Binatbatan Festival of Arts: Pandemic

 

                     Vigan City's 2nd year celebration of "Binatbatan Festival of the Arts: A tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle is celebrated every last week of April to the first week of May was originally the Feast of the Natives that began on May 3, 1883, according to the writings of Damaso King, a well-known Vigan historian. Yearly, they celebrated Tres de Mayo for two to three days. The longer they stayed in their hometown the more they promoted it as an interesting tourist place.

                       But in this year, this festival will not be celebrated as the way it is used to because of this ongoing pandemic. In this way there will no festival be celebrated publicly but it can be celebrated using an online platform, like virtual celebration. Even if there is a pandemic we are facing if we want to celebrate a festival, there is always a way to celebrate it. But do not let you guard down, because like they said “health is wealth” we must give importance to our health by following the safety health protocols, especially when there is an event from this festival. This festival began when an epidemic killed 934 residents in a month in 1882. The epidemic started November 12 and ended December 15. This happened 30 years after a chapel was built in 1852 in the cemetery of Vigan.The huge number of death in such short time alarmed the ‘naturales’ or native inhabitants and ‘mestizos’ or residents with Spanish blood that they asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya, then the parish priest, to request for the visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo Milagroso of Sinait town.

                        This festival also gives tribute to Vigan city’s arts and culture which is why the things used in the festival is based on the culture and arts of our city, Vigan City. Even if this pandemic is still here, we must be strong and resilient. Don’t let the pandemic affect you so don’t give up and help one another.

Source: https://pia.gov.ph/features/articles/1021193

images:https://www.hlimg.com/images/events/738X538/event_1538134798m2.jpg?w=480&dpr=2.6

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