On the religious aspect, Holy Rosary Parish representative Brother Jeff Buan said Angeles is “very unique since it is the only place in the country which has three fiestas in one month –Fiestang Anghel, La Naval and Fiestang Apu.”
Buan assured that there will be better traffic coordination for this year especially during the processions like the “Traslacion,” transfer of the image of the Apung Mamacalulu (Merciful Lord) or Sto. Entiero (Holy Burial), a statue depicting the burial of Christ, to the Holy Rosary Parish, a distance of a few kilometers.
Buan said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David has transferred some of the processions to avoid the traffic and is requesting the devotees to put in a little sacrifice by waking up early for the 4:30 a.m. Fiestang Anghel procession.
Buan also said during the La Naval procession on October 11, the transfer of the pilgrim image of the Nuestra Senora Del Rosario de La Naval de Angeles to chapels in the city will be via convoy instead of walking.
Buan said there will be prayers and novenas like the triduum for the feast of angels for three days, novenario for La Naval for nine days and quinario for Apung Mamakalulu for five days.
But more importantly, Buan said, rector priests from Marian Shrines in Luzon like Manaoag, Baclaran, Antipolo and La Naval in Manila were all invited “because we would like to let everyone know that we also have a La Naval fiesta here in Angeles.”
On the cultural and social component, Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO) head Dr. Richard Daenos said last year’s celebrations claim to fame was “the longest and the grandest” with over 70 events which is going to be surpassed this year with 80 plus events.
Daimos said in all the events, the community is involved because that is the essence of the fiesta.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on September 29 (the Feast of the Archangels), the longest fiesta celebration in the country will begin at this city’s heritage zone or Plaza Angel.
With its theme “Bayung Aske, Bayung Lawe,” (New Image, New Vision), Fiestang Kuliat 2015 (FK2015) is focused on redefining the image of the city, once considered as the Sin City of the Philippines.
It is now gaining recognition as one of the crowning jewels of heritage preservation and cultural renaissance, not only in the region, but the whole country as well.
During a press conference last Wednesday, FK2015 Executive Committee Chairman, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, said he gave his full authority and support to ACTO to come up with a wide array of festivities that will feature the city’s culture, tradition, religious devotion and zest for life and adventure.
“In 2015, we turned a new leaf for the spiritual, historical, traditional and cultural aspects of our city. This year’s Fiestang Kuliat is a celebration of how we have triumphed in making our citizens appreciate the rich and vivid history of our place,” Pamintuan said.
The religious activities are centered on the devotions to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, whose feast falls every second Sunday of October; and Apung Mamacalulu, on the last Friday of October.
A few years back, the Holy Rosary Parish re-established the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels which is celebrated on the first week of October.
Thus, Angeles City is known for its month long fiesta celebration, with various socio-civic, academic, cultural, and sports events happening at any-given day of the whole month of October.
On October 3, the 5th Pulayan – Tagalan King Dalan will start at SM City Clark. This funrun activity is a fundraising campaign that would support projects of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO).
The much awaited Ginoong Angeles 2015 will kick start their pageant on October 3 with a tree planting activity in Barangay Sapang Bato and a heritage tour at Sto. Rosario.
The candidates then will have their pre-judging on October 10 at Century Hotel, followed by their pre-pageant on October 24 at SM City Clark’s Event Center. The Coronation Night is set on the 28th at the Grand Palazzo Royale.
Cultural events are also expected this year such as the GraciAngeles by Sinukwan Kapampangan Performing Arts, which is the newest festival in the city to honor the Los Angeles de los Custodios; Kundiman ning Angeles by the Kundiman ning Angeles Foundation; Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Heritage Tour by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Mamialung Tamu that will showcase Kapampangan versions of traditional Filipino games.
The NCCA has also chosen Angeles City to stage Dayaw: The Indigenous Peoples Festival on 15-17 October.
Daenos said 80 percent of the events will be held in the city.
A fiesta is no fiesta without the presence of rich and sumptuous food. Added to this year’s fiesta celebration is “Big Bite! Northern Food Festival Featuring Sisig” which will take place on October 16 to 18 at the Marquee Mall parking grounds.
The Nepo Center, one of the newest destinations for food in the city, will also hold its own food fair on October 1 to 4.
Meanwhile, the Kuliat Foundation Inc. will delight visitors with its famed fiesta spread dubbed “Pamangan Fiestang Kapampangan” at the Museo ning Angeles on October 10.
Alex Cauguiran, Pamintuan’s chief of staff, said the city is also set to hold the annual Tigtigan Terakan keng Dalan at MacArthur Highway Balibago on October 23-24.
He recalled that in 1992, just after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo when there was a pall of gloom hanging over the city, he was instructed by Pamintuan to do something to lift the spirits of Angelenos and thus, the annual street dancing and merriment was born.
Cauguiran said merriment has two main purpose – “to thank the Almighty that we are still alive and to rally the people not to leave the city and lift their spirits.”
Local universities, colleges and bands will also go head-to-head with the Inter-University Music Festival on the 30th, an event akin to last year’s wildly successful 7107 International Music Festival held at the Clark Freeport.
This year’s FK2015 also sees the return of some events such as the Calesin Tilbury Race on the 12th at Jake Gonzales Boulevard and the Angeles 4×4 Off Road Challenge on October 17 at the Nepo Center.
Daenos said the new logo for FK2015 was designed by Nicky Reyes which incorporated the three religious festivities as well as the social and cultural aspect of the festivities.
