Emana ti Ar Aria gets locanos in the mood or Halloween week
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — The stage was set yesterday for the series of strange and frightening events and activities running through November 2 to highlight this year’s “Semana ti Ar-aria Festival,” the main attraction during Halloween week in Ilocos Norte.
Now on its fifth year since being launched by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) in 2010, the festival kicked off through the opening of the “Araria Food Strip” on Llanes Street beside Ilocos Norte’s Dap-Ayan.
Ilocanos will also be treated to a scary film fair as the “Ar-aria Short Horror Film Festival” showcases the creativity of the Ilocano youth during its three-day free film-screening beginning tomorrow at La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center, here.
“We’ve been doing this for four years now and it is truly a great way to bring the creative community of the province together,” said Rey Arcangel, coordinator for the film festival.
Drawing thousands of Ilocanos, the “Parada Iloca-locana” (Ghost Parade) on October 31 becomes bigger as it highlights the weeklong Halloween fest.
The activity is expected to be headlined by the award-winning actress and country’s horror queen Lilia Cuntapay who hails from Badoc, Ilocos Norte and has become the icon of the province’s horror fest.
Meanwhile, the “Taray Ar-Aria” (Zombie Night Run) comes back on Thursday and to test just how quick Ilocanos are on their feet as participants escape a relentless horde of “zombies” while crossing horrifying courses and obstacles.
The following day, the city welcomes hundreds of children dressed in their creative costumes as the Capitol is transformed into a “haunted place” filled with freebies and surprises for the annual “Capitol Halloween’s Trick or Treat.”
“For the past five years, the ‘Semana ti Ar-aria’ has become one of the biggest events in the region that promotes our province’s unique culture of commemorating the dead,” said Xavier Ruiz of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.
Completing the ultimate Halloween experience, festivalgoers are encouraged to experience the distinct way Ilocanos honor the spirits of the dead through the centuries-old cultural tradition highlighted at Tumba Festival of Paoay on November 1 to 2.
A terrifying night also awaits everyone who is ready to have the best Halloween experience through the Paoay House of Horror which will run on the same dates.
Ruiz added that “the events of Semana ti Ar-Aria has always been tied up with the birth anniversary of the great Ilocano Juan Luna.”
In honor of the first global Filipino artist, Juan Luna, Ilocos Norte led yesterday a celebration on Paseo de Paoay, highlighted by the “Bigote Contest,” which fondly calls to mind the iconic mustache of the great Filipino.