Friday, March 09, 2007 'Kalbaryo' renamed 'Maleldo' for San Fernando Lenten rites By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The infamous San Pedro Cutud Lenten observance in this city, which has attracted thousands of spectators from the country and abroad, has been renamed as "Maleldo," a Kapampangan word for Holy Week.
In line with this annual event, the City Tourism office (CTO), through the directives of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, has made preparations for the celebration.
The preparations, the CTO said, are meant to make the event peaceful, orderly and memorable to all those who would visit the city and observe the affair.
Maleldo in the city has always been observed by the international community for its unique way of commemorating the passion of Jesus Christ. The commemoration includes the account-by-account re-enactment of the Way of the Cross or "Via Crusis" and the sorrowful crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The crucifixion rites is also being re-enacted in two adjacent barangays -- Sta. Lucia and San Juan -- but without the staging of the Way of the Cross.
The City Government, in observing the solemnity of the occasion, also finds ways to promote the Fernandino culture and heritage in the staging of the Via Crucis, which was written by Ricardo Navarro, one of San Fernando's local writers.
The chanting of the story of Christ's passion and death called "pasyon," the solemn meditation of the Stations of the Cross, and the penitents locally known as "magdarame," who carry wooden crosses and inflict wounds on their backs before whipping themselves with wooden bamboo sticks are also some of the few of the well-preserved rituals of the Kapampangans in celebrating Holy Week.
On Good Friday -- "Biernes Santo" in Kapampangan -- San Pedro Cutud plays host to thousands of foreign and local tourists and dignitaries who witness the actual nailing of penitents on wooden crosses, which is the main highlight of the Via Crusis.
First performed 52 years ago by local volunteer artists, Via Crucis became a notable event for San Pedro Cutud. It was in 1962 when Artemio Añoza of Apalit, Pampanga volunteered to be nailed on a wooden cross to gain divine approval for his dream to become a good religious leader and full-fledged faith healer. This supreme act of volunteerism paved the way for the crucifixion to take place every year with many penitents joining it as their "panata" or vow of sacrifice.
In 1965, the event caught national interest with its performance in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. Subsequently, it became an international tourist attraction.
Additional information about the event, tour packages and other tourist assistance related matters is available at the CTO at (045) 961-5684 or (045) 961-6640 local 211 or email address citytourism@cityofsanfernando.gov.ph.
