Bila-Bila Festival: Marinduque’s butterflies soar to greater heights

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond. — Irish Blessing

MANILA, Philippines - If Blessing and numerous other prominent people out there, among them Miley Cyrus who popularized the song  “Butterfly Fly Away” can drop good notes for the insect, the people of Marinduque have a unique way of paying tribute to this lovely creature.

Locally called “Bila-Bila Festival,” this colorful affair is held to highlight major occasions in the island province, notably town and community fiestas, provincial anniversary, and other equally important events.

In fact, the municipal government of the capital town of Boac has even enshrined the butterfly in a municipal ordinance entitled “Tree Farming and Butterfly Propagation Ordinance of 2002.”

Section 30 of the ordinance states; “Whenever appropriate, the release of butterflies shall become a regular feature of social gatherings such weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and anniversary celebrations, and shall become a regular feature of the traditional ‘putong’ and in welcoming of dignitaries, visitors and guests.”

“Putong,” which means crowning, is traditionally held to honor a birthday celebrator or a guest through song and dance punctuated by a shower of flower petals and coins as a symbol of good luck for the main persona of the event.

The provision virtually makes the butterfly a conspicuous member of the Marinduque society, apart from its natural role of enhancing the environment and providing a unique source of livelihood for the townsfolk.

Over the years, butterfly culture has been widely practiced by Marinduquenos as a lucrative backyard cottage industry, the chrysalis of which is being shipped out to butterfly enthusiasts all over the world who are willing to pay good money for the pupa or cocoon.

That means the butterfly species indigenous in Marinduque must have been bred and crossbred with their foreign relatives across the globe.

But that, obviously, is another story.

The Marinduquenos’ Bila-Bila Festival is akin to Baguio City’s Panagbenga or Flower Festival. While both events feature oversize flowers, the Bila-Bila places heavy preponderance on the butterfly — and the flowers — as a way of life for the locals.

“Butterflies are self-propelled flowers,” according to R.H. Heinlein.

Local restaurateur Aurora Majaba-Pitero says the butterfly festival takes Marinduque’s culture to greater heights. “This is a much-awaited affair and the people prepare for it, spending hard-earned money for costumes and all that just to be part of the celebration,” she says.

Apparently, the people of Marinduque don’t miss out on the concept of close interaction between the flowers and the butterflies because participants in the Bila-Bila Festival wear varicolored costumes signifying petals or silky butterfly wings. Without doubt, butterflies and flowers are by act of God, meant for each other.

“If the Moriones Festival of Marinduque is a big hit among local and foreign tourists, the Bila-Bila Festival is arguably bound to be another bestseller, considering the worldwide concerns about global warming and the environment in general,” says Erlie Manay, a retired provincial official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Manay recalls that it wasn’t too long ago when the event was conceptualized by a barangay leader who had an extremely passion for the butterfly. The practice soon caught up like wildfire among the other communities, and was eventually replicated throughout the province.

As the parade passes by, the atmosphere is undeniably charged with splendor and contagious merry-making.

A word of unsolicited advice though: Don’t forget your camera or videocam if you’re planning to partake of this wonderful event in the near or distant future. The memories are definitely worth keeping — and sharing — for a lifetime.