51st Binirayan Festival opens, honors Antique’s heritage

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Story and photos by Mariela Angella Oladive

The 51st Binirayan Festival formally opened Monday, Dec. 15, at Barangay Malandog in Hamtic, Antique, marking another year of honoring the province’s shared history and identity rooted in the ideals of peace, justice, dignity, and freedom.

In his message during the opening ceremony, Provincial Administrator Atty. Robin Rubinos, representing Antique Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier, said the Binirayan Festival goes beyond legend or myth, describing it as a unifying narrative that Antiqueños call home.

“This festival created an anchor where our people—who for the longest time suffered poverty and ignorance, and whose self-esteem was trampled because of the stigma of being called sacada, muchacha kag ati—can rise from the ashes and emerge as a generation ready to defend their home, their Binirayan, the place where they sailed to,” Rubinos said.

Marnie Payne, speaking on behalf of the province’s lone district representative, Antonio B. Legarda Jr., echoed the sentiment, saying the festival serves not only as a celebration but also as a reminder of the roots and identity of the Antiqueño people.

“This is not just a celebration. It is an invitation to remember our heritage and to live out the legacy of our ancestors who chose freedom and peace,” Legarda said in his message.

The opening ceremony featured Panguyang, a traditional ritual involving food offerings to divine beings, environmental spirits, and ancestors, performed before planting or fishing to seek a bountiful harvest and protection from misfortune.

This was followed by the reenactment of the First Malayan Settlement, portraying the arrival of the 10 Bornean datus (chieftains) in the province, and concluded with a fluvial and torch parade.

The activities were participated in by six clusters composed of representatives from local, provincial, and national government agencies, non-government organizations, and the private sector.

Barangay Malandog is recognized as the historic landing site of the 10 Bornean datus in Panay Island, where giant statues of them have been erected.

Each sculpture stands 15 feet (4.57 meters) tall and weighs approximately five tons. They were created by sculptor John Alaban.

Meanwhile, the province’s 18 municipalities set up booths at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park for Pasundayag, an exhibit showcasing local products, attractions, and destinations, which ran until Dec. 29.

On Dec. 20, the municipalities will compete in the Malay Ati Tribe competition, dubbed the Battle of Festivals.

Themed “Live the Legacy: Antiqueño Spirit Shines in Binirayan Festival 2025,” this year’s celebration also honored the late Gov. Evelio B. Javier, the founder of the Binirayan Festival.