A Tapestry of Culture and Arts Woven

 

A Tapestry of Culture and Arts Woven

               To take us with a little history drive of the Binatbatan Festival, here’s  “a tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle that saved the residents in 1882.” Go back to where the festival came from and understand the miracle that saved the residents in December 1882. Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts celebrated from the last week of April to the first week of May was originally the Feast of the Natives that began on May 3, 1883, according to the writings of Damaso King, well-known Vigan historian. The festival began when an epidemic killed 934 residents in a month in 1882. The epidemic started Nov. 12 and ended Dec. 15. This happened 30 years after a chapel was built in 1852 in the cemetery of Vigan. The huge number of deaths in such short time alarmed the naturales or native inhabitants and mestizos or residents with Spanish blood that they asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya, the parish priest to request for the visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo Milagroso of Sinait town. (Ilocano Culture: Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts — Tawid News Magazine)

 

              Binatbatan festival was introduced to celebrate Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving. Binatbatan is the process of beating cotton pods to remove the seeds.  This is shown through the Binatbatan street dancing and showdown. Binatbatan Street Dancing is a known event that a lot of bigueños and even other people like tourists wait for. Binatbatan became another Ilocano folk dance or an occupational dance. Performers of this dance maneuver in and out of the parallel sticks and the resulting rhythm and speed of the beating of sticks made a colorful and lively display. (Treasures of Ilocandia and the World: Binatbatan Festival of Paoay (ilocandiatreasures.com)).

             There are a lot of events that the Binatbatan Festivals bring. And this year, the pandemic didn’t stop us for celebrating our beloved festival. Loud drums and tapping of bamboo sticks will be heard once again. The binatbatan dancers will dominate the streets, and you can see the colourful and festive Abel Iloco on their costumes. Still, remember to follow the protocols when watching or attending such events. And always remember to celebrate and respect this tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle that saved the residents in 1882.

Photo Credentials:

1st - https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.S6E8T6rMAQyBjcvfmb9LmwHaFV?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

2nd - https://live.staticflickr.com/3498/4570838099_26a49d281a.jpg