Binanog Festival: The dance of the hawks
Lambunao prides in the beauty of its natural resources. Its enchanting landscapes of verdant hills and valleys, and hundreds of waterfalls add luster to its countryside charm. The rich lush forest cover, provides refuge to its various flora and faunas endemic to the area. Mountain villages are also a home to indigenous people, who, to these days, keep a distinct culture and oral literature. One could also observe the history of the towns heroism and patriotism. Other than its beautiful landscape is also a ingenuity of its culture in a known tradition, the Binanog Dance. The dance is an imitation of the movement of the 'Banog' or hawk.
Legend tells that the Lambunaonons forefathers who then were living in the mountains realizing that their grown chicken has slowly disappeared went into the depths of the forest. And as they go along they saw a male and a female hawk chasing each other. In their awe of watching the birds, they imitated their (birds) movements which they term as 'Binanog'. From then on the said movement became a dance and was handed down from one generation to another. It is also known to the villagers as a dance of love and courtship.
To this day, the practice of the dance is adapted and has become an annual activity dubbed, 'Binanog Festival'. Where the townsfolk gathers in the plaza to witness the festivity of food, fair, contest and the like are done. A beauty pageant is also done and highlighting the event is the competition of tribes from the different areas in the town. Where the contestants (tribes) in their best costumes dance the Binanog with their own creative touch. They dance the Binanog in the beating of the drums, bamboo instruments and other native instruments. There are also street dancing and other competitions in the whole duration of the feast. And this year, Lambunao soars high its 2005 Binanog Festival with the competing tribes, (4) in the Junior and (2) senior's category last January 8. The tribes in their colorful costumes dance their best in executing their Binanog steps.
This year's competing tribes for the Junior Category were: Tribu Sidlanganon of DELMES, Lambunao East, Tribu Baludnon of Pajo, Elementary School, Lambunao West, Igcora Tribu Ilahas of DIRMS, Lambunao West and Tribu Kumbira of Caninguan Central School, Lambunao West. Tribu Kisay-kisay of Lambunao National High School and Tribu Banaba of Binabaan National High School competes for the Senior's Category. Six special awards were also given to close the activity in the evening. The awards given were: Best in Performance, Choreography, Music, Costume and Most Disciplined. The winners in the junior category for Best Performance, choreography, music and costume was Tribu Igcora Ilahas. While the Most Disciplined also of the same category was Tribu Baludnon. In the Senior's Category Best in Perfomance went to Tribu Banaba and the Best in Choreography, Music, Costume and Disciplined was Tribu Kisay-Kisay.
The Municipality of Lambunao also thanks its sponsors: Coca-Cola Bottler's Phil. Inc., San Miguel Beer Corp., Inc., Negros Navigation, House of Sara Lee, Metro Singko Pension and Fudmart, Lake Purified Drinking Water and Mrs. Ann Catedrilla Seisa of Los Angeles, California for the 2005 Binanog Festival.