Aguman Sanduk (Fellowship of the Ladle)
Date January 1
Venue Minalin, Pampanga
Description The Aguman Sanduk of Minalin is celebrated in the afternoon at 2 p.m., January 1 (start at Sto. Domingo Church), while the rest of the country takes a break from the previous night's New Year revelry, and there's no one to catch the boys and men of this sleepy fishing town wear their mother's lipstick and put on their wive's dresses. The strange and largely secret tradition began in 1934; even Mayors and parish priests are said to have also joined hundreds of men who parade annually on the street in full transvestite bloom. At the end of the day they choose the Aguman queen, who is usually the ugliest of the cross-dressers.
Contact Engr Eduardo Rivera, Municipal Planning & Development Office (MPDC)
Tel. No. (63 45) 878-0306 / 0919-557-4019 Email [email protected] Website www.minalin.com.ph
Apung Iru Fluvial Parade
Date June 28 - 30
Venue Apalit, Pampanga
Description The Apung Iru Fluvial Parade in Apalit, Pampanga begins on June 28 when the ivory image of St. Peter, sitting on a papal throne, is transferred by boat from its permanent shrine in Brgy. Capalangan to Brgy. Sulipan, and culminates on June 30 when the image is returned. Thousands of devotees line both sides of the river shouting, waving leaves and flowers, and splashing in frenzy as the layered pagoda bearing the statue passes by accompanied by hundreds of boats. The floating pagoda, which bears the brass band and about 70 people dancing the traditional Kuraldal, is pulled along the river by swimmers who call themselves the Knights of St. Peter. During the fluvial procession, thousands of revelers on the riverbanks perform the annual shower of packed food containing boiled eggs, rice, and canned sardines meant for the swimmers. The annual event never fails to attract thousands of local and foreign tourists. Contact Jedd Dalusung (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63 45) 302-8853 / 5233 / 7033 Website www.apalitpampanga.com
Caragan Festival
Date 3rd Week of February (every three years)
Venue, Mabalacat, Pampanga
Description Held every 3rd week of February as part of the month-long celebration of the town fiesta of Mabalacat, Pampanga, the event is named after the first chieftain or king known as Garagan of the said town who happens to be an Aeta and married to a Mabalaquena named Laureana Tolentino. The highlight of the festival is the street parade featuring all of Aeta culture and heritage. Contact Edgardo "Guy" Hilbero (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63 45) 499-1126 Mobile 0922-859-6663 Email [email protected] Website www.mabalacat.gov.ph
Dukit Festival / Feast of Apung Tiago
Date December 28 - 30
Venue Betis, Guagua, Pampanga
Description During the feast of Apung Tiago on December 28 to 30, seven or eight marching bands alternately play their best symphony at 10 a.m. in front of the church campanile—which is called La Tore (The Tower)—to pay tribute to the Virgin Mary. At night, these bands would then play their opus for the event called Serenata. In tandem with this is the Dukit Festival, begun by dancers in costumes with woodcarving motifs. Roughly on its fourth year (in 2013), the festival is a competition among woodcarvers in Betis, aiming to inspire the younger generation with the beauty of the art and its contribution to the material culture that defined the Betis community. It is usually held within the church's compound, entertaining church goers and visitors from out of town. Locals join the competition not just because of the rewards and big prize money they can get. It is to show the young generations that there are still mandukit who retain the old traditions and culture of Betis. In the Metro Manila Film Festival held in 2013, as an entry in the New Wave Category, “Dukit”, for which Betis as the woodcarving capital was produced bagged the major awards: Best New Wave Film, Best Director for New Wave Category, and even got a triple tie for Best New Wave Actors—Bor Oampo, Willy Layug, and Bambalito Lacap. Shot entirely in Betis with the vanishing wood carving tradition as the backdrop, the story was culled from famous sculptor Willy Layug's life as a peg. Tandem Brillantes Mendoza and Armando Lao co-produced the film including line producer Ruston Banal and cinematographer Diego Dobles. It is that year’s Best New Wave Picture. (Source: Ruston Banal, 12/28/13)
Duman Festival
Date 1st Saturday of December
Venue Sta. Rita, Pampanga (Parish church patio)
Description The annual Duman Festival is a culinary exposition cum cultural show where people can eat the best Kapampangan food "al fresco" and in the comfort of traditional and contemporary Kapampangan songs and performances under the shadow of the Sta. Rita Parish Church. The festival is also in honor of the local delicacy called Duman. It is a Christmas delicacy that is made from young gluttonous rice which is a variety of palay. It originated from the tradition of pounding and winnowing unripe glutinous rice (lacatan) and turning it into a light pale gold or green delicacy called "duman." The glutinous rice is harvested just before it gets ripe and continuously pounded amidst song and merriment. During harvest, mature kernels fall off. (Source: Sunstar Pampanga, issue 11/30/08) Contact Adolfo Zapanta (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63 45) 900-2277 Mobile 0918-322-0076 Email [email protected]
RELATED ARTICLES: "Duman" is a variety of glutinous rice or "malagkit" grown only in Sta. Rita (Brgys. Sta. Monica and San Agustin). Planting begins in June and harvest is in November when the cool air keeps the rice kernels fall off. The prized duman are the young greenish kernels that stay on the stalks. The way to get the duman is to shake the stalks. The greenish grains are gathered, watered and toasted for two hours. The grain is pounded then winnowed to separate chaff from grain. Unlike the regular rice variety, which can be planted and harvested three times a year, 'duman' can only be harvested in the cool air of November and December, otherwise it will not be a bountiful one. For every hectare, a farmer can produce only a maximum of 4.5 cavans of duman, while a maximum of 300 cavans can be harvested from the regular rice variety. It is not surprising then that duman is sold at a whopping price of P800 a kilo! During the festival, everyone gets to see the rice being pounded to music provided by a "rondalla" onstage. Thick chocolate drinks are whisked with a "batidor" in a "toskolatera." There are foods for sale at the festival site -"bibingka" and "puto bumbong", barbeque and other "suman." In 2005, a special presentation from the choir called Artista.Rita directed by a Sta. Rita native, Andy Alviz (resident choreographer of Miss Saigon Manila and producer of the famous album "Kapampangan Ku"), was featured.
HOW TO GET THERE: From the North Luzon Expressway, exit San Fernando, proceed to the Olongapo-Gapan Rd., go past Max's Fried Chicken then, when you see a Total gasoline station on the left and a giant Jolibee billboard on the right, turn left on the next intersection. For info, visit http://karen.mychronicles.net/?p=39 Credits: Micky Fenix, Counry Cooking, Phil. Daily Inquirer, 12/01/05 with excerpts from Claude Tayag, Phil. Star, 12/15/05) Contact Person Office of the Mayor Tel. No. (63 45) 900-2277
Fiestang Culiat
Date October 1 - 31
Venue Angeles City
In celebration of the twin fiestas of La Naval and Pyestang Apu. Several fun-filled activities are undertaken during the month of October, among which are: Capampangan Food Festival, Parade of Floats, Cultural Nights at the Museo ng Angeles courtesy of various religious and private organizations, Kundiman ning Angeles-Rigodon de Honor, Fiestang Culiat Car Show, golf tournament, boxing match, children's olympics, and of course the now famous Tigtigan at Terakan Keng Dalan every last Friday and Saturday of October. Contact Kuliat Foundation, Inc. c/o Museo ning Angeles, Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City (Kim Tinio) Phone (63 45) 887-4703 Mobile 0915-421-6606 Email [email protected] Website www.angelesmuseum.com
Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul)
Date Saturday before December 25
Venue City of San Fernando, Pampanga (SM City Pampanga)
Description: Rising at 18 feet in diameter and fitted with close to 7,000 bulbs that blink on and off through a number of rotors in sync with a medley of Filipino Christmas songs, these giant lanterns let out not less than 10 designs that feature geometric shapes, flowers, fans, cones and hearts glowing in all colours of the rainbow. The exhibition is usually capped by the opening of the innermost circle in half to reveal in full bloom what the lantern makers designed to be the showcase of their presentation like the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the grand applause from a crowd estimated at 20,000 each year. The festival is participated in by some 8-10 villages of the City San Fernando in Pampanga with each one creating its own design, colour combination and interplay of lights and sound. The city is known as the lantern capital of the Philippines.
HISTORY: The San Fernando lantern industry evolved from the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando. The festival, which is held every December, finds its root in Bacolor where a much simpler activity was held. Following the transfer of the provincial capital from Bacolor to San Fernando in August 1904, this parul event followed as well. 'Ligligan Parul'ť was said to have started in San Fernando in the year 1904. But some say that the 'Ligligan Parul' did not happen immediately after the transfer and in fact began in 1908. This predecessor of the modern day Giant Lantern Festival was actually a religious activity which we know today as 'lubenas'.ť The lanterns measured just two feet in diameter, a far cry from the fifteen feet that we see today. These were created in each barrio from bamboo and other locally available materials. During the nine-day novena before Christmas, which coincided with the simbang gabi from December 16 to 24, these paruls were brought around each barrio in procession to their visita. Before the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the lanterns were brought to the town church together with the barrio patrons. This tradition gradually evolved as the lanterns became bigger and the designs more intricate. Later, one big lantern was made for each barrio, which was created through a cooperative effort. Each resident contributed to its construction, from the concept and design to the materials and labor. In the end, these lanterns became a symbol of unity for the barrios. It was in the year 1931 that electricity was introduced to the San Fernando lantern, thus sparking the birth of the first Giant Lantern Festival. The added illusion of dancing lights highlighted the bright colors and intricate designs of these Giant Lanterns. At this time, the lights were controlled by individual switches that were turned on and off following the beat of the music. The barangays of Del Pilar, Sta. Lucia and San Jose were among the first barangays to participate in the festival. According to another version claimed by old folks, the Giant Lantern Festival started during the time of President Manuel L. Quezon. At that time, President Quezon was trying to make Pampanga a model province. In fact, Quezon made Arayat his resting place and converted the legendary Mount Arayat into a tourist resort. As a show of gratitude to Quezon, the people of San Fernando held a Christmas lantern contest to honor the first family. Quezon himself donated the prize for this lantern contest which was personally awarded to the winner by First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon. FERNANDINO CREATIVITY AT WORK: In years that followed, more innovations were introduced to the giant lanterns. Colored plastic replaced the traditional papel de hapon. Large steel barrels called rotors also substituted that hand-controlled swithches to manipulate the lights. Strips of masking tape on these rotors determine the sequence of the switching on and off of the lights. The technology of the rotor is quite simple. Hairpins, attached to the end of the wires leading to each bulb, connect the lights to the rotor, which in turn, is connected to the source of electricity. Strips of masking tape are placed on the metal rotor to serve as light switches. As the rotor is turned, the hairpins pass through the strips of masking tape. When a certain hairpin hits a strip of masking tape, the current to a specific set of bulbs is temporarily cut thus switching off that particular set of bulbs. When that particular hairpin regains contact with the steel barrel, the bulbs are again lit. Thus, the placement of the masking tape on the rotors determines the interplay of lights on the lanterns and can spell success or disaster for each entry. Thinking about it, one needs a lot of creativity and technical know-how in designing a giant lantern. It is not as easy as getting a pen and paper and drawing a symmetrical design. As the giant lantern maker visualizes his design, he also has to into consideration the interplay of lights and colors. And just to illustrate the magnitude of difficulty, the designer should be able to picture when each of the 3,500 light bulbs should go and off. And just to stress, no computers are involved in the interplay of lights. Everything is done manually, yet the result produced by the lantern makers of San Fernando can even rival light effects done by computers The design, however, is just a part of the actual labor involved in the creation of a giant lantern. Once this has been finalized, the lantern makers weld together a steel frame, which follows the design itself. This is the first step in the actual construction of the giant lantern. The frame is then lined with cardboard and foil. This is followed by another monumental task, placing the over 3,000 light bulbs in their proper places and wiring them up together. Even an expert electrical engineer would go crazy while working on this intricate network composed of hundreds of yards of electrical wires. The wires are then connected to the rotors. And let me stress rotors with an “s” since barangays have to change the interplay of lights with each tune. In fact, some barangays even use as much as eight to ten of these steel barrels for variety in movement. Finally, there is of course the plastic covering, which is cut and shaped precisely to fit each section. The Giant Lantern Festival is an inter-barangay contest. In past festivals, it really was a barangay effort and the best lantern makers of the barangay were called on to create the entry to the competition. During that time, each participating barangay had resident lantern makers. However, as years passed, many of these lantern makers were unable to pass on the trade. Today, only Del Pilar, Sta. Lucia, Dolores and San Jose can boast of resident lantern makers. So to keep the show on the road, other barangays have to rely on lantern makers from other localities. One of these commissioned giant lantern makers is Ernesto D. Quiwa of Barangay Sta. Lucia. Although from Sta. Lucia, he has actually created entries for other barangays. During the 2000 Giant Lantern Festival, Mang Erning created the entry for Barangay San Nicolas, which was adjudged the over-all champion for that year. His creations have in fact won the over-all honors in previous years including 1974, 1982, and a three-peat from 1993 to 1995. For the 2001 lantern competition, he again made the one for San Nicolas. In fact, aside from Sta. Lucia’s own entry and the entry of San Nicolas, it is said that two other lantern entries were being made in the same barangay. (Credits: www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph written by Anthony Ivan Henares) | Contact Ma. Lourdes Carmela Jade "Ching" Pangilinan (City Tourism Officer), Phone (63 45) 961-5684/ 3328 loc 211 Email [email protected] Website www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph
Ibon-Ebon Festival
Date 1st Week of February
Venue Candaba, Pampanga
Description One of the more colorful events in Pampanga, the Ibon Ebon Festival (literally means 'bird - egg') initiated by Mayor Jerry Pelayo features the municipality of Candaba as the home of thousands of migratory birds from different parts of the globe, and at the same time showcase its growing duck-egg industry. Among the activities featured during the two-day event include: street-dance performance by Tribung Dumara and other schools' contingents, exhibits and trade fair at the Ms. Earth Park, bird-inspired fite flying exhibition, itik race and boat race along Pampanga river.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
CANDABA SETS FIRST IBON-EBON FESTIVAL
Based on last year’s bird records and the results of the Asian Waterbird Census of this year, Candaba’s conservation effort works. At the same time, Candaba’s food production, including duck eggs, continues to grow.
The local government of Candaba led by Mayor Jerry Pelayo believes it is time to celebrate.
To further enhance awareness on Candaba’s twin efforts to promote ecotourism and food production, the first IBON EBON FESTIVAL of Candaba, a multi-activity festival featuring the now internationally popular birds (Ibon) of Candaba and the municipality’s growing duck-egg (Ebon) industry, will be held on February 1-2, 2008.
Mayor Pelayo wishes to share the festival with the various municipalities, schools and organizations since the festival message and intent is not only for Candaba but for the province and the rest of the country as well: “A balance between the needs of the people and those of the environment.”
Candaba’s Bird Record
In 2007 three new records were set by Candaba for the country’s bird history.
On December 17, 2007, a rare migrant to our islands, a new site record for Candaba - the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), was photographed by Romy Ocon, a known bird photographer.
And 3 days after on December 20 last year, Ocon again photographed at the same site, the Candaba Swamp Wildlife Reserve, another rare migrant bird species, the White-shouldered Starling (Sturnus sinensis), only known from 6 records in the country from 15 September to 25 March of the migration period, all before 1911 according to the Kennedy Guide on Philippine birds.
And finally on December 30, a really rare Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), shown below, was photographed by Tina and Wency Mallari at the same site. This is the first known record of this bird species in the country.
The results of the Asian Waterbird Census for 2008, the fourth to be conducted in Candaba, showed a 4-year high record of more than 17,000 birds comprising 49 species counted at the Candaba Swamp Wildlife Reserve.
The bird count was done with the combined efforts of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the DENR, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Kaakbay Community Development Initiatives and the local government of Candaba with the special participation of Ambassador Robert Brinks of the Netherlands.
The bird in the logo is the wild Philippine Duck, locally known as dumara and its scientific name is Anas luzonica. It is endemic to the country and now succesfully breeds in the Candaba Swamp. In the logo it shows hugging a domestic duck (itik) egg sitting on green grass symbolizing a healthy relationship between nature conservation and food production.
Patron Saint of the Birds of Candaba
The feast of San Nicolas de Tolentino (St. Nicholas of Tolentino) every September 10 has been associated with the coming of the migratory tarat (Brown and Long-tailed Shrikes) in Candaba. The image of San Nicolas in Candaba with a bird on a platter on his hand is now under the care of the family of Mayor Pelayo and is honored with a procession during his feast day and the traditional giving out of San Nicolas cookies. It is said that San Nicolas is a vegetarian and once he was served a roasted fowl. Instead of eating it he made a sign of the cross over it and it flew away. Over 300 miracles are attributed to him. San Nicolas will be honored during the Ibon-Ebon Festival. Contact Leny Manalo (Municipal Tourism Officer/Municipal Administrator) Phone (63 45) 632-1299 / 1339 Mobile 0917-324-5038 Email [email protected]
Kuraldal
Date Jan 10
Venue Sasmuan, Pampanga
Description The Kuraldal of Sasmuan occurs during the week of the town fiesta on January 6, when Kapampangans from neighboring towns gather in front of the chapel of St. Lucy and dance for favors all night. As soon as the mass ends at 8:00 p.m., the rowdy entry of the brass band signals the start of non-stop dancing that lasts till 3:00 a.m. Barren women are said to get pregnant after the festival. What is unique about this event is the mix of pagan and Christian elements shown in the tribal beat that the crowd dances to, and the rowdy adulation around the statue of St. Lucy. Contact Paciencia Suing (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63 45) 900-2504 Mobile 0916-647-5253 Email [email protected]
Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta
Date February 21 - 24, 2013
Venue Omni Aviation Complex, Clark, Pampanga
Description Held on a weekend of February in Clark, the annual festival features air-sporting events like hot-air balloon competition, aircraft maneuvers and precision flying, ultralights, RC Demonstration Flying, sky diving, aircraft rally, rocketeering, flag jump, balloon bursting competition, kite flying, trade fair, carnival rides and nightly concerts. The participation of international hot-air balloons from all over the world draws thousands of people to the site to witness the early morning balloon fly-out and late afternoon fly-in. The festival was initiated by the Department of Tourism in 1994 by then Secretary Mina Gabor to rescucitate the fledgling spirit of the Kapampangans - only three years following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The tourism regional office led by Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico handled the initial stages of the project in cooperation with Clark Development Corp. and the local government of Angeles City before turning it over to the Hot Air Balloon Club of the Philippines under the leadership of Capt. Joy Roa of Air Ads, Inc. in 1996. For information on the current festival, visit www.philballoonfest.net or http://www.philskies.net/library/pihabf2008/ or send query to [email protected][email protected][email protected] Contact Person Air Ads, Inc. (Capt. Joy Roa) Tel. No. (63 2) 833-3264 / 831-4939 / 551-2780 Fax No. (63 2) 831-4939 or call mobile : 0929-314-9191 Website www.flyaai.com or www.asianairsafari.com
Pampanga
Pyestang Tugak (Frog Festival)
Date 1st Week of October
City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Started in 2003 to perpetuate the beautiful traditions that emerged through the years in catching and cooking frogs that used to abound in the rice fields of Pampanga. The citizens of San Fernando have reserved a special day every year to honor this amphibian because of its important contributions to the environment, the economy and culture. It also resembles the Fernandino in many ways, including its resiliency.
Tradition. The frog is part of Kapampangan tradition and culinary culture. It is said that in the early days when the farmers were totally dependent on rainwater to irrigate their farms, the children would gamely catch the frogs while their elders were busy cultivating the land or planting rice. This game eventually became an opportunity for families to establish strong bond as the technique used in catching frogs evolved to the point of being ritualistic. It was not unusual to see families lined up on top of pilapil in many rice fields with their paduas on one hand and panyapu on the other. They would patiently wait for the frogs to bite the bulating tudtud as they move the paduas in slow horizontal direction. They do this very quietly so that the frogs would not be agitated. This practice was handed down to the succeeding generations. Up to this time, though their number has decreased, many families still carry this tradition as they catch frogs for their own consumption or for selling purposes. Frog Cuisines. Known for their virtuosity in their cuisine, the Kapampangan ultimately discovered the gastronomic attributes of the frog. Thus, recipes were formulated using indigenous ingredients. These include the betute which is a pun for butete. The latter is a Kapampangan word for tadpole. Betute, on the other hand, is dressed frog stuffed with minced frog meat or pork and some finely chopped ingredients.
Program of activities in 2007 included the ff:
1. Launching of Pyestang Tugak in the Flag Ceremony
Date and time: October 1, 8:00 am
Venue: City Hall
Description: Launching of the Pyestang Tugak will be incorporated in the City’s flag ceremony
2. Paduasan (Frog Catching)
Date and time: October 3, 6:00 am
Venue: Heroes Hall
Description: Open to all student and professional frog catchers.
3. Papyalung Tugak (Frog Games)
Date and time: October 3, 8:00 am
Venue: City Hall
Description: To be participated by students from different elementary schools in exciting games for the frogs and for the students.
4. Frog Parade and Mascot Costume Competition
Date and time: October 4, 6:00 am
Assembly: PHS
Route: PHS to B. Mendoza passing V. Tiomico turn to Essel Supermarket to City Hall
Description: To be participated by different secondary schools in the City. Each participating school will do one frog costume and a frog head dress to be presented in a parade.
5. kOCAk Tugak Jingle – Making Competition
Date and time: October 4, 8:00 am
Venue: City Hall Atrium
Description: Open to all secondary students and professionals. The composition must be original and in Kapampangan.
6. Mialiwang Lutung Tugak (Culinary Competition)
Date and time: October 5, 8:00 am
Venue: City Hall Atrium
Description: Open to all Fernandinos who have the most unique and exotic frog recipe may it be soup, appetizer, beverage or dessert but not main dish.
7. Ulam Tugak (Frog Cooking Contest)
Date and time: October 5, 1:00 pm
Venue: City Hall Atrium
Description: Open to professional and non-professional Fernandinos who have the unique frog dish.
Sabuaga Festival
Date Easter Sunday
Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Description: The Holy Week tourist trail in Pampanga has always invariably ended at the crucifixion rites of flagellants in Barangay Cutud in the City of San Fernando. In the religious celebration however, Christ’s death at Calvary is not the end of the Semana Santa: the passion of the cross being the prelude to the glory of resurrection. In once somnolent Sto. Tomas town, just seven kilometers south of the capital city, Easter Sunday has always been the centerpoint of the observance of the Holy Week. As a matter of course, Easter Sunday is celebrated as the fiesta in Poblacion, taking precedence over the official July 3 feast day of the patron St. Thomas the Apostle. Or yet again, the resurrection an occasion of celebration for the apostle too with his affirmation of the divinity of the Risen Christ thus: “Dominus meus et Deus meus” (My Lord and my God). Over the years, Thomasians have gladly acknowledged and observed Easter Sunday as the feast of all feasts. Those who already reside abroad or other nearby provinces always find time to go home and be with their cabalens (townmates) in commemorating the Maleldo (Holy Days).
So it has always been from the 19th century – said old folk local journalists interviewed in the early ‘60s yet – that Easter Sunday is honored with pomp and pageantry unique to Sto. Tomas.
While the salubong - the first meeting between the Virgin Mother and the Risen Christ – is celebrated in all Catholic churches, here the event is spiced up with a puso-puso – a multi-layered heart-shaped funnel (resembling like an inverted flower) that opens up at interval after each chanting of the Regina Caeli Laetare, raining confetti and petals on the image of the mourning Virgin Mother below until a little girl dressed as an angel descends from it to take the black veil off Mary. At this point, the curtain that separates the Mother and her Risen Son is opened for their joyful salubong.
The Easter procession then begins, with the town’s fairest maidens in their best ternos and formal gowns as sagalas - three ciriales, the cross and candle bearers at the lead; a banderada, the bearer of the Vatican flag, twelve pretty lasses called estabats (after their melancholic hymn Stabat Mater Dolorosa) who sing praises and shower with petals the Atlung Maria (Three Marys) symbolizing the Virgin Mother, Mary Magdalene and Mary Cleofas. By tradition, the center – the spot of the Virgin – is reserved for the most beautiful of the three sagalas.
The procession ends in church with a High Mass. By noontime, the faithful congregate anew at the churchyard for the burning of the effigy of Judas Iscariot.
Atop a scaffolding, “Judas” is ignited by pyrotechnic ravens and then twists, turns upside down, rotates and starts exploding from the legs up the arms, the body, and finally the head with the loudest bang.
That used to cap the annual Holy Week celebrations in Sto. Tomas. This year’s observance will have a fitting climax. From the old rites will be aborning the Sabuaga Festival.
Irwin Nucum, local culturati and songwriter, said Sabuaga comes from the combination of sabuag (scatter) and sampaga (flowers) – the sagalas’ showering of petals on the image of the Virgin Mary in “veneration of her keeping the faith and oneness with her Son in His sufferings, thus her rewards in His joyful resurrection.”
“It’s the signature uniqueness of the Holy Week rites in our town as the festival is aimed to complement and enhance our rich tradition on Easter Sunday in cooperation with the Municipality of Sto. Tomas to further boost our local tourism and promote our world-class products,” added Samuel Santos, chair of the town’s Holy Week 2010 Executive Committee.
Hence, petals and confetti will literally rain on the processional route around Poblacion, starting 2 p.m. of Easter Sunday (April 4) as revelers join groups coming from the town’s seven barangays in street dancing.
At the town plaza where the revelry culminates, the groups in their most exotic costumes will each do its own interpretative dance presentation, on the theme sabuag sampaga, naturally. Judges coming from the arts, culture and tourism sector will proclaim the winners.
A trade and industry component to the festival will be provided by the town’s one-barangay-one-product exhibit around the town plaza, with each barangay displaying its produce, notably the pottery and ceramics of Sto. Nińo, and the caskets of San Vicente.
Sto. Tomas is known as the casket capital of Central Luzon, if not of the whole country, having at one time supplied funeral parlors throughout the whole archipelago and even nearby Asian countries.
“In effect, Sabuaga will serve as a one-stop showcase of the spirituality, culture, and industry of the people of Sto. Tomas,” Nucum said.
Drawing full support from the local government unit led by Mayor Lito Naguit, nothing is left to chance in the debut of the Sabuaga Festival. No less than London’s West End veteran Andy Alviz has been designated as creative consultant to the festival.
Sabuaga at this early already promises to be a fitting climax to the Holy Week celebration in the province. Indeed, the Maleldo in the City of San Fernando should culminate in the Easter Sunday celebration and first ever Sabuaga Festival of Sto. Tomas! (Source: Bong Lacson, Columnist)
Contact Cristina Torres (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63 45) 961-4450 / 887-0586 Mobile 0919-852-3823 Email [email protected] / [email protected] Website www.stomaspampanga.com.
Sampaguita Festival
Date May 2 - 5
Venue Lubao, Pampanga
Description The festival celebrates a remarkable chapter in the town's history when, in 1572, the leader of a Spanish fleet that set sail to conquer Lubao handed over to Datu Macabulos the Holy Cross of the Crucified Christ as a symbol of peace, unity and goodwill. In return, the wife of Macabulos showered the Cross with Sampaguita garlands. Testimonies of countless favors and miracles associated with the Cross gave way to the construction of what is now known as one of the oldest churches in the country, Saint Augustine church. The Cross is now enshrined in the Holy Cross Parish in Brgy. Sta. Cruz where people are bound to offer Sampaguita flowers which are quite abundant in the area. Activities during the occasion includes Farmer's Day celebration, Sampaguita garland-making contest, Agri fair, street dancing, awards night.
Sinukwan Festival
Date December
Venue City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Description The Sinukwan Festival relives the Kapampangan spirit with a weeklong calendar of cultural revivals capped by a grand street-dance parade in the City of San Fernando, with some 21 towns outdoing each other to the tune of "Atin Cu Pung Singsing", It features hordes of gaily-dressed and gaudily crowned Pampangenos, native music and rituals. Organized annually by the Save Pampanga Movement, the festival memorializes Aring Sinukwan, an ancient mythical god, who is the epitome of Kapampangan culture. Activities include photo contest and exhibits, food and arts showcase (Lutong Kapampangan), Kapampangan singing competition, serenata and beauty pageant. Contact Ma. Lourdes Carmela Jade "Ching" Pangilinan (City Tourism Officer), Phone (63 45) 961-5684/ 3328 loc 211 Email [email protected] Website www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph
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