Binirayan 2006

It’s Binirayan time again in Antique.

Antique is one of the four provinces that comprise the island of Panay (the others are Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan). Aklan has its Ati-atihan, Iloilo has its Dinagyang, and Antique has its Binirayan.

Tomorrow morning, Antiqueños will reprise the landing of the 10 Borneans on the shores of Malandog in the southern town of Hamtic some 800 years ago. It will be followed by a grand picnic on the beach to be highlighted by the presentation to the media of the candidates vying for the Lin-ay kang Antique (Miss Antique), who will act as the province’s ambassadress of goodwill.

In the afternoon, there will be a torch parade from Malandog to the capital town of San Jose to be followed by display of fireworks.

On Friday, there will simultaneous activities in Malandog beach, a taekwondo competition at the St. Anthony’s College gym and an amateur boxing tournament at Trade town. This is also a good time to visit the Pasundayag trade exhibit at the EBJ Freedom Park that will showcase this year’s Binirayan theme of “Kabuganaan halin sa pinanubli nga dunang manggad” (A bountiful harvest from our natural resources).

In the evening is the coronation of Lin-ay kang Antique.

On Saturday, the EBJ Freedom Park will be bursting with colors and action with Parada ang Lahi and the Malay-Ati competition. In the evening, the province will honor its outstanding sons and daughter to be followed by the elegant rigodon de honor.

The three-day festivities are actually the culminating activities of Binirayan which started last week with the revival of the komedya, a folk theater presentation popular during the early 1900s. Dramatizing the conflict between the Christians and Moslems and centering on a romantic theme the komedya is characterized by fantastic storylines, swordfights on stage and resplendent costumes.

Gov. Sally Z. Perez had always wanted to make Binirayan more meaningful by giving more emphasis on native cultural wealth and values. Through the initiative of the Binirayan Foundation, headed by Alex de los Santos and with a grant from the National Commission on Culture and Arts, four komedyas were presented which were also opportunities of different towns to tap the hidden talents in their communities.

The barrio of Guinbanggan, Lauaan presented “Gugma kag corona ni Gracia (the corn and love of Gracia)”, Madrangca in San Jose presented “Leonaria” and “Ludovico” while San Antonio, Barbaza presented “Ang mga peste sa parayan (Pests in the ricefield)”.

Binirayan was the brainchild of the late Gov. Evelio B. Javier, who sensed that Antiqueños needed to be proud of their roots and history in order to stand proud and compete in the world.

History says one day in the year1240, ten Bornean datus fleeing the oppressive rule of Sultan Makatunaw landed in Malandog where they found the hospitable Atis or Negritos.

Since last year, Binirayan festivities skipped the re-enactment of the barter of Panay. De los Santos said doubts are being raised on the truthfulness of the “purchase” of Panay island from the Atis with a golden salakot and a necklace by the Bornean datu.

De los Santos said, “Always in theatrical presentations, the scantily clad Atis are depicted as “manul”, awed with the Bornean’s glittering costumes and jewelry. The barter of Panay motif connotes that they do not give importance to the land, having given it up for the price of a golden salakot.”

De los Santos said, “If we try to look at it in another way, the Ati respect the land. They do not think they own it or they should own it. Land is for every one. It is free, it should give life to all. That is why it was easy for them to make room for foreigners, who were only too thankful for their hospitality they gave the most precious item they had with them, which was perhaps the golden salakot.”

De los Santos further said, through this perspective, Binirayan is the celebration of Antique as the land of the free and the bountiful.