MAL A ALDO (Holy Week) In the pre-war days, shedlike talahib-thatched stores mushroom around the area surrounding the chapel. The “dalagas” and “baintaus” (single men and women) ride on the “garetas” (carabao drawn carts) and go around the neighboring barrios. Young people assigned as “manyabat” or receptionists intercept visitors and invite them to have some food or refreshments. A “dalungdung” served as a “caba” or canteen during the holy week. In La Paz or Lino, a whole carabao is being butchered and several “ulam” being prepared in accordance to the parts. A special soup is prepared named “pideus” with noodles and tidbits of meat. The most colorful and unique celebration was done in Tinabang or Sto. Rosario where players who portrayed the classic roles in the Passion Play were farmers who were recruited from the villagers with no acting experience. The participants wear colorful costumes and the passages were uttered in a sing-song intonation which attracted visitors from other villages. This pre-war pageantry of the Holy Week celebration had been abandoned when the Japanese invaded the country. The traditional Pabasa starts at Ash Wednesday (Miyerkules de Cenisa” in the homes of families who made a “panata” every year. Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) has different barangay host every year. It goes around the three barangays; San Pedro, San Nicolas and Santa Cruz. The procession starts with people holding palms together with the priest. Little girls are dressed as little angels carrying flowers and drop them along the route of the procession. Little boys are dressed like “pari-parian”. They sing the Hossana on the way to the church. Then the mass starts and ends with the blessing of the palms (palaspas). Lunes Santo is the official start of the reading of the “Pasyon” in different “visitas” or chapels. In the absence of a chapel, a temporary makeshift visita is being built. The people in the barangay pool their resources for the building, decoration, maintenance and serving of food for the “talabasa” and the visitors. There is a special ceremony before they start reading the Pasyon. This is called the “Paniandal Pasyon”. Some barangays serve meriendas while others specially in the barrios serve rice and ulam. The Pasyon is read continuously from Lunes Santo to Biyernes Santo and sometimes until the early hours of Sat. However, at present, the archdiocese require the people to end the reading of the Pasyon on Miyerkules Santo to encourage them to attend masses in church. Pasyon readers are “mamunto” or used tunes of religious songs when reading. The readers perform each character of the Pasyon like the Virgin Mary and others. At the end of the Pasyon reading, there is a ceremony again. It is called “Panyara”. In these “visitas” the “mandarame” (flagellants) stop for short prayers and meditations. Huwebes Santo (Holy Thursday) mass in the church includes the traditional washing of the feet of the Apostles. Good Friday, families bring out their precious heirloom images, set lights on them and decorate their respective “andas” with flowers. Sto. Entierro (Apung Mamacalulu) of the Gueco family is a dead Christ lying in state. This is a century old image. After dressing up Apung Mamacalulu with the gold embroidered shroud, he is placed in his old calandra trimmed with flowers and small angels, the “andas” is lit with precious virina lamps. What a sight to behold!When the mass is about to end, the band fetch Apung Mamacalulu from the Gueco ancestral house for the procession. Images along the route wait and follow after Sto. Entierro. During the procession, families stay at the back of their family heirloom images beautifully dressed up and placed on top of their andas .At dawn on Easter Sunday, the salubong rites is held. Women accompany the image of the Virgin Mary while the men follow Jesus. They meet in front of the church. A child dressed as an angel lift the veil of Mary. Egg hunting for the children was added lately for the culmination of the traditional maleldo.
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Dizon, Julieta C., Manlapaz, Adoracion M., “Magalang Historical and Cultural Heritage”Unpublished
Manuscript.
Stories from Rufina Gomez Munoz of Dela Paz who used to be in charge during Holy Week
Celebrations
Stories from ; Esteban C. Manlapaz, was barrio captain of Tinabang
Interview with Mely Datu Yosuico, grandaughter of Lino Tayag and Jose Datu of Tinabang
Interview with Ising Rivera Datu, a native of Tinabang
HOLY WEEK - GOOD FRIDAY ORDER OF THE PROCESSSION
Cereales
Knights of the Blessed Sacrament
Children of Mary Immaculate
1. Pamanalangin ng Jesus king Mula ning Getsemani - Pineda Family
2. Wiping of the Face of Jesus by Veronica - Pecson Family
3. San Pedro Apostiol - Barangay San Pedro
4. San Andres Apostol
5. San Bartolome Apostol - Barangay San Nicolas I
6. San Jose ning Arimatea - David-Guzman Families
7. Sta. Veronica - Lacson Family
8. Banal a Cruz - Barangay Sta. Cruz
9. Sto. Entierro (Apung Mamacalulu) - Gueco Family
10.Sta. Marta - Guzman Family
11.Sta. Maria ning Betania - Mangalino Family
12.Sta. Juana ning Cuza - Manarang-Obenario Families
13.Sta. Maria Jacobe - Pangan Family
14.Sta. Maria Salome - Morales Family
15.Sta. Maria Magdalena - Gueco Family
16.San Juan Apostol - Pabalan Family
17. Mater Dolorosa - Tecson-Luciano Families
Ding Mag Hosanna (Magkantang Stabat Mater Dolorosa)
Mosicos (Banda)
SANTACRUZAN and FLORES DE MAYO May is the month of many barrio fiestas in the town of Magalang but it is more known with Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo.
Flores de Mayo pays homage to Virgin Mary with everyday masses for the whole month of May and offering of flowers. This culminates with a procession at the end of the month. The Santacruzan is a commemoration of “Finding of the True Cross” of Jesus Christ by Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helena. This is a procession of characters from the old and New Testament and gives tribute to Mary. Boys holding ciriales, poles topped with a cross and candles head the procession. Matusalem heads the cast of characters followed by Reyna Banderadas, flagbearers of the Philippine and papal standards; Fe, Esperanza and Caridad (Faith, Hope and Charity); Reyna Justicia; Divina Pastora, with a lamb or goat; Reina Sentenciada and Abogada. This is a time for the annual appearance of the “toga” of the late Atty. Isidoro Ayuyao and the “traje de boda” of Mrs. Filomena B. Feliciano to be used by the abogada and Reyna Elena. Reina delas Flores and Reyna Judith, holding the head of Holefernes (king of the Assyrian) follows; Reyna Esther and the last, Reyna Elena with Constantine. Macario, the bishop who escorted Helena to Jerusalem should be last at the procession. Sometimes, a sabat (obstacle) is being done by “Moros” and an imaginary battle is held and finally the Christians win and the procession ends where it started. w __________________________________________________________________
Zaide Foundation, (DECS (Region III) Kasaysayang Lokal), Pampanga, c. 2000) Dizon, Julieta C, Manlapaz, Adoracion M., Magalang Historical and Cultural Heritage, Unpublished Manuscript.
KUMIDYA
The Tagalogs has the komedya or moro-moro while the Kapampangans has the kumidya.
In the town of Magalang, the people prepare for the performance of the kumidya participated by local folks.The story was written by Tereso Mallari, a native of the town and assisted by Dionisio Mercado. The kumidya was being shown throughout the month of May and extended up to early month of June depending upon the request of the people. The host prepare foods for the participants. Two "arkos" are being prepared for the separate entrance of the "christians" and the "moros". As the participants make their entrance, the rondalla played. Some of the characters were Don Goido, Emperador Carlo Magno, Roldan, Oliveros, Merian, Montecino and others. The participants wear costumes according to the character they portray. The play ends with the defeat of the moros. The play reached third generation of participants and stopped in the early sixties.
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The following persons were interviewed by A.M.Manlapaz & J.C.Dizon
Manabat, Ernesto, third generation performer as Emperador Carlo Magno
Mallari, Rey, grandson of Tereso Mallari
Mariano, Lucila Munoz, a former La Paz resident and a witness to the kumidya performances
FIESTA When Magalang was transferred to its present site, people brought with them their patron saint. The town fiesta, observed on August 24, is the feast day
of San Bartolome (St. Nathaniel). This special day is being shared with “Balen A Melakuan”in San Bartolome, now a barangay of Concepcion in the province of Tarlac.Several months before the fiesta, people would raise pigs (one for lechon and the other for the meat to be prepared with different “putahe” like morcon, asado, menudo, relleno, estopado etc. Days before the fiesta, the houses are being cleaned with “pakiling” leaves. Ante vispera or three days before the fiesta, desserts are being prepared like pastillas de leche, caramel, yema, leche flan, brazo de Mercedes and others. In making desserts they use only the “ebun native” and “gatas damulag”. They make also mouth melting ensaymada and puto seco with carabao milk. Vispera (the day before the fiesta), it’s the turn of the “kudkuran ungut” to be heard because of the preparation of coconut milk based kakanin like tibuk-tibuk, kalame, tamales and the suman bulagta with latik.At the crack of dawn, the sounds of pigs and chicken being butchered can be heard. Meat grinders were not yet available then so the sound of the “palang and tangnan” were like music to our ears. The food is being cooked halfway “singkotsa” during kabisperasan. All the bones (butul-butul) which was cooked into adobo and tidtad and the pork skin into “pitityan” (chicharon) is being eaten by the kitchen staff while they prepare all the foods for the fiesta. Recados are being prepared before they retire for the night. Now comes the “kapiyestan” on the 24th. The streets festooned with colorful banderitas are filled with merrymaking complete with a marching band. The men prepare the “lechon” to be roasted in the charcoal pit. The “garapinyera” (ice-cream maker) makes the best sorbetes flavored with queso real or the fruit in season.After the morning mass, the doors of houses were opened to one and all – relatives and strangers – for the fiesta food. The town plaza came alive with different games and a carnaval for the whole day but at night it looks more alive with the lights and sights of many attractions. Besides the tsubibos or
the ruwedas, aluyans for the adults, there were rides for the children. Fun games were bebetu, bingo and dagis-dagisan. One can win money, drinking glasses, plates, cups and saucers, pitchers and even food. While the young generation enjoy themselves in the plaza, the olds are busy entertaining visitors and making never ending “kwentos” to update relatives. Finally, it’s time for the relatives to go home. They are given “bakal” (loot bags) for them to take home for the “taung bale” so those who were left behind will also enjoy the fiesta food. The day culminates with the crowning of Miss Magalang with their handsome consorts. The day after the fiesta, the “abo” (left over foods) is heated for the cleaning staff who will clean all the mess. The housewives look for “baratilyo” (bargains) because the makeshift stalls and the people selling goods will be leaving the town. Today’s fiesta celebrations are more simple. Free for all eating is gone. The banquet is only limited to friends and relatives. However, the quest for Miss Magalang has been retained for the town’s bet to the Miss Pampanga provincial contest. Gone are the long preparations. Some buy ready cooked foods, others do not prepare at all
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Manlapaz, Adoracion M., “Magalang Historical & Cultural Heritage”, Unpublished Manuscript. Dizon, Julieta C., Interview on “Sorbetes Making in Magalang During Fiesta".
DEATH AND ALL SAINTS DAY During the early days in the town of Magalang, the dead were wrapped with white cloth and carried on langkayans or a coffin borrowed from the church. After the burial, the coffin should be returned. After five years, the bones are brought to the church. The municipal cemetery was first established near the Quitangil brook not long after the transfer of the town from San Bartolome to San Pedro. The Roman Catholic Cemetery was established simultaneously with the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church. Several years later, it was transferred to its present site.
The community will know if there is a death by the “plegaria” (ringing of the bells in church) . During the wake, the family starts wearing black until the death anniversary. A clear veil called “bungbong” is being used by the women.
During the funeral there is a “dakit Kapa”, where the priest accompany the hearse up to the cemetery and ordinary funerals with only the boys with the cireales at the start of the procession.
The “pasiyam” or nine day prayer for the dead starts with the night of the wake and ends after nine days. Then food is prepared usually with native foods like sampelut and inangit. This is usually a community affair. The women work together from the preparation of the butil till it is finally cooked while the children play around the working area. A lot of big kawas and calderos are used because all the people in the community eat or some is sent to them. At the death anniversary (lukas paldas) a more elaborate food preparation takes place usually a breakfast after the mass.
At present, wearing of black to denote the death in the family is replaced by small black plastic squares pinned on the breast pockets.
The traditional celebration of Daun starts with people going to the cemetery bringing cleaning materials and paints in preparation for Nov.1.
Days before the Daun, some people in the barrio group themselves for the traditional ‘GOSU” where one group at a time sing the gosu in front of houses and in turn people give some money or limus. The money are used for a padasal during the morning of Nov. 1 celebrations. This padasal is called MISANG CALADUA . The church celebrate masses at the church, cemetery and at present at the memorial park.
Today’s DAUN festivities at the cemetery and memorial park marked by graveyard decoration, candlelight vigil for the dead’s “kaladua”, bringing of foods and drinks, some with musics is a proof that our tradition in the town of Magalang will not change.
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Dizon, Julieta C., Manlapaz, Adoracion M.,“Magalang Historical and Cultural Heritage, Unpublished
Manuscript
CHRISTMAS The time when the town of Magalang is at its most festive mood. This is also the harvest time for “lakatan” or glutinous rice (the main ingredient for kalamay and suman).While the rice is “malibato” (near to maturity), people in the barrio make “duman” (green glutinous rice) . While the able bodied persons take turns in pounding the young rice in the “asung and alu”, the young and olds wait for the finish product to eat. Sometimes there is “tsokolateng batirul” and ‘’gatas damulag” (carabao milk) to soak the duman. When people feel the cold wind and Christmas songs, the festive mood of the yuletide seasons begin. The 9-day masses “simbang bengi” officially start the holidays. The church shifts from the main altar to the “Belen” (Nativity Scene) complete with bright and colorful lights. After the mass, the church patio is filled with people selling bibingka (with free tea made from different tree leaves), suman, putu lasun, panara, duman and tsokolateng batirul.
In the barrios, there are nightly lubenas (novenas) or prusisyun (procession).Parols (lanterns) were lighted with candles during the early days and now with electric bulbs, lighting the way for the barrio “mal a patrun” (patron saint) mounted on “andas” decorated with flowers and lighted beautiful lights. The local singers and musicians gather to sing the “Dios Te Salve” (Hail Mary) during the procession.
Nine days before Christmas, in the barrio of Tinabang (Sto. Rosario), there was a lantern procession each night. It began and ended in the chapel.
On Christmas eve, the procession in every barrio move its way to the Magalang Parish church for the ‘Meytinis” (Midnight Mass). After the mass, the procession return towards the barrio where they came from and the participants feasted.
A landowner in Lino (La Paz), Apung Condeng feasted the three santos who used to pass the barrio. (Apung Lucia, Sidro and Tapang). When she says santos she meant the procession participants who were served “kalame” (ubi, togue, pisalubung, biko etc) washed down with coffee or tsokolateng batirul.
Early in the morning of Christmas day, children sing the ‘Pasku na, Pasku na, nananu ko pa? kalame at suman makasadya na hey!” Then they dressed up with their new clothes (babaung bayu) and go to their godparents and relatives for their aginaldos. Before the gifts are given, the traditional kalame and suman are being served in every house because farmers who harvested the malagkit share it in the community. MABSI NAKA BULSA …..MABSI KA PA ATIYAN. ……That’s Christmas Day in the town of Magalang.
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Manlapaz, Adoracion M., “Christmas Time in Magalang” , Unpublished Manuscript
SOCIAL EVENTS Social clubs were inspired by the Americans as the upper class improved in wealth and stature. These clubs were a major change for Magalenos since Spain prohibited the organization of native clubs without the blessing of the Church. These organizations were mostly social in nature, occasions for meeting the town “dalagas” and “baintaus”. Other Magalenos mounted theatrical shows like sarzuelas and crissotan. A cenario (theater) * used to show silent movies accompanied by a rondalla. It was burned in 1937 when the side of the market was burned. In 1923, the “Katipunan Mipanampun” was organized. It was a civic organization with teachers and local residents as members. It was this organization which undertook the erection of the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal in the middle of the town plaza in the year 1923. It was later transferred in front of the municipal building. Clubs sprouted like the U-N-I Club in 1953 and “ALANG TANGUIAN “ club in 1955. The annual social gathering of Magalenos called WEST MOUNTAIN SIDE and eventually became MOUNTAIN SIDE was held at the Patio, at present the Benedicto T. Dayrit Park. This is a formal affair that brought together the town’s upper crust in an evening of dance and music. It is a feast to the eye to see ladies with beautiful ternos and the men in their tuxedos and barong. On that special night, Magalenos from far and near, beautifully dressed in their best finery troop to the plaza. There is a live band music and special guests like Rogelio dela Rosa and wife Lota Delgado. The dancing partners Nestor de Villa and Nida Blanca graced the occasion once with a special dance no. The dancing last till the wee morning hours. The year when Mayor Benedicto T. Dayrit was assassinated became the last Mountain Side gathering.
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Morales, Ignacio P., Interview by J.C. Dizon and A.Manlapaz
Tapnio, Angela Q., Interview by Dizon, Julieta and Manlapaz, Adoracion.
PUBLIC EVENTS
COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATION IN MAGALANG
As Quezon was being sworn into office at the ceremonies attended by Americans and paid for by Filipinos at a cost of P600,000, a more austere rite was being held in Magalang, participated by local town folks. A simple decorated platform set up in front of the municipal hall with Mount Arayat in the background, looming majestically as a witness, captured the restrained mood of the moment, when a nation not yet fully sovereign was still naive enough to believe in the American promise that was too long in coming.
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Castro, Alex R., Views from the Pampang and other Scenes c 2006
GARDEN DAY CELEBRATIONS IN MAGALANG
Director of Education Frank Russel White encouraged the GARDEN DAY CELEBRATIONS to show off the agricultural products of schools as well as the progress of towns. There was mass calisthenics, sports competition and the search for GARDEN DAY QUEENS. The women go to the poblacion in their traditional baro't saya and used the "gareta" (cart pulled by carabao)
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Manlapaz, Rosa Mariano, Mariano family stories
Mariano, Marcelina Munoz, Stories on the attire
CORONATION OF VIRGEN DE LOS REMEDIOS
Held in Magalang, Pampanga on September 8, 1980. Rosalio Guevarra Dizon (one of the 1st EMDC) was assigned for the crowning of Virgen delos Remedios.
Picture
Courtesy of Mr. Danilo Dizon
Picture
Courtesy of Mr. Danilo Dizon
KUMIDYA
Interview with Ernesto Manabat, a third generation and last kumidya participant as Emperador Carlo Magno.
Interview by: Juliet Dizon
Doris Manlapaz
Barangay Dela Paz May 27, 2012
Interview by: Juliet Dizon
Doris Manlapaz
Barangay Dela Paz May 27, 2012
Descendant of TERESO MALLARI
Interview with Rey Mallari, the grandchild of TERESO MALLARI - the writer of KUMIDYA in Magalang
Interview by: Doris Manlapaz
Juliet Dizon
Interview by: Doris Manlapaz
Juliet Dizon
COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATION IN MAGALANG
MASAYANG PAMAGMASUSI
PINANARI MAGAZINE - ABRIL 15, 1940
Canitang pitu ya iting bulan a salucuyan carin mepalyari ing parangal a pigcalub nang Dr. Andres J. Luciano ning Magalang qng anac nang bugtung a dalaga, ing Mlg. Maria Elvira Luciano, bilang capagmasusyan qng cayang pangayari qng Farmacia. Pepatingapun ing fiesta qng bale ning mesabing doctor at lub ning patingapun a iti miayaliwang sayahan ing mepalyari. Itang bengi mica teracan at ding cabalitan a San Miguel Stampers ning mismung balen ilang minye qng macawiling tigtigan. Dacal la ring dalo tinagun, e mu caring memalen Magalang nune pa naman caring miayaliwa nang balen ning Capampangan.
Canitang pitu ya iting bulan a salucuyan carin mepalyari ing parangal a pigcalub nang Dr. Andres J. Luciano ning Magalang qng anac nang bugtung a dalaga, ing Mlg. Maria Elvira Luciano, bilang capagmasusyan qng cayang pangayari qng Farmacia. Pepatingapun ing fiesta qng bale ning mesabing doctor at lub ning patingapun a iti miayaliwang sayahan ing mepalyari. Itang bengi mica teracan at ding cabalitan a San Miguel Stampers ning mismung balen ilang minye qng macawiling tigtigan. Dacal la ring dalo tinagun, e mu caring memalen Magalang nune pa naman caring miayaliwa nang balen ning Capampangan.