Binatbatan Festival of the Arts

 

Binatbatan festival depicts the rich culture and old industries of Vigan. Binatbatan Festival traces its roots from the abel weaving industry of Vigan which has been in existence even before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines. It comes from the word batbat, a pair of bamboo stick used to separate cotton pods that come from a tall tree called kapas sanglay. The word "kapas" from kapas sanglay means "cotton" in Ilocano.

Street dancers of the Binatbatan Festival joyfully and cheerfully wave their "batbat," some simulate the method done by abel-weavers in separating the cottons as they gracefully perform the process artistically with the beat of the drums and lyres rolling around the historic streets of the heritage city of Vigan. The products of the "Binatbatan" process in abel-weaving is now seen at the clothes of the participants of the street dancing -- they are wearing the abel Iloko fabric. This is Binatbatan Festival - a fusion of culture, arts, industry history and heritage under one colorful event.

References:

https://www.edmaration.com/2012/05/viva-vigan-festival-binatbatan-street.html

https://web.facebook.com/vigancityph/photos/pcb.5258365460876231/5258364064209704/

https://web.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=151925630691813&set=pcb.151929660691410