Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Porac celebrates 3rd Binulo Festival (Sun.Star, Sunday, November 18, 2007)

Porac celebrates 3rd Binulo Festival
By Ian Ocampo Flora

PORAC -- Young bamboo stalks line the town hall here in what could be the youngest festival of cooking food and rice – the old fashion way.

The “Binulu Festival,” which started in 2005 highlights, the cooking of rice and other food stuffs using a variety of bamboo called “Bulu.”

The young slender stalks of Bulu are cut into even sizes.

Rice and water is then placed inside the empty reeds and then placed over fire just enough to heat up the contents of the reed.

The Binulu Festival was held at the town hall Saturday and was participated by town officials, indigenous groups and local folks.

According to Porac Mayor Rogelio Santos, the tradition of cooking food into bamboo reeds traces it roots from the Aetas that live in close proximity with the villages of the town. “We want this tradition to live on and be passed on to future generation,” Santos said, adding that there are few Aetas now who still cook food using Bulu.

The town first organized the festival in 2005 with then Parish Priest Resty Lumanlan as part of the annual Fiesta celebration in honor of the town patron -– Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

The organizers first started with simple demonstrations of how the process of cooking with Bulu was done. The Aetas of Zambales taught the art to military personnel and tourists as a jungle survival technique. Officials here say that the cooking process could be very helpful on jungle or mountaineering trips.

“This festival would surely kick off well and would have the same popularity as other festivals in due time,” Santos added. The Binulu Festival gave the people the chance to see how the cooking process is done. There will also be taste test on the food cooked in the bamboo reeds.

The Binulu Festival is part of the “Pyestang Porac” celebration, which is a five-day long celebration staring today and would culminate on November 24, the official feast day of the town. Santos added that local folk are welcome to witness the events and be part of an old tradition that is slowly finding its way into the way of life of modern day Porac people.

Officials here are saying that the festival would be given enough market attention on the coming years and is expected to be placed into the level of other festivals in province.

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