OpinionsEye OpenerSantacruzan, not just a parade of beauties

Santacruzan, not just a parade of beauties

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If there is a single Philippine festival flaunted as the ultimate in lavishness, glorious in scope, opulence, and dazzling in style, that would be the yearly festivity of the Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May). It is flashily concluded with a luxurious spectacle of beauties and regalia known to us as Santacruzan, the reenactment of the biblical search for Christ’s holy cross.

It was believed, according to historians and based on well-kept records, that the first ever Santacruzan in the Philippines was observed in the historical town of Malolos, Bulacan. It primarily involves a nine-day novena of prayers, and floral offering to the Virgin Mary. Generally, participants are young children mostly from catechism classes and school kids who are treated to pinawa (goodies distributed to participants) or a pabitin (a small trellis bedecked with goodies and toys pulled up and down for the kids to grab).

Legend has it that some 300 years after the death of Christ, 75-year-old Queen Helena set forth for the site of the Crucifixion in Jerusalem in search of the Redeemer’s cross. After numerous archeological diggings, they unearthed three prospective crosses but were unsure which was the real one. The perplexing situation was solved when the Queen summoned an ailing servant to touch and lie on all three crosses, and the one that healed him was definitely the Holy Cross.

The Santacruzan, with all its splendid glory and pageantry, is held to honor that significant biblical event.

Through the years, the tradition gradually evolved and acquired necessary adjustments and updating to suit the world’s modernization and progress. Excitement and thrills gradually build up toward the end of the month of May where the Santacruzan marks the season’s finale.

To commemorate the discovery of the Holy Cross, stunning beauties and good-looking escorts delineate the roles of biblical characters connected with the mythical event principally led by St. Helena of Constantinople, the first Christian empress and mother of Constantine the Great.

The prettiest lasses join the procession in their most colorful gowns and jewelries representing notable biblical reinas. The most influential and outstanding role is that of Queen Helena (locally tagged as Reyna Elena) while handsome gentlemen are chosen to escort the queens.

Different regions, towns and cities observe this May festival with ceremonial dresses and pomp based on their predecessors’ practices specifically in terms of biblical cast of characters in the procession.

While currently it has turned into an all-out pageant complete with elaborate gowns worn by the most beautiful maidens in the community, the parade is not without its meaning. In some parts of the country, they stick to the true purpose of the event, that is, to commemorate the finding of the True Cross, as well as the virtues embodied by each maiden.

The three virtues (hope, charity, and faith) are centric to the parade itself. The different reynas also represent historical figures that are vital not just to the parade itself, but also to the history it represents.

While the reynas are the highlight of the parade, there are other roles that play a vital role:

Methuselah is shown as a bearded, old man bent with age, he rides a cart while toasting grains of sand in a pan over fire. This symbolizes the fact that we will always go back to dust.

Samaritana is a woman whom Christ spoke to at Jacob’s well. She represents an outcast who was reformed after meeting Christ and reminds us that salvation is for all.

Aeta is anyone dressed as a member of a tribal or regional ethnic group. It represents those groups who have embraced Christian faith.

Veronica is the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a veil with three imprints of the Holy Face of Jesus.

The Santacruzan is a tradition worth keeping. This festival is not just a reminder of that Biblical event regarding the search for the Cross. It is more a reminder for all of us that sometime in the annals of history, one simple but righteous man sacrificed his life for the salvation of millions of people, including those who may not have been born yet in his time.

Santacruzan invites us to reflect on the cross, and how through it, Jesus Christ made our salvation possible.

Every year, the grand finale of the month-long Flores de Mayo celebarion is the Santacruzan. Last May 31, Santacruzan started with a concelebrated mass presided by Bishop Julito B. Cortes. This was followed by the Santacruzan procession. Each of the 26 sagalas/reynas led by Reyna Elena, dressed up in their best gowns, carry an object that symbolizes their character, the Holy Rosary prayer being said throughout the procession in the main thoroughfares of the City. All of them have gone through a four-week values formation program.

This year’s Reyna Elena is Ann Monica Distrito, with her parents Hermano Mayor Domeniciano Distrito and Hermana Mayor Leonita Distrito.

Niño Jose Luzano Merecido, son of Engr. Sancho Merecido Jr. & Dr. Jennifer Merecido, is the Constantine.

My daughter, Clare Therese Ablong, is Reyna de las Virgenes. The Queen of Virgins is one of the titles associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During the grand procession, the letters of AVE MARIA were carried by leaders of Couples for Christ: Diosdado & Salvacion Lajato, Edsel & Liveros Carale, Oliver & Meriam Lemence, Junila Tanilon, and Jeric Cabarrubias. They were all dressed in barong or gown for women), each holding a letter of the word ‘Ave Maria’, a salutation and prayer to the Virgin Mary as Mother of God.

The Catholic Advocates for Religious Action (CARA) under the leadership of Bingbong Merecido, in close collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council, organized and managed the Santacruzan event.

CARA is a product of the church’s full-blast religious celebration of Santacruzan which used to be a highly- commercialized activity by the City government. During my stint as City vice-mayor, we turned over the celebration to the Church to keep its holiness, sacredness, and dignity as this is considered a deeply religious activity.

Congratulations to all Santacruzan characters! Thank you to all parents for their all-out support. Thank you CARA and PPC for a well-organized Santacruzan. Thank you to all Chapel officers, and to all Marian, mandated, devotional, renewal movements, and communities for your unwavering support to the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan activities. Our thanks and gratitude to Bishop Julito Cortes, Parish Priest Msgr. Marino Ybo, and Fr. Romolito Reyes for their spiritual guidance and encouragement.

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Author’s email: [email protected]

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