What is Bayambang, in a nutshell?
A newspaper columnist, Arch. Paulo Alcazaren, once used this as headline of his column after visiting the town: "Binasuan, buro, and Bayambang."
It is indeed a quick distillation of the town's essence, but is it fair? Is there more to Bayambang than meets the eye?
Historically, the name of the town is derived from the bayambang or kulibangbang plant (some say balangabang), the variety of Bauhinia with white flowers, the young butterfly-shaped leaves of which are used as souring agent for fish or meat dishes.
In the cultural realm, in general, a fair appraisal of Bayambang's cultural profile should include more items.
In the culinary aspect, the town is admittedly known for its freshwater fish buro, but it is also known as the place where the binuburan originated. Other local delicacies considered to be the town's specialties include gipang produced in Brgy. Amanperez, deremen in nearby barangays, and rice crackers produced in Brgy. Sancagulis.
INNOVATIONS: Lola Doray's odorless buro, nicely packaged rice crackers and gipang packaged like Japanese senbei. Also, 1Food's vegetable chips, preferably a mixture of veggies called Pinakbet Chips.
To illustrate the way we were, photos or miniatures of ancestral houses and the traditional bahay kubo would be recommended.
INNOVATIONS?: A kubo dollhouse containing miniatures of traditional housewares would be an instant hit among visitors. It would be a big help in drawing visitors to have these miniatures on sale at the Museum Cafe.
Bayambang is not only known as the place of origin of the binasuan dance. There are two more dances invented here: the sayaw na sumisigay and the siwi-siwi. The town is also known for its Matalunggaring Dance Troupe, so videos of the award-winning performance of this group of these three native dances would be an attractive form of presentation.
It is also known for its Pangkat Kawayan, a band that uses bamboo musical instruments. A display of actual instruments would welcome visitors to have a tactile and aural experience as they try their hand on playing each instrument.
INNOVATION: Specimens of CSFirst Green's engineered bamboo products and the host of possibilities contained in it.
Two bamboo implements that would spark the outsider's curiosity would be the kung-kong and the bongbong. The kung-kong reminds of an ancient way of communication in the barrios of old and its egalitarian way of living, reminiscent of practices like tagnawa, while bongbong is an old-fashioned explosive device to celebrate New Year which represents the versatile uses of bamboo. Helpful annotations should accompany these representative cultural artifacts.
Bayambang is also known as the place where the Tour of Luzon was first held, so an old bicycle would be a fitting display, supported by old photographs, old news clippings, and a text of backstory that mentions Atty. Geruncio 'Gerry' Lacuesta and his famed cycling tour.
The town is also known as the holder of the Guinness World Records' longest barbecue, so there should be a minimalistic display commemorating that feat.
INNOVATION: Today, it can't be helped that Bayambang is often associated with the second Guinness World record in its annals: the world's tallest bamboo sculpture (supported) at 50.1+ meters at the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, taller than both Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA.
Traditional small-scale industries in Bayambang include the manufacture of caretelas (carrocerias), bolos (barang), bamboo baskets called tiklis, karitil (abaca? rope), ice cream, etc. Newer ones include the production of rags and La Presa hats.
INNOVATIONS: Bayambang's Best Longanisa, PSU FIC food products especially vacuum-fried snacks, 1Food Corp.'s products
Bayambang is also a known as a town of healers using indigenous healing modalities.
Exhibit: Description and illustration of panaggulgol, -ilot, -suob, -gaton, -larak, etc., including herbal medicine.
INNOVATION: Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center offering modern as well as alternative holistic medicine.
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