“How I wish that after 50 years, this festival will still continue and evolve to be one of the grandest in the country, and after 50 years, this blog entry will still remain.”
A very small town west of the city of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur, it is very interesting to know that in spite of the small size of the town, it has managed to evolve as an important portion of the economy of the province. Dubbed as the vegetable bowl of the north, the little town of only 9.68 sq. km. in area is blessed with limited fertile farmlands. For the town, size doesn’t matter.
Larga Festival | An Overview
Sun-Kissed Farmer’s Hat
The little town of
Sta. Catalina is an agricultural town. But unlike many other agricultural towns, it does not mainly host rice fields. Interestingly, the agricultural lands of Sta. Catalina are planted with cabbages, onions, cauliflowers, and others. The crops I mentioned are just the major produces of the town.
This is the first ever Larga Festival in town with the goal to promote the industries and local products of the municipality especially their vegetable products. However, there are also rice fields and corn fields. So just imagine how diverse the crops grown in this little town.
Fiesta Crowd
This is so far, the first Larga Festival in the town and I am blessed to have witnessed this celebration dedicated to the vegetable farmers in town.
Yes, the farmers deserve a break and recognition since they serve as the foundation of almost every rural town’s economy.
Fiesta scenes in town
It is very uplifting to know that you don’t need to be big to dominate. For Sta. Catalina, they own the vegetable trade and market in the province. Their farm products are also sold to other provinces and even to Manila.
It is my first time to see the town so lively and happy. The people were there, anticipating that great things are happening in their small town. I can witness their excitement and fascination.
One must-try product in Sta. Catalina is the purple cabbage. It is not main stream and yet, the town has been producing it for several years. They say you can eat this raw like lettuce. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to try it.
And yeah! There was a street dancing. It was the highlight of the celebration. The dancers were little kids from the 7 elementary schools in the municipality.
It was not as grand as the other popular festivals in the Philippines but for a simple quiet town like Sta. Catalina, this must be something worth watching and cherishing for.
I don’t know why this event feels like so special to me. I don’t live here although some of good friends of mine are from here. Maybe because I have a deep respect to farmers because the way they raise their families as farmers are just greater than anyone else on my point of view.
Now the kids, on which I am sure some of them are children of farmers are dancing on the streets promoting their products with good pride and greatness. That’s the essence of this festival! Yes, I might have discovered why it feels so special to me.
It was a pure celebration. The farmers’ kids themselves danced gracefully with pride in their gestures. Unlike any other festivals that become so commercialized leading to real competitions (although I am not against with the concept), Larga Festival was more of a passion. The children for sure can’t help but to perceive that the town’s farmers (their parents, and including them) are real heroes. Without their parents, this festival is meaningless. Indeed, the festival was full of meaning. This is their day!
Caroza in motion
Little vegetable vendors, a simulation
With emphasis on the green necklace made from Sili
Shy little girl
Baskets of vegetables
Kids on street party!
A necklace made from fresh sili
And the real celebration began as the street dancers put on their feet to the streets with colorful costumes and props.
There was only 1 background music used and it played so loud so that the whole poblacion and the people watching along the main street can hear. Imagine how loud should that be and I was just near to one of the speakers.
They wear Abel Iloko, a locally woven fabric.
Head carry
Yellow
In motion
Eyes closed
Being in sync
Being at the back
Contingent#5
Graceful!
So Colorful!
Big smile!
Big moves
Partners
Cute little boys in green
Cute little boys in red
Waisted
Bending to the left
Trio
Click the Map to explore more of Sta. Catalina.
How I wish that after 50 years, this festival will still continue and evolve to be one of the grandest in the country, and after 50 years, this blog entry will still remain.
For that, I will be more than glad to say that I was a part of history and will still be and tell the younger generation (if I am still alive that time) that “Hey look at my blog! I was able to document the first ever Larga Festival in your town!”
Please pardon the low-quality photos, but I hope you were able to get the message I wanted to bring out that even the most expensive camera can not deliver.
EDMARATION 