Who, What, Where is “Pamulinawen?”

“Pamulinawen, pusok indengam man, toy umas-asog, agrayo ita sadyam…” Translation:“Pamulinawen, my love, please hearken to
Me who am sighing, who am enchanted by your graciousness” (Note: English translation lifted from Ilocos Norte Online Forum.)

Pamulinawen is one of the more popular Ilokano songs just like “Manang Biday.” I never knew that Pamulinawen existed and continues to exist except that she is now immortalized as a fountain top in what is known to be the “Pamulinawen Fountain” at the public park in front of the Provincial Capitol in Laoag City.

The fountain top is a figure of young woman holding a laden basket as is believed to be the famed Pamulinawen celebrated in a traditional Ilocano song of the same title (Ilocos Norte travel guidebook; 2005 Ed.) A closer look of the fountain would disclose that it may have been built to give glory to Ilocano harvest. Now, Pamulinawen is a festival in Laoag City celebrated every year.