"The Raniag Twilight Festival basically preludes the All Souls' Day in Vigan where a mass homecoming and reunion of the Ilocanos happen as a tradition"

[VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR, PHILIPPINES] ▬ 26 October 2015 is the date. The street lights of Quezon Avenue, Liberation Boulevard and Calle Crisologo were all turned off. This entails a dark, spooky Vigan night. But that's not the case. In fact, the little city with big culture turned very bright and lively in spite of the turned off lights.

[VIGAN] ▬ FLASHLIGHTS AND LIGHT-EMITTING ELECTRONICS MADE THE STREETS ALIVE AND LIGHTED.

▬ Overview: Raniag Twilight Street Dancing 2015 ▬

THE RANIAG TWILIGHT STREET DANCING IS ONE of the features of the week-long Raniag Twilight Festival in Vigan. Quezon Avenue (Vigan's main street), Liberation Boulevard and Calle Crisologo become devoid of street lights.

The turning off of the street lights in these streets is actually intentional to give way for street dancers who will make these streets bright and alive. This year's version was held on 26 OCtober 2015, Monday.

This is actually a competition. Participants should have at least 20 members. Twenty percent (20%) of the group should be a resident of Vigan. Each group should wear something that produces light, especially, electronic devices that can do so. Candles and other materials that are combustible are allowed but the group shall be liable for any accident or unwanted circumstances that may arise. Fire crackers are not allowed.

[VIGAN] ▬ THESE BARANGAY TANODS LEAD THE STREET DANCE PARADE.

▬ Prior to the Street Dancing ▬

PRIOR TO THE STREET DANCING, A DANCE showdown was first held in front of the Vigan City Hall followed by the . The street dancing started at around 9:30 in the evening. I've chosen the south end of Quezon Avenue in front of the Simbaan a Bassit as my location to take photos this time because it is less crowded here compared to the crowd of the much narrower Calle Crisologo.

[VIGAN] ▬ A CROWD IN FRONT OF THE SIMBAAN-A-BASSIT WAITS FOR THE STREET DANCING PARADE WHILE TRAFFIC ENFORCERS HELP MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY AND ORDER.

[VIGAN] ▬ THIS CROWD, MOSTLY CHILDREN, ARE WAITING AT THE CORNER OF QUEZON AVENUE AND LIBERATION BOULEVARD AT AROUND 08:00 IN THE EVENING.

[VIGAN] ▬ TRAFFIC ENFORCERS BLOCK ANY VEHICLE THAT MAY ENTER QUEZON AVENUE.

[VIGAN] ▬ THIS CROWD OF TRAFFIC ENFORCERS AND SPECTATORS EXCITEDLY LOOKED TO THE APPROACHING STREET DANCERS FROM AFAR.

[VIGAN] ▬ A MOTORBIKE CAME AHEAD OF THE STREET DANCERS.

Traffic enforcers stationed in front of the Simbaan-a Bassit helped maintain public order and blocked any vehicle that may enter Quezon Avenue. As early as 7 PM, watchers of the street dancing were already waiting. They came early to secure the best spot to watch.

Vigan Public Safety motorbikes manned by Vigan cops came ahead of the street dancers to clear the way.

▬ The Parade Route ▬

THE TRADITIONAL PARADE ROUTE IN VIGAN STARTS from the city hall then continues to Quezon Avenue, turns left to Liberation Boulevard then to Calle Crisologo. The parade usually terminates in Plaza Burgos. For more photos of the street dancing parade, check the following:

[VIGAN] ▬ RANIAG TWILIGHT FESTIVAL STREET DANCING 2015

▬ 'Di Kanto Malipatan: An Ilocano Song for the Dead ▬

THE RANIAG STREET DANCING USED ONLY ONE (1) beat based on the song 'Di Kanto Malipatan which means 'I will never forget you."

The latter song is usually sung during wake services of Ilocanos and as a background music during punpon or panangipunpon—a Bigueño tradition of parading a karro/carro/carroza with the dead in a coffin. Loved ones and acquaintances follow the karro. Usually the parade leads to the church then terminates to the cemetery. This is usually done by Roman Catholic followers in Vigan.

For the Raniag street dancing, each group brought with them their own sound system. Usually, a tricycle carries the speakers and follow or stay ahead of the dancers to provide sound.

[VIGAN] ▬ THIS TRICYCLE CARRIES THE SOUND SYSTEM OF ONE OF THE GROUPS.

The Raniag Twilight Festival basically preludes the All Souls' Day in Vigan where a mass homecoming and reunion of the Ilocanos happen as a tradition. Reunions with relatives usually happen in the cemetery (in Vigan, the core of the mass reunion happens in panpantot, an Ilocano term for a range of hills—where the public cemetery is located) their loved ones are laid to rest. This festival was born to highlight the Bigueño culture during the said holiday. ▬ to be continued...

THINGS/PLACES INCLUDED IN THIS BLOG SERIES

[UP NEXT] ▬ EPISODE 03: GIANT ELECTRIC FLOATS IS THE HIGHLIGHT

► BLOG SERIES: RANIAG TWILIGHT FESTIVAL 2015 COVERAGE

This is the Episode 02 of this blog series. Check the earlier episode and watch out for the later episodes to follow the flow of the story.

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] This post is filed under the category "Festivals." To see more posts from this category, scroll down and look for the "More Posts from this Category Festivals" section below.

[2] Photos here were taken on 26 October 2015.

[3] All maps I used on this post are the works of Eugene Alvin Villar and Mike Gonzalez published on Wikipedia. Source: 1 | 2