The Town Centre's Fiesta
7-8-9 of February 2007
Location: Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, PHILIPPINES
Composition: Impromptu
Almost every town or barangay in the Philippines celebrates a festival called a Fiesta. While some of these are in celebration of a pre-colonial past, most are in commemoration or in honour of a Christian Patron Saint.
For Santa Maria's town centre, the Poblacion, the Fiesta is in honour of the Sta. Maria de Immaculada Conception (St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception). This is a 3 day celebration, usually falling on the first full week of February. Now this is NOT a fiesta involving the whole town but rather, just the town centre - every other barangay has a fiesta to commemorate their patron saint. However, being the Town Capitol, pretty much the whole town comes out to partake in the festivities.
Like the Fiestas I remember from my childhood, there were many events, contests, concerts, and parades held all in the name of the patron saint.
I was a bit slightly disappointed that my relatives didn't really give this event as much interest as I did. My cousins and my childhood friends have now gotten all accustomed, if not tired, of this annual event. This I couldn't get since, the whole town centre undergoes a complete makeover!
The most obvious is the visual transformation. Tassels and fiesta banderitas adorn the streets. A makeshift Carnival (peryaan) is erected on an empty field across from the Wet Market. And every homeowner will make it a point to dress up their house one way or another - perhaps recycling some decorations from the previous Pasko - to augment the glorious buffet that they will offer as a feast. Throughout this period, their houses will be open to anyone, invited or not, wanting to partake in the feast.
But, I suppose my friends and relatives do have their reasons for regarding this event as an inconvenience. For instance, because almost everyone would be downtown, celebrating, the whole Poblacion turns into a crowded traffic nightmare. Not only that, this is when the swindlers ( manlolokos, and manggaganchos), street side con-artists come out. Add to that the pickpockets and other petty thieves.
During one water delivery with Cousin Jojo, we got caught in the middle of a Marching Band battle. 
We were dropping off a few gallons of his purified, "AquaJelz" brand, water to a preferred customer who lived downtown. We could already hear the bands, but paid no mind. But as we turned into our usual route out, we were surprised to find ourselves right smack in the middle of it all. I promptly climbed out and took some photos.
7-8-9 of February 2007
Location: Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, PHILIPPINES
Composition: Impromptu
Almost every town or barangay in the Philippines celebrates a festival called a Fiesta. While some of these are in celebration of a pre-colonial past, most are in commemoration or in honour of a Christian Patron Saint.
For Santa Maria's town centre, the Poblacion, the Fiesta is in honour of the Sta. Maria de Immaculada Conception (St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception). This is a 3 day celebration, usually falling on the first full week of February. Now this is NOT a fiesta involving the whole town but rather, just the town centre - every other barangay has a fiesta to commemorate their patron saint. However, being the Town Capitol, pretty much the whole town comes out to partake in the festivities.
Like the Fiestas I remember from my childhood, there were many events, contests, concerts, and parades held all in the name of the patron saint.
I was a bit slightly disappointed that my relatives didn't really give this event as much interest as I did. My cousins and my childhood friends have now gotten all accustomed, if not tired, of this annual event. This I couldn't get since, the whole town centre undergoes a complete makeover!
The most obvious is the visual transformation. Tassels and fiesta banderitas adorn the streets. A makeshift Carnival (peryaan) is erected on an empty field across from the Wet Market. And every homeowner will make it a point to dress up their house one way or another - perhaps recycling some decorations from the previous Pasko - to augment the glorious buffet that they will offer as a feast. Throughout this period, their houses will be open to anyone, invited or not, wanting to partake in the feast.
Filipinos may pride themselves with celebrating the longest and most festive Christmas, but Christmas actually is not the most festive celebration of the year - that distinction belongs to the Fiestas.
Fun times indeed.
But, I suppose my friends and relatives do have their reasons for regarding this event as an inconvenience. For instance, because almost everyone would be downtown, celebrating, the whole Poblacion turns into a crowded traffic nightmare. Not only that, this is when the swindlers ( manlolokos, and manggaganchos), street side con-artists come out. Add to that the pickpockets and other petty thieves.
So if the first Sta. Maria Town Centre Fiesta that I celebrated in a decade was a bit scaled down, compared to previous years, it was because I couldn't get anyone to go experience it with me.
Still, I managed to catch a few glimpses of one of the special events.
Still, I managed to catch a few glimpses of one of the special events.During one water delivery with Cousin Jojo, we got caught in the middle of a Marching Band battle. We were dropping off a few gallons of his purified, "AquaJelz" brand, water to a preferred customer who lived downtown. We could already hear the bands, but paid no mind. But as we turned into our usual route out, we were surprised to find ourselves right smack in the middle of it all. I promptly climbed out and took some photos.
Awesome.
The next day, with my Uncle Tito, I managed to make a few rounds through a few households - consuming the delicious Filipino food on offer as a feast.
Yum.
posted by StrayDog at 11:56 AM
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