Ilocos Sur: Viva Vigan! Binatbatan Festival of the Arts

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Festivals are meant to be a special coming together of people, an enchanting celebration of what it means to be human, a concentrated succession of extraordinary in-person events. The pandemic has undoubtedly thrown a wrench in the celebration of festivities. However, this does not mean we must stop celebrating. Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts is celebrated yearly from the last week of April to the first week of May. Binatbatan was introduced in 2002 to be part of the festival to commemorate the Abel Iloco hand-loom weaving industry. This quality, however, is heightened every first week of May during the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts, established in 1993 by the Save Vigan Ancestral Homes Association, Inc. (SVAHAI) to showcase the historic city’s artistic and cultural values.


The city’s impressive architecture matches its people. Local artists thrive in keeping the city vibrant thru Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts. ”Binatbatan” is the process of beating cotton pods to remove the seeds for Abel weaving. Which locals interpreted into an occupational dance with the use of two sticks called ”batbat”. Binabatan street dance is one of the main attractions during the week-long celebrations. There are several activities lined up during the festival period, including street dancing, kalesa (horse carriage) parade, fishing competition, abelhouse decor contest, carabao painting contest, traditional games and a trade and food fair, where handicrafts and local delicacies are sold, such as Vigan longganisa (native sausages) and bagnet (fried pork) at competitive prices.

This is Binatbatan Festival - a fusion of culture, arts, industry history and heritage under one colorful event.

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