Planning on your next trip? Then expand your horizons and set your sight to the province of La Union. When people hear about La Union, beach trips and resorts immediately come into mind. Just only four to six hours from Manila, it’s the perfect getaway if you’re on the quest for an adventure or just simply want to soak up some sun. La Union offers incredible tourist attractions, luxurious resorts, magnificent beaches, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the perfect tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable people in the area.
La Union has been labeled as a growing and developing region, not only for its economic development in San Fernando and the booming surf tourism in San Juan, but also for their colorful events and festivities. Every town in La Union celebrates its own unique fiesta. Here is a list of popular festivals held yearly all over La Union.
Dinengdeng Festival
This is a festival associated with the much-loved Ilocano Culinary dish that is famous like pinakbet and bagnet. Every Ilocano family has its own version of whipping up various kinds of dinengdeng dishes where culinary enthusiasts and food lovers are welcome to join in on the fun. Dinengdeng, one of the most popular of Ilocano dishes, will be cooked in a big clay pot with competitors creating their best version of it. This festival highlights the Ilocano dish that is most popular and highly economical in the place. The town holds the annual Dinengdeng festival because of the abundance of ingredients found in the province.
Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay
The Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando celebrates yearly the Feast of Our Lady by bringing the original statue coming from Taal, Batangas to the temple for the weeklong activities that will usually happen on the second week of September. It is indeed a unique experience to witness the strong cultural influence in the area. Each and every devotee along with the Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando City gather for the annual pilgrimage of Our Lady of Caysasay from the Ma-cho Taoist Temple to the Basilica of St. Martin in Taal.
Tabacco Festival
This is a celebration where it genuinely promotes the resilience and hardship of the Ilocano farmers. This native crop has been strongly embedded in the area’s culture and heritage. Because of this, Tobacco festival is annually celebrated in the city, which produces the biggest volume in the whole country. The area of Tubao, La Union takes pride to its beautiful harvest of tobacco cigars, where local and foreign tourists would undoubtedly enjoy the fun and colorful celebration. The city officials in the area might be one against smoking but not the production of it because tobacco is the main livelihood of the people here.
Baggak Festival
Every month of April, the town of Bauang, La Union comes alive to stage this colorful festival. Typically, “Baggak” means “morning star,” and stands for the dawning of a new day for Bauang. During this event, it portrays the Ilocano spirit of unity and diversity of culture. This is also a suitable occasion and tribute to welcome and socialize with the balikbayan. Bauangenians are going all out in their costumes as they celebrate the Baggak (morning star) festival that is celebrated annually for the past years. Each year, there will be a new theme for the festival’s anniversary.
Pinadangan Festival
During the Pindangan Festival, students from the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels, along with the different barangays and organizations in the city set foot to show off their best street dance steps and display their colorful costumes. Children show off their bright attires with a smile as they parade during the street dancing competition. The annual street dancing competition among the residents and students from various schools and barangays in the City of San Fernando is already a part of the big celebration of the town every month of March.
Sillag Festival
Sillag is an Ilocano word that means “illumination from the moon.” The two or three-day event features light-inspired activities such as a ceremonial lighting of Sillag Village, a musical show, and lantern parade. Several events are also organized to draw the attention of tourists and potential investors to let the locals experience the fun of summer. The event may include a variety of food fest, live music, children’s activities and fireworks display that you’ll love. There will also be food, drinks, music shows, and dance performance during the event. And to make it more exciting, concerts of local and national bands will rock you in the evening.