The Scar of the Past

Let us trace the origins of the Binatbatan festival and learn more about what transpired in December 1882. Festivals are a creative approach to honor our rich history, culture, and traditions. They are supposed to be shared with loved ones to celebrate key moments and feelings in our life. They play a vital part in our social life by providing structure and connecting us to our families and backgrounds. Because of the current pandemic, this year's Vigan Binatbatan event will be different from past years.

 

The binatbatan dance was performed at this festival. This festival pays homage to the old Ilocanos. Binatbatan is an Ilocano dance that illustrates the initial phase in the weaving process of Abel Iloko. They utilize two bamboo sticks that are 18 inches long. To separate the seeds from the fluff, the cotton pods must be thrashed with these two bamboo sticks. The pounding procedure is known as binatbatan. That is why, while the rest of the dancers dance, some others beat the pavements with their bamboo sticks to create a pleasant beating sound. The street dancing pays homage to the Abel Iloko, Vigan's traditional woven textile that has sustained the city's economy from pre-Spanish times to the present. Following the street dancing, the various groups competed in a dance battle held in Plaza Burgos. It was a dance competition between the groups. The winning team received a large sum of money from the organizers.

In this period of epidemic, there have been several changes to 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, due to the low and declining instances of CoVid-19 virus, Binatbatan can be celebrated this year. It is now returning to the usual world to which we are accustomed. Biguenos and even people or visitors from other towns are now welcome to attend the celebration in Vigan City. The goal of this festival is to raise awareness about the historical significance of Vigan.

 

One of the most well-known of these is the Binatbatan Street Dancing, in which all streets were closed and crowds gathered in one spot. Drums and a variety of other instruments, as well as dancers dressed in colorful costumes fashioned by Abel, are pounding loudly and making a vibrant sound. They also have a pair of bamboo sticks as props, which are used to separate cotton pads that come from a tall tree called kapas sanglay in Abel. "Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival!" they shout proudly as they dance to the music. ”. There are activities and contests such as the Abel Iloco Fashion Show, Competition, Kalesa Parade, Traditional Games, Santacruzan, On the Spot Photography Contest, Gigs and Concerts, in addition to the street dancing.

This festival offers a variety of enjoyable activities, such as viewing street dancing. This event is both instructive and entertaining for all, as well as promoting the city's culture. However, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, but instances are not spreading as quickly as they once did because practically everyone has been vaccinated, from youngsters to the elderly! So we might be able to go out and celebrate the event with other locals and visitors, but we must constantly remember to follow the health guidelines. Don't assume that the vaccine will protect you from infection.