When Filipinos think about fiesta, they feel happy, they smile as it is a special time with friends, a time for fellowship, food, and lots of activities. Day-to-day life is set aside, as Sampaguita declares in her song: “Panahon na para magsaya! Forget mo na ang problema; Pa-dance dance, para sumigla, Rock ‘n’ roll hanggang umaga!”
Fiestas are of Spanish origin (the reason for the term).
Spain, being a Roman Catholic country, set aside certain days to remember particular saints with processions and celebrations. When the Spanish missionaries entered the Philippines in the mid-1500s, they found that the natives love to sing and dance, even when they prayed to their gods” so they used the fiesta as a convenient tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith, adapting to the pre-Hispanic rituals.
For example, the traditional dance steps of the sinulog predates the arrival of the Spanish missionaries.
Why is the practice of the fiesta embedded in the Filipino culture? Apparently for various reasons: To appease the gods–a key factor in ancient pagan worship in the Philippines. Mystical religious beliefs centered on worshipping gods believed to control certain aspects of life–livelihood, family, health, wealth, and others. To make life better, it was believed that a regular ritual offering to the gods had to be done. The practice was somehow carried over into modern times so that one reason still used for Philippine fiestas is to stave off calamities and ill luck, aside from thanksgiving for good harvest, and the asking for lots of wishes.
The City’s patron, St. Catherine of Alexandria, is a canonized saint in the Catholic Church who, per Christian tradition, was martyred around 305 in Alexandria, Egypt, recognized as the Great Martyr and Saint by the Orthodox Church.
Christian tradition states she was of noble birth, possibly a princess. When the emperor Maxentius began persecuting Christians, Catherine visited him to denounce his cruelty.
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Unable to defeat her rhetorically or to intimidate her into giving up her belief, the emperor ordered her to be tortured and imprisoned. Following her imprisonment, Maxentius made a final attempt to persuade the beautiful Catherine to abandon her faith by proposing marriage to her. Catherine refused, saying she was married to Jesus Christ, and that her virginity was dedicated to him.
Over the years, the religious origin of fiestas faded, and it had evolved into an annual socio-civic affair, with a lot of fanfare-parades and beauty pageants to boot.
As usual, there are activities lined up designed to entertain local and foreign visitors: food fests, cultural shows, dancesport, chess, folk dance, and pyrotechnics.
Recently, the City had made its mark as the preferred Sporting Events Venue like the Dumaguete Triathlon which attracts local and international sports enthusiasts.
During this fiesta time, residents welcome guests, relatives and friends to their homes for food and fellowship, regardless of economic status or religious affiliation.
As the City of Gentle People, efforts are in place to ensure that the celebrations are peaceful and orderly. HAPPY FIESTA!
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Author’s email: [email protected]
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