The Pulse of Ilocos Sur

The Kannawidan Festival is one which Ilocos Sur anticipates annually. It's a season when individuals put aside their troubles and simply enjoy. The roads are lined with festive colors, foods, and music. The Festival makes one remember the rich history of the province and the Ilocano spirit's strength. It's a celebration of the province's founding anniversary and a way to keep the Ilocano culture and traditions alive. 

Among the best features of the festival is the street dance competition, which features dancers performing complicated dance steps in traditional attire. There's also a concerts, float parade, with huge floats bedecked in flowers, lights, and other materials.

One of the most wonderful aspects of the Kannawidan Festival is the warm and friendly Ilocano hospitality. Guests are always invited to partake in the festivities and enjoy the Ilocano way of life themselves. Whether from within the Philippines or from other countries, you'll feel you belong in Ilocos Sur when the Kannawidan Festival takes place.

This festival is definitely something that everyone coming to Ilocos Sur should not miss! 

Reference/s:

The IlOCoS sur Kannawidan Festival 2023 Street Dance Competition | Province of Ilocos Sur. (2023, February 12). https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/2023/02/12/the-ilocos-sur-kannawidan-festival-2023-street-dance-competition/

Province of Ilocos Sur | One People, One Province, One Ilocos Sur. (2025, January 5). https://mis.ilocossur.gov.ph/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIj3rlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbiIReu_XCZtVaFCCl1D-MRn8o9AuS3SxXFx0SQANfD60pkEo5nmPx_AhA_aem_L44QqrKoLyNOeKDeKg5QgQ

More Than Romance

    Valentine's Day is celebrated every year on February 14, but do we ever stop to think about where it came from? Valentine's Day has been around for a long time, even in ancient times, and one of the most well-known tales is about a guy named Saint Valentine. He was allegedly married couples in secret when it was against the law. As years passed, his story became associated with love and kindness, and now we celebrate this day in his name. It was first a romance day, but today it has turned out to be so much more.

 

    While most people think Valentine's Day is all about couples, that's not really true. It's not just boyfriends and girlfriends buying gifts. Valentine's Day may also be celebrated as a time to enjoy the love we have for our friends and families. Time with those we love is just as lovely. Some of our best memories are with the ones who matter most, our parents, siblings, or best friends. It's a chance to be thankful for all those who enrich our lives.

 

    So why do we really celebrate Valentine's Day? It's not about some specific day in February. It's a reminder that love needs to be shown throughout the year. We shouldn't wait until February 14 to tell someone we love or appreciate them. Yes, Valentine's Day is unique, but we should attempt to be kind and loving every day, either with a kind word, a thoughtful act, or just by being with the people we love. Love is something that must be celebrated daily, not just for a day.

Reference/s:

Seipel, A. (2022, February 14). The dark origins of Valentine’s Day. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

Valentines day Vector & Graphics to Download. (n.d.). https://www.vexels.com/free-vectors/valentines-day/

What is Valentine’s Day? Why do we celebrate on this day? | Roses Only. (n.d.). Roses Only. https://www.rosesonly.com.au/what-is-valentines-day?

Working as One (THEMATIC)

    In the first photo, we began working on the research paper for our topic. As you can see, my groupmates and I are on a Google Meet call, collaborating to help each other with the paper. It was really helpful having everyone present, sharing their ideas and opinions. We divided tasks so that everyone had something to contribute.

    In the second photo, we brainstormed together about the layout for our Community-Based Research project. We wanted to make sure that it was not only informative but also easy to navigate, so we discussed what sections to include on our webpage. Each of us gave input on how the design should look, from the colors to the photos we would include. It was exciting to see our ideas come to life as we planned everything out.

    In the third photo, I am working on encoding the layout for our webpage. I made sure that all of the ideas we discussed were applied, revising and improving as I went along. It took some time, but seeing the progress was really fulfilling. We made adjustments as we figured out the best way to present our research, so I had to be patient during this part of the process.

    In the fourth photo, we are preparing for our presentation of the CBR webpage. We practiced how we would explain the different parts of the webpage and what we learned through the research process. Working together as a team, we shared tips on how to improve our delivery and make the presentation as clear as possible.

    Finally, the last photo shows the finished product—our well-made CBR webpage. We all felt proud of what we did, and that was not possible without everyone in the group cooperating with each other and extending maximum effort. Seeing the webpage fully done, with everything we worked on included, felt amazing.

    This entire experience taught me a lot, especially about teamwork and communication. I learned how to express my ideas clearly and listen to others' suggestions. Most importantly, I realized just how important teamwork is. Every contribution, no matter how small, adds up to the success of the whole project. This experience helped me grow, not just as a student, but also as someone who can work well with others.

Reference/s:

https://www.blogger.com/

Turning Mistakes Into Mastery (REFLECTION)

    During this quarter, I learned more about HTML, particularly how to create lists and use frames. I also learned how to put these elements into code and create web pages. These concepts were new to me, and applying them in actual code was a rewarding experience. I also gained the ability to transform what I learned into real-life projects, such as incorporating HTML elements into community-based research (CBR).  

    One of the main challenges I faced was making small mistakes in the code, such as adding incorrect tags, which caused the webpage to malfunction. Sometimes, it was difficult to find out where the problem was in the code, which made the process frustrating. There were moments when I had to debug repeatedly just to make everything work​. These problems made the process frustrating at times because even a small error could lead to the webpage not displaying as expected. However, this also helped me appreciate how careful one needs to be when coding​.

    I maintained a good attitude and recalled that mistakes form part of learning. I carefully reviewed the code and learned to be more patient, improving my attention to detail. I sought help from my teacher and classmates whenever I got stuck, which was helpful. Asking for help when needed and taking breaks when things got overwhelming, helped me stay focused and not give up​. Through persistence, I not only fixed the errors but also gained confidence in my coding skills.

​    Moving forward, I will continue to develop my skills in HTML and web development. I

plan to practice more to avoid simple mistakes and improve my coding abilities. Additionally, I plan to stay consistent in refining my knowledge and apply it to situations, like more community-based projects, so I can keep learning and improving. 

Reference/s:

Frames in HTML | Study Glance. (n.d.). https://studyglance.in/html/display.php?tno=10&topic=Frames-in-HTML

Jaye. (2014, March 17). css and html coding for lists in ebooks – QA Productions. QA Productions. https://jwmanus.wordpress.com/tag/css-and-html-coding-for-lists-in-ebooks/

Campanaro, L. (2024, February 27). Understanding HTML: The foundation of web development simplified. ONELINE EN. https://one-line.ch/en/blog/understanding-html/

Filipinos Welcoming Chinese New Year Celebrations

    Filipinos celebrate Chinese New Year because of the rich cultural bond that exists between the Philippines and the Chinese community. Chinese people have been living and trading in the Philippines for centuries. And, with due course of time, they blended their traditions with the country's culture. In fact, most Filipinos carry Chinese blood. This is one way to respect the influence and contributions that the Chinese people brought to this country.

    During the Chinese New Year, people join in the fun, whether of Chinese origin or not. The Filipinos relish the dragon dances, the lighting of firecrackers, and the feasting on traditional Chinese food, such as tikoy. Such activities are said to bring luck, happiness, and prosperity into the coming year.

    It is the occasion when people go out for bondings within the family members by wishing well with each other. Filipinos welcome holidays of prosperity, friendship, and happiness. Chinese New Year has come out to be something everybody looks forward to in this country. 

Reference/s:

Sibal, G., & Sibal, G. (2025, January 30). Chinese New Year traditions that Filipinos celebrate. MEGA.https://mega-asia.com/fashion/features/good-fortune-a-rundown-of-chinese-new-year-traditions-and-superstitions-that-filipinos-follow/

Philippines, J. C. (2023, January 22). Photos: Filipinos celebrate Lunar New Year. Catholic News in Asia | LiCAS.news | Licas News. https://www.licas.news/2023/01/22/photos-filipinos-celebrate-lunar-new-year/

Vigan’s Legacy Grows with Cityhood

    Vigan used to be a quiet town, known as a municipality, where people lived simple and peaceful lives. It was famous for its old Spanish houses, cobblestone streets, and the Kalesa was a common sight, and life moved at a slower pace. People took pride in their small community, where everyone knew each other, and their culture was passed down through generations. Even though it was small, Vigan's people were proud of their history and strong sense of tradition, truly defined their daily lives.

When Vigan became a city, things started to change in both big and small ways. There were new structures, more visitors came to see the place, and the roads were more crowded with new shops and activities. While new modern structures such as malls and restaurants emerged, the government made sure to protect the historical parts of Vigan, such as Calle Crisologo, where the Spanish-era houses remain, were preserved. New roads and schools were constructed, and the city grew and provided more opportunities for its people. Despite these changes, the heart of Vigan—the people and their culture—remained strong.

    Now, Vigan is a city that mixes the past and the present in a way that feels balanced. It’s bigger, more modern, and busier than before. Tourists visit to see the old streets, museums, and landmarks while locals enjoy the conveniences of city life. Vigan's evolution from a municipality to a city is a good illustration of how a city can develop while preserving its culture. It shows that progress doesn’t always mean letting go of the past but finding ways to honor it while moving forward.

Reference/s:

VIGAN CITY. (n.d.). VIGAN CITY. https://kaivigan.home.blog/

Vigan Welcome and farewell Arch - Wikimapia. (n.d.). https://wikimapia.org/7274029/Vigan-Welcome-and-Farewell-Arch

Living Beyond Expectations

    Last year was really tough. I felt like I was living under a cloud of doubt, weighed down by expectations I never asked for. Being the eldest child always carried a certain pressure, but somewhere along the way, people started seeing me as the "angry one"—the one who was always stressed, always overwhelmed. It's as if no matter what I did, that was the role I played in everyone's eyes around me. They saw my frustration but didn't see the layers beneath it: tiredness, trying to live up to standards that I never set for myself. I felt like I was being misunderstood, put into a box, and that no matter how much I tried to explain it, no one really heard me. It was not anger I clung to but the heaviness of having always been held to a high expectation of being strong, perfect, and composed at all times.

    But something changed inside of me this year. I want to change—not for people to start seeing me as different but to see myself differently. I want to get better academically, not just to earn good grades, but to actually be proud of what I'm learning and what I'm doing. I want to be nicer to my body, take care of myself, because for too long I have neglected that part of me. And mentally—mentally, I need to break free from the feeling of doubt, from the anxiety and the constant pressure. I need to be peaceful with myself. I don't want to define myself by anger or expectations. I want to be defined by the strength I know I have inside, by the quiet moments of progress that only I can recognize, and by the joy of knowing I’m growing into someone I can genuinely love and be proud of.

This year, I expect myself to embrace change, not just small, temporary adjustments but real, significant ones. I want to wake up every morning and feel like I am one step closer to becoming the person I have always imagined. I expect myself to be even patient and forgive myself for my mistakes, and to keep trying no matter what comes my way. I want to challenge myself academically, celebrate even the smallest victories along the way. Physically, I expect to become stronger, healthier, and more in tune with what my body needs. I expect to be able to create space for peace, letting go of the burden of needing to be perfect and allowing myself to grow at my own pace.

    This year will be different. I am no longer going to let other people define who I am. I’m stepping into this year with hope, determination, and a promise to myself that I will continue to grow, not for anyone else, but for me.

    And you know what? I’m ready. Ready to embrace the person I’m becoming, and finally, ready to be truly happy.

Reference/s:

https://www.blogger.com/