College of Industrial Technology – In support of Laoag City’s annual fete, CIT and CTE  represented the university in two components of the Pamulinawen Grand Festival 2012 - calesa competition and Dulang Festival - held Feb. 8 and 9, respectively.

Most symbolic

In the calesa parade and competition, MMSU’s entry was adjudged most symbolic, besting 28 other entries of government and non-government agencies in the province along the said category. MMSU also copped the same award in 2010, 2009, and 2007.

Winning a cash prize of P10,000, the calesa was ornamented with indigenous and agricultural waste materials such as colored cornhusks and haystacks. At its top was a miniature Gilbert Bridge made up of rice stalks and detailed with legumes and corn seeds.

“We emphasized the bridge, including its welcome arch, because it is the gateway of the city. It is where every visitor can view the most important landmarks of the city – the Sinking Bell Tower,  Provincial Capitol, Tobacco Monopoly Monument, Laoag City Hall, among others,” said Mr. Bengie A. Antonio, CIT drafting technology instructor. “The conceptualization and the actual decoration of our entry were through the joint efforts of my fellow drafting instructors and Prof. Cellenie I. Sanchez and Mr. Jay-r Cubangbang of CTE,” he added.

The parade of decorated traditional calesas, dubbed as Laoag City’s “queens of the street,” has been a component of the Pamulinawen Festival for seven years now. In this event, calesas are creatively festooned by the contestants and paraded around the city to entertain the crowd. After the parade, the calesas are displayed at the Provincial Capitol’s outdoor stage for the judging and awarding of three plums – most symbolic, most original, and most artistic. The search for the Kutsero of the Year and the Most Healthy Horse is also an attraction.

This activity aims to promote calesa as a mode of transportation in the city and to preserve it as part of the Ilocano heritage.

Traditional Ilocano foods showcase

The CIT Food Technology Department participated in the undertakings of the Dulang Festival. Three professors participated in the planning, execution, and implementation of the activity. Dr. Lorma M. Valera was part of the steering committee while Dr. Teresita N. Pablo and Dr. Marilyn P. Domingo served as members of the board of judges in the competition for snacks and beverages preparation. Prof. Rogelio Abiva of CBEA also served as judge in the same activity. Malunggay and other signature Ilocano food products were displayed as part of the festival’s food exhibit.

This year’s festival theme was “Bukbukel: Taraon a Maipagpannakkel” where different delicacies made out of legumes were displayed. Hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, and government and non-government agencies located in the city put up their respective booths and display tables to showcase their food products. Elementary pupils and high school students, on the other hand, competed in the cookfest.

Dulang Festival is celebration of the Ilocano’s ingenuity and passion for culinary arts. According to Mrs. Chevylle V. Fariñas, chairman of the Laoag City Tourism and Social Concerns Council, the festival is “a multi-purpose endeavor because it does not only add grace to the occasion but also promote the Ilocano cuisine as a special attraction to local and foreign tourists.”