SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique -- December is busy and joyous month for the Antiquenos as they celebrate two important occasions, Christmas and the start of their civilization as depicted in the Binirayan Festival.
Antique Board Member Eugene Alojipan, who chairs the Lin-ay Committee, said he feels excited with this year’s search for Antique Muse (Lin-ay in local dialect) with all 18 municipalities being represented as highlight of the Binirayan Festival and Christmas celebration.
“I think it was back in 1997 when all municipalities had their lin-ays,” he said.
He said that the Lin-ay pageant is most prestigious and looked forward to by people even in neighboring provinces of Western Visayas for it is a contest of beauty and wit of the Antiqueno ladies.
“The winner also must have the heart to serve her home province,” he said. The grand coronation will be on December 29.
Cash prizes are also at stake and it would be PHP100,000 as grand prize for the Lin-ay.
The Binirayan Festival, celebrated for the entire month, kicked off on December 1 with the transformation of EBJ Freedom Park into a Christmas wonderland with all the lights and decorations followed by a fireworks display.
Antique Governor Rhodora J Cadiao said the festival is being celebrated every December because it is also the time when Antiquenos from all over the world come home to celebrate Christmas here.
Binirayan comes from the word “biray” meaning sailboats coming to the shores of Antique. In Philippine history, the 10 Malay datus who became the ancestors of Filipinos fled from their tyrannical ruler in Borneo on board the sailboats. The datus in search for peace arrived in the coast of Malandog in the then capital town of Antique where they established their first settlement or barangay. (PNA)
