AS the people and city government of Biñan, Laguna have already demonstrated last year, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic cannot deter them from celebrating their rich and diverse culture.
For the second straight year, the city government through the Biñan City Culture, Heritage, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) is celebrating the city’s Puto Latik Festival through online because of the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Food and dance
“This is our 11th year of celebrating this festival, pero ito na ang ikalawang taon natin na online [ang selebrasyon],” BJ Borja, head of BCHATO, told OpinYon during a special Facebook live forum held on May 14.
The Puto Latik Festival celebrates two unique trademarks of Binan’s culture: the iconic Puto Biñan, one of the city’s most famous delicacies; and the Maglalatik folk dance which reportedly originated in the city.
Originally held every first week of February, the celebrations were moved to May 15 to 23 in 2017 in order to coincide with the feast day of Biñan’s patron saint – San Isidro Labrador, the patron of Filipino workers.
The celebration was also moved to differentiate the Puto Latik Festival from a separate festival held during the month of February – the Araw ng Biñan, which commemorates Binan’s cityhood anniversary as well as the liberation of the city from the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II.
Online celebration
This year, the continuing Covid-19 pandemic once again proved to be a challenge to BCHATO, as Biñan City is under a general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until May 31.
However, the success of the 2020 virtual celebrations of the Biñan Puto Latik Festival had given the department enough confidence that they could still make this year’s celebration a meaningful one for Biñanenses even with the restrictions.
“Dito sa ating Puto Latik Festival 2021, wala talagang mass gathering na magaganap – purely online lang talaga ang lahat [ng events],” Borja explained during the forum.
“So malaki talaga ang paghahanda na ginagawa ng BCHATO sa paggawa ng mga video material para kahit pandemiya at nasa kanya-kanya tayong mga bahay ay tuloy ang ligaya.”
Among the roster of activities set up by the BCHATO include virtual concerts and singing contests, film showings, webinars, a virtual Hybrid Cook-off Challenge, a TikTok dance challenge called “MaglalaTIKTOK,” and a virtual Santacruzan.
The team of Melissa Lachica, Hilda Espeleta and Liza Almadovar of Barangay San Vicente won the Puto Biñan cook-off challenge with their winning entry, "Puto crispy dinuguan with kakang gata con latik."
The festivities also included a “Misang Bayan” attended by the city’s top officials last May 15, a “Paseo ng Banda” featuring roving bands, and the visitation of the Marian image called “Reyna ng Biñan” at the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church.
Last May 17, the “Ang Magpuputo” marker was also unveiled in front of the Binan City Hall, honoring the men and women engaged in the city’s puto-making industry.
Accolades
This year, Biñan City is also celebrating a series of accomplishments and awards given to the local government amid the continuing pandemic.
Last April, the city was cited by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the timely and efficient distribution of the cash assistance from the national government to all of its residents.
Outstanding companies honored
And as a way of “payback,” the local government also took the opportunity to give its appreciation to the companies and individuals which gave assistance to the city’s efforts to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the “City of Life Awards 2021,” the following barangays and corporations were given recognition by the city government:
Top Ten Taxpayers of Biñan City:
1. Isuzu Philippines Corporation
2. Atlas Copco Philippines
3. Nagase Phils. International Service Corp.
4. Toyota Boshoku Philippines Corp.
5. Elematec Philippines
6. Gardenia Bakeries (Philippines) Inc.
7. Metro Drug Inc.
8. Honda Trading Philippines Corporation
9. Epiroc Philippines Inc.
10. Keyence Philippines Inc.
Outstanding barangays
- Barangay San Vicente (Outstanding Lupon Tagapamayapa and Outstanding Barangay Peace and Order Council)
- Barangay Sto. Domingo (Outstanding Barangay Coucil for the Protection of Children)
- Barangay Malamig (Outstanding Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Desk Officers)
- Barangay Langkiwa (Outstanding Solid Management Implementer)
- Barangay Canlalay (Outstanding Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council)
Outstanding Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT):
- San Vicente
- Dela Paz
- Langkiwa
- Malaban