Enero for Bigueños: Celebrating the Vigan City Fiesta

January is one of the most awaited months for every Bigueño. This month focuses on celebrating the city fiesta and the Longganisa Festival. It is a week-long celebration in honor of St. Paul the Apostle, a time when the streets of Vigan come alive with colorful decorations and visitors from all over who come to celebrate with us.

​Every fiesta is dedicated to honoring our history and culture. The celebration consists of many events, such as the Agri-Float Parade, marching band competitions for elementary and secondary schools, pet shows, and concerts by well-known artists. For me, the main highlight is the Longganisa Festival but not just because our school won first place, but because it also reminds us to be proud of our local products. I think that it is more than just a show but it is a show our unity and Ilocano identity.

This fiesta taught me that being part of this city is a special feeling. Seeing everyone cooperate to make the festival successful made me feel even prouder to be a Bigueño. I realized that our local traditions are gifts from our ancestors that we should always protect. I am already looking forward to next year's celebration! 

Third Quarter Reflection

They say the finish line is always the hardest to reach, and this quarter has really proven that. After the long and relaxing Christmas break that we had, coming back to school felt like hitting a brick wall of responsibilities. Those weeks of sleeping, playing, and relaxing all day is what we exactly needed to rest and ease our thoughts, but the sudden rush of projects and exams feel even more tiring. Now, we aren't just tired but we are completely drained from trying to keep up with everything for so long now. 

As students in the Special Science Class, the pressure has always been high, but it feels heavier now that we are graduating in just a few months. We are currently living our very last moments in this program, and it is honestly such a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, we are totally fed up with unending schoolworks and the constant stress of our difficult subjects. On the other hand, we realize that once this is over, we won't be seeing these same faces in our hallway every single day because we're also leaving the building that we've been in for less than 4 years now.

Because of this, we are struggling to choose between wanting to sleep and wanting to make the most of our remaining time. We really want to spend more moments with our friends before we all go to different schools for senior high. However, it’s hard to have fun together when our minds are always worried about the our research paper or thematic projects. We are just trying to get through these final challenges while holding onto the friendships that made these hard years worth it.

More than just a face of the coin

Have you ever looked at a one-peso coin and wondered why Jose Rizal’s face is in there? Most people would think that he's just a writer and a bayani that we have to study in school, but he was really more than that. He used his knowledge and awareness to show Filipinos that we did not have to live under the control of others. Without his courage, bravery, and determination we might not know what it truly means to be free just like today. He showed us that being brave is about speaking the truth and fighting for it.

In writing a research study, it taught us that you must find a problem first before you can formulate a solution to fix it. That is exactly what Rizal did when he wrote his famous books. He used his pen to show everyone the corruption that has been happening in our country back then and the unfair things happening in our nation. He did not use violence to fight his battles. Instead, he used his words to make people realize that they deserved a much better life.

Rizal helped us see that we are one single nation instead of just different groups of people. He taught us that loving our country means studying hard and always fighting for what's right. Today, his legacy lives on in every student who has big dreams for the future. He did not just die for the Philippines. He lived his life to make sure that our voices would finally matter.

Paskong Pinoy: A Season of Survival and Gratitude

For every Filipino Family, the arrival of the "Ber" months is not just a change in the calendar but is a big change in the atmosphere of their homes. The air grows slightly colder, yet the warmth intensifies as the first notes of Jose Mari Chan’s melodies echo through the public places and barangays. The people of each city cannot wait to celebrate this special moment together with their family, hanging parols and assembling the christmas tree serve as symbol of hope and excitement for each and every one. This early start isn't just a trend, but rather an evidence of our culture and identity for being joyful and unique in finding happiness even in different seasons. Christmas will never bore every Filipino but their excitement each year rises as this tradition continues.

The true essence of a Pasko celebration is found in the Filipino Noche Buena, where the kitchen becomes the busiest part of the house. The table may have a lechon or just a simple sweet spaghetti with the iconic banana ketchup, but the value still and will forever lie in the "salo-salo" which is the act of eating together as one. Whatever food is in the table, what matters the most is how you enjoy the moment laughing and chatting with your loved ones. In these moments, the meal is more than just food it is an appreciation for a year that a family survived.

Beyond all these, we need to also acknowledge the true essence of christmas which is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ's birth, symbolizing God's gift to us for salvation, peace, and purpose. This season is the season for love, joy, and hope. Not just for us but also for our almighty God who made all this possible. Overall, Pasko is the Filipino way of saying that as long as we have each other, we have everything we need to face the coming year. 

Merry Christmas!

Weaving our future by the help of the Indigenous people

Every October, the Philippines celebrates National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month, which is an important reminder of the major impact that our indigenous peoples have on our common Filipino identity. The 2025 theme, "Weaving Culture, Enriching Future: Empowering Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development," clearly shows how traditional knowledge is a guide for the future rather than something that remains from the past. The theme emphasizes the connection between traditional knowledge and modern growth by showing culture as a "woven" fabric. Every Filipino is urged to acknowledge this month that a resilient country depends on the preservation of indigenous traditions. It promotes a change in perspective from viewing IP communities as consumers to seeing them as crucial leaders in our common goal.

The primary aim of the celebration is empowerment, highlighting the ability of indigenous cultures to choose their own paths. Only when development respects the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA) and protects their ancestral lands can it be considered sustainable. These communities can successfully protect the wealth of nature and biodiversity they have cared for over ages if they are given greater control. Their different knowledge systems in forest management, agriculture, and medicine provide innovative solutions to global issues like climate change. Therefore, supporting their right to self-determination is a wise investment in the nation's overall environmental wellness.

In regard to the future, the theme predicts a society in which national stability relies on cultural diversity. We make sure that development is inclusive and deeply rooted in Filipino values by including indigenous voices into the foundation of development. In order to promote respect for one another, this month acts as an opportunity for significant discussions between the public and business sectors as well as cultural communities. In the end, "enriching the future" refers to creating a country where all children of indigenous people have access to present opportunities while feeling proud of their past. As we celebrate, we restate our dedication to a future in which all cultures strive for success. 

From Vigan to Malacañang: The Journey of Elpidio Quirino

                                                 

        ​To look back at the life of Elpidio Rivera Quirino is inspiring. He is our sixth president, and remember that his story starts right here in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, where he was born in 1890. His early life is an evidence that hard work and determination pays off. Instead of being born into privilege, he had to work incredibly hard—starting as an elementary school teacher and a worker in a government office just to pay for his studies. This determination and focus allowed him to earn a law degree from the University of the Philippines, pass the bar exam, and launch his political career. His service began right here, too, as an elected representative of Ilocos Sur in 1919, showing that a solid foundation and relentless drive are the keys to a truly powerful career.

        ​Elpidio Quirino’s career was defined by his commitment to public service, leading him to serve as a senator and hold key cabinet positions before becoming Vice President under Manuel Roxas in 1946. When President Roxas died suddenly in 1948, Quirino inherited the presidency during what was arguably one of the most chaotic times in Philippine history. He was immediately confronted with the massive task of leading a nation physically and economically shattered by World War II, simultaneously fighting the growing communist-backed Hukbalahap rebellion in the countryside, and trying to stabilize a democracy riddled with political infighting. His administration’s immediate focus was on "Total Economic Mobilization," a comprehensive plan to restart industrialization and rebuild the country's devastated infrastructure.

        ​Despite these overwhelming challenges and later controversies involving corruption, Quirino’s term laid down crucial foundations for the modern Philippine Republic. He is credited with establishing the Central Bank of the Philippines, which was vital for securing the stability of our currency in the post-war era. Furthermore, his efforts in foreign policy helped define the Philippines' place in the emerging global landscape, most notably with the signing of the Laurel-Langley Agreement, which sought to improve trade relations with the United States. Ultimately, President Quirino's legacy is one of resilience and rebuilding, demonstrating that an Ilokano from Vigan could face the storms of post-war devastation and guide the nation toward economic recovery. After all, I believe that he should still serve as an inspiration especially for us Ilokanos.