The enchanting, historic charm of Vigan has made it one of the most precious heritage sites in the country that showcase historical and cultural values. This UNESCO-list heritage city comes more to life every first week of May during the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts.
Coinciding with the Tres de Mayo, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts was first organized by the Save Vigan Ancestral Homes Association, Inc. (SVAHAI), and have always organized lots of exciting events that entertain and educate thousands of tourists and visitors.
Highlights of this year Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts are the floral offering at the marker of the Don Isabelo Delos Reyes, the country’s well-known father of labor union and an illustrious son of Vigan; formal declaration of the opening of the 2012 Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts; and the opening of the trade and food fair.
Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap in his blog, Eazy Traveler, captures the pomp and pageantry of the festival in words and pictures. The festival also featured street dancing, kalesa (horse carriage) parade, fishing competition, abel house decor contest, carabao painting contest, traditional games and a trade and food fair, where handicrafts and local delicacies are sold, such as Vigan longganisa (native sausages) and bagnet (fried pork).
Other significant events happened are traditional games sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan, bankathon and fishing competition, carabao painting contest, boklan art contest, glass mosaic contest and UNP homecoming, gayem parade, Holy mass in honor of Apo Lakay, ramada games and formal inauguration of the Vigan Convention Center, free dog anti–rabies vaccination, dog show, santacruzan and Ginebra San Miguel Ginuman Fest concert gameshow, fun run and abel-iloco design and fashion competition, and binatbatan street dancing, abel–house décor set up judging and binatbatan street dancing showdown.
Most of the events held in Plaza Burgos and its nearby premises except of fishing competition and bancathon which held in Mindoro beach.
