Wonderful History of Binatbatan Festival

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

The entire “World Heritage City,” as Vigan, Ilocos Sur is known, is engulfed. Hundreds of local and foreign tourists, as well as inhabitants and visitors from neighboring towns, flock to the Crisologo Street, which is lined with historic mansions.

The Binatbatan and Longanisa Festivals, as well as the Amazing Heritage Race, are among the highlights of the week-long celebration.

The Iluko phrase batbatin, or removing cotton balls from the seeds of the indigenous fruit tree kapas sanglay, inspired the festival's name. The cotton balls are then spun and used to weave the abel, which was among the local products supplied during the galleon trade from the 15th to the 18th centuries by Chinese merchants based in Ciudad Fernandina, the old Vigan.

“Binatbatan” has since evolved into an Ilocano folk dance.

Participants wear “abel” (woven cloth) costumes and sway in their original panagbatbat dances during the Binatbatan festival's street dancing and showdown competition. During the festival, Abel items are on display.

The street dancing portrayed the Ilocanos' long-standing method of beating cotton pods with two bamboo sticks to separate the seeds from the fluff known as batbat. The first step in creating the Iluko, "Abel," is "batbat." The street dancing pays homage to the Abel Iloko, a traditional Vigan trade that has sustained the city's economy since the pre-Spanish period.

The annual Viva Vigan Event of Arts is highlighted by the Binatbatan festival. Visitors, tourists, and locals all join in the street dancing and celebrations. Participants in the competition dress up in creative and artistic costumes and props. Abel cloth and sticks were also used by the dancers.

The “Viva Vigan Festival 2008” is a Jubilee Celebration, marking the 125th year of Vigan residents' gratitude to Apo Sto. Cristo Milagros, their special patron and Savior.