“Himala!”: A “miracle” amid typhoons in Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte’s “Himala sa Buhangin! Arts and Music Festival,” pushed through last Saturday, November 16 at the iconic Paoay Sand Dunes, drawing thousands of crowd despite the province recently enduring a series of typhoons.

Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from attendees, saying:

 “As we party tonight, we are cognizant of what’s going on in our country. Nonetheless, we chose to continue ‘Himala!,’ and luckily, we are in between typhoons. May himala talaga sa buhangin. Salamat sa inyong lahat, salamat sa panahon. May ‘Himala sa Buhangin,’ may himala sa Ilocos Norte.”

This year, tickets were also sold for an upgraded experience, ranging from Php 500 to Php 1,500, which granted exclusive access to a lounge, complete with complimentary food, drinks, and limited-edition merchandise. A portion of the proceeds from these tickets was allocated to support communities in Ilocos Norte affected by recent typhoons.

Gov. Marcos Manotoc emphasized this effort, saying, “Of course, in light of the typhoons that we have faced, if I’m not mistaken, apat na bagyo have entered Ilocos in the past two weeks. Much of our profit, especially from the merchandise and the shirts, will once again go to our typhoon victims.”

In addition, a donation drive was conducted on the day of the festival, where attendees were encouraged to drop off new clothes, blankets, towels, canned goods, noodles, and bottled water at designated drop-off points, namely the Provincial Capitol and Plaza del Norte in Laoag City, Arte Luna in Paoay, and the Imelda Cultural Center and Mariano Marcos State University High School gate in Batac City.

The festival featured performances by popular Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists Zack Tabudlo and Shanti Dope. Tabudlo, known for hits like Binibini and Nangangamba, and Shanti Dope, famous for tracks such as Nadarang and Amatz, were highlights of the evening.

Also, influencers such as Queen Dura, Fhukerat, Ernalyn, Pipay Kipay, Christian Antolin, Kimpoy Feliciano, and Jhon Bonifacio, along with basketball legend Arwind Santos, made appearances, drawing fans and enhancing the festival’s star-studded atmosphere.

The event also showcased Ilocos Norte’s homegrown enterprises in food and beverage, giving local businesses an opportunity to promote their unique offerings to festival-goers.

Daytime activities included a 4x4 race, sandboarding, beach volleyball, kayaking, and sandcastle making. Local artists and designers were tapped to create stunning art installations, and the evening featured fire and belly dancing performances as well as a foam party.

Ending his speech, Gov. Marcos Manotoc took a moment to thank his mother, Senator Imee Marcos, for her role in the festival’s creation, stating, “I would also like to make a special mention of our Senator Imee Marcos. In 2012, she had this brain child of bringing a ‘Burning Man’ event to the Suba Sand Dunes of Paoay, and here we stand, 12 years later, and ‘Himala!’ looks to be better than ever. But we recall the genesis of ‘Himala!’ and, of course, the creator and mother of ‘Himala!,’ and my mother as well, maraming salamat Senadora Imee Marcos.”