Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan are two of the most colorful religious-cultural Filipino festivals celebrated every month of May all over the Philippines.

Flores de Mayo

Flores de Mayo means flowers of May. It is a month-long flower Festival celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the time of the year where kids, while enjoying their 3-month long summer break from schools, are given a chance to learn Catechesis and develop their love of the Blessed Virgin Mary by daily devotions, prayers and floral offerings.

Origin

The Norther Illinois University, in one of their web publications about Southeast Asia (www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals) cited two reasons for the origin of this devotion. It may have started on the mid-1800s when the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in his constitution Ineffabilis Deuson 8 December 1854. And after the publication in 1867 of Mariano Sevilla’s translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest).

Santacruzan

The Santarcruzan is the Filipino version of the principal feast of the True Cross. This is the celebration depicting the search of the Holy Cross by Emperor Constatine’s mother, Queen Helena. www.seasite.niu.edu described the Santacruzan as a “religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving”

“Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance.”

Origin

The Feast of the Cross like so many other liturgical feasts, had its origin at Jerusalem, and is connected with the commemoration of the Finding of the Cross and the building, by Constantine, of churches upon the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. In 335 the dedication of these churches was celebrated with great solemnity by the bishops who had assisted at the Council of Tyre, and a great number of other bishops. This dedication took place on the 13th and 14th of September. This feast of the dedication, which was known by the name of the Encnia, was most solemn; it was on an equal footing with those of the Epiphany and Easter. (www.newadvent.org)

Why, then, the Filipinos observe the Santacruzan in May and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in September? There may be no accurate answer to this question. But one of the most logical may be found in Catholic Encyclopedia’s Archaeology of the Cross and Crucifix: “Constantine’s vision of the Cross, and perhaps another apparition which took place in Jerusalem in 346, would seem to have been commemorated in this same feast. But its chief glory is its connection with the restoration of the True Cross to the Church of Jerusalem, after it had been carried away by the Persianking, Chosroes (Khusrau) II, the conqueror of Phocas, when he captured and sacked the Holy City. This Chosroes was afterwards vanquished by the Emperor Heraclius II and in 628 was assassinated by his own son Siroes(Shirva), who restored the Cross to Heraclius. It was then carried in triumph to Constantinople and thence, in the Spring of the year 629, to Jerusalem.”

This could had been the springtime in Constantinople since Jerusalem has only summer and winter seasons. And the springtime in Constantinople (presently Turkey) is from April to June. The Philippine Santacruzan may had been a celebration of the restoration of the True Cross to the Church of Jerusalem.

Veneration of the Holy Cross

The Cross to which Christ had been nailed, and on which He had died, became for Christians, quite naturally and logically, the object of a special respect and worship. St. Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize; but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christshould be made void”; in Galatians 2:19: “With Christ I am nailed to the cross“; in Ephesians 2:16: Christ . . . . “might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross“; in Philippians 3:18: “For many walk . . . enemies of the cross of Christ“; in Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross“; and in Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world”.

It seems clear, therefore, that for St. Paul the Cross of Christ was not only a precious remembrance of Christ’s sufferings and death, but also a symbol closely associated with His sacrifice and the mystery of the Passion. It was, moreover, natural that it should be venerated and become an object of a cult with the Christians who had been saved by it.(www.newadvent.org)

Article sources: filipino.com.au, seasite.niu.edu, newadvent.org . Photo source: duszmtorres

Feb. 22, 2010, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Fightnews.com quoted the challenger Joshua Clottey: “I’ve worked hard for weeks in Florida,” he said. “When I win don’t call it an upset. We have a game plan which will give Pacquiao a lot of problems. No one is unbeatable including him. I personally know he’s worried about me, how big and strong I will be in the ring that night.” Clottey also added that he is in top condition for his upcoming title fight against Manny Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Legend of Saint Valentine

I like this story taken from the Discalced Carmelite Friars’ Valentine’s card: The legend of Saint Valentine

Valentine was a young priest who lived in Rome during the third century. He was jailed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. While in prison, Valentine missed his loved ones left behind. He sent them a message via a dove that frequently sat on his cell window. It said “Remember your Valentine.”

Saint Valentine was martyred for his great faith. On November 10, 1836, his relics were placed in the Camelite Church on Whitefriars Street in Dublin, Ireland.

To this day, Saint Valentine remains the symbol of love…the love between God and us and our love for each other

‘Hope to keep it that way. Happy Saint Valentine’s Day-iloilo hangout

photo source: yogamad.blogspot.com

 About Iloilo Prima Galaw Productions

Iloilo Prima Galaw Productions is a new and artistic Performing Arts group organized in March 2008. It started with a group of gifted and creative students at Saint Paul University Iloilo encompassing talents and skills in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and creative writing. It was founded by the multi-talented, Mr. Romie John Delariarte. As the students graduated from the institution, they formed an organization wherein it became a home for artists where they can share their creative expressions and contribute to the artistic potentials of the production. It has been a haven for friendships and a place where you could call your “second home” for performers.

This event is brought to you in part by Rock Ed Iloilo. Please bring Old Books for Donation for the Rock Ed Iloilo’s BOOK BIGAYAN CAMPAIGN. These books will be donated to Elementary Schools which greatly need more books that will help the Filipino youth of tomorrow.

This blog is in support of   iloilo and RockEd Philippines. Good job guys!

photo by: flicker.com

Our Lady of the Candles or Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is known internationally as the Candlemas Virgin. It was the title given to Our Blessed Virgin Mary in commemoration of the Presentation of Jesus and Mary’s own rite of Purification according to Jewish Law.

According to the Mosaic law a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain three and thirty days “in the blood of her purification”; for a maid-child the time which excluded the mother from sanctuary was even doubled. When the time (forty or eighty days) was over the mother was to “bring to the temple a lamb for a holocaust and a young pigeon or turtle dove for sin”; if she was not able to offer a lamb, she was to take two turtle doves or two pigeons; the priest prayed for her and so she was cleansed. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

Forty days after the birth of Christ, Mary complied with this precept of the law, she redeemed her first-born from the temple (Numbers 18:15), and was purified by the prayer of Simeon the just, in the presence of Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:22 sqq.). No doubt this event, the first solemn introduction of Christ into the house of God, was in the earliest times celebrated in the Church of Jerusalem. We find it attested for the first half of the fourth century by the pilgrim of Bordeaux, Egeria or Silvia. The day (14 February) was solemnly kept by a procession to the Constantinian basilica of the Resurrection, a homily on Luke 2:22 sqq., and the Holy Sacrifice. But the feast then had no proper name; it was simply called the fortieth day after Epiphany. This latter circumstance proves that in Jerusalem Epiphany was then the feast of Christ’s birth.

From Jerusalem the feast of the fortieth day spread over the entire Church and later on was kept on the 2nd of February, since within the last twenty-five years of the fourth century the Roman feast of Christ’s nativity (25 December) was introduced. In Antioch it is attested in 526 (Cedrenue); in the entire Eastern Empire it was introduced by the Emperor Justinian I (542) in thanksgiving for the cessation of the great pestilence which had depopulated the city of Constantinople.

Today, in the Philippines, the observance of  the Feast of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria) is one of the most granduous religious event in Western Visayas. The celebration of the festival of Our Lady is a blessing through procession of candles followed by a pageantry with the fiesta queen around the district of Jaro.  The annual religious festival highlights agro-industrial exhibits, garden show, fiesta carnivals, concerts, contests, among many others. Iloilo people believe that the celebration of the feast symbolizes the prosperity of the city and the enjoyment of Filipino over grand fiesta and celebrations. One of the highlights of this celebration is cockfighting . A blood sport between two gamecocks especially bred and condition for the fight held at Iloilo Coliseum.

photo by latimesblogs.latimes.com

photo by ilonggos.net

The image of the Our Lady of Candles in Iloilo, was  installed in the old Augustinian church located in a section of La Paz town. When Jaro became a diocese in 1867, a cathedral was constructed in the town proper named after St. Elizabeth of Hungary. It became the new permanent home of the image. The image was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It is the only religious image to have personally crowned by a Pope.

Article sources: newadvent.org (Catholic Encyclopedia), en.wikipilipinas.org and philippinefiestas.com

Schedule of Activities 2010

Source: dinagyangsailoilo.com

District of Arevalo (La Villa Rica de Arevalo), Iloilo  City’s Annual Fireworks Competition

Let’s HANGOUTin Arevalo. January 17, Sunday, 2010.

Villa orArevaloas it is popularly called today is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, in the Philippine province of Iloilo. It was originally founded as La Villa Rica de Arevaloby a Spanish official who built his mansion along the coastal settlement in the 16th Century. It was absorbed by Iloilo City during the 20thCentury along with the towns of Mandurriao, La Paz, Molo and the city of Jaro. Its historical church possesses one of the oldest Sto. Niño (Infant Jesus) figurines in the Philippines. Its prominent attraction is the Villa Beach along the coast which boasts several resorts and an outdoor nightlife such as open air restaurants and bars.

The District of Arevalo has thirteen barangays. This are Barangay Bonifacio, Calaparan, Dulunan, Mohon, Quezon, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Santa Molanida, Santa Felomina, Santo Domingo, Santo Niño Norte, Santo Niño Sur, Sooc, and Yulo Drive.

The annual fireworks display and competition is the highlight of the district’s annual patronal fiesta.It is a celebration in honor of the their patron, Sr. Santo Niño (Infant Jesus). The competition is a showdown between local fireworks makers and designers. The presentation is a deafening spectacle of elaborate and best-known fireworks: either the ones that produces sound; the ones that are mounted around the periphery of a wheel to rotate by rocket effect; the ones placed in the ground and emit balls or stars of fire at intervals; or the ones that explodes high in the air to produce any of the several types of display. Specifically, the celebration is for the entertainment purposes of the people of Arevalo and their way of frightening away bad luck.

photo and article source: iloilocity.gov and en.wikipedia.org

“For the first coming of Our Lord in the flesh [in which He has been begotten], in Bethlehem, took place [25 December, the fourth day] in the reign of Augustus [the forty-second year, and] in the year 5500 [from Adam]. And He suffered in His thirty-third year [25 March, the parasceve, in the eighteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar, during the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio].”

- Chalki manuscript of Hippolytus, as early as c. 205. Catholic Encyclopedia

Have a Blessed Christmas everyone.

Video source: youtube.com

Simbang Gabi is a tradition that was introduced by the Spanish friars to allow the farmers to hear mass before going to the fields early in the morning. It is also known by its popular Spanish name as the Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the rooster”. Simbang Gabi means dawn mass. It is a Filipino tradition that dates back to 1587. It was untroduced by the Spanish Missionaries to encourage the faith of the Filipino people. It is a series of nine early morning Masses (novena), starting as early as 4:00a.m.

The tradition begins on December 16th and ends at midnight of December 24th (the Midnight Mass) with Noche Buena. During the Simbang Gabi days, most churches open their doors before the break of dawn to welcome church goers.

To wake people up, church bells start ringing as early as 3 o’clock in the morning. Bright Christmas lights ans colorful parols (lanterns) decorate houses and the church. People put on their special clothes and jewelry to got to church. They wear their special sweaters because of the cool December breeze.

photo source:flicker.com

After the mass, food stalls outside the church await the church goers for the purchase of the traditional delicacies usually different kakanin (rice cakes), hot pandesal (yeast roll) and empanada (dough breadstuffed withmeat). These traditional foods are usually served with salabat (ginger tea) or coffee. Christmas carols are heard everywhere. You can see joy on the peoples faces.

Simbang Gabi is a spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Some look at it as a way of requesting blessings from the Lord. some believe that if they pray and complete the Novena, their personal wishes/request will be granted.

Filipinos start before dawn to celebrate the real Advent with the coming of the Light of Christ. There is Holy week before Easter, there is Simbang Gabi before Christmas in the Philippines.

source: St Lambert Parish Bulletin