2nd Sabuaga Festival at Santo Tomas, Pampanga

Sabuaga Festival or the Flower Showering Festival is a day long festivity celebrated in the municipality of Santo Tomas, Pampanga every Easter Sunday. It is a festival deeply rooted in the religious and spiritual tradition of the locals where they scatter or “sabuag” flower petals to the life size saint figures mounted on carrozas which is especially evident in Salubong, a common tradition in the Philippines where they reincarnate the meet up of the Risen Christ and the Sorrowful mother. 

The term “Sabuaga” came from a play of two Kampampangan words, “sabuag” - as mentioned earlier – and “sampaga” which means flowers. 

The Beginnings

The festival came from the initiatives of the 2010 Holy Week Observance Executive Committee, headed by Samuel Santos, who planned to highlight the rich culture of Santo Tomas, Pampanga.

In middle of the year 2009, Sam Santos with the help of the local parish priest, Fr. Joseph Mary Bacay, consulted with the Dir. Robby Tantingco of the Kapampangan Center of Studies if it would be possible for the municipality to have its very own festival. According to the Dir.Tantingco, a festival can be made as long as the festival coincides with the tradition of the locality with the purpose of preserving the culture of the Thomasians.

In August 5, 2009, the Holy Week 2010 Executive Committee composed of Sis. Paulette Santos, Eva Mallari, Joodi Basilio, Yeng Zapata, and Irwin Nucum with the parish leaders, Ely Zapata and Romy Nucum sat down for a meeting to plan  for the future course of events for the festival. It was also on that day where Fr.Ramon Torres expressed his support for the upcoming festival.

With the concept in mind after series of brainstorming sessions, the executive committee and the newly appointed parish priest Fr. Dino Albert Pineda worked with the local government units (LGUs) headed by Mayor Joselito Naguit in coordination with the barangay captains and Sanguniang Kabataan representatives came up with the plan for the upcoming festival fusing with it the LGU project of “One Barangay, One Product”.

Instrumental forces in this invaluable feat were award winning composer and lyricist Irwin Nucum who helped with the conceptualization of the festival and internationally acclaimed choreographer and musical director  Andy Alviz, who wrote the music for the first festival and who also conducted a 3-day workshop for the SK representatives on basic street dancing moves, costume making and free interpretation performances. 

The Logo

The original logo designed by Rolly de Leon features a woman surrounded by three doves representing the town’s devotion to the Blessed Mother. However, the second logo used on the 2nd Sabuaga Festival still had the woman but is now surrounded by seven doves representing the seven barangays of Santo Tomas, Pampanga namely: Sto.Rosario Pau, San Matias, San Vicente, San Bartolome, Poblacion, Moras dela Paz, and Sto. Nino.

Sabuaga 2011

The festival opened with the procession of the Virgin Mary to the St. Thomas Church for the annual Salubong. An interesting addition to this traditional Filipino event are the “Dase” or mat artworks made with different materials laid on the streets to serve as offering to the Virgin Mary.

An interpretative musical play was then performed by the locals featuring the presentation of the Risen Christ which is then followed by the Salubong proper where a harnessed child playing the role of an angel descends to remove the black veil off the Virgin Mary.

A procession of the images of the Virgin Mary and the Risen Christ around Brgy. Poblacion and Brgy. San Bartolome then followed. Showing of flower petals and confetti were done by the "sagalas", joining the procession of the carrozas.

The Big Bang of Easter, a modification of the Judas Iscariote tradition where an firework filled effigy is lighted up, was also included in the list of festivities in the effort of serving a better purpose of admonishing the seven capital sins rather than focusing on the negative part of the literature as seen in Judas’ betrayal.

Exhibits featuring the local products were also included in the festival line up in the effort to boost and promote the business industry of the municipality which is known for producing world class caskets and pottery among others. The following are the barangays and their respective products: San Matias (Automotive Body Building), Sto. Rosario Pau (Farming), Moras dela Paz (Garments), Sapa Sto. Niño (Pottery), San Vicente (Casket Making), San Bartolome (Poultry) and Poblacion (Fisheries).

In the afternoon, a street dance parade sashayed through the streets of Santo Tomas where different barangays participated. Colorful costumes mostly made from non-biodegradable ecycled materials and energetic movements from the participants composed mostly of children gave a festive vibe to the streets. Props to the new festival theme song by Jose Irwin Nucum and Andy Alviz where the spiritually themed lyrics were combined with the upbeat rythmn.

A few hours later, a free interpretation competition  of the theme: Indung Maria at Indung Kalikasan: Larawan ning Bie a Mipasublian took place where every barangay with their prepared production numbers took centerstage at the parish plaza. The competition was judged by Rony Tayag, provincial tourism officer Arwin Lingat, choreographer-director Raymond Patternson, dance Rodel Fona, Philippine Daily Inquirer and CLTV36 correspondent Tonette Orejas, former Binibining Pilipinas 2nd Runner up Helen Nicollete Henson, and the artistic director of the Sinukwan Capampangan Peforming Arts, Peter de Vera

Me and cousins at Sabuaga Festival

Announcement of the winners soon came after. Here are the respective winners:

Best in Alterina – Brgy. Pau Sto. Rosario
Best in Kubol – Brgy.San Matias
Best in Costume – Brgy. Poblacion
Best in Street Dancing
          Champion – Brgy. San Bartolome
          1st Runner Up – Brgy. Poblacion
          2nd Runner Up – Brgy. San Matias

Best in Free Interpretation
          Champion – Brgy. Pau Sto. Rosario
          1st Runner Up – Brgy. San Bartolome
          2nd Runner Up – Brgy. Sto. Nino (Sapa)
Overall Champion: Brgy. San Bartolome

The last part of the festival was a variety show where celebrities such as Barbie Almalbis, Willing Willie Dancers, Arnee Hidalgo, Nyoy Volante, Top Suzara, Dennis Santos, and Valerie Concepcion performed and delighted the Thomasian community.

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The Sabuaga Festival had definitely become bigger and better in its 2nd year. “Ngayon pinaghahandaan talaga at mas maganda ang program. Mas Marami rin nanood ngayon kumpara dati”, said Emelito Gadian, a vendor.

I also talked to some of the children who participated in the Street Dance competition. “Masaya kami pero medyo napago rin kasi sobrang init.” said Camille Tuazon a performer from Brgy. Sto.Nino. 

Fidel Baluyut, the head of the local Senior Citizens Association of Santo Tomas, Pampanga also shared his view of the festival as a binding force for the people of Santo Tomas to work together in unity for the betterment of the municipality. “It’s nice that they also included the senior citizens to participate in this festival by having our own dance number”, he said in Kapampangan.

In the opening remarks of the free interpretation competition, the representative  of Tom Batac ( head of the Holy Week 2011 Observance Committee) urged that the Thomasians will not only scatter flowers but also continue to shower others with the blessings and grace given by God.

Sources:
   http://stotomaspampanga.com/content.php?content_id=160
   Fr. Albert Dino Pineda
   Fidel Baluyut
   Camille Tuazon

Photos:
   Bernard Dizon
   Dhey Teodoro