LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) -- The grandest and highly-anticipated cultural festival showdown of Ilocos Norte officially returns for its 10th installment on Friday, Feb. 24, after three-year hiatus.
 
Popularly known as "Tan-ok ni Ilokano (Greatness of the Ilocano): Festival of Festivals," it will take place at the newly-refurbished Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium in Laoag City.
 
It features and showcases the ingenuity of the 21 municipalities and two cities in depicting faith and religious festivals, colonization and revolt, courtship and love stories, folklore and legends, livelihoods and industries, and even current events, in their presentation.
 
Not only are the dances highlighted, but also the graceful and skillful moves of Ilokano dancers.
 
Locals, tourists, and visitors who missed this festival onstage were eager to secure tickets during the launching of the online ticketing system. Three hours after it opened, it already booked 10,000 seats.
 
Tan-ok dates back in 2011 and was organized by then Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos as part of the campaign for "the revival of cultural pride and Ilokano identity by focusing on narrative-driven presentations produced by local creatives."
 
With its comeback, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc sees "Tan-ok" as a driver for local industries that sustain the livelihoods of homegrown artists and small-scale laborers.
 
This year's staging of Tan-ok will be graced by Senator Imee R. Marcos as the guest speaker at the festival night. (JCR/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)