FROM the creepy costumes of the kids and kids-at-heart who participated in the trick or treat, to the creative but eerie conceptualization of casket designs and booths — everything was seen at the first “Ataol” or Casket Festival held on October 31 in Santo Tomas town, Pampanga.
The event was organized by the local government here in partnership with the National Federations of Mortuary Stakeholders, Inc.-Philippines, the Association of Casket Makers of Sto. Tomas and Sto. Tomas Tourism, Arts and Culture Council.
Santo Tomas is known as the “Casket Capital” of the Philippines, supplying beautiful wooden and metal coffins to funeral parlors around the country.
According to Mayor Johnny Sambo of this town, 15 funeral casket makers from the different barangays of this town participated in the festival held at the Barangay San Vicente covered court.
Each participant set-up their booth into different hair-rising presentations complete with colorful and well-designed caskets, some of which were transformed into sari-sari stores and photo backdrops, among others.
“The idea of the Ataol Festival came from our goal of strengthening Sto. Tomas’ brand as the casket capital of the country. And we particularly held it here in Barangay San Vicente which is home to most of our casket makers in town,” he said.
Through the festival, Sambo said he also aims to further promote the funeral casket industry of Sto. Tomas which has provided identity to the town and employ hundreds of Tomasian families.
During the event, four casket makers namely Iandrey Casket Maker, D3A Merchandise, Dan Pineda Casket Maker, Triple K Metal Casket took home the best in booth presentation award and cash prizes.
Aside from the funeral casket makers, Sambo said a total of 104 children dressed as different freaky and scary characters registered in the trick or treat activity wherein bags of candies and lollipops were given away.
“Of course, what’s a trick or treat without kids and candies? And we are very much thankful to the children and parents who really put efforts in dressing up to participate in our festival. We can clearly claim the success of our first Ataol Festival,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sambo expressed his hope that the festivity will be institutionalized as an annual event and will be included in the long-list of renowned Kapampangan fests.
Association of Barangay Captains President Matias Pineda, who joined the celebration, lauded the efforts of the local government in organizing such activities that gathers locals in celebration of the town’s rich culture and industry.
“The event is indeed very successful in providing entertainment to our fellow Tomasians and in promoting our casket making industry here,” he said.