The founder of the festival, a famous former governor, said of the event, "Let us gather the strands and memories of our past, as we look back with pride, that we may look ahead with confidence to Antique tomorrow.” The fiesta is important to the community for reminding people of their rich and unique history.
In Cebu City, the Sinulog Festival is held to honor the Santo Niño (child Jesus) and remember the arrival and spread of Catholicism in the Philippines. Around 80% of the country’s population practices Catholicism, making Sinulog an important pilgrimage, or religious journey, for many people. Sinulog is a time for people to celebrate their shared faith and enjoy their community.
Traditions for both Binirayan and Sinulog are closely tied to the local environment. At both fiestas, the opening day features a fluvial parade, meaning a parade on the water. At the fluvial parades, decorated boats sail together in groups along rivers or near the shoreline. With the Philippines housing many islands, fluvial parades are an important celebration of the water-based travel that introduced many traditions to the country.
At the Binirayan Festival, local agricultural products and handicrafts are also flaunted in areas near the festivities. In celebration of the farming and fishing that sustain communities in Antique, attendees can buy food and artwork made from local timber, corn, bamboo and other natural resources. My favorite local handicrafts are made out of piña fiber, which comes from pineapples! Piña fiber is a glossy, light, white fabric often used to make fabrics or clothing in the Philippines.
