1st Sabuaga Festival at Sto.Tomas, Pampanga

The 1st Sabuaga Festival was truly a blast! Kapampangan talent and artistry were once again highlighted during the festivities. Children with colorful costumes sashayed throughout the streets of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga while the festival theme song played. It was a really festive moment for the Thomasians (people from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga). You could almost see everyone jiving with the festive mood as processions and street dancing paraded before their eyes.

The Flower Scattering Festival

Sabuaga Festival got its name from a play between two kapampangan words, sabuag which means to scatter and sampaga which means flowers; hence, the name Sabuaga festival or the Flower Scattering Festival. The festival got its roots from the religious tradition of the people during Easter Sunday which they call “Salubong” where estabats scatter flower as part of the ceremony. This festival happens every Easter Sunday. Truly, religion and tradition go hand in hand with the festival.

Quoting from the Vice Mayor Ronquillo(not her exact words), “Sana ali mu sampaga ing isabuag tamu, pati narin, sabuag lugud at pangadi kareng aliwang lugar”- I hope we do not only scatter flowers but also love and prayers as well.

A Move for Tourism

Mayor Joselito Naguit shared in several reports from Sun Star that the festival, aside from its religious aspect, aims to improve the tourism sector in the area. Sto. Tomas, Pampanga is well known to be a exporter of world class coffins and pottery, thus increasing tourism in this area would greatly benefit the business of the townspeople.

Sto. Tomas, Pampanga is small town located near San Fernando and San Simon, Pampanga. Its former name was Sto. Tomas de Baliwag or simply, Baliwag which originated from the Spanish direct translation which means, “tardy” as the people from this province usually arrive late during mass at the time of the Spanish colonialists.

Festivity Proper

The events that composed the festival were a “Salubong”, Inter-barangay Street dancing and cultural presentation.

The “Salubong” is a form of ceremony depicting the first meeting of Jesus and Mama Mary after Christ’s resurrection. Sculpted figurines depicting saints were paraded from opposite directions with the head of Mary covered by a veil. After the procession, Mama Mary and Jesus meet at a certain point (most commonly at the church) and a ceremony where an angel descends to remove the veil of Mary.

I think the Salubong is very prominent here in the Philippines during Easter Sunday, but the difference with the Sabuaga festival is that artworks similar to the ones you see at Disney Channel’s Art Attack are laid on the streets which will be passed through by the Mary during the procession before the Salubong itself.

Here's the video, notice the street artworks! 

An Inter-barangay street dancing was also organized, participated by the seven barangays of Sto. Tomas namely: San Bartolome, San Vicente, San Matias, Poblacion, Sto. Nino, Moras de la Paz, and Sto. Rosario Pau. Each barangay showcased their main product such as San Vicente for coffins, Poblacion’s aquatic products, San Bartolome’s poultry supply, Moras de la Paz’ textile industry, San Matias’ Jeepney making businesses and so on.

Here's the video from Youtube.com:

I really enjoyed this street dancing parade in the afternoon. I even said to myself, “Kaya pala ng mga taga-Pampanga and ginagawa sa ibang probinsya.” To think, the participants were only children in their elementary and high school years.(Parang gusto ko na rin sumali next year!Haha) The parade was really a sight to see. Really a feast for the eyes.

After the street dancing, a cultural presentation competition was started which was again participated by the street dance participants. Again, colorful props and costumes were very prominent among the participants. Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio also graced the event during the announcing of the winners. Barangay Sto. Nino managed to get the Best in Costume and Headress award, while Barangay San Matias got the Best Street Dancers and Best in Choreography citation.

Barangay Poblacion bagged the best cultural presentation followed by Brgy.Sto. Nino and San Matias, 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the end, Barangay Santo Nino managed to get the overall championship forthe 1st Sabuaga Festival

Truly, Sabuaga Festival and Sto. Tomas,Pampanga is really worth paying a visit.


Picture courtesy of www.santotomaspampanga.com