The City of Santiago in Isabela recently showcased character and unity in diversity in the recent Pattaradday Festival.
“Pattaradday unifies the city’s 14 ethno-linguistic groups and focuses on the unity despite the artistic and Cultural diversity of the people,” says Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro who inaugurated the first festival in 2000.
The Ibanag word for unity, Pattaradday was initiated by civic leaders, The art community, and the city Government to showcase local identity and Santiago’s origins.
The festival’s locus was the Grand Character Parade which highlighted Santiago’s recent declaration as a character city. A local government unit is declared a “character town or city” if it integrates the development of the people’s moral values in governance.
Navarro said the city emphasizes prayerfulness, obedience, humility, perseverance, punctuality, honesty, responsibility, generosity, contentment, and forgiveness in its programs.
The event also showcased Santiago’s trademark “La Gran Batalla” dance based on a Moro-Moro dance tradition depicting St. James The Apostles’ conquest of the Moors. The dance became the subject of research and performance of the famed Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and won acclaim in an international competition in Moscow in the 1980s.
The festival also coincided with the 17th cityhood day, as well as the patronal feast of St. James.
To perpetuate the spirit of unity and character among the city’s townsfolk, she said that the Pattaradday Foundation was formed comprised of private and government sector representatives.
Adding color to the festivity were visiting festival dancers from Ibon Ebon of Candaba, Pampanga; Pandan Festival of Mapandan, Pangasinan, Panagbenga of Baguio City; Pindangan Fest of San Fernando City, La Union; Dinalungan, Aurora; and Northern Luzon University in Dagupan City.
Navarro said that the success of the Pattaradday indicates that peaceful coexistence and unity in diversity is possible if it is the common aspiration of the people and the government promotes it.
She pointed out that because of the spirit of amity, the city has bagged major awards in governance and environmental protection, and chosen venue for national cultural events.
Because of its rich historical heritage, the festival was named three-time Best Tourism Event from 2006 to 2008 Awardee by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and was elevated to its Hall of Fame.
Because of its rich historical heritage, the festival was named three-time Best Tourism Event from 2006 to 2008 Awardee by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and was elevated to its Hall of Fame.
Situated in the heart of Isabela, Santiago is the service center, agro-industrial and commercial hub of Cagayan Valley, and the first town to be converted into an independent component city in the region.
The city is also home to Muslim, chinese and indian minorities, and a bustling art community making Santiago a melting pot in northern Luzon.
