TREASURE

       As soon as the noon arrives, the busy streers seem to become quiet. And as the clock strikes at 3 in the afternoon, streets came to a closure. People from various places gather and flock in the street walks where the parade may pass. Deafening cheers from crowds are being heard. The drums and lyres beating so loudly to produce rhythms and music. Dancers from every participating school dance to the beat and give their best shot despite the exhaustion, sweats, and pains they experience. They still have the energy to shout, with uttermost pride, "Hey! Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts!" These are some of the nostalgic and significant highlights being observed in the conduct of Binatbatan Festival annually in Vigan. It has been known as one of the largest cultural gatherings here in North Luzon. 

     With the sticks being held by their hands and baskets being carried at their backs, the dancers dance gracefully and energetically as they wave their sticks and pat/hit the sticks with each other, as the word 'batbat' means. This batbat is the method of the weavers in producing the yarn from the cotton pods gathered from kapasanglay trees. This artistically dance is with synch to the rhythms produces by the different musical instruments as they parade in the streets around the heritage city. Each participating school gets to showcase the different methods on how an abel iloko is being made/produced, and it is obvious that they are using abel iloko as costumes to promote the product. The Abel Iloko fabrics are reflections of the city's old yet rich culture and tradition.

      There are other several activities lined up during the festival period. These includes street dancing and showdown, kalesa parade, fishing competition, abel house decor contest, carabao painting contest, traditional games and a trade and food fair, where handicrafts and local delicacies are sold, such as the Vigan longganisa. But with these critical times and now that we are facing the pandemic, we are not able to witness all of these. But some of them are done by using online platforms, officials managed to conduct some activities to celebrate this year's festival and assures  that all are following the implemented protocols to ensure their safety against the virus.

      Following protocols is very crucial these days to prevent the continuity of virus from spreading. And so, mass gatherings are restricted and if it is not, it is only limited. Celebrating festivals the normal way the same as before the pandemic can result to a sudden rise of Covid-19 cases. But with the help of the city officials, and as they work hand in hand, they managed to celebrate it. Hopefully, we can overcome this obstacle and find its way to an end soon so that we can finally celebrate festivals like this the normal way as before.

References:

https://eazytraveler.net/2012/05/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts-2012/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20activities%20lined,sold%2C%20such%20as%20Vigan%20longganisa%20(

Image, Carabao Painting,  retrieved from https://www.hellotravel.com/events/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts

Image, Street Dancing, retrieved from https://www.hellotravel.com/events/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts

Image, Street Dancing, retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/blrapadas/5841713238

Image, Binatbatan Festival 2021, retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/balitangamianan/regionaltv/39191/balitang-amianan-binatbatan-festival-2021/video