Its Fun! It's Binatbatan

        This year's Binatbatan Festival of the Arts: A tapestry of culture and arts woven by a miracle is a celebration held during the week of "Tres de Mayo," as chosen by the locals, in honor of Apo Lakay of the Simbaan a Bassit, who protected Vigan from a devastating disease in 1756. It is now regarded as Biguenos' most colorful and significant celebration since it commemorates Apo Lakay's deliverance while also promoting the local culture.  

        According to Damaso King, a well-known Vigan historian, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts, which is celebrated 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 all started in 1882 with a miracle that saved the people of Vigan. An epidemic that killed 934 residents in a month in 1882 is said to have started it all. The outbreak began on November 12 and ended on December 15. The sudden large number of deaths so alarmed the natives and 'mestizos,' or residents with Spanish ancestry, that they asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya, the parish priest at the time, to request a visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo Milagroso of the town of Sinait. People venerated the Santo Milagroso with a nine-day Novena, and the number of deaths decreased as the novena progressed. The epidemic came to an end on the last day of the Novena. As a result, the people praised God for the miracle. Almost all residents are said to have attended the Holy Mass in honor of Santo Cristo. As a token of gratitude, the people of Vigan designated the third of May as a day of thanksgiving for Santo Cristo, whom they refer to as Apo Lakay. Since then, people have been going to the cemetery chapel known as Simbaan a Bassit on Fridays and the third day of May to hear Holy Mass and continue their devotion to Apo Lakay. The Binatbatan Festival is the third festival of the year; the first is the Vigan Cityhood Anniversary, which includes the Longganisa Festival on January 22 and the Vigan City fiesta on January 25, both of which honor the city's patron saint, Saint Paul the Apostle. The Viva Vigan arts festival began in 1993 to raise awareness of the historic town's importance.

        This year, activities such as street dancing competitions were conducted digitally in order to adhere to protocols designed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. According to GMA News, only 5 to 10 members are permitted and must be from the same family, compound, or location. And, by following protocol, the dancers wore face shields and maintained social distance. Even if we cannot see it directly, we are safe in our homes. 

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imaged retrieved at https://www.hellotravel.com/events/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts

image retrieved at https://www.ilocosnews.com/2014/05/16/vigan-celebrates-viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts/