ABUCAY, Bataan- This town on Tuesday celebrated its 427th founding year in a long parade with marchers and street dancers braving a drizzle.
Mayor Ana Santiago led the parade participated in by representatives of all sectors, including Aeta natives in their colorful costumes. The celebration was called Abu Kinaykay Festival.
Rains stopped as the parade was nearing the Church of Abucay built by Dominican missionaries. The church is the oldest in Bataan and one of the oldest in the country. There were beautiful floats designed as bahay kubo and banca to show that Abucay is a farming and fishing town. In all floats rode local beauties.
Street dancers stomped their bare feet on pavements wet by the rains in rhythm with music provided by sound systems in big vehicles and even by brass bands with lovely majorettes. Some of the marchers and street dancers carried bamboo rakes used in gathering ashes that became the subject of an old story how Abucay got its name.
“May napadpad na Kastila sa bayang ito na inabutan nila ang dalawang tao na nagkakaykay o nagkakahig ng abo.
Sa tanong ng mga Kastila kung ano ang pangalan ng lugar, inakala ng mga tao na tinatanong kung ano ginagawa nila kaya sinagot nila ng ‘Abu kinaykay, abu kinaykay’,” a woman said. “The Spaniards thought that the name of the place was Abu Kinaykay that later was shortened to Abucay,” the woman said.
Mamerto Tinao, 58-year old lay minister of the Church of Abucay, confi rmed the story that he said was told and retold in the town.
