BINATBATAN

                      Festivals are supposed to be a unique gathering of people, an enchanting celebration of what it means to be human, a condensed series of extraordinary in-person events. However, a pandemic struck, and we were unable to celebrate our festivals. Even if we are currently dealing with a pandemic, we will continue to enjoy festivals. Nevertheless, we must still adhere to health regulations. The Viva Vigan Festival of Arts takes place in May, usually during the first week of the month. It was founded in 1993 to raise awareness of the historic town's importance in order to enhance the community's desire to conserve and maintain it. The practice of beating cotton pods to remove the seeds for Abel weaving is known as "binatbatan." Locals regarded this as an occupational dance involving two sticks known as "batbat." During the week-long festival, the Binabatan street dance is one of the primary attractions. The celebration features "boklan," a local art form that involves mosaicking seeds. Carabao painting, Kalesa march, spoken poetry, Abel decors, and a fashion show are all part of the festivities.

           

 

                         The streets were closed, and people gathered in specific areas. The drums are pounding loudly and clearly. The street dancers are dressed in bright costumes and joyfully exclaim "Viva Vigan!" The administrators used street dance to commemorate the Binatbatan holiday, with students from several schools taking part. They wave their "batbat" happily and cheerfully, some imitating the way used by Abel-weavers in separating the cottons as they gracefully perform the process artistically to the beat of drums and lyres rolling through the ancient streets of Vigan's heritage city. They also have a basket on their backs where they put the cotton pods collected from the kapas sanglay tree. Their outfits are abel weaving-themed, since they honor the Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving business.

                    The Binatbatan Festival, which draws thousands of local and foreign tourists to its streets lined with ancestral houses, brings the legacy to life in a riot of colors. Every year, from the last week of April to the first week of May, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts is held. I hope that we can celebrate this in the first week of May in the year 2022. Many people are anticipating street dance, and I can state that people miss festival celebrations. People from all throughout Ilocos Sur are also looking forward to the Binatbatan event. Binatbatan Festival is here! Viva Vigan!

Reference:

Photos are Retrieved on April 28, 2022. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blrapadas/4570838099

https://r3.rappler.com/previous-articles?filterMeta=Binatbatan%20Festival%20of%20Arts

https://www.flickriver.com/photos/edison2010/13944549029/

https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Viva-Vigan-Binatbatan-Festival-of-the-Arts-2012

https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Viva-Vigan-Binatbatan-Festival-of-the-Arts-2012