FIESTA
Let’s talk about “Town Fiesta”… “Fiesta” is music to the ears of many Filipinos and bring smiles to their faces. For most, fiesta is a special time with friends and relatives, lots of food and activities, and most importantly is a celebration of faith.
Why are we celebrating Town Fiesta annually?
It was during the Spanish colonial period that fiesta was introduced as a tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith and during this period, many communities were named after a particular saint. Those communities under the administration of a priest would rise to full municipal status and eventually, established as a municipal government. Thus, the celebration of the feast day of a patron saint is also the celebration of the town’s existence and identity.
Our municipality of Catmon was named after a tree abundant during the time. Every 10th of February Catmonanon from everywhere gather together to celebrate its feast day. Why February 10? Do we celebrate this day to remember the establishment of our municipality? Or is it to honor our patron saint?
Fiestas in the Philippines are celebrated honoring the Patron Saints. The saint’s feast day can be the day of their actual death or a day assigned by the Church. Typically, the Church only assigns a day when the day of death is unknown. And if the Church isn’t sure of the date of death of some saints, other calendar dates are sometimes chosen — such as the day that the saint was canonized.
In our case, our Patron Saint is Sr. San Guillermo or St. William known as William the Hermit and William the Great. He died on February 10, 1157, beatified in 1202, and his feast day is celebrated worldwide every 10th of February, the day of his last breath. This is the very reason why we celebrate our feast day on February 10, to honor our Patron Saint… TO COMMEMORATE HIS PENITENT LIFE AND HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH.
It is sad to note that in some places fiesta has become merely a social event. The honoring of the saints has been largely forgotten. Let us understand and hold on to the very reason why we celebrate town fiesta.
FIESTA
Let’s talk about “Town Fiesta”… “Fiesta” is music to the ears of many Filipinos and bring smiles to their faces. For most, fiesta is a special time with friends and relatives, lots of food and activities, and most importantly is a celebration of faith.
Why are we celebrating Town Fiesta annually?
It was during the Spanish colonial period that fiesta was introduced as a tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith and during this period, many communities were named after a particular saint. Those communities under the administration of a priest would rise to full municipal status and eventually, established as a municipal government. Thus, the celebration of the feast day of a patron saint is also the celebration of the town’s existence and identity.
Our municipality of Catmon was named after a tree abundant during the time. Every 10th of February Catmonanon from everywhere gather together to celebrate its feast day. Why February 10? Do we celebrate this day to remember the establishment of our municipality? Or is it to honor our patron saint?
Fiestas in the Philippines are celebrated honoring the Patron Saints. The saint’s feast day can be the day of their actual death or a day assigned by the Church. Typically, the Church only assigns a day when the day of death is unknown. And if the Church isn’t sure of the date of death of some saints, other calendar dates are sometimes chosen — such as the day that the saint was canonized.
In our case, our Patron Saint is Sr. San Guillermo or St. William known as William the Hermit and William the Great. He died on February 10, 1157, beatified in 1202, and his feast day is celebrated worldwide every 10th of February, the day of his last breath. This is the very reason why we celebrate our feast day on February 10, to honor our Patron Saint… TO COMMEMORATE HIS PENITENT LIFE AND HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH.
It is sad to note that in some places fiesta has become merely a social event. The honoring of the saints has been largely forgotten. Let us understand and hold on to the very reason why we celebrate town fiesta.
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