An Art Full of History: Binatbatan Festival

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Binatbatan was introduced in 2002 as part of a celebration honoring the Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving industry. It is celebrated yearly from the last week of April to the first week of May. The festival's name comes from the word "batbat," which refers to the first step in the weaving process, in which the cotton balls are separated from the seeds by beating them with two bamboo sticks for Abel.

During this period of pandemic, there have been several changes to the celebration of the Binatbatan Festival. The celebration has been different from our tradition in recent years. We are unable to form crowds or close contact with individuals in order to avoid contracting and spreading the illness. However, because of the low and declining instances of the covid-19 virus, Binatbatan can be celebrated this year. Fortunately, it is now returning to the usual world to which we are accustomed. Biguenos and even tourists and visitors from other towns are now welcome to attend the celebration in Vigan City.

Binatbatan Festival showcases the historic city’s artistic and cultural values. During the festival before the pandemic hit, there is street dancing, a kalesa (horse carriage) parade, a fishing competition, an abel house decor contest, a carabao painting contest, traditional games, and a trade and food fair where handicrafts and local delicacies such as Vigan longganisa and bagnet will be sold at affordable prices. And this year, the festival just leveled up. The City Government of Vigan prepared such fun activities and contests like; the Abel Iloco Fashion Show, Competition, Kalesa Parade, Traditional Games, Santacruzan, On the Spot Photography Contest, Gigs and Concerts, we’re not forgetting the street dance competition, and many more, which you may look forward to.


Binatbatan Festival is a celebration we must appreciate and cherish as it is for us to remember the history of our own city. This year’s celebration is wonderful and all however, we should still be careful as the COVID-19 virus is still around us. I hope all of us will be able to join and enjoy the celebration of the Binatbatan Festival and I also hope that all of us are safe always.

 

References:

Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap. “VIVA VIGAN BINATBATAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 2012”. 2012.

Generosepomelo. “Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts”. 2019.

Edmar Guquib. “Binatbatan Festival: A Festival of Cottons and Fabric”. 2012.

Vigan.ph. “Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts”. ©2022.

Jane Dacumos. “Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts 2012”. 2012.


Comments

  1. SharinelMay 22, 2022 at 8:52 PM

    Hi there! Binatbatan Festival was celebrated in the New Normal and it’s really amazing, despite of what we are facing up to these days. It’s celebration was conducted and it is really a great accomplishment, coz it was celebrated in a nice and fabulous way. And I love the way you post it, coz it reminds us Bigueños of how great we are in the midst of pandemic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Justine DaveMay 31, 2022 at 6:33 PM

    This blog is good to read as it is very well constructed. It is really nice that you had mentioned where the binatbatan word came from and how the pandemic changed the way of celebrating the festival. Appreciation to this blog!!

    ReplyDelete

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