Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts is celebrated
yearly from the last week of April to the first week of May.
”Binatbatan” is the process of beating cotton pods to remove
the seeds for Abel weaving. Which locals interpreted into an occupational dance
with the use of two sticks called ”batbat”. Binabatan street dance is one of
the main attractions during the week-long celebrations.
As per Vigan historian, Damaso King, the original Feast of
the Natives began on May 3, 1883. When an epidemic disease killed 934 residents
in a month in 1882. The ‘naturales’ and ‘mestizos’ asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya,
then the parish priest, to request for the visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo
Milagroso of Sinait town. The people then ushered a novena. And on the ninth
day, the contagion stopped. Since then, the naturales of Vigan chose the third
day of May as thanksgiving day for Santo Cristo whom they call ‘Apo Lakay’,
which is also the feast day of the Holy Cross and the Santo Cristo of Sinait
town.
In line with this year’s celebration of the official start
of the 2021 Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts, the City Government of
Vigan through SPM Ramil Arce steered a Wreath Laying at Don Isabelo F. De Los
Reyes House, Calle Crisologo, Vigan City on May 01, 2021.
The said event was aired at the Official Facebook Page of
the City Government and attended by several City employees and media personnel
in observance of the Covid-19 Basic Health Protocols.
The City Government of Vigan together with the Archdiocese
of Nueva Segovia conducted the Misa Concelebrada for this year’s Viva Vigan
Binatbatan Festival of the Arts and the feast of Apo Santo Cristo Milagroso or
Apo Lakay at Simbaan A Bassit, Vigan City.
Strict compliance on wearing of face mask, social distancing
and limited participants were observed during the entire event.
Even if we are in the middle of pandemic, the officials of
Vigan City didn’t forget to celebrate the said festival and find a way to
celebrate it properly applying the health and safety protocols.
Reference:
https://generosepomelo.com/2019/05/05/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts/
Photos retrieved from:
https://www.facebook.com/803794196333402/posts/4150308915015230/?d=m
https://en-gb.facebook.com/vigancityph/posts/4122259117820210
https://www.facebook.com/803794196333402/posts/4127888397257282/?sfnsn=mo
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