MUCH ADO ABOUT THE FIESTA CELEBRATION

MUCH ADO ABOUT THE FIESTA CELEBRATION
Heartbeats by Rev. Fr. Philip Vincent S. Sinco

I am looking forward to the Feast of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria on February 2. You see, I have been away for seven years and there’s a sense of anticipation in my heart to witness the festivity which I used to enjoy before. When I was still in Manila, I would only hear news from people who vaguely described the event, making me swear with regret that it could’ve been better if I was actually present to witness the celebration.

As I count the days, I can’t help but remember those fond memories I had years ago, when I indulged myself with the hustle and bustle of the entire district. Jaro fiesta will always be associated with tourists, devotees, and guests barging into the cathedral doors in order to attend the Eucharistic celebration; The Perdon candles that are being sold like hotcakes at the right side of the parish compound; The “Palapak” where some old folks would ask you to have their clothes, hankies and even their entire body blessed by the image of Our Lady; The 4:00 p.m. traditional procession that temporarily stops the usual 360 degrees rotation of the earth from its axis as people from all walks of life pause for a while and witness not just the opulence but the religiosity of the Jareños; The “Halad kay Maria” where a teenage girl would stand at the balcony before the awaiting crowd, recite the often difficult lines in Spanish, and later express the believing community’s devotion to Our Lady in a crisp yet understated inflection which is typical of Ilonggos; The annual carnival and the agro-industrial fair that never ceased to delight one’s discriminating senses, obliging him to do some haggling for the many good finds that caught his attention; The coronation of the festival queen where it is usually attended by prominent figures in politics and society; And of course, the overflowing food and drinks that are being served in every homes, conveying the message “Dali, silud lang! Ka-on ta kay namit ang amon handa para sa inyo!” (Come in! Let’s eat the sumptuous food we have prepared just for you!) to visitors and passers-by.

These are the things that kept on recurring in my reminiscence and I can’t help but smile at those experiences that seemed to be very significant for me. They are so vivid that I am being drifted flaccidly in memory lane. Even though the activities are still the same, something new is being unfolded as I also grow in my discernment and appreciation for the festivity. Perhaps, this pondering was made possible when I actually became a part of the preparations, particularly in the Pilgrimage of Our Lady to different barangays. I have seen for myself the willingness of people in accepting the “Urna” of Our Lady in their houses, challenged by the fact that it is not just purely “devotional” but an effort to establish small Christian communities united in faith, hope and love. It is a lasting proof that our devotion to Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria is not born out of sheer fanaticism, but an expression of our affection and gratefulness to Mama Mary, who by her acceptance to carry Jesus in her womb, has brought into this world the Savior which we all have been waiting for. It’s nice to know that there are earnest faithful in our parish that have accepted Mary in the confines of their humble homes. It is indeed an indication that we have grown in our faithfulness and commitment as a community, that we do not just limit ourselves to the celebration itself and lost our sense of identity along the way because we are too overwhelmed by the many fusses of this revered event.

As we celebrate yet another fiesta, may we always be reminded that we are a church and a community united not just in the enticements brought about by the festivity, but we are always invited to gather around the person of Jesus Christ, trying our very best to live in virtue as we follow his footsteps that usher us toward holiness and communion, through the guiding light of Mama Mary. Our faith should not only be expressed in familiar prayers and devotions, it should also be witnessed in our own examples, in our own lives.

“In the waters of baptism, we are reminded that we are not born in a vacuum, now do we journey entirely alone (although loneliness is part of the burden). Being reborn, being made alive, involves being born into a community. So there are strings attached to this adventure. Far from being the spiritual journey of the solitary individual in search of God, it drags people, a church, a nation, the human race, along with it”
Happy Fiesta to all! Viva la Virgen de la Candelaria!

For the benefit of those who haven’t read last week’s CL issue: An “URNA” is actually an image of Our Lady of Candles encased in a wooden box. This is usually lent to the member-baranggays of the parish with the purpose of creating “CELDAS”. A “celda” should have at least fifteen (15) households wherein the image will be transferred every night and the household who will accommodate the “urna” of Our Lady should pray the Holy Rosary. This has been on-going through the years but the parish is now reintroducing the routine with the purpose of creating Basic Ecclesial Communities. Aside from praying the Rosary, the “celda” should also schedule a weekly faith sharing at the house of a family where the “urna” is situated.
Alan Jones, Journey into Christ, p. 53