Into the mud. Devotees wade through Gugu Creek in a cleansing ritual during the 5th Makatapak Festival. Photo by Ric Gonzales
BACOLOR, Pampanga – “A look back at the past, with the old-age values of sharing, of humility, of love and caring for one another – those that made us not only survive but even overcome the worst disaster that ever befell upon us as a people.”
Thus preached Fr. Jess Manabat, parish priest of the San Guillermo Parish, of the moving force behind the Makatapak Festival, held for the fifth year here on Saturday.
Makatapak – barefoot in Kapampangan – is also a form of atonement and sacrifice in memory of the Mount Pinatubo eruptions that buried 17 of the 21 villages of the town.
Devotees walked barefooted down the Gugu Creek from whence came the lahar rampages that buried the barangays.
“But this same creek will now bring progress,” said Manabat, who was joined by Fathers RicLusung, Francis Dizon, Edgar Panlilio, Ronnie Cao and Ivan Torno at the ceremonies and rituals which promptly started at 6:00 a.m.
Manabat said that the some 80,000 residents of the town, most of whom transferred to other Pampanga towns and resettlement sites after lahar buried their homes, should “use the past as a tool to make the most of what we have and more importantly, remember to share our blessings, especially in crucial and hard times.”
The most destructive lahar flows that buried this former Spanish governent capital was in 1995.
Manabat and the Roman Catholic devotees walked along a five-kilometer stretch of GuguCreek after a ceremonial washing of the feet as a symbol of humility.
“Humility as the very essence of service, makes the solid ground for a people’s progress and development,” said Manabat.
At least 88 seminarians joined the festival and were tasked to carry several wooden crosses. Others who joined were Mayor JomarHizon and Vice Mayor Ananias “Jun” Canlas. The festival came on even the town fiesta on Sunday.
Manabat expressed his gratitude to Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda for her support to the annual festival.
Manabat also thanked the participants, including Board Member Monina “Monz” Laus of Barangay San Vicente here, for making “my last festival (as parish priest) a well-attended and meaningful and solemn ritual.”
Laus, who was active in supporting the Makatapak festival since its founding, said “Father Manabat and the rest of the brains behind this festival deserve all the praises.”
“It’s not only getting bigger but even better every year. More importantly, it’s a festival with a sense of history and rituals to remind us of love of God and fellow human beings,” said Laus.
Board Member Trina Dizon said “the women and children who don colourful costumes should also be praised for adding more life to a great event for the people of Bacolor.”
Manabat said he “I was forced to deliver the sermon along the Gugu creek.” He said the priest tasked to speak as what was done in the four previous festivals “deliberately did not attend.”
“My fellow priests in Pampanga want to me to say the sermon because this may be the last I can join as parish priest,” said Manabat. His six-year term as parish priest is scheduled to end next year.
The festival director is Andy Alviz of Sta. Rita town.
