Streets of Dinagat Islands’ town turn flavorful this Holy Week with its ‘Binignit Festival’
By Renelle L. Escuadro
During Binignit Festival, the households in all 12 barangays of the town with 26,735 population (2024 census) will cook binignit, a Filipino delicacy made from rice gruel with fruits and tubers, stewed in coconut milk along with sugar and ‘sago’ or tapioca pearls.
San Jose Mayor Ruben D. Zuniega shared the collaboration behind the festivity in its second year in support of meaningful Holy Week observance, as well as a strategic initiative to boost the tourism sector of the town and the province, especially with the onset of summer vacation. “This community engagement is spearheaded by the barangay officials, including the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and the local government of San Jose through the Municipal Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (MTCAO).”
“Ang festival naghatag og bili sa espiritu sa Puasa, pagkahiusa, ug pagpamalandong sa panahon sa Kuwaresma. Usa kini ka higayon aron maghiusa, magtinabangay, ug lig-onon ang atong komunidad” (The festival gives value to the spirit of penitential fasting as we prepare and reflect for Easter, an opportunity for unity and cooperation to strengthen the community),” Mayor Zuniega said.
“Dad-a ang inyong pamilya, mga higala, ug lingawa ang usa ka hapon nga puno sa init, kalami, ug panaghiusa samtang ipakita sa atong mga barangay ang ilang pinakamaayo ug pinakalami nga binignit” (Please bring your family and friends and let us all enjoy the afternoon filled with warm and delicious binignit, while we showcase the unity of all our barangays, and we also cook the best binignit), the mayor said.
“Kita-kits, San Jose! Magsaulog kita sa atong kultura, mga bili, ug pagkalig-on nga komunidad” (See you all, San Jose! Let us celebrate our culture, values and community resilience).
According to MTCAO, for this year, the festival will feature a parade of binignit in the town’s main streets going to the PBMA Shrine in Barangay Aurelio, where everyone – locals, tourists, and travelers can stop by and have a free taste of the dish.
San Jose Municipal Information Officer Jurie Mancia also relayed that every barangay will cook binignit, and all will be pooled together to create a vibrant street full of binignit where everybody is invited to eat. “Last year, 700 individuals participated in the activity. This year, the LGU is targeting to have at least 1,000 people join and bring vigor to the Binignit Festival.”
Meanwhile, the town of San Jose serves as the provincial capital and the gateway of the island province. It offers tourism portfolios, such as culture and heritage, pristine beaches, festivals, and gastronomy, among others.
It is where locals and tourists come, revisit, and witness in awe the heritage site of PBMA Shrine and the Islander’s Castle, and be zestful at Don Ruben island-hopping gateway and the Santa Cruz beach resort.
The municipality also offers unique edifices such as the flamboyant Japanese warship-inspired IJN Yamashiro People’s Hall Building, and the nearly finished Magellan-Elcano’s Galeon Victoria replica ship to serve as the Provincial Tourism, Culture and Heritage Center, both located in Barangay Cuarinta. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from San Jose MTCAO)
