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. The
Naturales of Vigan chose “Tres de Mayo” of 1883 in honor of Apo Lakay of the
Simbaan a Bassit as an act of thanksgiving for having saved Vigan from a deadly
epidemic in 1756. The
festival got its name from the Iluko term batbatin, or separating cotton balls
from the seeds of the local fruit tree kapas sanglay.
Every year, establishments around
Vigan City are decorated with colorful abel to celebrate the Binatbatan
Festival. Street dances and exhibits are not to be missed during the festival.
Here, you will witness various masterpieces made by the Ilocanos. During the
festival, there is also a food fair where you can eat and buy delicious foods
that would surely make you ask for more.
Just like the Longganisa Festival,
this festival is also not just for fun hence, it is also for religious
purposes. Locals visit the Simbaan nga Bassit during the festival to thank and
pray for Apo Lakay whom they prayed and believed in during the pandemic back in
1756 when an epidemic spread within the city.
This festival means a lot to the
Ilocanos because of its history, and of course the activities during the
festival is fun and exciting.
Credits:
http://localphilippines.com/events/binatbatan-festival
http://vigancity.gov.ph/binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts-2019-2/
https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1021193
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Costume_Festival
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