WAVE YOUR STICKS!

 


According to Damaso King, a well-known Vigan historian, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts, which runs from the last week of April to the first week of May, was originally the Feast of the Natives, which began on May 3, 1883. The Save Vigan Ancestral Homes Association, Inc. founded the VIVA VIGAN BINATBATAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS in 1993.

Binatbatan Festival, however, was established in 2002 to honor one of the enterprises that kept inhabitants alive: Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving. It has its origins in Vigan's Abel weaving business, which existed long before the Spaniards arrived to colonize the Philippines. Binatbatan is the method of removing the seeds from cotton pods by beating it. The name "Binatbatan" comes from the Iloco term batbatin, which refers to the process of extracting cotton balls from the seeds of the indigenous fruit tree kapas sanglay. In Ilocano, the word "kapas" comes from the term "kapas sanglay," which means "cotton". Participants wear "Abel" (woven cloth) costumes and sway in their original panagbatbat dances in this street dancing and showdown competition. Dancers wave their "batbat" or bamboo sticks, some imitating the way used by Abel-weavers in separating cottons as they gracefully perform the process artistically to the beat of drums and lyres rolling along the historic streets of Vigan's heritage city.

Due to the pandemic, mass gathering were restricted In order to limit disease transmission. An event is considered a "mass gathering" if the number of people it attracts is large enough to put a strain on the health system's planning and response resources in the community where it occurs. Consider the number of ‘offspring' an infectious agent produces as a mix of regular contacts and close contacts formed when the individual attends a mass gathering event during the infectious.

In order to celebrate the Binatbatan Festival, they come up with the idea of having an online competition which consists of five to ten contestants. It’s called Binatbatan Dance Competition 2021 Family Edition. While dancing, dancers should wear a face shield and they must observe social distancing.  Fun and colourful street dancing competition was held in Vigan city, passed online. All of the contestants are very energetic while dancing even there are no live audiences. The Aspa family of Barangay San Julian, Ilocos Sur won the competition and who participated almost every year.

Fiestas are a reflection of Filipino religion and faith, which are essential to society. Nowadays, however, many festivals focus on a distinct cultural feature that is distinctive to the community. Furthermore, it is during this time that the people are able to enjoy their culture and traditions, which are passed down from generation to generation. Festivals serve as a reminder of our past; they provide us with a peek of our rich cultural heritage while also bringing us closer to our relatives and loved ones even in midst of the pandemic .

REFERENCES:

·        Imelda C. Rivero. “Binatbatan Festival of the Arts: A tapestrty of culture and arts woven by a miracle”. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved form https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1021193

·        Edmar Guguib (2021). “Binatbatan Festival: A Festival Of Cottons And Fabric”. EMARATION. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.edmaration.com/2012/05/viva-vigan-festival-binatbatan-street.html

·        “Prohibiting mass public gatherings”. The Department of Health. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/mathematical-models~mathematical-models-imported.htm~mathematical-models-4.6.htm

·        Nerz Balders (2016). “Binatbatan Festival”. Sildeshare. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/nerzbaldres/binatbatan-festival

·        World Health Organization (2020). “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Mass gatherings”. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-mass-gatherings

·        Ethnic Groups Philippines (2016). “Festivals and Their Importance to the Filipino”. Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2017/01/24/festivals-and-their-importance-to-the-filipino/

p

PPHOTO CREDIT:

"Balitang Amianan: Binatbatan Festival 2021". Retrieved on May 26, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/balitangamianan/regionaltv/39191/balitang-amianan-binatbatan-festival-2021/video

p

             

Comments

  1. Ashley JohnJune 10, 2021 at 12:05 AM

    I admire that you elaborated on the history of the festival. And as well as how it is celebrated during this pandemic. As a whole, your blog is very informative and educational. have a wonderful day and stay safe!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Well Done, Self

Image
  With completing the school year 2020-2021 comes with new modes of learning, a “new normal” in education established as a precaution against the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Modular leaning had been difficult and it is hard learning all the topics all by myself. It is frustrating, depressing, stressing and draining.   Yet I was able to learn and discover new things, things that I never thought that I can do the things that I am able to achieve and being independent on things that will make me grow and mature. The biggest hurdle in this school year was time management. I am a procrastinator and always been distracted by social medias, so completing my school works on time was a challenge for me. Then I found a way to overcome my bad habit and it was making my personal schedule. I found myself, completing all the schoolwork in time and at the same time I have the opportunity to browse on social media account and doing the things that I love. I also found that listening to mu...
Read more

Our Future is in Our Hands

Image
    The environment is critical to the survival of life on Earth. However, there are several challenges that are causing harm to life and the earth's ecosystem. It affects not only the environment, but everyone who lives on the earth. Furthermore, pollution, global warming, greenhouse gas, and a variety of other factors are major contributors. Economic restoration is a means of mending our strained relationship with the natural world. The procedure aids in the restoration of degraded ecosystems to their pre-degraded state, as well as the preservation of ecosystems. Ecological restoration has the potential to improve air quality, halt desertification, limit biodiversity loss, improve urban settings, and maybe improve human livelihoods and interactions with nature.   Environmental degradation has been one of the planet's biggest issues for three decades, but now, as the globe grapples with the COVID-19 crisis, the need to speed up the restoration movement has never ...
Read more

Independence Day: Say it Loud, It’s my Country’s Proud

Image
  Every June 12th, the Filipino people commemorate the country's freedom from hundreds of years of colonialism by celebrating a happy independence day. Independence Day is one of the most important anniversaries in Philippine history because it commemorates the country's independence from Spanish domination on June 12, 1898. The Filipinos commemorate it every year on June 12th. On June 12, 1898, in Cavite el Viejo (present-day Kawit, Cavite), Philippines, Filipino revolutionary forces commander Emilio Aguinaldo issued the Philippine Declaration of Independence. It declared the Philippine Islands' sovereignty and independence from Spanish colonial rule. The national flag representing the flag of the Republic of the Philippines is as follows. Triangular triangle - three major geographical areas of the country, namely Luzon Island, Visayas, Mindanao The sun is in the center of the triangle - there are eight rays representing eight Philippine states that are beginni...
Read more