REMEMBERING SANTA CRUZANS IN THE PHILIPPINES
I received an email from a dear friend of mine, Riki. It was usual email that you get from friends who are far away giving you updates about your other friends and acquiantances. It was an exciting item to read but what really touched my heart was the part where he said that only very few of the people from the neighborhood where we used to live (and where he still lives) joined the Santa Cruzan that was organized annually by my Mother. He also said that this was because our former neighbors said themselves, that it is no longer my Mother who handles the event so they chose not to participate anymore. I was really moved by that.
Santa Cruzan is held in the merry month of May every year in the Philippines. It is a pageant parade joined by beautiful girls and lasses escorted by goodlooking boys and men. Participants of the said parade are usually selected by the community and its leaders. Part of the said parade is a novena procession where the Blessed Virgin Mary’s icons are placed on "carrosas" adorned with flowers and people recite novena prayers, join the rosary, and sing praises. It is definitely one of the very many colorful festivals that the Philippines has.
In our area where me and my folks used to live, our community is under the Santissimo Rosario Parish Church (or what is more known as UST Chapel). Our Parish Church has several communities and each one is headed by someone who has responsiblities for Catholic acts in his/her area and someone who can hold events particularly the ones that concern catholic traditions such as street masses, the moving of the Blessed Virgin Mary from one house to another every week and the offering of flowers and the praying of the novena and the rosary, the celebration of the Parish Church’s feast day, and most especially, the Santa Cruzan. In our area’s case, it was my Mom who was the head herself for six blessed years.
So everytime May came up, my Mom with the help of the rest of our family and some of the neighbors were able to devotedly hold colorful and memorable Santa Cruzans. I say memorable because it is indeed a wonderful experience to be a part of Santa Cruzans - whether you are part of the people who organized it or you are one of the chosen adorable girls and women dressed up in long gowns walking along the streets under flower-decorated bamboo arcs.
As a girl growing up in the 1980’s, I myself were able to participate in Santa Cruzans. I remember my Mom, who was not head of any groups yet, would have me put on long pretty gowns and have me carry fresh flowers, escorted by my very young brother. He was somewhat hesitant to join me in those parades as he did not like wearing the "itchy" barong tagalogs and walking through the nearby streets. There were even times that my Mom would take me to professional studios and have pictures of me taken before I join the parade. And for ten years, I did join Santa Cruzans. I was even "Reyna Elena" for that last time I joined in and was then, escorted by a former beau. Reyna Elena/Queen Helena is the highlight of the parade itself as she was said to be the founder of the Christ’s Cross.
Now that my family has moved to another city and my Mom is no longer part of the Parish Church where she was once an active head, I still cherish how my Mom introduced to me and to my brother one of the very important Catholic traditions and festivities that the Filipinos have. Looking back, I did not know yet the essence of joining the Santa Cruzans. But as i became older and wiser, I realized the value of continuing to do not just family traditions and devotions but also, remembering the prominent people and events that have tremendous impacts why the Philippines is said to be a country with most festivities.
I may be married now and may have migrated to a different place. BUT I will make sure and I will promise my Mom that I will let my daughter experience being a part of Santa Cruzan. I know that with this, I am not only continuing my Mom and myself’s devotion but I am also letting my daughter know our roots and sharing with her as well one of the reasons why being part of this Filipino tradition will contribute to her happy childhood. After all, she was born in the merriest and most beautiful month of the year - May.
