Challenges Of Covid-19

         The streets were closed, and crowds gathered in specific areas. Drums are pounding incessantly. The street dancers enthusiastically declare "Viva Vigan!" in colorful costumes. The Binatbatan Festival has grown to become one of the major cultural events in the Philippines' northwestern archipelago. Binatbatan Festival is more than just a festival, with participants dressed in abel Iloko, a woven fabric native to the Ilocos Region. It highlights Vigan's rich culture and traditional industry.

         Binatbatan Festival has its origins in Vigan's abel weaving business, which existed long before the Spaniards arrived to colonize the Philippines. It comes from the word batbat, which refers to a pair of bamboo sticks used to remove cotton pods from kapas sanglay trees. In Ilocano, the word "kapas" comes from the term "kapas sanglay," which means "cotton."

          Binatbatan Festival street dancers happily and enthusiastically wave their "batbat," some imitating the manner used by abel-weavers in separating cottons as they gracefully perform the process artistically to the beat of drums and lyres rolling along the historic streets of Vigan's heritage city. Binatbatan Street Dancers also have a basket behind them in which they place cotton pods harvested from the kapas sanglay tree. The fruits of the Kapas sanglay tree dry up at the tree's branches before falling off after the fruit breaks open on its own, revealing the seed-filled cottons inside.

         But now... All this amazing and enjoying activities during Binatbatan Festival are gone because of the pandemic. COVID-19 affected the Binatbatan Festival celebration. The things that we used to do and we used to see when the city of Vigan celebrates their festival are gone and this is because of the COVID-19. Just like last year, Binatbatan festival celebrated differently. People right now should stay in their homes because staying at home is the safest thing to do during this pandemic. This situation makes me sad and I know that others felt the same.

        Additionally, based on what I observed, there are still challenges during the Binatbatan Festival and one of this is the situation that we are facing right now. In which, we can’t experience the things that we used to do when the Binatbatan Festival begins. People right now should stay in their homes to avoid COVID-19.  

        To sum it up, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a big effect in Binatbatan Festival celebration. COVID-19 is truly dangerous and destructive, but, I believe that we can overcome this problem. Hopefully, this pandemic will end soon so that we can all go back to normal and we can again do what we want and we can experience again the cheerful celebration of Binatbatan Festival.

References:

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

https://eazytraveler.net/2012/05/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts-2012/

http://vigancity.gov.ph/binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts-2019-2/

Photos retrieved in:

https://images.app.goo.gl/G1k3wn9srxHMvBCH8

https://images.app.goo.gl/neyeey7RnsyGCyY3A

https://images.app.goo.gl/QwgfPpouiRZyBPPA9

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