JP Aguilar: January 2009

Happy new year guys, it's been a while since I posted here.... hehehe.

Anyway, we just celebrated our fiesta here in Pandacan last sunday (January 18). Our beloved patron is Señor Sto. Niño. The usual date of our fiesta is January 14 but we Pandaqueños celebrate it every third week of the month of January. Besides from our Sto. Niño of Pandacan (or Roman Catholic - can be found along Jesus Street) we also have another Sto. Niño that resides near the church about more or less than 50 meters away. It is call the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI - can be found at Labores street corner Central street). The Sto. Niño of the Roman Catholic is much more historical than the later (as I have known). The Sto. Niño found in the well near the established church (you can find or know more about it at pandacan1011.com) and the rest is much more of our history. The IFI never changed their date of fiesta unlike we do but 2-3 years before the Roman Catholic and the IFI agreed or maked a historical event. They both agreed to celebrate the fiesta every third week of January and also celebrate it in every 14th of the month which is the real date of fiesta. From that on, the two church and the people of Pandacan is much more livelier and more extravagant in celebrating the fiesta. The two churches also make a procession that signifies unity and harmony.

At six in the morning on the third sunday of January you can hear marching bands and an "ati-atihan" roaming the streets of Pandacan. People usually gather at Beata street or in the highway of the President Quirino Avenue to march and dance their way to the church. The "ati-atihan" is the main attraction this time because when they meet at the church at Bayan (Roman Catholic) they have to make a showdown to the other "ati-atihan". A dance competition in other words. Besides from the dancing their respective ati-atihan band beat their all made from scrap or not to a bang to wake up all the resident of Pandacan. This is for me the most pleasng site. There are some participants from other areas too to show their wares. After the ati-atihan dance craze the people of Pandacan can dance along with them as the Priest of the church bless all the people there. Then, a huge roar of joy can be hear and felt in the air for the signal of the feast of our Señor Sto. Niño.

Every third saturday of January we also celebrate our street dance or also known as the "Buling-buling". All people of all walks of life can be found there dancing. As I have known the Buling-buling is now included as one of the tourists to watch or join when they visit the Philippines and we are proud of it. All colorful dresses or filipiniana and barongs can be noticed in the parade that the participants wear. From children to adults are all in it. So colorful and yet so very historical to us.