TRADITION. Inset photo shows Mayor Lito Naguit (left) joining former Congressman Rimpy Bondoc and Board Member Nestor Tolentino in watching the start of the Sabuaga Festival.
Photos by Joey Pavia
STO. TOMAS, Pampanga – This town which dominates the coffin-making industry in the country celebrated its 3rd Sabuaga Festival on Sunday highlighted by a parade, participated mostly by residents wearing colorful costumes.
Mayor Joselito Naguit stressed that the festival was “basically to honor the genuine craftsmanship and skills” of people living in the seven barangays here. His town reportedly produces 70 percent of the total coffin demands.
Slogans and posters of “One Barangay, One Product” were displayed in the parade and venue of the Sabuaga’s opening in Poblacion. The town is also known for its pottery making industry.
Irwin Nucum, one of the co-founders of Sabuaga, said that the more than one century tradition was revived by the municipal government, religious and lay leaders from the old town ritual of celebrating Easter Sunday.
He added that” Sabuaga” comes from the combination of sabuag (scatter) and sampaga (flowers) from custom sagalas’ (town beauties) showering of petals on the image of the Virgin Mary during the tradition of “Salubong.”
Nucum and Andy Alviz of Sta. Rita town combined to compose the theme song for the three-year-old festival.
Sam Santos of the Parish Pastoral Council said the festival “is unique because the local government and our members are working closely together to make the event successful.”
Former 4th District Rep. Rimpy Bondoc and Board Member Nestor Tolentino graced the festival which started at 3:00 p.m.
Naguit disclosed that Barangay San Matias had won the over-all crown in the festival dubbed this year as “It’s more fun in Sto. Tomas.” It also had a contest for the best in Sabuaga costume, streetdancing and free interpretation performance.
