Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte
Encyclopedia
Pasuquin is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 26,307 people in 5,187 households.
Pasuquin is a farming and fishing area. As of the mid-1990s, the principal local crops were rice, for home consumption, and garlic, much of which is exported to Taiwan.
Pasuquin is noted for its colorful culture and rich history. During the Spanish regime, the de Lunas were the pool of gobernadorcillos. With the birth of the Philippines Republic, came the dominance of the Aguinaldos in its political component to the birth of budding public servants, artists, and civil advocates, the town evolves as a product of unity among its people.
s.
As to the imperative need to preserve, develop and promote the Ilocano way of celebrating the Santacruzan, the Sunflower Organization of Pasuquin formally showcased the very first Gay Stacruzan Festival in May of 1975. The association grew from year to year. More members evolved and the association became an instant toast. Part of the goal of the organization is to develop camaraderie among gay population of Pasuquin; more specifically to develop and discover young talents in the field of Performing Arts; to develop gays to be more responsible and useful citizens in their own field of endeavor.
An American film, Sunflowers (1997), directed by Shawn Hainsworth, an Independent U.S. Film Director, has made the Sunflower Festival internationally known. The film garnered critics recognition in the 1997 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and other Film festivals in North America.
Members of the Sunflower are all professionals - doctors, nurses, musicians, teachers, engineers, accountants, lawyers, marines, naval officers, Federal employees, beauticians, morticians, couturiers, businessmen, interior designers and writers. Members who are residents in Pasuquin are mostly teachers, beauticians and businessmen.
Sunflower members are also active in participation of the annual town fiesta in December, the Mayflower festivities and religious celebrations like Holy Week. Indeed, they may be gay but they are truly and undoubtedly assets to the community.
Started in 1992 through a Municipal Ordinance, Poblacion Dos is known to be the pioneer barangay to come up with a barangay fiesta title-RAMBAC TI DAYA. This festivity culminates on the first two days of May, but usually preceded by an inter-zonal basketball tournament that runs for two to four weeks sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan..
One of the highlights of the festival is the community night, in which Barangay residents, local and foreign visitors gather together at the barangay plaza known as "Plaza Murit", for merry-making through community KTV, beer drinking, exchanging goodies, reuniting with good old folk, and simply enjoying and sharing abundant blessings.
The festival ends on the second day of May. A thanksgiving mass is offered in the first hour of the morning, followed by a motorists' parade downtown. After the motorcade, various Palarong Nayon are played by children and adult residents alike, where big prizes are at stake.
At night, the festival ends with a Sagalas/Santa Cruzan, a tribute to Queen Elena on her way to the Holy Cross. The Flores de Mayo parades young kids as they are dressed in their respective personas.
In the Flores De Mayo program, the Gawad Rambac ti Daya, Most Outstanding Anak ti Dos is awarded to the most deserving resident that made great impact and unsurmounted selfless contributions through civil service, social work, religious, and human rights advocacy, and youth and sports development.
There are a total of 3 processions during Holy Week in St. James the Greater Parish, Pasuquin's Roman Catholic Church. The Holy Tuesday procession, better known as "Estacion General", Good Friday (the Holy Burial) and Easter Sunday (the "Encuentro" or "Sabet" in Ilocano). The processional images are enthroned in their respective carozzas with floral arrangements and elaborate lighting fixtures.
During Good Fridays, the "Stabat Mater" in Latin is sung by a long array of "cantoras" (townspeople) following the Santo Entierro (Dead Christ). Pasuquin is the only remaining town in Ilocos that practices this beautiful tradition/heritage handed by its forebears. The singing of the "Stabat Mater" in Pasuquin has been in existence for more than a century.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 26,307 people in 5,187 households.
Pasuquin is a farming and fishing area. As of the mid-1990s, the principal local crops were rice, for home consumption, and garlic, much of which is exported to Taiwan.
Pasuquin is noted for its colorful culture and rich history. During the Spanish regime, the de Lunas were the pool of gobernadorcillos. With the birth of the Philippines Republic, came the dominance of the Aguinaldos in its political component to the birth of budding public servants, artists, and civil advocates, the town evolves as a product of unity among its people.
Barangays
Pasuquin is politically subdivided into 33 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
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Attractions
- Davila - Salt Capital; Also known for its bonsai production & artistry. Home of the "Dumadara Festival" organized by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Francis of Asisi.
- Estancia- Summer Capital of Pasuquin. Known for its scenic Sexy Beach
- Naglicuan - Botanic Garden of Pasuquin
- Poblacion 2 - Sentinella Hills, Nagrebcan & Magararay Rice Fields, and the existence of the Old Roman Catholic Church Ruins. Home of the "Rambac ti Daya Festival"
- Poblacion 3 - Barangay "Biscocho", simply for making the best tasting biscochos in the entire province. Home of the "Ragragsak ti Laud Festival"
- Puyupuyan - Known for its grotto and the apparition in the late 80s and early 90s, Puyupuyan is one of the best Summer destinations in the town. With the presence of the ship wrecked believed to have sank during the Second World War, the seashores just made it perfect for tourists for a great souvenir shots
- San Juan - Known for its summer getaway falls called "Calitungan"
- Santa Matilde - hunting; mango tree production
- Sapat - known for the PAF Airbase and the most restricted area in the town
- Sulbec - known for its Put-tot Siraong Picnic Venues
- Surong - known for its Luttuong falls
- Tadao - Houses the biggest dam in the municipality. Also good for picnics, trekking and hiking escapades.
- Susugaen - known for its own Put-tot which many people visits because of its fresh, cold and clear water. Also for having a water fall known as "saypon" which used to served the villagers with abundance of water along with streams and rivers. Suso Beach is also located here.
Festivals
- Poblacion 2 - "Rambac ti Daya".
- Poblacion 3 - "Ragragsak ti Laud"
- Barangay 5: Davila - "Dumadara Festival: Fluvial Parade"
- Semana Santa (Holy Week Celebration) ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/26797461@N04/ )
- May Flower Festival (where the Sunflower Organization started a world wide known Pageantry)
- Town Fiesta in December from the 26th till the 30th.
- Puyupuyan- Actually, the main attraction should be the old Spanish Tower located behind a grotto some fanatic people built. This fortress was built by the Spaniards as watchtower for some pirates roaming the ocean for their victims. The grotto they alleged to have some apparitions were never verified by either the government or the Church, yet some people believe that the grotto has healed some illness and brought some luck to fishermen. This depends on one's belief.
Organizations
- Bituen Ti Daya (Poblacion 2)
- Batang Dos (Poblacion 2)
- Narayray a Tarigagay
- Silaw ti Kailukoan / Silaw ti Amianan
- Pasuquinios of Southern California
- Pasuquinio Association of Northern California
- Anak ti Pasuquin
- ASIN
- Tarigagay-USA
- Sunflower Organization (Mardi Gras)
- Pasuquin Provincial High School Alumni Association 1947 through 1963 classes.
- Pasuquin Association of Hawaii
- NGABANGABENYOS-Brgy. #17 ngabangab:0bm
- Davilanians, Pasuquin (ANNAK ti DAVILA)
- Senior Citizens of Pasuquin
The Sunflower Festival
Pasuquin town is noted world wide for the Sunflower Festival, an annual drag (costume)pageantry. It was organized in 1975 by a group of gay men who call themselves the Sunflowers, and attracts a large audience from the surrounding countryside. The name Sunflower was conceptualized because of its bright and attractive yellow color. The petals of the sunflower always follows the direction of the sun and it relates to a gay life being multi talented and truly excels in fields of expertise.As to the imperative need to preserve, develop and promote the Ilocano way of celebrating the Santacruzan, the Sunflower Organization of Pasuquin formally showcased the very first Gay Stacruzan Festival in May of 1975. The association grew from year to year. More members evolved and the association became an instant toast. Part of the goal of the organization is to develop camaraderie among gay population of Pasuquin; more specifically to develop and discover young talents in the field of Performing Arts; to develop gays to be more responsible and useful citizens in their own field of endeavor.
An American film, Sunflowers (1997), directed by Shawn Hainsworth, an Independent U.S. Film Director, has made the Sunflower Festival internationally known. The film garnered critics recognition in the 1997 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and other Film festivals in North America.
Members of the Sunflower are all professionals - doctors, nurses, musicians, teachers, engineers, accountants, lawyers, marines, naval officers, Federal employees, beauticians, morticians, couturiers, businessmen, interior designers and writers. Members who are residents in Pasuquin are mostly teachers, beauticians and businessmen.
Sunflower members are also active in participation of the annual town fiesta in December, the Mayflower festivities and religious celebrations like Holy Week. Indeed, they may be gay but they are truly and undoubtedly assets to the community.
The Rambac ti Daya Festival
Poblacion 2 or better known as Dos, with almost 2,000 population annually celebrates the "RAMBAC ti DAYA" as a feast of thanksgiving to the Almighty Creator for bountiful harvests.. The unpredictable weather makes this event very surprising, as May is known to be the first month of the year with heavy rains..Started in 1992 through a Municipal Ordinance, Poblacion Dos is known to be the pioneer barangay to come up with a barangay fiesta title-RAMBAC TI DAYA. This festivity culminates on the first two days of May, but usually preceded by an inter-zonal basketball tournament that runs for two to four weeks sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan..
One of the highlights of the festival is the community night, in which Barangay residents, local and foreign visitors gather together at the barangay plaza known as "Plaza Murit", for merry-making through community KTV, beer drinking, exchanging goodies, reuniting with good old folk, and simply enjoying and sharing abundant blessings.
The festival ends on the second day of May. A thanksgiving mass is offered in the first hour of the morning, followed by a motorists' parade downtown. After the motorcade, various Palarong Nayon are played by children and adult residents alike, where big prizes are at stake.
At night, the festival ends with a Sagalas/Santa Cruzan, a tribute to Queen Elena on her way to the Holy Cross. The Flores de Mayo parades young kids as they are dressed in their respective personas.
In the Flores De Mayo program, the Gawad Rambac ti Daya, Most Outstanding Anak ti Dos is awarded to the most deserving resident that made great impact and unsurmounted selfless contributions through civil service, social work, religious, and human rights advocacy, and youth and sports development.
The Dumadara Festival
An annual fluvial parade festival started by the Davileneos, particularly the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Francis of Asisi. Davila is a coastal barangay of Pasuquin, and their main harvest is dumadara (a certain fish). They associated the festival to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom the Month of May is dedicated, as a thanksgiving for a bountiful fishing. Fisherfolks from Davila are made to decorate their bangkas (boats) for the fluvial parade. There are many activities hold also during the festival like boat race, and eating delectable grilled fish (Dumadara)with the guests.Holy Week Celebration
The coastal town of Pasuquin celebrates its Holy Week with much religiosity and solemnity. The celebration starts on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) and ends on Easter Sunday (Domingo de Pascua). Each year, townspeople from all walks of life come together to celebrate the Most Holy Passion and Death of our Lord.There are a total of 3 processions during Holy Week in St. James the Greater Parish, Pasuquin's Roman Catholic Church. The Holy Tuesday procession, better known as "Estacion General", Good Friday (the Holy Burial) and Easter Sunday (the "Encuentro" or "Sabet" in Ilocano). The processional images are enthroned in their respective carozzas with floral arrangements and elaborate lighting fixtures.
During Good Fridays, the "Stabat Mater" in Latin is sung by a long array of "cantoras" (townspeople) following the Santo Entierro (Dead Christ). Pasuquin is the only remaining town in Ilocos that practices this beautiful tradition/heritage handed by its forebears. The singing of the "Stabat Mater" in Pasuquin has been in existence for more than a century.