As simplified as the 2026 celebration of the Puto Latik Festival in Biñan City, Laguna may be due to the current energy crisis, city officials believe the best way to get through the emergency is to let every Biñanense and tourists have a good time.
After all, as Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) head BJ Borja has emphasized countless times, the main goal of the Puto Latik Festival is to promote the city’s vibrant economy, rich cultural heritage, and talented people.
“Isang paraan ang Puto Latik Festival para ma-preserve yung traditions natin, gaya ng sayaw na maglalatik. Pero it’s also a form of branding, na gusto mong makilala na ito ay heritage ng Biñan,” Borja told OpinYon Laguna.
The Puto Latik Festival, held from May 15 to 23, honors two tangible products of Biñan City’s culture, history and economy: the “Maglalatik” dance and the Puto Biñan delicacy.
Many of the original activities of the Puto Latik Festival, including the much-anticipated "Puto Biñan 2.0: The Biñan Cook-Off Challenge," have been retained.
However, Borja said there have been major adjustments to these activities in line with the austerity measures being implemented due to the current energy crisis.
“For instance, yung Gawang Biñan Trade Fair, bawal sila magsaksak sila ng kuryente. Dapat renewable energy. Sa mga events na yan, may mga nakapasok na mga energy conservation rules,” he explained.
Are festivals still relevant?
Amid the ongoing crisis – and the rise of social media and artificial intelligence – Borja also stressed the importance of live events in bringing out the Biñanense’s pride and love of their own unique culture.
“Kailangan ma-experience mo ang festival para makita mo yung effect. Kasi hindi pwedeng digital ang tawa. Hindi pwedeng digital ang mga ngiti. Hindi pwedeng digital yung pangdamdam. Kailangan na kukuha mo yan on-site,” he said.
Unlike the two celebrations of the Puto Latik Festival in 2020 and 2021 which were largely held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Borja believes that the in-person events during the Puto Latik Festival is the ideal way of conserving and preserving the city’s vibrant culture and traditions.
“Ang live events kasi, may itinuturo siyang values sa atin,” he pointed out. “Ang live events, tinuturuan tayo kung paano magpaka-Pilipino, kung paano mas maging proud sa mga mayroon tayo. At iyon ang pinaka-konsepto ng turismo: you go to a locality to experience the local.”
Safeguarding traditions
Given the recent popularity of AI-generated and AI-enhanced photos of the past in social media, Borja also expressed his conviction that through the Puto Latik Festival, Biñanenses of a new generation will be able to experience first-hand the traditions of the past.
“AI…can recreate and beautify a version of Biñan that feels real but was never entirely true. Minsan, it creates a version of the past that never existed at all. Pero dahil convincing and done to monetize view, people begin to believe that it actually happened,” the BCHATO head noted.
Coupled with the powerful impact of nostalgia, of a longing for an idealized version of the past that “simpler, lighter, and more familiar” – Borja said the Puto Latik Festival is a powerful tool to revisit the past, make Biñanenses understand how their city has progressed through the years, and encourage them to become active participants towards its bright future.
“Hindi natin kailangan i-romanticize ang kakulangan para ma-appreciate ang nakaraan. We can honor our memories without distorting the truth. Hindi lahat na nakakamiss ay dapat balikan. Minsan, paalaala lang siya kung gaano nakalayo ang ating narating. Gamitin natin ang kasaysayan to move forward, to build more progress para sa ating hinaharap,” he said.
The Biñan City Puto Latik Festival was chosen as "Best Cultural Event - Champion" during the Association of Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines' ATOP National Tourism Pearl Awards last October 2025.
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