Celebrating at its Finest in the New Normal

       We are once again given the opportunity to celebrate Binatbatan Festival despite the ongoing pandemic, and the citizens of Vigan City are glad to be able to experience the joy of the said festival in the new normal. Although there are evident changes brought by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we carry on celebrating every festival in town. We make sure not to miss it and express our appreciation in our own unique ways, as we Filipinos are genuinely proud of our culture and traditions. Through these festivals, we can introduce to tourists the things that make Vigan City special. For this reason, an increasing number of tourists want to return to our town, bringing friends and family along to share the fun and excitement.

           The Viva Vigan Festival of Arts takes place during the first week of May. The Save Vigan Ancestral Homes Association, Inc. established it in 1993 to raise awareness of the historic town's value in the hopes of strengthening determination to preserve and protect this heritage site. The week-long Viva Vigan festivities have both religious and secular importance. Binatbatan dancing is linked to the abel Iloco craft of Vigan. The dance shows the beating of cotton pods with bamboo sticks to release the cotton fluff known as batbat from their seeds. This festival began in 2002 to highlight this traditional weaving craft, which is said to predate the arrival of the Spaniards. For the past years, locals have been quite active in celebrating festivals because there are various events for people to enjoy. However, as the COVID-19 virus spreads, it has limited the movement of people in every country. Fortunately, the world is slowly healing, and many, if not all, individuals have already fully adapted to the new normal. Nonetheless, some people are still expecting and hoping that things will return to the old normal.  

        
      At the end of the day, we must all be grateful that we are still given the chance to experience the excitement of celebrating festivals, even if it is different from what we are used to. We should always wish the best for our country and the rest of the world. Let us not be negatively affected by the pandemic, but rather see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and become more responsible. Appreciating these festivals is one way of showing our support even in the midst of the pandemic.





References:

Vigan.ph. "Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts". Retrieved on April 28, 2022 at https://www.vigan.ph/attractions/viva-vigan-festival-of-the-arts.html.

Flickr. "Binatbatan Festival 2011". Published May 7, 2011. Retrieved on April 29, 2022 at https://www.flickr.com/photos/blrapadas/albums/72157626856339617.


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