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| Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba speaks during the Street Pageantry and Showdown Competition of this year's Abel and Bawang Festival 2024 in Pinili. (Doms dela Cruz) |
By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Pinili, Ilocos
Norte—Ilocos Note 2nd District Rep.
Angelo Marcos Barba (AMB) graced this year’s Abel and Bawang Festival 2024 in
Pinili with the theme ‘’Panangtagiben Iti Pakasaritaan, Biag Ni Nana Magdalena
Pagsarmingan, Salukag Ken Gaget Ni Pinileno, Raniag Iti Masakbayan’’.
Barba, who served as the guest of honor and speaker during the
Street Pageantry and Showdown Competition on April 3, 2024, said in his speech
that this year’s festival will not only celebrate the Pinileños tradition
through the art of dance but also to embark on a captivating journey of the
municipality’s beloved Inabel especially the National Living Treasure Magdalena
Gamayo and the Ilocos Pride ‘’White Gold’’, the precious Ilocos garlic.
Barba added that this year’s theme resonates deeply within the
hearts of everyone which clearly pictures the beloved Pinileña, Nana Daleng, a
name that influences generations that truly represents the very soul of the
community.
He said that Nana Daleng’s prominent ‘’Pamana’’ the Inabel
continuous to be a symbol of creativity of every Ilocano especially of being a
Pinileno.
He also stressed that the garlic, on the other hand, is a truly a
symbolic white gold in plates and palates but an agricultural treasure that
brings prosperity and recognition to the Province of Ilocos Norte
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| Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba leads the inauguration and blessing of the newly constructed Parole and Probation Building and the Rural Health Unit Building of Pinili with Mayor Rommel T. Labasan, Vice Mayor Maynard Francis Bumanglag, other municipal officials and several guests. (Doms dela Cruz) |
Barba likewise led the inauguration and blessing of the newly
constructed Parole and Probation Building and the Rural Health Unit (RHU)
Building funded under his Congressional Budget.
Records show that Barba has allocated around PHP102 million for
Pinili’s infrastructure projects this year.
These projects are the construction of Pinili-Puzol Road with PHP12
million budget; construction of flood control structure along Pinili-Nueva Era
Road – downstream and upstream of Sto. Tomas Bridge (PHP40 million); construction
of Brgy. Badio Bridge (P10 million); concreting of farm-to-market roads at Brgys.
Sacritan and Upon (PHP15 million each); and the concreting of farm-to-marker
roads at Brgys. Pagdilao-Badio and Pagdilao (PHP10 million).
Pinili Vice Mayor Maynard Francis Bumanglag, for his part,
thanked the congressman for gracing this year’s Street Pageantry and Showdown
Competition.
The five-day celebration kicked off on April 2, 2024 with Diana
Around the Town, Ecumenical and Thanksgiving Service, Grand Parade/Opening of
Booths/Agro Industrial Fair, Balikbayan Night/Metro Manila Night featuring the
Don Podring Orchestra.
On April 3, was the DepEd Day (Cultural Show), Street Pageantry
Parade and Showdown Competition, Motorshow and a Street Party featuring the
Magrus Band.
A parade with the Farmers and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
was also conducted on April 4 followed by the distribution of farmers
assistance, Motocross, FNGO Bingo Bonanza and the Search for Mr. NGO 2024.
The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) also participated in the fiesta
with “Laro ng Lahi” and the Search for Miss Pinili 2024 on April 5.
Culminating the fiesta was the Barangay Day featuring the Grand
Float Parade, Basketball Exhibition with Celebrities and Barangay Night.
Bumanglag expressed his thanks to all the people behind the
success of this year’s Abel and Bawang Festival with a special mention to the barangay
officials and guests.
He likewise thanked the other guests who spared their time and
efforts in gracing this year’s fiesta with a special mention of Miss Earth 2014
Jamie Herell, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, Atty. Donato
D. Balderas, Provincial Board member Jonathan Torralba, Ilocos Norte LMB
President Ryan John Pascua, PPSK President Eldritze C. Viernes, Ilocos Norte Governor
Mathew Marcos Manotoc and provincial treasurer Josephine P. Calajate.