PEOPLE, CULTURE AND FESTIVALS

If you really want to experience what the real Bataan culture is like, the Feast days or “fiestas” are a real insight into the life of these people, and are always full of wonderful memories to cherish. On the eve of every fiesta there is usually a “serenata” (brass band) concert or contest held in each of the town center.

On the big day, the bands will march around the main thoroughfares with the “kurakol” (local street dancing) lively strutting along behind. Most of the municipalities in the province observe and maintain the historical significance of local festivals, which depict the legends, cultures and histories of their towns.

In the mountain parts of the peninsula, indigenous people locally known as aetas are found. The short, dark and curly haired members of this ethnic community once roamed freely in the vast forest for their food, medicine, shelter and everything they needed to live. 

With the presence of their community, activities that will re-surface cultural practices are being held to capsulate and share to the mainstream for appreciation and backward integration to the present practices of this minority group

A model Aeta community is being developed in Brgy. Bangkal, Abucay where Cultural preservation, appreciation and sharing among the mainstream society are the major focus of the project.  With this, it is envisioned for the project to have a comprehensive mainstreaming and education among the community and the broader society on the different practices like rituals, festivities, hunting styles among others of this indigenous group.

Subliminally, this component will inculcate among the Aetas the beauty of their roots as told by would be visitors and immersion groups.  Love and pride for their race is expected to happen as well as advocacies for the protection of their environment as well as claims for their ancestral domains.

VISIT BATAAN

April marks the start of the feast days, “fiestas” to the natives of the province of Bataan. Various activities are in store for the entertainment of the people. Fairs, carnivals, bargain shops, and craft shops usually occupies the plazas of towns where the “fiesta” is being held. And when the evening comes throng of people gather to watch musical shows, amateur singing and dancing contests, and beauty pageants being staged also at the town plaza.  On the eve of the fiesta, a serenata (brass band) concert or contest is often being held again at the plaza.  And on the big day, drum and bugle corps and brass band march around the thoroughfares of the town.

Almost every year the much-awaited Holy Week falls on the month of March or April.  “Kubols” are set up in every barangay for the pabasa, wherein devotees start reading the life and passion of Christ through chanting from Holy Wednesday until Good Friday.  The church prepares a weeklong activity from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.  On Maundy Thursday, “pagulong” commences in preparation for the “penitensya” the next day, Good Friday.  Some devotees do the visita iglesias.  Early on Good Friday people would flock the town plaza to witness the “penitensya”  (flagellants) and “senakulo,” a passion depicting the sufferings of Christ.  On Easter Sunday is the “salubong” or “alleluia,” a procession celebrating the meeting of the Risen Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Also commemorated on this month is the “Bataan Day” or “Araw ng Kagitingan.”  War veterans and their families from different points of the country travel to Mt. Samat, every April 09 to reminisce the past and to celebrate the bravery of our forefathers who offered their lives in the struggle to preserve our freedom and democracy.  Atop Mt. Samat is the “Shrine of Valor” where the celebration takes place.

The festivities continue through the month of May.  One can witness the “flores de mayo,” a pageantry of the beautiful ladies of the particular town highlighted by the “karakol” (street dancing) lively strutting along the streets.  May is also the month where one can sample the delectable native dishes, particularly the steaming heaps of crabs and sugpo (prawns), the specialty of the province.

Though the months of March, April and May are ideal for visitors to enjoy the sun, sand, and festivities, a whole year round visit in the peninsula will be idyllic for tourists because of the many things to explore…experience… and enjoy in Bataan.

FESTIVALS:

MARCH OR APRIL   " SENAKULO"   
(Good Friday)   Calaguiman, Samal
                       
The people of Calaguiman had been practicing this tradition since 1947, which was started by one family in this barangay.

A traditional Lenten presentation renacting the life and passion of Christ presented by the local folks of Calaguiman in major roads, culminating at the town plaza. Early on Good Friday people would flock down the main streets to watch the senakulo, a passion play depicting the suffering of Jesus Christ starting with the betrayal of Judas up to the funeral of Jesus. The participants are all dressed in costumes depicting the role they portray.

APRIL 6-9      " BATAAN DAY CELEBRATION"   

 Shrine of Valor, Mt. Samat, Pilar  (provincewide)

Araw ng Kagitingan or Bataan Day is an annual event, a national holiday,  that commemorates the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers during WW II.
Defeat/ fall of Bataan and honors the bravery of Filipino soldiers who offered their lives for freedom of the country The president of the country, together with other dignitaries, war veterans and officials of the province usually leads celebration of the Bataan Day at the Shrine of Valor in Mt. Samat.
Side events are being held at the capital of the province and nearby towns, among them are:
PADYAKAN SA BATAAN – A mountain bike circuit race competition open to all mountain bike enthusiasts from Bataan, nearby provinces and Manila area. It aims to revive the patriotism and instill the importance that the province played during WW II.
PARANGAL SA MGA BAYANI – The entire province will pay tribute and honor the sacrifices and heroism of the living WW II veterans of Bataan.
PARADA NG KAGITINGAN – As part of the celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan, a Parade of Floats depicting the heroism of the FIlipino soldiers during the war, will be highlighted. The parade will pass by the major thoroughfares of the province.
TAGISAN DIWANG BATAAN – A province wide quiz open to all high school students on the history, culture and geography of Bataan.

LAST WEEK OF   APRIL      " BANGA FESTIVAL"               
Balanga City

It is said that the name “Balanga” was derived from a kind of pot used for cooking or fetching water. The cooking pot is made of a special clay and is locally known as “banga”.
To commemorate this humble beginning of the now progressive city, the Banga Festival is being celebrated.

MAY   " PAGBUBUNYI FESTIVAL"
Limay

Celebrated every second day of May, the festival reenacts Queen Helena’s and her son Constantine’s quest for the cross of Jesus Christ.

MAY   " SANTACRUZAN DE MAYO" (First week of May)
Bagac

A 2-week Santacruzan is held in Bagac featuring grown-up ladies and their constantinos, where a group of ladies, with their abanikos, chant songs of praise during the procession. The Santacruzan is brought around the town every night, starting May 2 and on the 15th day a “piging” is held starting with a mass in the morning followed by a procession and a Sambale or dance of townspeople. Another procession at night is held wherein the Reyna Helena’s cross will be passed to the following year’s Hermana Mayor.

JUNE 24   " KURALDAL FESTIVAL"

St. John the Baptist -  Dinalupihan

                                   
Beating the late summer heat, the municipality celebrates its town fiesta on the 24th day of June, with lots of merry making, with street dancing and a week long hosting of various festivities which includes civic-military parade, cultural presentations of songs, dances from almost every sector of the community.

In memory of the feast day of St. John the Baptist, the town’s patron saint, biblically known as the one who baptized Jesus Christ with water on the river of Jordan, a short presentation reminiscing the act is played before the crowd after which everybody in town joyfully joins the Kuraldal- a dance –around parade with floral dresses and hats, flowers and leaves swayed and waved in merriment, while on-lookers wet them all with water, a resemblance of how Jesus was, when St. John, the Baptist poured over his head the water of Christianity.

SEPTEMBER 8-10   " PALIS LASA FESTIVAL"                         

Brgy. Mabatang, Abucay

                                   
An agro- religious festival held annually in Mabatang, Abucay. It starts with a thanksgiving mass and a street dancing where participants adorn themselves with colorful costumes made of tiger lass or “lasa” used to make walis tambo.

OCTOBER   " FEAST DAY OF  NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILAR"             
Pilar
           
The feast day is celebrated every 12th day of October to honor the miraculous Nuestra Señora del Pillar.

2ND SUNDAY OF OCTOBER
       " FEAST DAY OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO

The feast day is celebrated every 2nd sunday of October to honor the miraculous Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

Orani   "ALIMANGO SUGPO FESTIVAL"

Celebrated every second Sunday of October to honor the miraculous Virgin Mary of the Rosary.

NOVEMBER    " PAWIKAN FESTIVAL"
Brgy. Nagbalayong, Morong

For the past years, the Bantay Pawikan, Inc. and the Morong local government unit have been conducting the PAWIKAN FESTIVAL during the last week of November. For the past years, the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the Provincial Government and the Provincial Tourism Office, had organized series of activities that aims to generate awareness and gather funds for the continuous development and rehabilitation of the conservation center. This symbolic celebration, usually held at the end of November, will hopefully bring sustainable progress to Bataan in terms of safeguarding the natural environment and unify people from all walks of life under the preservation program.

Montemar Beach Club Inc., a privately owned beach resort in the town of Bagac also celebrates the Pawikan festival yearly. This is part of the corporation’s thrust to conserve and protect these endangered animals which are also present in the coasts and pristine beaches of Bagac.
 
These two “pawikan” projects clearly showcase the efforts and importance of marine turtle conservation in the whole province of Bataan…how private commercial establishments do it in Bagac, and volunteerism of the community in the Morong Pawikan Center.

DECEMBER 15 to JANUARY   " PASKUHAN SA MABATANG"
Mabatang, Abucay

In Mabatang, Abucay the joys of Christmas is extended to the streets. Every “sitio” in the barangay is lavishly adorned and lighted to the obvious delight of everyone. People from all over the province and nearby towns would drive around Mabatang to check out the new gimmick Abukeños have come up for this year. It shows the creativity and ingenuity of the people in this much-awaited season.

FEAST DAYS

MUNICIPALITIES    PATRON SAINT                        FEAST DAY

ABUCAY                   St. Dominic                               Last Sunday of October
BAGAC                     St. Catherine of Alexandria          November 23
BALANGA                 St. Joseph                                          April 28
DINALUPIHAN          St. John the Baptist                           June 24
HERMOSA                St. Peter of Verona                              May 3
LIMAY                      St. Francis del Assisi                          October 4
MARIVELES              St. Nicolas                               3rd Sunday of february
MORONG                  Nuestra Señora del Pilar                  February 2
ORANI              Nuestra SeÑora Virgen del Rosario   2nd Sunday of October
ORION                     St Michael                                            May8
PILAR                       Nuestra Señora Del Pilar                   October 12
SAMAL                      St. Catherine of Sienna                      April 30