V I GA N

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CITY

Dear Friends and Guests,

Since 1993, the people of Vigan have endeavoured to promote cultural
awareness and appreciation through the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the
Arts. Founded on the teamwork of the city government and the private sector,
the Festival has flourished into one of the most colorful cultural and religious
summer festivities in Ilocandia.

Be with us as we celebrate the feast of Apo Lakay or the Black Nazarene
with numerous events like Binatbatan Street Dancing, Kalesa Parade, KarBo Art
Competition, Abel House Dcor and Trade & Food Fair.

Join us in this thanksgiving merriment from April 30 - May 7, 2016 in
the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the Philippines; a Galing Pook Awardee;
the Most Child Friendly Component City in the Philippines; the National Winner
for Cities of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi for Excellence in Local Governance; the
UNESCO Awardee for Best Practice in Sustainable Heritage Management; the
National Winner of the 1st Gawad Kalusugan Pangkalahatan for the Best Performance in the Implementation of Health
Reforms (Component Cities); the recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance and one of the New 7 Wonders Cities of
the World.
Umay kayon makipagragsak ditoy Vigan!

Schedule of Activities

EVA MARIE SINGSON MEDINA

City Mayor

April 30 (Saturday)
7:00 AM
Opening Ceremonies of Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts 2015

Wreath-laying in honor of an illustrious son of Vigan, Don Isabelo delos Reyes, the father

of the Philippine Labor Union Movement
Opening of Viva Vigan Food and Trade Fair and Arts Exhibit (Garden Show, Trade

and Food Fair, Vigan Antiques and Furniture at Florentino St.)

Souvenirs hunters will have a grand time shopping for locally made crafts and other

local products as well as ornamental plants at bargain prices. Ilocano food lovers will

have a grand time tasting Vigans pipian, sinanglao, miki, salapusop, and other
delicacies.
8:00 AM
Abel House Dcor Set-Up

Bigueos artistically decorate their homes with very colorful abel cloth in the hope to

make spectators realize the value of the unique tradition of Abel Iloko weaving.
May 1 (Sunday)
8:00 AM
Dog Show and Anti-Rabies and Anti-Rabies Vaccination at Mira HillsFil-Spanish
Friendship Park)
May 2 (Monday)
9:00 AM
Bancathon and Fishing Competition at Playa De Oro, Brgy. Mindoro, Vigan City

May 3 (Tuesday)
6:00 AM




8:00 AM
5:00 PM

Holy Mass in Honor of Apo Lakay (The Miraculous Santo Cristo De Vigan at
the Simbaan a Bassit)
In 1882, a deadly cholera epidemic engulfed the residents of Vigan and ceased through
the intercession of Apo Lakay. Since then, the Bigueos celebrate May 3 as a religious
fiesta in His honor. To this day, pilgrims attend masses at the Simbaan a Bassit.
Ramada Traditional Games (Poblacion Barangays)
Procession (around Vigan)

May 4 (Wednesday)
8:00 AM
Rakit Race and Traditional Games at Mestizo River
8:00 AM
Community Picnic at Mestizo River Banks
4:00 PM
Santa Cruzan (Parade Route)

An annual festivity depicting the finding of the True Cross in Jerusalem by Reyna Elena

and Constantine. This year the Sagalas will be represented by the Barangay Captains,

DepEd Division Office and City Department Heads.
May 5 (Thursday)
3:00 PM
Kalesa Parade and Contest

The Kalesas are synonymous to Vigan and this parade around the streets of Vigan will

showcase Bigueo artistry, ingenuity through the 100 richly decorated kalesas.
7:00 PM
Disco sa Kalye (Plaza Burgos)

May 6 (Friday)
3:00 PM
Binatbatan Street Dancing (Parade Route)

An expression, a tribute to the Ilocanos of the Old! Binatbatan is an Ilokano dance

depicting the first step in the Abel Iloko weaving process. It is the beating of the cotton

pods with two bamboo sticks batbat to separate the seeds from the fluff. The street

dancing honors the Abel Iloko, the traditional woven cloth of Vigan that has sustained

its economy from the Pre-Spanish Period to the Present.
7:00 PM
Binatbatan Street Dancing Showdown at Plaza Burgos

May 7 (Saturday)
8:00 AM
Carabao Painting and Pasagad Dressing Contest, Boklan Art and Tile Mosaic
Competition at Nueva Segovia St.

A tribute to the farmers and their beast of burdenthis is an exposition of the bounties

of land and water as well as the carabaos pageantry in a parade that will traverse the

Heritage District. Artist will also have a field day doing what they do best using seeds

and tiles in their artwork.
7:00 PM
GMA Kapuso Fiesta

FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT:

Mayors Office landline: (077) 722 2466 | Fax (077) 722 3838
Vigan Tourism Office landline: (077) 722 8771-76
www.vigancity.gov.ph | [email protected]

www.facebook.com/fernandina.ciudad

Fast Facts
PROFILE

Vigan, the only Heritage City in the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and Monuments
on December 4, 1999, capital of Ilocos Sur, was reverted into a city on January 22, 2001 through Republic Act # 8988 An Act
Validating and Recognizing the Creation of the City of Vigan by the Royal Decree of September 7, 1757 Issued by Fernando VI,
King of Spain. It was declared as one of the New 7 Wonders Cities of the World on December 8, 2014. It lies on the west coast
of Northern Luzon and has a land area of 28.86085 sq. kilometers of which 40% are agricultural lands. Vigan has 9 urban and 30
rural barangays. Bigueos are conversant in three languages: Ilocano, Filipino and English. Dry season starts in November and
ends in May, while the wet season is from June to October.
CUISINE

Hotels and resorts have excellent dining facilities. Remember to order longganisa, bagnet, pinakbet or dinengdeng.
The kiosks at Plaza Burgos offer sinanglao, arroz caldo, miki, pipian, empanada and okoy. Lomo-lomo, caldereta, pinapaitan
are served in canteens at bus terminals and at the public market, where local sweets like dudol, dila-dila, patupat, sinuman,
biku-biko, salapusop and sinambong are available.
SHOPPING

Antiques, souvenir items and Vigan furnitures are sold at bargain prices in shops lining Calle Crisologo and Bonifacio
Street. Shopping is not complete without jostling with vendors and buyers at the public market.

Special Events
VIGAN CITY FIESTA, LONGGANISA FESTIVAL

The week-long fiesta of Vigan held every third week of January is characterized by carnivals, parades, the Longganisa
Street Dance Competition, musical extravaganzas and nightly cultural shows celebrating the anniversary of Vigans conversion
into a city on January 22 and the feast of St. Paul, the citys patron on January 25.
SEMANA SANTA (HOLY WEEK)

This observance of the Holy Week is one of Vigans foremost tourist attractions, with her own collection of religious
life-size saints in carrozas in procession and the Visita Iglesia.
VIVA VIGAN BINATBATAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Held in the first week of May, festivities include Binatbatan street dancing, calesa parade, Karbo festival, traditional
games, religious rituals in honor on the Black Nazarene, Santacruzan, Abel fashion shows, exhibits, trade/food fairs and other
exciting events.
WORLD HERITAGE CITIES SOLIDARITY CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Celebrated every first week of September, it is highlighted by various events namely Repazzo de Vigan, Historia Oral,
Visita Museo ken Balbalay, Comidas de Ayer, Fotografias de Recuerdos. Gameng Exhibit and Cultural Shows. In the Philippines,
this is celebrated only in Vigan, the only Unesco World Heritage City in the country. The celebration affirms the unified endeavor
of all heritage cities to protect their culture for humanity.
RANIAG: THE VIGAN CITY TWILIGHT FESTIVAL

Raniag means light, the light we offer to the Lord in thanksgiving, the beacon that symbolizes our love for our departed kin and the warmth of the bonding renewed in reunions during All Saints Day.
ARTES ITA PASKUA, LANTERN AND TORCH PARADE

These movable events held in December pay homage to the talents of Bigueos in the seven arts as well as our
traditional ways of celebrating Christmas.
EVA MARIE S. MEDINA
Mayor
LOURDES G. BAQUIRAN
Vice Mayor
Councilors: Juan Carlo Medina, Kisses Agdamag, John Patrick Singson, Joy Benette Orio, Francisco Arthuro
Ranches III, Constante Benzon, Kristen Benedict Figuerres, Jose Benedicto Verzosa, Ramil Arce, George
Villanueva, ABC President Nicholas Joseph De Leon