As Philippine
festivals go, the bigger and brighter, the better. That rings true for popular
ones like the Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo, Ati-Atihan in Kalibo,
Pahiyas in Lucena, and Panagbenga in Baguio, just to name a few. Unbeknownst to
most, several locations across the archipelago are staging their own little-known
festivals that are equally well worth the effort to witness.
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| The street dance competition was held on a stage set up in front of the San Pedro Bautista Parish Church |
In fact,
experiencing these not-so-popular festivals brings out a more intimate
experience. With the absence of a large crowd,
you'll feel more at one with the locals as you stand shoulder to
shoulder with them on the side streets as they watch the parade or in the plaza
as they revel in the main events. Countless festivals, each with its own unique
touch of community character, dot the landscape of the Philippines.
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| Like most festivals, each contingent have their own queen |
One of the most
recent festivals that I attended and surprised me with its fun revelry is the
Candle Festival in the municipality of Candelaria in the province of Quezon.
In Honor the Virgin
of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria
Most people,
including me, assume that the festival is influenced by a backyard
candle-making industry. That is not the case, however. Although town Mayor
George D. Suayan supported the idea of introducing candle-making to create more
jobs and income for Candelaria residents. The Candle Festival honors the Candlemas
(also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ), a Christian
festival commemorating the occasion when the Virgin Mary went to the Temple in
Jerusalem to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus, and to
present him to God as her firstborn.
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| Readying for the street parade |
In 2005, the
inaugural Candle Festival took place as a result of the suggestion of Monsignor
Carlos Pedro A. Herrera, a parish priest at the time, who had taken up devotion
to Nuestra Senora de Candelaria and wanted to have a parade through town
honoring the Virgin Mary. Since then, young people have begun to participate in
the street parade, along with colorful floats representing the municipality's
25 barangays.
“Dati ren po akong
nag bi-birhen”
While seeing
diverse groups dressed in bright costumes dancing to varied choreographies and
drumming beats is usual at most Philippine celebrations, the Candle Festival
stands out for the presence of real individuals depicting the Virgin Mary.
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| Yes, she is a real human |
As I was examining
the lines of contingents waiting for the go-signal to begin their procession, I
saw a number of floats decorated with flowers. At first glimpse, I remember
focusing my gaze on what I assumed were statues of the Virgin Mary standing on
their various floats. Upon looking closer, I realized that they were indeed
young women costumed as the Virgin Mary, standing immobile atop their various
floats.
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| You are forgiven if you first thought this was a statue of the Virgin Mary |
Later in the
evening, during a break from the street dancing competition, one of
Candelaria’s favorite daughters and the municipality’s bet for this year’s Miss
Universe Philippines pageant, Miss Ahtisa Manalo, informed the audience that
she, too, had played the Virgin Mary in the festival's earlier events.
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| This is quite an experience for these young women to portray the Virgin Mary |
“I’m happy to be
back here in Candelaria, especially during the Candle Festival”, Manalo, who is
already the 2018 Binibining Pilipinas – International crown holder, told the
crowd. “I was also one of the Virgin Marys before, dati ren po akong nag
bi-birhen”, she added.
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| Time for the street parade |
Hearing about
Ahtisa Manalo’s recollection of her Candle Festival experience opened my eyes
to the ways in which the modest Candle Festival of Candelaria has enriched the
collective memory of the town, where the adults of today may have once danced
the streets or performed the role of the Virgin Mary during the festivals of
yesteryear.
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| The route wasn't that long, making the festival's street parade an ideal one to partake in |
Candelaria's Candle
Festival, like most, if not all, of the country's festivals, has provided
fantastic and memorable experiences for the entire community. It's no surprise
that by the end of the night, as the fireworks lit up the sky, many of those
who had lined the streets in the afternoon to watch the street parade had
stayed to see the very last firework pop up in the sky.
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| The contingents' costumes can hold, uhm, a candle to other festivals |
It is easy to see
that the Candle Festival is more than just a celebration of the Virgin of
Nuestra Senora de Candelaria; it is also a much anticipated annual event that
brings the community together in joyful celebration.
