MACABEBE, Pampanga – A fluvial procession on flooded streets – libad-dalan, in Kapampangan – on Aug. 31 marked the traditional Tipa Novena – the commencement of the nine-day novena – leading to the feast day of the town’s patron saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino, on Sept. 10.
With water levels reaching up to five feet, some of the images were mounted on flower-bedecked bancas while the image of Apung Culas, along with that of the Virgin Mary were processed on their decorated carrozas.
The thigh deep waters in most areas of the processional route did not dampen the fiesta spirit of devotees, buoyed up by a brass band.
“Sana itamu man, lalung lumalam ing kasalpantayan, sana itamu man, lalam ning kayampunan ning kekatamung patulunan—itamu tau keti Macabebe, mayayakit na lalalam tamu kasalpantayanan. Albug ya yan, mas masikan ing kasalpantayanan, uran mu yan, mas malalam ing kasalpantayanan, bagyu ya yan, mas malalam ing kasalpantayanan—uling paniwalan tamu, libutad na ning kakalulwan, atsu pamu rin ing Apung Guinu, babie grasya,” parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Allan Paul L. Mariano exhorted the congregation in his homily during the Holy Mass that capped the Tipa Novena.
For over three weeks now, all 25 barangays of Macabebe have remained under varying depths of floodwaters. Punto News Team/San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish FB Page
