Today, February 14, the Catholic faithful will be flocking to the churches, not because it is Valentine’s Day, a red-letter day for lovers. It happens to be Ash Wednesday, an important holy day of obligation for Catholics as it marks the start of the season of Lent.
So Life is a Spiral will talk of religious festivals rather than festivals of love on Valentine’s Day.
Many religious festivals emblematic of the Philippines’ rich and varied cultural heritage draw Filipinos and foreigners alike to different parts of the country wherever they are held. They are captivated by these for various reasons. For some, it could be the occasion for a much-needed break, for others, a part of their job. For many it is an expression of devotion, a homage to a chosen santo. And for others, especially during Lent, it is to observe the unique and solemn practices of the season.
One especially memorable festival is the “Turumba” of Pakil, Laguna, which commemorates the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The fourth to seventh of these pertain to the Lenten season: Mary meeting Jesus carrying the Cross on his way to the Crucifixion; Jesus dying on the Cross; Jesus being taken down from the Cross; and Jesus being laid in the tomb. The feast is held seven times a year, each one marked by a novena to the Birhen de Turumba, the first before Palm Sunday and the last on Pentecost Sunday. Each novena ends with a procession marked by dancing and chanting. The tune of the Turumba is patterned after an ancient tune called umbay, the lyrics an exultation and praise of the Blessed Virgin.
The Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan, the Dinagyang of Iloilo and the Sinulog of Cebu, all honoring the Sto. Niño, or the Child Jesus. The Ati-Atihan festival is known as the “Mother of all Festivals” in the country. Colorfully costumed participants paint their bodies and faces black representing the Ati people who were the island’s original inhabitants. The highlight of the Sinulog is a grand parade where participants dance to the beat of drums and chants of “Viva Pit Señor.” The Dinagyang is known for its performers in tribal warrior costumes chanting to drumbeats and other percussion instruments.
Another very popular festival is the Moriones of Marinduque, a colorful depiction of the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, with men and women wearing costumes and masks of Roman soldiers of the time. The masked participants march around the town for seven days from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, re-enacting the story of Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance and is honored in some Christian traditions as a convert and saint.
The festive celebrations begin almost with the start of every year in January. The very first is the feast of the Black Nazarene held every January 9th. It draws millions of devotees to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno at the Quiapo Church. The highlight of the festival is the Traslacion, the procession to transfer the image of the Black Nazarene from a church in Bagumbayan (Luneta) to the Quiapo Church, about 8 to10 hours of a slow-moving procession of masses of devotees.
There are many more festivals during the rest of the year, among them:
— The Pahiyas festival of Lucban and Sariaya towns in Quezon every May 15 in honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. Fittingly, houses are adorned with fruits and vegetables and colorful rice wafers known as kiping.
— The Obando festival in Obando, Bulacan, celebrated from May 17-19 involves different dance rituals held for three consecutive days honoring three patron saints venerated for their power to grant petitions to childless couples.
— The Pagoda fluvial festival of Bocaue, Bulacan, to honor the Holy Cross of Wawa that was found in the Bocaue River. Decorated pagoda, barges and colorful small boats join a fluvial parade in the river.
The month of May brings a host of feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the most pervasive of which is the Flores de Mayo which combines a religious theme with a celebration of nature, in this case the flowers that bloom at this time of year. The name refers to the tradition of offering flowers as a tribute to Mary. A series of processions is held during the month, called the Santacruzan, portraying different images of the Blessed Virgin.
Many, many more religious festivals are observed in the country, a testament to how religion and the Catholic faith have influenced our lives over the years.