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Until recently, the town of Banna was called Espiritu , in honor of a former governor of Ilocos Norte. However, it has chosen to revert to the traditional name of Banna , a noteworthy act of its residents who recognize the value of old names as part of their cultural heritage. The people of Banna take pride in an enchanted mountain called Mount Mawakwakar . The mountain is shrouded in mystery and several local legends have sprung from it. Many people believe in the healing power of the water from Mount Mawakwakar . Visitors to Banna may want to join a group of locals who hike to the mountain every Good Friday to fetch water from the mountain springs. A local healer heads this group and will be able to point out to visitors the various wild plants used in making herbal treatments. Aside from hiking, visitors can go spelunking in Mount Mawakwakar . The cavernous cave system has several entries and makes for good exploring. The mix of lowland Christian and indigenous highland cultures in Banna is most evident in their dances. There are two favorite dances during local celebrations. The first is lablabbaan , a hawk dance of the Itneg people. The second is surtido banna , a waltz characterized by variations in tempo. And although surtido is danced all over Ilocos Norte, its roots can be traced back to Banna . |
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The above information was lifted from ILOCOS NORTE: a travelguidebook, published by Gameng Foundation Inc. (Museo Ilocos Norte). Philippine copyright 2004 Gameng Foundation - all rights reserved. (63-77) 770-4587; gameng@Laoag City.net |
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