Bigueños, Celebrate Binatbatan Festival of the Arts

    Binatbatan is an Ilocano festival that depicts the first step in the Abel Iloko weaving process which is the beating process. It comes from the word batbat , a pair of 18-inch long bamboo sticks used to separate cotton pods seed from the fluff that came from a tall tree called kapas sanglay. That is why some street dancers in street dancing competitions held every year, done digitally this year due to the pandemic, hold their bamboo sticks and beat the floor of the streets to make a good beating sound while the rest dances.

    This year's Binatbatan Festival of the Arts: A tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle is a celebration during the week of “Tres de Mayo”, as chosen by the natives, is an act of thanksgiving of Bigueños in honor of Apo Lakay of the Simbaan a Bassit for having Vigan saved from the deadly epidemic that happened in 1756. It is considered today as the most colorful and significant festival to Bigueños as it focuses on the remembrance of Apo Lakay’s deliverance as well as promoting the local fabric, Abel Iloco. 

    Going back to where it starts, according to the writings of a well-known Vigan historian, Damaso King, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the arts that are 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. It started with a miracle that saved the residents of Vigan in 1882. It is said that an epidemic that killed 934 residents in a month in 1882 started it all. The epidemic started on November 12 and ended on December 15. The sudden huge number of deaths alarmed the natives and ‘mestizos’ or residents with Spanish blood that they asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya, then the parish priest, to request for the visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo Milagroso of the town of Sinait. People venerated the Santo Milagroso with a nine-day Novena, and as the novena progressed, the number of deaths decrease. On the last day of the Novena, the epidemic stopped. And with that, the people glorified God for the miracle. It is said that almost all residents attended the Holy Mass in honor of Santo Cristo. And as gratitude, the natives of Vigan chose the third day of May as a day of thanksgiving for Santo Cristo whom they call Apo Lakay. From then on, people have been going to the cemetery chapel called Simbaan a Bassit to hear Holy Mass and continue their devotion to Apo Lakay on Fridays and the third day of May. Binatbatan festival is the third festival of this year, first is the Vigan Cityhood anniversary which features the Longganisa Festival on January 22, and the Vigan City fiesta on January 25 honoring the city’s patron saint, Saint Paul the Apostle. The Viva Vigan festival of arts started in 1993 to promote awareness of the value of the historic town.

        This year activities like street dancing competitions have been done digitally to follow the protocols to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus. According to GMA news, in the street dancing competition, only 5 to 10 members are allowed and must be in the same family; in the same compound; place. And as to follow the protocols, the dancers wore face shields and had social distancing. The Family of Aspa from Brgy. San Julian  Sur won the competition. Even if we are not able to see it personally, at least we are safe in our homes. 

References:

Rivero, Imelda C., Binatbatan Festival of the Arts: A tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle, pia.gov.ph, retrieved from https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1021193.

Guquib, E., [Vigan] ► Binatbatan Festival: A Festival Of Cottons And Fabric (May 07, 2012), retrieved from https://www.edmaration.com/2012/05/viva-vigan-festival-binatbatan-street.html

Balitang Amianan, GMA news, https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/balitangamianan/regionaltv/39191/balitang-amianan-binatbatan-festival-2021/video