. (Congrats, girl, for graduating cum laude at the UP Diliman! Keep on writing… be good.)

Save the date, May 24-26,  Robinsons Ilocos.

I remember posting my first Havaianas feature story, The Age of Havaianas here

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

In celebration of the wedding month of June, the who’s who in Ilocos Norte’s wedding biz were assembled by Dennis Raquiza of Events and Ambiance by Denize, in cooperation with Robinsons Ilocos, for a clever bridal fair at the Robinsons in San Nicolas.

Had the chance to catch up with friends, and photograph some of my most respected young talents in the local creative field.

Planning a wedding? The wedding expo ends at 9 PM today. It’s worth collecting the business info of the exhibitors.

Speaking of weddings, Ilocos is a haven for surreal wedding venues such as century-old churches, romantic beach locales, whimsical  garden settings and cinematic sand dunes.

- Seaside resort Playa Tropical’s Toni Carag. (Check out Playa here.)

- Marianne Gaces Pasion and Eric Cayetano were manning the Marianne Gaces Pasion Photography, Crown Printers and EM Productions booth. I always love Marianne’s photos!

- Eric’s to die for heirloom vintage camera collection! Check out Eric’s video samples. I know he puts awesome music!

- Specializing in airbrush makeup, artist Mara Manuel, has many hats. She’s also a personality development trainer.

Project Runway Philippines (Season 3) finalist Amor Albano’s wedding gowns are dreamy. A friend wants to buy the ducktail fantasy dress:)

- Glenn Tumaneng’s black and white photography is elegant and timeless.

- The details of the Janjan Carbonel bridal dress in layers upon layers of antique white tulle caught my eye. Sweet number!

- Hahah, ageless Marco Sison making the ladies and the bebekis swoon!

- There’s the Joan Kau in her lovely booth. She’s promising a new and improved Pamulinawen Resto, under new sole proprietorship.

{S, say cheese!}

- KaBloom’s  floral arrangements.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Together with other five Philippine EcoGuides Association (PEGA) members, I participated in the recently concluded 4th National Tour Guides Convention held in Ilocos Norte.

Headed by President Edwin Al Cuizon, the Philippine Federation of Professional Tour Guide Associations (TGFED) organized the event which aims to professionalize the tour guiding practice and take it to world-class level.

Tourism icons and officials of the Philippine Department of Tourism emphasized the importance of continuous education and buildup for a tour guide to be able to keep up with the ever growing demands of the tourism industry, primarily that the country is in a travel and tourism sunrise.

The important role of the Department of Tourism in SETTING STANDARDS and training COMPETENT TOUR GUIDES was discussed. Also the bright future of local community members as eco tour guides and STEWARDS in responsibly promoting their beautiful locales as a means of alternative livelihood.

What struck me most from the visiting delegations is the tight camaraderie among the associations, the alliance between local government offices and their counterpart tour guide practitioners, with the local tourism officers or RDs chaperoning their co-workers. As DOT Northern Mindanao Director Catalino Chan has poignantly mentioned in his remarks, “We do not compete, we complement.”

The godfather of Philippine tour guiding Atty. Bien Claravall.

With the unsung heroes of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office, perennial tour guides/production assistants, etc., and Michelle Jacinto, President of the Ilocos Accredited Tour Guides in a dinner hosted by Governor Imee Marcos.

Pangasinan Tourism Officer and tour guides and Mr.  Paul So, a tourism icon.

Officers of Philippine EcoGuides Association, Erwin Valenzuela, Ma. Reina Bontuyan, yours truly and Chisum Factura

The angelic voices of the world-class Samiweng Singers of the Ilocos Norte National High School in a well-applauded performance.

With DOT Region I Director Martin Valera and Laoag Sub-Office Head Ma. Milagros Gonzales, hosts of the Farewell Dinner at the Sierra Madre Ballroom of the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel.

Up close with TGFed President 2013 Edwin Al Cuizon.

Key people from the Giya-Amihan Mindanao Association, host of next year’s (5th) Tour Guides National Convention. Stoked, like them, I have a year to prepare!

Meeting the Tour Guide of the Year Awardee, German-speaking Ms. Letuli. Truly an inspiration to the tour guiding community.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

I forced myself to get up to attend a prior commitment with NU Tourism students and speak about tourism opportunities in 2020. I got sick all of a sudden from the crazy hectic schedule the past 3 weeks. I had to edit a gazillion photos and squeeze in trekking with CoreTV, hosting UP-AIT tourism students and lecturing 2 sets of visiting tourism and hospitality students of the Lyceum University of Cavite. My life nowadays is centered on tourism, typical of the days when I was working with government sans the stressful politics. I realized it’s more fulfilling when service is not a compromise. I told the students it’s hard to believe I’m not a graduate of any tourism or tourism-related course, but I know precisely how I got myself into selling my hometown. I told them there is no manual if tourism is based on the LEAD Movement track record. We didn’t plan developing ecotourism in Adams prior to our initial explorations in the town nor did we ever plan the sand adventure backyard project to be as big like it is now. Everything was spontaneous but logical.

When I asked the students of Cavite what they enjoyed most in Ilocos, in unison they chorused, “Sand Dunes!” Incidentally, they explored the Laoag La Paz sand dunes with LEAD Movement. It’s heartwarming. We’re independent, we don’t get financial backing from government, we don’t have tarps in the metro, we only have creative LEADers who run a facebook page, blog about sandboarding and help out during media visits and events. Doing things in our own terms is something we are proud of.

To prepare them for a future in tourism, I told them to think out of the box and be original and not generic. Creating something distinct and indigenous over the long term is the better alternative than investing big money on something faddish or a mere duplication. Trends may come and go, but something interesting and unique will outlive the goal, especially if it is to empower and improve the quality of life of the entire community.

I reiterated it’s not a plug, it’s to inspire them to believe in their capabilities. It’s the ILOCANO SPIRIT TO DREAM BIG.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Competitions have become a part of the Filipino culture. The desire to succeed is so strong, we tend to bring it with us wherever, whenever, whatever it takes. The good thing about it, it is the essential paddle to bring us around in life.

Ilocos takes beauty pageants passionately. Organizers spend for grand productions. Seriously.

Norte, however, has yet to catch up with Sur’s lineup of past winners at national level.

In the Mariano Marcos State University Mr. and Miss University 2013, which I got to judge, together with TV Patrol Ilocos broadcaster Grace Alba, print and ramp model Ivy Primicias-Nalupta, businessman Handy Lao and Councilor Bumanglag, I was entertained. The parade of costumes was at Tan-ok level. Congrats to the winners!

Here are some of the photos.

The farewell walk of MMSU Mr. and Miss University 2012.

Combining good looks, charm and wit, MMSU Mr. and Miss University 2013

Good luck, btw, to PacMan!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

image via Samtoy Books

Samtoy Books at the La Tabacalera Ilocano Lifestyle Center gathered 40 young mannurat (writers) from the different schools in the province for a naisangsangayan a taripnong (first-of-its-kind gathering) that tackled the art of writing and blogging. Along with the country’s top male fashion blogger/endorser/stylist, David Guison, linguistic anthropologist Dana Osborne, young and talented Ilocano graphic and blog designer Vince Canlapan, I was given the honor of sharing my know-how.

The young writers seemed engaged. Hoping to see more Ilocanos in the blogosphere.

Angeleno Dana Osborne talks about her study on the Ilocano language, sprinkling words like kadiay, nakare-red, nabangsit. Her grasp is amazing!

Jun Arvin Gudoy, communications and media department head of the PGIN reaches out. He speaks about the SIRIB Express programs that address the educational needs of the youth. Stella Gaspar (in the photo below) facilitates the wonderful event.

Dave Guison is really as nice as he looks!

Dana and Gee Foronda Diaros.

Former Miss Pamulinawen Festival Jada Maltezo looking sultry in her new ‘do.

Ilocano writer Jennifer Tagavilla asks tips on how to sign up for a blog.

Congratulating Samtoy Books for a job well done!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

766 photos in a day! I’m more exhausted than any of the off-road competitors. Posting some photos before I finish the hard action for the next post. I hope you are enjoying the last days of 2013, everyone!

Meet the man to beat… Boyet Leano, the non off-roader who happens to be the godfather of 4×4 races in the entire Ilocandia, years before off-road competitions became mainstream in Ilocos Norte.

This year, riders from Pampanga joined the Vintar races.

Congressman Rudy Fariñas and his children were physically present to give morale builder for youngest son, Junior, who did great in his first short course 4×4 challenge.

Ilocos Norte off-road riders, Junior Fariñas, Brandon Tan, Jezley Abadilla and Totsie Leaño.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

There’s something to be stoked about on the 1st of February! The dragons are coming! The dragon boat race exhibition is just one of the highlights at the upcoming Ilocos Sur Beach Fest. Soak in the sun for an action overload with surfing, kiteboarding, frisbee and volleyball competitions. Intayon!

Photos from Duchess Francine Gamboa-Co and Blauearth
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

At 8 AM in the Laoag City Hall, the auditorium was getting filled with more and more boys. I didn’t see any girls except for the guest speaker who was seated right next to me.  What was I doing in a DotA tournament? No one at home plays DotA, so I went to see why the online battle is getting to be the archenemy of a lot of parents and girlfriends.

In  her message, 22 year-old Mikee Fariñas (the President of the Association of Barangay Captains and the youngest member the city council has ever had) said that DotA is “not intended for pastime only, but a test of the agility of the mind.”

I went around the hall. I asked one gamer, what is it about DotA that he likes? “It is a game of strategy and teamwork.”

I asked 13 year-old Alvin Daquioag if his parents knew he was a challenger in the Laoag City Cyber League. “Yes,” he said. But he also said, he plays on his laptop only after school for about two hours as a break before making his homework assignment.

Ronel Razon, an Information Technology student spends more time on the net than Alvin, four hours of DotA in the morning before going to school. “It’s basically a good balance of both,” he said.

I went back to the hall four times within a span of 13 hours and no two teams yet were in the final defense.

The Potchie Gaming team.

The first ever live DotA tournament in these parts, the Laoag City Cyber League DotA 2 Season One, was hosted by the Laoag City Hall IT division, headed by Mr. Franz Felipe.

Marc Nicolas, head of  the  organizing committee shared that the coveted shield was made by tattoo artist Janer Santos and Alfredo Ronquillo of San Nicolas.

At city level (for the fiesta), it was quite an exhausting battle of battles. The brownout was causing some delays. By 9 PM, the room was half-filled. I didn’t get to see who among the 44 participating teams was handed the Aegis shield.

If there is something I earned at the DotA challenge, it is the first-hand view into DotA — that it is a better way of spending time on the net than, say, stalking, bullying other netizens or simply slacking. But just like any other thing in life, too much of it is trouble.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

I managed to collect a few photos of the Laoag City fiesta in 3 days.

At a provincial event late last year, I received a media pass from the media office at the capitol. I entered with a paid ticket though. I appreciated so much the effort of the organizers to put a sense of orderliness and purpose into public gatherings such as that one.

At the Street Pageantry on Rizal Street today, like last year’s bummer, I witnessed an air of arrogance from at least two city hall employees. One has been notoriously haughty since he assumed office as a division head. On the loud speaker, people who were not official photographers were asked to get out of the way. The other one is a power-tripping CSG who asked me and some students (peacefully squatted on the ground near the stage), “Ada nakem yo?”  Though how much I’d like to put so much positivity into this post, I cannot tolerate such an overbearing bigotry.

Diplomacy is something the city leaders should try to instill into the minds of public servants. These two employees live on taxpayers’ money, what a shame. Laoag is our city too.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

Calling all  badminton enthusiasts out there!
In celebration of the Laoag City Fiesta,  the Badminton Bikers Group and City of Laoag invite you to the 2014 Pamulinawen Badminton Tournament on February 22, Saturday, 1 PM at the David’s Sports and Fitness Center, Brgy. Barit, Laoag City.

Check out banner for details.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

Barangay Lagui-Sail (on the eastern side of Laoag) was transformed into a bike park by the City Government of Laoag and the City Hall Bikers (CHB) for a downhill challenge. The race was participated in by local bikers, bikers from neighboring provinces and Metro Manila.

CHB is a veteran in bike races in the province of Ilocos Norte. Leaders in their own right, President Ellis Corpuz, race director Diomy Gayban, Franz Felipe, and Poco Aurelio have been working so hard for community participation, particularly sporting activities such as mountain biking. Congrats and keep it up, guys!

The Farrs in a rare moment.

This guy Robert Burgos, in JS prom mode, steals the show.

He also rides his bike to receive his trophy for winning the novice category. He says his choice of outfit is all about aerodynamics.

Brandon says he didn’t expect to win the junior category. The running joke at home — he was rushing to unload. He’s been having a not-so-bad case of diarrhea the past 3 days. I guess his recent training from Coaches Bans Mendoza, Arjuna Saulo and Athena Mendoza has helped him build confidence. Personally, I’d like to thank Jack and Edzel for always taking care of Bran.

Levin de la Cruz, 3rd placer in the junior category.

Gian and Bran with Jeric Farr, champion of the expert category.

With Lester Lebumfacil of Baguio.

The Batibols Family

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

Attention all boarders!
The City Government of Laoag and LEAD Movement
invite you to join the Sandboarding Competition
at the Laoag Sand Dunes on Feb 22 (Saturday), 2 PM.
Let’s celebrate sunshine, the famed La Paz Sand Dunes and the city fiesta!

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014