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| Araquio of Penaranda |
Araquio of Penaranda
Date and Venue: Month of May, Penaranda and other towns,
Nueva Ecija
Held during the month of May in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija, the
Araquio Festival is a traditional procession and dramatization of the finding
of the Holy Cross by St. Helena and her son, the Emperor Constantine, where
Jesus Christ was crucified. Similarly, the komedya or moro-moro carries on in
some villages or barangays such as Poblacion, Las Pinas, Sto. Tomas, San Jose
and Pinasahan. Dating back from the Spanish colonial period, the festival
features vivacious beats of brass bands, spirited choreography and moving
voices embraced with a daunting literary piece. Written in ancient Tagalog, the
script tells about the feud of the Muslims and Christians that started over
territories. It shows how Christians used the power of the cross symbolizing
their faith in defeating the Muslims, who later retaliated by way of stealing the
cross from them. Many battles preceded the retrieval of the cross, which in the
end led to the Christening of the Muslims. Because the date of the feast varies
from one town to another, Nueva Ecija can be considered an Araquio province in
the month of May. This festival starts with a Eucharistic Mass celebration and
ends with the ever-elaborate Flores de Mayo. Each performing group is given a
day or two to perform in the town plaza, and thus it becomes a weeklong
presentation when there are many groups lined-up. Contact Joseph Mabalay
(Municipal Tourism Officer) Mobile 0906-331-9011 or contact Ms. Carolina Uy
(Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44) 982-3041
(trunkline) Mobile 0910-888-8288 / 0908-888-4858 Email caroline088@yahoo.com
Luyang Dilaw Festival
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| Luyang Dilaw Festival |
The name Marilao originated from a plant (shrub) that
abundantly thrived in swampy areas during Spanish era. The matured plant bears
light yellow flower & the edible roots are colored dark yellow (dilaw). The
yellow roots became famous and used for various purposes now we called
"luya". The purpose of the festival aims to inculcate in the minds of
residents and the youth, the love and appreciation for the town's origin. For
further details, please contact Joseph “Sonny” Cristobal (Provincial Tourism
Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44) 791-6604 / 2480 Mobile
0927-648-6916 / 0929-745-2566 Email sonnyjcristobal@yahoo.com /
bulacan_tourism@yahoo.com or log on to www.bulacan.gov.ph
Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival
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| May 12-15, Talavera, Nueva Ecija |
Celebrated during Farmers’ Week, the festival aims to
actively encourage, promote and enhance carabao’s milk as a nutrition and
livelihood industry. Highlight of the festival is street dancing followed by
float parade, parade of carabaos, carabao race, agri-trade fair, milk drinking
contest, ice cream making competition, among others. For further details,
contact Elman "Sonny" Maniquis (Municipal Tourism Officer) Phone (63
44) 411-1977 / 7950 / 0285 Mobile 0926-719-4815 / 0917-995-8126 Email
elmaniquis@hotmail.com / mtio_talavera@yahoo.com or contact Carolina Uy
(Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44) 982-3041
(trunkline) Mobile 0910-888-8288 / 0908-888-4858 Email caroline088@yahoo.com
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| Obando Fertility Dance |
Devotees from all over dance their way to find a lover or be
rewarded with a child on the feast days of San Pascual Baylon, Sta. Clara de
Asis and La Concepcion de Nuestra known as Virgen de Salambao every May 17 -
19. Be enthralled by rythmic dances of men and women accompanied by traditional
brass bands - all garbed in Filipiniana attire. LEGEND OF THE FERTILITY DANCE:
It is believed that the fertility dance originated from a miracle performed by
Saint Pascual Baylon (San Pascual Baylon) who was a member of the Franciscan
Order. He was very much blessed by the Holy Spirit, and to show his adoration
and respect for God, he usually danced merrily and with great devotion. Many
miracles were attributed to San Pascual Baylon. A story related that San
Pascual Baylon sometimes visit villages in Obando and other neighboring towns
disguised as a vinegar peddler. He then advised couples to go to the Obando
Church to pray for a child. Many followed the advice and to their surprise, the
image of San Pascual Baylon resembled that of Pascual, the vinegar peddler.
Believing that what happened to them was a miracle, they danced with joy in
front of the altar. And a few months later, many couples' faith was rewarded
with a happy baby. The account of the miracle spread and was told and retold a
thousand times, and soon devotees began flocking to Obando during the feast day
of San Pascual Baylon on May 17 to perform the annual fertility dance. For
further details, please contact Obando Tourism Council, Office of the Municipal
Mayor, Phone (63 2) 294-7097 Email dhey27nikki@yahoo.com or contact Joseph
“Sonny” Cristobal (Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone
(63 44) 791-6604 / 2480 Mobile 0927-648-6916 / 0929-745-2566 Email
sonnyjcristobal@yahoo.com / bulacan_tourism@yahoo.com or log on to
www.bulacan.gov.ph
Pastillas Festival
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| Pastillas Festival |
The festival is a tribute to one of the town's famous sweets
- pastillas de leche (carabao milk candies). The town was formerly known as San
Miguel de Mayumo, so called because it was renowned for the sweets made there.
Among the events in the festival are demonstrations on pastillas cooking and
the craft of making pabalat, the lacey pastillas wrappers made of rice paper.
The art of making the pabalat or pastillas wrappers has transformed in recent
years from being a local, folk tradition into a popular art. Besides adding
flair to the sweet pastillas de leche made from fresh carabao’s milk, the
pabalat has also become a compelling icon/symbol of the people’s creativity,
not only of the town of San Miguel but the entire province of Bulacan. For
further details, please contact, Municipal Planning and Development Office,
Phone (63 44) 678-2452 Fax (63 44) 764-0154 or contact Joseph “Sonny” Cristobal
(Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44) 791-6604 /
2480 Mobile 0927-648-6916 / 0929-745-2566 Email sonnyjcristobal@yahoo.com /
bulacan_tourism@yahoo.com or log on to www.bulacan.gov.poh
Pastores Festival
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| Pastores Festival |
The Feast of Divina Pastora is celebrated every 1st day of
May. Visitors come to the Shrine for prayer offering. They believe that the
patron is miraculous.For further details, please contact Ms. Carolina Uy
(Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44) 982-3041
(trunkline) Mobile 0910-888-8288 / 0908-888-4858 Email caroline088@yahoo.com
Paynauen 'Duyan' Festival
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| Paynauen 'Duyan' Festival |
Paynauen Festival in Iba, Zambales which commemorates the
provincial capital's founding anniversary (founded in 1611) traces its origin
from a Zambal word which means “rest” or “pahingahan” - the ancient name of Iba
before the Spanish conquistadores founded the village on the shore of the
Bancal River in 1611. The festival is the brainchild of Vice Mayor Benjamin
Farin, Jr. It features photo competition and exhibit, sand sculpture
competition, skate boarding, 2-cock derby, carabao race, beauty pageant, kite
flying, banca race, boxing tournament, street dancing / Duyan Parade, among
other activities. For further details, please contact Rufina Arcega (Municipal
Tourism Officer), Office of the Mayor, Phone (63 47) 811-2910 / 2708 / 3583
Mobile 0917-803-7245 or log on to www.zambalesnow.com
Pulilan Carabao Festival
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| Pulilan Carabao Festival |
An annual festival featuring hundreds of water buffaloes
(carabao) parading along the streets of Pulilan followed by a throng of
colorful floats and farming machines - all celebrating the feat of their patron
saint, San Isidro de Labrador. The popular beasts of burden are cleaned and
waxed to an ebony shine, their horns festooned with garlands of flowers, and
and made to take a bow before the town church by performing the traditional
genuflection - an incredible feat that never fails to mesmerize local and
foreign visitors. One week before the feast day, a number of agri-related
events are held in the town to primarily focus on and promote the economic
development programs of the local government. Farmers hold contest such as
carabao races, best crops competition and other folk children's games. Prizes
are at stake for the best-looking carabao, the most skillful and the cleanest,
the best themed-cart float, among other events. Contact Santos Santos
(Municipal Tourism Officer), Phone (63 44) 676-1234 or contact Joseph “Sonny”
Cristobal (Provincial Tourism Officer), Office of the Governor, Phone (63 44)
791-6604 / 2480 Mobile 0927-648-6916 / 0929-745-2566 Email
sonnyjcristobal@yahoo.com / bulacan_tourism@yahoo.com or log on to
www.bulacan.gov.ph
Flores the Mayo
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| Flores the Mayo |
First introduced by the Spanish friars in 1854, and ten
years after, blossomed in the various towns of Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas and
Pampanga, the May devotion, also known as Flores de Mayo, is celebrated in the
entire month of May when organizations like Daughters of Isabela, Knights of
Columbus, Solidarity and Adoracion Nocturna, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary.
The grand feast of the event is reserved for the last Sunday of the month when
Mass is said and the image is led in a procession around town. Women who joined
the procession wore blue saya and white veils made by local couturiers. The
virgin is usually put under neoclassic arches, called kubol. Young men in barong
Tagalog fetch and escort the girls in long gowns towards the church. Today, the
celebration is combined with the traditional Santacruzan. Please contact your
local tourism office.
Santacruzan
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| Santacruzan |
Santacruzan (Holy Cross Festival) is considered the queen of
Maytime festivals. It begins with a rosary novena in honor of the Holy Cross.
Each night of the novena is assigned to a “hermana”, a member of the organizing
committee, which is headed by the “hermana mayor.” The culminating event of the
Santacruzan is a grand religio-historical procession commemorating Queen
Helena's finding of the Cross. During the procession, young women in
appropriate, lavish costumes personify Biblical characters and symbols of the
Christian faith: Reyna Abanderada (Queen with the Standard), who carries the
Philippine flag symbolizing the Christian Army, Reyna Justicia (Queen Justice),
who is blindfolded, Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess), who carries a
shepherdess' crook, Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars), who carries a wand
topped by a star, Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers), who walks with a
canopy of flowers. There are also young girls dressed as angels. But the
central figure in the procession is Reyna Elena (Queen Helena), accompanied by
a little boy representing the young Constantine. Devotees walk with the
procession with lighted candles singing the theme song "Dios Te
Salve" (Hail Mary). According to legend, Queen Helena, mother of the Roman
Emperor Constantine, took it upon herself to recover the original cross upon
which Christ died. After many false leads, she came upon fragments of the true
cross, which she brought back to Rome. Please contact your local tourism
office.
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