Unexpected Things

 

Binatbatan

    Let’s go back where the Binatbatan festival really came from and let’s understand what really happened in December 1882. Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate glorious heritage, culture and traditions. They are meant to rejoice special moments and emotions in our lives with our loved ones. They play an important role to add structure to our social lives, and connect us with our families and backgrounds. The celebration of Vigan Binatbatan festival is different compared to previous years because of the ongoing pandemic.

    Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts were yearly celebrated from the last week of April up to the first week of May. Binatbatan festival was originally started during an epidemic in 1882. The festival began when an epidemic killed over 934 residents in a month. 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 residents 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.

The Santo Milagroso was venerated by the people with a nine-day novena. When the novena progressed for days, the number of death decreased, and on the last day, the epidemic stopped. The people glorified God for the miracle. Almost all residents attended the Holy Mass in honor of Santo Cristo. In gratitude, the residents of Vigan chose the third day of May as thanksgiving day for Santo Cristo whom they call “Apo Lakay”. This is the feast day of the Holy Cross and the Santo Cristo of Sinait town. Since then on Fridays and third day of May, people have been going to the cemetery chapel called Simbaan a Bassit to hear Holy Mass, and continue their devotion to Apo Lakay.

    It is wonderful that during these days we are able to celebrate the said festival with the ongoing pandemic. I hope “Apo lakay” will have another miracle and the ongoing pandemic, the Covid-19. It really shows how we love preserve our traditions and cultures in our own land. This year Binatbatan festival is different and we must follow strict health protocols but nothing can stop our devotion to God. I hope that this Covid-19 pandemic will come to end and everyone will go back to their normal lives and live safely again.


REFERENCES:

Image 1- Retrieved on April 21, 2022 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzrinaldimd/43783244831

Image 2- Retrieved on April 21, 2022 from https://www.google.com/search?q=apo+lakay+sinait&tbm=isch&chips=q:apo+lakay+sinait,online_chips:milagroso:gVmyuuzNWXw%3D&hl=en-GB&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmp8qXmf3wAhVI4pQKHdokALkQ4lYoBXoECAEQJA&biw=1519&bih=722#imgrc=bhZ_zVCHLeJtvM

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