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Sinait's church is the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Statue of the Black Nazarene, fondly called by its residents as "Apo Lakay." Local lore traces the statue to Nagasaki, Japan. It was said to have been sent floating in the sea by missionaries operating in secret in Japan for fear of persecution. It was found by local fishermen in the shores of Barangay Dadalaquiten. Fishermen from the nearby town of Badoc, tried moving the box, but were unable to do so. Only fishermen from Sinait were able to move the box, which contained the Statue of the Black Nazarene. Today the landing site of Apo Lakay still exists in Barangay Dadalaquiten, and is a place of pilgrimage for devotees.
But the most popular attraction of the town is the Sinait Garlic Festival. Thousands of local and foreign tourist crowd to the streets from the 1st to 3rd of may to see the talent, ingenuity and hard-working trait of Ilocano Farmers in various forms of competition, including the search for the Biggest Garlic Bulb and Garlic Bundling with categories such as Longest Twined Garlic, Creative Bundling, and Bundling Competition, using the town's most precious commodity.
The festival, a brainchild of Gov. DV Savellano and Sinait Mayor Edgar Yabes, reinforces the image of Sinait as the only Garlic Center of the North, in Ilocandia and of the entire Philippine archipelago. It also aims to encourage Ilocano farmers to mass produce high quality garlic using modern technology.
The primary objective of the festival to give recognition to garlic farmers, but it also aims to form and educate visitors and local residents on the importance of the garlic industry to Philippine economy. The Garlic Festival also provides various competitions that display the remarkable talents of Ilocos Sur farmers on garlic cooking and artistic presentation that includes root trimming, cleaning and bundling. An added feature is the Search for the Most Beautiful Cow and Carabao, which aims to recognize the superior indigenous livestock breed, raised by backyard farmers and encourage improvement of animal breeding.
The cooking contest encourages friendly bonding among participating non-government organizations, elementary and high school students and teachers as well as culinary experts while in the process of showing their culinary expertise in preparing and cooking delectable meals using the calorie and protein rich garlic as main ingredient. The post harvest competition on Ordinary Garlic Bundling and Most Artistic Presentation will show the versatility of Sinait farmers and visitors. A grand parade of garlic floats, street presentations and street dancing close out the festivities.
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