Antipolo Festivals

Among the more popular Antipolo festivals are the Palaspas, Domingo De Ramos Festival, Cenaculo, Penitencia, Pabasa, Giwang-Giwang, Subok, Salubong, Santakrusan Festival, Flores de Mayo Festival, Paalay Festival, Tayo na Antipolo Festival,San Isidro Festival, Carabao Festival, Higantes Festival, Santo Entierro, and San Clemente Festivals.

Palaspas / Domingo De Ramos Festival
Date: Palm Sunday

The most colorful celebrations may be witnessed in Angono. The parish priest, sacristan and disciples parade around the town together with the townspeople and a brass band.

As the procession commences, people wave their palm fronds in the air and sing religious songs. The men lay down their mats and the veils of the ladies for the barefoot priest to walk on as they visit and bless four floral stations located in the four corners of the town.

The stations also serve as platforms for children to stand on a as they shower and bless the townsfolk with flower petals and confetti while they beat the ryhthmic pattern of the tunes which the brass band plays.

Cenaculo
Date: Holy Week

A re-enactment of the Passion of Christ which starts on the night of Palm Sunday (Palaspas) up to the night of Easter Sunday (Salubong).

The Cenaculo, is conducted in the Plaza square on public theaters constructed for purposes, with the participation of village thespians with perpetual vows. They render their services for fee.

Penitencia
Date: Good Friday

Rituals in observance of the suffering, passion, and death of Jesus Christ are observed with steadfast intensity throughout the province, specially in Cainta, sometimes with the actual enactments of the stations of the cross and mailing.

From early morning until noontime each Good Friday, members of non-sectarian "cenaculo" companies, walk throughout the main streets of Cainta, usually in the company of penitents.

Pabasa
Date: Holy Week

This is a Holy Week practice which includes religious singing of the Passion of Christ. Salagat and other native dishes/delicacies are served during the activity.

Giwang-Giwang
Date: Good Friday

It is a play executive every Good Friday by replaying the funeral of Jesus Christ through a procession.

Subok
Date: Good Friday

A group of men, after feasting and overnight meditation, gather around the church to wait for the flowerdecked carroza of the Santo Sepulcre, a wooden statue of the dead Christ. They rush forward to insert various objects in the folds of the robes, under the feet, in the hollows of the hands.

The image is then loaded with handkerchiefs, bronze medals and pieces of paper inscribed with Latin phrases. The float is encircled by the men with linen hands. After the procession, these men retrieve the objects from the image.

Now it is the time for the "subok"-the testing of the talismans by using whips, revolvers, knives and machetes (bolo) throughout the afternoon and evening, or till Saturday. Each one tests the effectivity of his talisman by requesting another man to shoot , whip or stab him.

Salubong Festival
Date: Sabado de Gloria/Easter Sunday

Black Saturday is highlighted by a 3-hour presentation at the patio of the church wherein high-tech stage decorations and sound system are used. Trained production staff assist in the presentation of the "Vigilia ng Muling Pagkabuhay."

Easter Sunday Celebration is held in a place called Galilea where the reunion of the Risen Christ with the Virgin Mary is re-enacted. It is facilitated by the removal from Mary's head of the mourning veil by a young girl inside an inverted giant paper flower suspended from bamboo trellis. The petals are mechanically opened by giant toy birds toy birds to reveal the girl inside. It is then followed by a religious dancing of young ladies called Kapitana and Tenyenta, to the tune of "Bati"

Santakrusan Festival
Date: May

This evening parade is usually graced by the town's crop of beauties portraying the Marian Litany of Titles and assorted biblical characters, dressed in the fairytale clothes and escorted by good-looking bachelors. Under flower-decked arches held by aides, they walk down the towns thoroughfares like kings and queens of yore.

Flores de Mayo Festival
Date: May

The Flores de Mayo or Flowers of May is an offering to the blessed Virgin Mary.

On the first day of May, a procession is held where little girls are dressed immaculate white finery and carry flowers (mainly sampaguita) as an offering to the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A mass is held everyday and devotees offer flowers up to the end of the month.

Paalay Festival
Date: May

The traditional celebration of the month of flowers in May is celebrated by processions of little girls, offering flowers-locally called the "Paalay".

Another activity held is the "Salapang" a practice among townsfolk wherein local officials and their wives offer foods to the people who joined the procession.

Tayo na Antipolo Festival
Date: May

A month-long celebration to honor the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Devotees are seen taking the much-trodden pat leading to Antipolo.

The image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, which is already three centuries old, is said to be miraculous.

On the evenings of April 30, thousands of pilgrims from several places in Metro Manila and the nearby towns begin an annual trek on foot.

San Isidro/Carabao Festival
Date: May 15

Farmers pay tribute to the carabao during the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, their patron saint.

On this day, before all the festivities begin, the carabaos are shaved, leaving aesthetic patterns on their back. They are bathed and scrubbed till they glow, theirs toes manicured, their tail combed, plaited and beribboned, and they are crown with colorful flowers and buntings.

A mass is held followed by a procession that ends at the town square where prizes are awarded to the strongest, healthiest, longest- horned, most beautiful and best-trained carabaos.

The climax of the day's activities occur when the carabaos race each other across the ricefields.

Higantes Festival
Date: November 22 and 23

Higantes is also a thanksgiving festival in honor of San Clemente, the patron saint of the fishermen.

On the actual feast day, the image of San Clemente is carried on a barge on the lake with a fluvial procession participated in by most of the residents of the town.

Little children of every barangay called "parehadoras" are dressed in colorful costumes bearing boat paddles and bakya.

Then the townfolk and the "higantes" (giants) accompany the image back to the church through a joyful parade with a brass band and "parehadoras."

Santo Entierro
Date: Good Friday

On Good Friday, Christ symbolically dies at three o'clock in the afternoon. His carved image is interred in a niche-like carroza or float covered with glass. Hundreds of male devotees scramble for the chance to bear the image and bear towards the church where it is laid to its final resting place.

San Clemente Festival
Date: November 23

The San Clemente Festival is one of the major festivals celebrated by the townfolks of Angono. San Clemente is the patron saint of fishermen, highly revered by the people of Angono, most of whom are fisherfolk.

On the San Clemente Festival day, the image of San Clemente is carried on a barge in Laguna Lake, in a fluvial procession joined in by most of the residents of the town.

The fishermen and their families are dressed in their fishermen's clothes bearing occupational gear- boat paddles, fish nets, traps, etc. and accompany the image back to the church.

Little children called "parehadoras" are dressed in colorful costumes and put up a mardi gras-like procession in salutation to the image of San Clemente.

Antipolo Festivals TOP

Source of Information: Department of Tourism, Philippines

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