November 25, 2011
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The feast of Sta. Catalina de Alejandria
Yesterday, our province's capital city, Dumaguete City, celebrated the feast of its patron saint, Santa Catalina de Alejandria or St. Catherine of Alexandria.The church of Sta. Catalina de Alejandria or the Dumaguete Cathedral was first established by the Spanish Agustinian friars in 1620. Although it's not the oldest parish in the province. The first parish established by the Agustinian friars is St. James the Greater Parish in Tanjay City, which was built in 1580. The designation of the City as the province's capital has made it the center of worship and faith in the side of the island.
When it comes to festivals, well, the Philippines is full of it. Almost all towns and cities have one, and almost always there will be a sort of street dancing contest. Honestly, one's you've seen one, you've seen it all. Same concept, different name. The festivals worth going actually is that of Sinulog in Cebu, that happens every January, the Ati-atihan of Kalibo, Aklan also on January, and the Masskara of Bacolod every October.
The festival was highlighted, of course, by the usual events: beauty pageant (Ms. Dumaguete), the street dancing, concerts, and the street market that's supposed to showcase bargain and novelty items from the city and almost always is nothing more than a lame excuse to propagate cheap China-made products.
Of course there's the usual thanksgiving in almost every homes, where they prepare the best that the family can offer to its guest. In previous decades, almost anybody could get inside the house, regardless if he's a complete stranger. Now, with poverty pushing people into desperation and engaging into criminal activities, many homes decided to limit the visitors to invited guests. Some believers, however, still practice opening their doors to everyone, especially poor pilgrims from the countrysides, believing that this one's a year act of charity is a celebration of the saint's life and an offering to the saint. Thanksgiving, so to speak.The following photos of the festival were taken by photojournalist John DX Lapid during the Sandurot Festival, which is what the City calls its festival in honor of Santa Catalina. My gratitude to DX for allowing me to use his excellent photos. As to what Sandurot means, I honestly don't know, but its supposed to be in our native tongue.
(Source: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines | Photo credit: Festival - John DX Lapid, church - san-shin.org, belltower - file photo, and Sta Catalina: By Español: Autor desconocido novohispano (Museo Soumaya) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
Comments (18)
Happy Feast day! The Spanish influence also shows up in California at the Mexican festivals. Dancing, costumes, music, and lots of food too.
@Ricardo98 - sounds like the fiesta I know
Wow this looks awesome! So colorful. We also have lots of festivals but here our festivals are not that elegant and well produced lol This pictures are awesome. You said you've lost your roots but I see you have a very defined different culture than western, beautiful.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful festival. It is true that many celebrations share the same format, to the disinterested viewer, but it's the people involved who make any celebration memorable. Even the simple cardboard saint can seem like a Great Hero, if his adherents show enough enthusiasm.
I would never know about great things like this if it were not for Xanga. It is very interesting what different cultures do around the world.
Thanks for sharing,
frank
Fascinating.
That's a beautiful sentiment, allowing strangers into the home to feed them. Too bad about the crime.
So HAPPENING!
@xXxlovelylollipop - thank you... these are actually modern innovations... got inspiration from the mardi gras of rio
in a way, we could say that these type of devotion is kind of unique to the archipelago 
@RighteousBruin - hahahaha I love that... thank you for showing that to me, friend Gary... I guess the familiarity of the festival have made me jaded
@ANVRSADDAY - same here, Frank... Xanga has given us first person accounts of happenings across cultures
@distractedbyzombies - it's poverty-driven... but still a few continue to welcome strangers into their homes, or at least in designated areas...
but in the boondocks, hospitality is a way of life 
@RestlessButterfly - I know... it was an exciting day
that time I happened to be passing by, just arrived from a very tiring yet fulfilling trek in the boondocks 
and seeing the parade was refreshing... 
the parade was on the 24th by the way... 25th is just feasting 
and fulfilling church obligations 
@tribong_upos - I see your point, here you can see some of that happening but still not much but I see things slowly changing.
Can't wait to see what you found out in your trip
@xXxlovelylollipop - you mean the trip I had the previous day? sadly I had no picture of that, but I will sure post something bout it
I had an interesting talk with the peasant ladies there on women empowerment... 
@tribong_upos - Nothing interesting happening in Malaysia right now. People are too busy gossiping and quarreling about the forthcoming general election.
@RestlessButterfly - oh, elections??? now that's exciting
@tribong_upos - No. No. No. TV, radio and newspapers full of politic propaganda and shitty stuff.
@RestlessButterfly - hehehe the usual pre-election brouhaha
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