PGMA leads Binirayan Festival in Antique
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leads today, Wednesday, the annual celebration of Antique’s Binirayan Festival, an event that will be highlighted by an interpretative dance-drama of the evolution of the festival which started in 1974.
The Binirayan Festival commemorates the legend of the arrival of the 10 Bornean datus in the island of Aninipay now known as Panay. It’s permanent theme is "Retracing Our Roots, Celebrating Our Greatness.”
Binirayan literally means ‘where they sailed’ in the local dialect; and the festival traditionally opens with a fluvial parade from the pantalan (port) to Malandog Beach in Hamtic, believed to be the original settlement of the Bornean datus.
It features beauty pageants, cultural shows, street dancing, parades, arts and crafts exhibits, and the Komedya Antiqueña.
After gracing the festival, President Arroyo will witness the signing of the power supply agreement between the Antique Electric Cooperative and Asea One Power Corp. (AOPC), an independent renewable energy developer and power producer, for its 12-MW Biomass Power Plant.
The Chief Executive will also witness the signing of the exclusive sales agreement of rice husks between AOPC and the EN Rice Mill.
Asea One Power Corp. will build seven biomass power plants in Panay and Guimaras Island (25 MW installed capacity) and five other similar plants in Negros (50 MW installed capacity).
The President will likewise award certificates of ancestral domain title (CADT) covering 6,680 hectares in barangay San Agustin, Valderrama, Antique to 400 indigenous peoples headed by their tribal chieftain Widito Fernando.
The CADT awarding will be preceded by a Parada ng Lahi to be participated in by some 3,000 residents. (PNA)