Friday, November 24, 2006 Sta. Rita to stage 5th Duman Festival By Marna H. Dagumboy
OFFICIALS and residents of Sta. Rita will hold on December 2 its fifth Annual Duman Festival at the grounds of the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church in the town.
Initially organized without much fanfare, the Duman Festival has been successful in realizing its twin objectives of celebrating and reviving the Kapampangan practice of producing the labor-intensive duman (roasted and pounded unripe rice flakes).
Within the first three years, enthusiasm from both within and outside the town was overwhelming. On the fourth year, it was more than confirmed that many Kapampangans are hungry for events that are rooted in tradition.
This year, the festival organizers have adopted the theme "Duman: Bunga ning Masayang Sipagan (Duman: The Fruit of Joyful Industry)". True to their origins, the activities for the festivities are simply what have been customary but on a larger scale.
In the place of troubadours who sang to those who pounded and winnowed the unripe glutinous rice, a world-class production of Kapampangan music and dance accompanies the rhythm of the pestles hitting the mortar. Where street food and other light refreshments were served those who toiled and watched, a full food fair at the festival grounds now features traditional dishes for afternoon snack and dinner.
To better accommodate visitors and showcase duman-making, this year's exhibit opens on December 1, a day ahead of the festival proper. Featuring photos of the whole process and all the implements, the exhibit also has displays of other related Sta. Rita artifacts.
A contest for the best turung design will also be held for the first time. Designed to bring out the creativity in Sta. Rita's residents, ample cash prizes await the winners.
To date, the Duman Festival is a community-initiated and owned event. Financial and other resources are solely contributed by the townsfolk of Sta. Rita, the Arti Sta. Rita Foundation and their friends.
Below is this year's schedule of activities are Duman Exhibit Opening (old convento) on December 1, at 12 noon and Holy Mass (Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church) on December 2 at 8 a.m., Turung* Design Contest (old convento) at 9:30 a.m., Awarding of the Contest, Food Fair at 6 p.m. and Kapampangan Musicale by Arti Sta. Rita at 7 p.m.
