Viva Vigan! Binatbatan Festival of the Arts Amidst the Pandemic

 

   According to Damaso King, a well-known Vigan historian, the Vigan Viva! 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. It's also recognized as an Ilocano dance performed using bamboo sticks. Binatbatan street dancing has been one of the activities of the "Viva Vigan" celebrations since 2002. However, since the pandemic began last year, the celebrations have been very different in order to safeguard the public's safety.

   Viva Vigan! Binatbatan Festival of the Arts for this year, the Vigan City government has ensured that the event would take place while adhering to all safety protocols. The activities were restricted, it was planned so that it could be done at home or in a location where social distancing is practiced. Instead of groups of people from different schools performing in the streets of Vigan City, the Binatbatan street dancing offered an alternative: families or relatives performing in their houses. Certain activities, such as boklan, in which participants utilize a variety of beans and other seeds to form an image, and abel house decorating were conducted

  Viva Vigan! Binatbatan Festival of the Arts highlights Vigan City's history and tradition, celebrations like this are always packed with joy, excitement, and a bustling throng. Despite the conditions, we continued with our tradition because we are happy to show the world what we have to offer, and despite the virus restricting many things, we were able to go through.

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