Edwin Trompeta, Western Visayas tourism regional director, dubbed Antique’s Binirayan as the mother of all festivals. “There would be no Ati-atihan in Kalibo, Dinagyang in Iloi-ilo, Maskara in Bacolod and Halaran in Capiz had the ten Bornean datu not landed in Malandog, Antique.
Antique Governor Sally Z. Perez and her staff led by Alex de los Santos, executive director of the Binirayan Foundation, Inc., are getting better and better in holding Binirayan because the one held two weeks ago was much more meaningful. Whole day activities were held in Malandog beach in the town of Hamtic.
In her speech, Perez explained the emphasis on the landing of the 10 Bornean datus rather than on the mythical barter of Panay.
“We dropped the idea of barter or purchase of Panay, because we saw that our ancestors, the Ati, the original settlers of this island are a noble people as much as the Malays are. They couldn’t have exchanged this land only for a golden sadok and a necklace. Our ancestor understood that they and we, for that matter – do not own the land.”
That concept was articulated by the Kalinga chieftain Macliing Dulag when they were being driven from the land they and their ancestors had lived on by the government that told them they didn’t own the land. Dulag said, “How can we own something that outlives us?” Perez said the Ati concept was, land is for all of us to share, not to possess nor trade off.
Perez continued, “We look at Binirayan with a new perspective now. It is a view of our own. It is a deliberation to shake off the colonial mentality that pervades in us. We want to give pride to our people. That is why in our new Binirayan, the Malays are welcomed not because they are superior than the Ati, but because they are people seeking for a peaceful place to live in. Thus the Binirayan is actually an occasion of friendship, sharing, and greatness. Thus, we are all gathered here today, not only re-enacting but reliving that event.”
The atmosphere was grand fiesta.Hamtic Mayor Julius Pacificador was the perfect host, seeing to it that everybody had eaten and having fun.
Very candid pictures indeed! Love those pennants on the walkway over the water. And the tons of food for the hearts’s delight … makes the mouth water. One odd observation though – nobody, with all that food, appears to be using any spoon or fork! Must be a kamayan feast. Talk about that Canadian teacher who berated the young boy eating with spoon and fork being a slob. No spoons and fork must be ‘slobber’.
There were spoons and forks for the squeamish. Your are right, it was kamayan for many.
That Canadian teacher who berated the Fil-am boy showed and proved that material prosperity does not necessarily broaden one’s mind and understanding of humankind.
Why do we eat? The main objective is to nourish our body.(The French of course, has made it an art.)
To do that (nourish our body) you have to bring the food that God has showered the earth, to the mouth. There are many ways to do that. In many Oriental countries like Japan. China and Vietnam, they use chopsticks. Europeans and other Westerners use spoon and fork. Other cultures use their hand.
There are different ways to do it. One method is no better than the other. That Canadian teacher should be educated on that aspect of human relations.
Ellen the issue of that Child who was deciplined by his teacher for “using spoon and fork” that happened in Roxboro in Quebec is now upon the commissioner of school to resolve. From there on, we are going to hear both sides of the story. This case might even go to the highest court of our land if any or both side won’t not get satisfactory resolution in lower courts. This will be another test of our constitutional rights. And it will make us better understand each other in the long run. In every society, no matter how progressive and no matter how fair the govt. policies and laws, individually there will be bigots and racists and ignorants among us. And I am glad we have proper venues to resolve all these nuisances and prejudices that besets us from time to time. So I’ll say let the process begins and we will be watching.
Yes, I have a good time during my month visit, but on the other hand it was a heartbreaking experience to witness firsthand the suffering and the misserable conditions lot of poor are subjected to. It is “social time bomb” that no one in our government seems to be concerned much until the day it will explode right in our faces. And explode it will if we keep ignoring it. thanks
Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use. ~ Emily Post
Thanks for the quote, David. Most appropriate.
Until Binirayan ’07.