Flight of sky lanterns kicks off Vigan’s ‘Raniag Twilight Festival 2015’
VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — Hundreds of sky lanterns were set aloft to light up the Sunday night sky in this World Heritage Village and kick off the weeklong celebration of this year’s “Raniag Twilight Festival 2015.”
The flight of sky lanterns, staged at the Jardin de Caridad, is part of the local people’s tradition of giving light to the spirits of departed loved ones. Consequently, it has become an attraction for tourists.
Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina said the activities of this year’s Raniag Festival, which can be described as a meshing of Halloween and local traditions in honoring the dead, will run up to October 31.
Medina was joined by Bishop Mario Peralta of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in leading the sending off of lanterns to the sky.
“This festival is our pre-celebration of the Halloween season not only as an occasion of thanksgiving to the Lord and of dramatizing the Filipino tradition of commemorating the dearly departed but also to draw attraction to our tourists and visitors,” said the mayor.
Upon the recognition of Vigan as one of the New Seven Wounder Cities of the World early this year, Medina is expecting more tourists to visit the city to watch the different attractive events of the festival.
After the flight of sky lanterns, the national selection and parade of the country’s entries for the upcoming World’s Costume Festival was held along historic Crisologo Street.
Other activities include last night’s ceremonial lighting of the giant Christmas tree and the Raniag Street Dancing; the Electric Float Parade today; the Candle Floaters Offering tomorrow; the Trick or Treat on Thursday; and the Zombie Outrun and Halloween Party on Saturday.