Commemorating Binatbatan Festival of Arts

    “Binatbatan Festival traces its roots from the abel weaving industry of Vigan which has been in existence even before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines.” The country is really full of cultures and traditions. And its citizens never fail to celebrate each and every one of it. Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, is a city that has stood the test of time. It has a traditional Hispanic checkerboard street plan. Its main street, Calle Crisilogo, is lined with structures made of brick and wood, with steeply pitched roofs reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture. Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of an East and South-East Asian European trading town. Vigan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due to all of these characteristics.

    The city’s impressive architecture matches its people. Local artists thrive in keeping the city vibrant through the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts. Binatbatan was introduced in 2002 as part of the festival to commemorate the Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving industry, and it is celebrated annually from the last week of April to the first week of May. "Binatbatan" refers to the process of beating cotton pods to remove the seeds for Abel weaving. Locals interpreted this as an occupational dance involving two sticks called "batbat." During the week-long celebrations, one of the main attractions is Binabatan street dance. The festival also features "boklan," a local art form that involves mosaicking seeds. Carabao painting, Kalesa parade, spoken poetry, Abel decors, and fashion show are all part of the festivities.


However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Binatbatan festival was not as widely celebrated as it once was. It was practically celebrated by Biguenos, and it reminds us that even though Ilocanos are experiencing such a devastating pandemic as this, the joy and purity of the heart in celebrating festivals remains. Having said that, every celebration honors the history of how a place came to be. It's also a way to demonstrate patriotism. Appreciating the beauty of the local area as well as the products.

Reference:

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