STO. TOMAS, Pampanga – The joy of Easter Sunday capping the somber celebration of the Holy Week gets notches higher in pomp and pageantry in this somnolent town.
While common in parishes all over the Catholic Philippines, the Easter dawn “Salubong” – the first meeting between the Virgin Mother and her son, the Risen Christ – takes a twist in Sto. Tomas with the succeeding procession participated in by “sagalas” – local lasses in their beautiful “ternos” with escorts in barong – representing the “Atlung Maria” – the three Marys that accompanied Christ to the Calvary, being sung to and showered with petals by the “estabats.”
Other “sagalas” are the “banderada” or bearer of the Vatican flag, and the “ciriales” bearer of the candles and cross at the front of the procession.
Noontime, right after the High Mass, is the blasting of the effigy of Judas Iscariot, which of late was turned into a representation of the Seven Capital Sins. The loudest bang – of Judas’ head – while a harbinger of good harvest in Sto. Tomas’ farming past, now a simple source of collective glee.
It has been a decade since the Sabuaga Festival – literally “scattering of flowers” –was made the culminating activity to the Holy Week celebrations here.
More than a competition of talent and creativity in costumes and street dancing, Sabuaga also showcases the trade and products of the town’s seven barangays such as caskets, pottery, garments, tinsmith, jeepney body-building, and fisheries.
This year’s participation though has been toned down allegedly due to the slash in subsidy of the local government to the participating barangays.
It is no wonder that the float of the sitting mayor at the head of the festival was met with silence and cold stares among the spectators. Even as that of his rival – at the parade’s tailend was virtually mobbed and met with raucous hurrahs.
Aye, pomp, pageantry and politics do mix. Easter or not.
