Juliah

          What happens when a city made of stone, faith, and centuries-old stories comes alive in celebration? I found the answer the moment I arrived in Vigan City during the Fiesta of the Conversion of St. Paul, a time when history does not merely stand still but dances, prays, and rejoices alongside its people.      Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, is celebrated for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and urban layout that reflects a unique fusion of Asian and European influences (UNESCO, 1999). During the fiesta held every January 25, the city honors St. Paul the Apostle, its patron saint, whose conversion symbolizes transformation and renewed faith; values deeply embedded in Ilocano culture. I witnessed this devotion firsthand during the grand religious procession, where devotees filled the cobblestone streets holding candles, praying silently as church bells echoed through the historic district. The solemnity...