Batangnons To Celebrate Father’s Day Dec. 31

by Benny Cortes

The Municipality of Batan, Aklan since 1930 has been honoring its fathers by celebrating Father’s Day every December 31. It was interrupted only during World War II for four years in 1941 to 1944.
This year’s celebration is its 176th founding anniversary with Reynaldo C. Lopez as Father of the Year for 2008. Most of the founding fathers have passed away in the great beyond. They left the younger set of fathers to continue on with the Batangnon tradition.
The pioneering fathers of the 1930’s of this town of Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw has main purpose in celebrating Father’s Day. It aims to unite the heads of families in recognition of the vital role they play in life and in society. They are responsible for the well being of their children. Father is a hero in every child’s life.
Batan maybe the only town in Aklan, if not in the entire Philippines circa 1930, which celebrates Father’s Day every New Year’s Eve. It’s a “red letter” day for all Batangnons and a much awaited date of the year. Batangnons in other places make it a point to have their visits to their hometown to coincide with the annual tradition.
The ceremonial opening of the Fathers’ Day celebration usually starts at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, socials, meet and greet each other most especially from far away places. Then singing of the national anthem, invocation, fellowship dinner, special presentations, introduction of the Father of the Year 2008 and his family, welcome address, Rigodon de Honor participated in by illustrious fathers with their spouses and family, recognition of Batan’s distinguished fathers, parade of past fathers and spouses and family members, then dance…dance…dance with an orchestra and combo playing snappily full of life.
Election and proclamation of the next Father of the Year is held where the elected Father of the Year is “showered” with beer by fans and friends carrying him around the hall cheered and applauded by all attendees. He will then be presented with a cane, hat and a lechon head.
His acceptance speech as incoming Father of the Year follows. Fireworks display and a midnight mass usher in welcoming the New Year.
The success of the affair is measured by the number of dancers participated in by parents, the amount and quality of food, and drinks consumed and fun radiated. /MP