ILOCOS NORTE

With 10,000 seats booked in three (3) hours after the launch of the online ticketing system, a still growing number of locals and tourists anticipate the return of "Tan-ok ni Ilocano: Festival of Festivals," (The Greatness of the Ilocano), a celebration of Ilocos Norte's history, heritage, and culture on February 23 at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City.

"Tan-ok" was first organized in 2011 by then Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos as a part of the campaign for the revival of cultural pride and Ilokano identity by focusing on narrative-driven presentations produced by local creatives.

The festival itself was last staged in 2019. In December 2020, the "Tan-ok ni Ilocano Film Festival" was created to continue celebrating our cultural heritage amid the restrictions of the pandemic. It has since become a collateral program for Ilocos Norte's foundation anniversary. This year, the 10th installment of "Tan-ok" will highlight the celebration of Ilocos Norte's 205th foundation anniversary.

With 21 towns and two (2) cities depicting faith and religious festivals; colonization and revolt; courtship and love stories; folklore and legends; livelihoods and industries; and even current events, "Tan-ok" has been drawing the largest crowd composed of tourists, national officials, visitors from neighboring provinces, celebrity guests, and art and culture enthusiasts. In its latest staging, attendees reached a record high of more than 60,000.

The province will welcome President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., as a guest of honor and Tan-ok's "creator," Senator Imee R. Marcos, as the guest speaker at the festival night.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc sees "Tan-ok" as a driver of local industries that sustains the livelihoods of homegrown artists and small-scale laborers as he continues to lead a more aggressive campaign for the revitalization of the province's tourism sector.

Every year, "Tan-ok" organizers are keen on highlighting different art forms such as costume design and filmmaking, and upholding an emphasis on the authenticity of performances by arranging conferences to produce authentic storylines.

The annual production of the festival involves around 4,000 performers and staff and is helmed by the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.