Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts is being celebrated every first week of May. It was started in 1993 by the Save Vigan Ancestral Homes Association, Inc. to promote awareness of the value of the historic town, which was hoped to strengthen resolve to preserve and protect this heritage site. It is a festival promoting the culture, arts and tradition of the Ilocano people living in the historic town of Vigan, and to the whole Ilocandia.
The festival starts on May 1, when the whole country celebrates Labor Day and Vigan remembers its own Isabelo de los Reyes, who founded the country’s first federation of labor. The catholic faithful also remembers on this day St. Joseph, patron saint of workers. The first day of the festival is followed by the Binatbatan Festival which includes and highlights the street dancing competition. Binatbatan dancing portrays the Vigan’s abel Iloco craft. The dance depicts how cotton pods are beaten with bamboo sticks to release the cotton fluff called batbat from its seed. This festival was started in 2002 to showcase this traditional weaving craft that is said to predate the arrival of the Spaniards.
On the 3rd of May, the Feast of Apo Sto. Cristo Milagroso is observed with a mass at the Simbaan a Basiit. This is a most significant religious celebration in Vigan due to the many instances that the city was said to be saved by the Apo. Another significant festival within the Viva Vigan festival is the Karbo Festival, which was began in 2005. It’s aimed at giving importance to the people behind Vigan’s agricultural industry and their contribution. The name of the festival was taken from the words carabao, the Philippine water buffalo used for farming, and bokel or seeds. During this day, gaily painted carabaos are paraded and children show their artistic creations that make use of seeds.
The traditional way of celebrating this festival came back, after 2 years of not having this occasion because of the pandemic. Truly, Vigan has a rich culture, tradition and history which is celebrated and shown to the nation and world. Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival! Agbiag Bigueño, Viva San Pablo!
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Online Source:
https://www.vigan.ph/attractions/viva-vigan-festival-of-the-arts.html#:~:text=The%20Viva%20Vigan%20Festival%20of,and%20protect%20this%20heritage%20site. retrieved on May 13, 2022
Image Source:
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/World_Costume_Festival retrieved on May 13, 2022
https://www.hellotravel.com/events/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts retrieved on May 13, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/803794196333402/posts/5271951879517589/ retrieved on May 13, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/803794196333402/posts/5274369752609135/ retrieved on May 13, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/803794196333402/posts/5277202832325827/ retrieved on May 13, 2022
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