I WAS still hung over from the frantic and frenzied Maleldo observance that we had in our beloved city when I was invited to grace this year’s Sabuaga Festival, an Easter extravaganza in the quaint town of Santo Tomas. “Sabuaga” is coined from the words “sabuag sampaga”, or showering of petals, in honor of the Virgin Mary during Easter rites in this town.
The festival, whose religious roots have been in place for more than a hundred years, is anchored on the unique Lent and Easter traditions of Santo Tomas town. While the present day festival takes a much more colorful cultural town, those who grew up in Santo Tomas know that roles such as the Stabat, Tres Marias, Ciriales, and Apostoles are coveted and even passed on through generations. In Pampanga, while we have a bevy of Good Friday crucifixions, Easter is celebrated like no other in Santo Tomas.
This year’s Sabuaga Festival is the tenth one and highlights the strong partnership between stakeholders, as the Maleldo Executive Committee of Santo Tomas de Apostol Parish, parish priest Rev. Fr. Renato Sabile, Congressman Rimpy Bondoc, and municipal Mayor Johnny Sambo were in full force during the event, along with the barangay captains of the seven barangays of the town. It is one of the few festivals that feature 100 percent community representation in our province. I feel proud as a Kapampangan to have a festival such as the Sabuaga and I am grateful to my friends in the tourism circle, Tina Torres and Jeff Gomez, who have made it possible for me to witness the first, and the latest version of this feast.
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On April 22, as we were celebrating World Earth Day, Mother Earth decided to give us a jolt too with a 6.1 magnitude quake which devastated Pampanga. A number of our heritage structures sustained massive damages, including decapitated saints and angels with broken wings. Some unfeeling, shortsighted, and perhaps, slightly ignorant, netizens decidedly attributed our collective suffering to our Holy Week practices such as the crucifixions.
Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon and humans, in the scheme of things, are minute inhabitants in a vast universe. While we seem to have mastered and conquered a lot about our nature, there is a lot more for us to understand and discover, including our vulnerabilities to the laws and courses of nature.
Prayers and thoughts go out to the victims of this recent disaster, especially the families who suffered loss and displacement. Heartfelt gratitude and salute to responders and disaster workers who continue to serve beyond themselves.
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On April 25, another ground shaking news reached Kapampangans who were unsettled by the untimely loss of one of our pillars in civic and business life, Liberato P. Laus. Tito Levy’s business acumen, civic leadership, and community spirit changed our landscape, especially during our recovery years after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The impact of his contributions to our community is unprecedented. You truly made a difference with your life and your legacy will surely live on.
My prayers and condolences to his family, especially to Tita Tess and their children. We grieve with you, and we commemorate Tito Levy’s well-lived and well-loved life. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions to be made and donated to the Levy P. Laus Foundation, Inc.