GORGEOUS COLORS SPLATTERED ON 3RD OF MAY

 

            Tres de Mayo. My favorite month of the year, with my favorite festival of all time. May is the month I always look forward to because of two reasons: (1) It’s my birth month; (2) It’s finally time for “Tres de Mayo” again! I never got tired of the activities in this festival. The one I love most is the Carabao Painting, wherein they paint the bodies of carabao – A living canvas of a contestant with his art on the entire body of the carabao. Another that I still remember is the Santacruzan where women dress up with fancy dresses and men with barong tagalog. Then they will parade in certain places. The activity that is truly unforgettable for me is the boklan art, where they use seeds and grains in making their art instead of drawing with paint brushes or any other typical art materials.

            Let’s have a look back to the very beginning. The Binatbatan Festival of the Arts in Vigan City celebrated on May 3, 1883, was originally the Feast of the Natives according to the writings of Damaso King, a well-known Vigan historian. This festival first began when an epidemic killed 934 residents in 1882, all in just a month. The epidemic started on November 12 and ended on December 15. A chapel was built in 1852 at the cemetery of Vigan, which was 30 years before this epidemic happened.

            The massive amount of sudden deaths that happened in such a short time worried the naturales (native inhabitants) and mestizos (residents with Spanish blood) and so, they asked Dr. Evaristo Abaya, a parish priest, to request for a visit to Vigan of the Santo Cristo Milagroso of Sinait town. The Santo Milagroso was honored by people with a nine-day novena. As the novena continued for days, the number of deaths decreased, and on the last day, the epidemic finally stopped.

            People were very thankful to God for the miracle. Residents then attended a Holy Mass in honor of Santo Cristo, and the naturales of Vigan chose the third day of May as a thanksgiving day for Santo Cristo, who they also called “Apo Lakay”.

            Going back to the festival itself, I haven’t mention all the activities yet. Other events include the Kalesa parade, and Vigan Dance Festival. Colorful kalesas, designed with local products, and even fruits would parade, and it was just the sight to see. Then you would hear loud drums playing to a beat. I still remember the feeling of being in a crowd, trying my best to have a good view of the street dances, and feeling the rhythm and vibrations of the loud music inside me.

            Reminiscing this festival felt so nostalgic. It made me miss the good old days. The carabao painting is that one activity I want to see again. I really missed it for some reason it was my childhood. Over and above, I really hope I will be able to watch these activities happen again soon. Vigan City is finally slowly recovering from the pandemic, and things that was not possible to happen before, are finally within reach.

 

References:

https://tawidnewsmag.com/viva-vigan-binatbatan-festival-of-the-arts/

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

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

https://www.edmaration.com/2011/06/boklan-arts-festival-for-seeds-and.html