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| AGUMAN CAPAMPANGAN SANTA CRUZAN / CORONATION PAGEANT |
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| BY ERNIE C. TURLA |
The idea of a Santa Cruzan is something
I conceived in my mind even before my
term as president. It popped up during a
moment of inspiration after a mid-summer
night dream! It all started when one night
as I lay in bed pondering over matters
that could enhance the image of our
association, I fell into a deep slumber
during which I dreamed of being lost in a
grand palace and seeing so many visions of
loveliness. I saw a myriad of queens and
princesses slowly walking in a dignified
way and all dressed in gowns -- so pomp
in style! I was enraptured and filled
with awe by the splendor of their beauty
as they passed by in front of me! I had
never seen such elegance! And the music
that filled the air was Strauss-like! Then
from nowhere, I heard a soft voice that
sounded like that of an angel and addressed
royally to me: "Your highness, why not seek
something which when mentioned, the Aguman
Capampangan would automatically come to mind?"
With those words, all the characters I was
seeing faded into the mist and I woke up
with a thrill in my heart! I jumped up from
bed and said, "Yes, that is it! A signature
event is what we need!. Something the club
would be doing for a number of years until
that event would become very much associated
with it. Just like for instance, now when we
mention Valentines Day with a Cotillon, the
Fil-Am Friendship Club comes to mind. And when
we mention Mrs. Philippines, we immediately think
of the Filipino American Association of Portland
and Vicinity. Something like a landmark if it
were a city or country! As the Statue of
Liberty is to New York, and the Basilica of St.
Peter is to Rome, so too will the Santa Cruzan
/ Coronation Pageant be to the Aguman Capampangan
NW USA!" So, I went on with my dream, or should
I say, my quest. I remembered that over the years
we had been celebrating occasions that really had
no bearing whatsoever with our culture as Filipinos.
Take the case of Halloween for instance. For all I
know, we have All Saints Day in the Philippines but
not Halloween. And Pampanga is not even noted for
pumpkins! So I said to myself, what is our province
well-known for, and what does the Capampangan typefy?
And as though by lightning, it struck me: "beauty"!
Capampangan women walk with elegance in their beauty,
as well as in extravagance just to portray that beauty
- a physical trait the poet, John Keats, regarded as
"a joy forever"! Capampangans, are artistic and
well-known for making the best star-lanterns (parol)
for Christmas. I further realized that Pampanga is
also noted for sampaguita, our national flower. Leis
and garlands being peddled in Manila come from the
sampaguita orchards that abound in the area around Lubao,
Guagua and Floridablanca. ( http://maxpages.com/sampaguita )
Then I thought of the rose festivals here in Portland
and in Pasadena where we used to live. And I said,
"The sampaguita is a flower too, and even more fragrant
than the rose. During the flowery month of May,
we use them in Flores de Mayo processions during which
we give them to the blessed Virgin Mary as an offering.
So, that is it, eureka! The Santa Cruzan!
It could become a celebration we can put up every year
from now on. We will put Filipino immigrants here like
ourselves into nostalgia, instill more cultural awareness
in ourselves as we all recall this magnificent tradition
we have left behind. It will also be awe-inspiring and
thrilling on the part of the U.S.-born Filipino youth as
he is able to take a glimpse of how it is in his parents'
motherland. The youth in the Filipino-American National
Historical Society would find such an event educational
and it could perhaps even embolden them in their pursuit
to learn more of their cultural heritage.
So, in late January, I brought this matter up in our
monthly meeting, and it ignited the hearts of many,
and before long, the excitement of having a Santa Cruzan
spread like wildfire within the ranks and files of
the club. The idea of a Santa Cruzan pageant really
swept everyone off his feet! But the story had just
begun!
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Our maiden Santa Cruzan pageant was meticulously planned.
We invited all Filipino-American associations from
Vancouver in Washington to Roseburg, Oregon.
To amazing grace, they all complied with our
invitation. One by one they arrived, each
accompanying a representative muse to participate
in the parade/procession and in the coronation
that was to cap the pageant and then followed by a
social dance. The parade/procession was a display
of pomp and elegance - what with the array of biblical
and historical characters in their queenly costumes!
There was Reyna Sheba, Reyna Esther, Reyna Judith,
Reyna Justicia, Reyna Sentenciada, Fe, Esperanza y
Caridad, the Virgenes delos Estrellas, etc., and at
the end, under a beautiful arch, the Emperatriz or
Reyna Elena who was portrayed by the then reigning
Miss Teen World (Kayla Tayag). A host of singers at
the rear was singing the Dios Te Salve. During all
that time while the parade was passing, a spotlight
was focused on each participant while the emcees on
the stage were announcing them one by one and explaining
the roles they portrayed. Following the Sta. Cruz
de Mayo procession was the laying of flowers on the
Virgin Mary by selected older ladies (Flores de Mayo).
Then the major parade participants took their seats
in the Royal Court which was on the stage and in
full view from the spectators. Then came the crowning
of the queen "Miss Aguman Santa Cruzan 2001" to the
band music of "Mabuhay". Then a eulogy to the queen
in Kapampangan was delivered and then followed by a
serenade (also in Kapampangan)- both of which were done
so excellently, the jam-packed gym which was the venue
of the coronation was glowing with the thrill of a
life time. Then the queen and her court stepped down
to the dance floor and danced with their escorts the
opening number: Atin Cu Pung Singsing on tape and
sung by Nora Aunor.
Famous lutung Kapampangan was a-plenty during dinner
time which was done right before the pageant.
With so many people that came to attend the
cultural event, and with the success of the pageant
owing to the various committees that worked hard,
the pageant committee in particular we were all
overwhelmed with enthusiasm in contemplating a
repeat performance come the following year. Teamwork
and cooperation among us, plus our aesthetic
imagination and skill, played a real big role in
making the festivity a smash hit. It was a night
full of splendor, a night to remember.
Aguman Capampangan NW USA http:maxpages.com/aguman
Atin cu pung singsing Metung yang timpucan Amana que iti
This is the flag of the Philippines.
One of the 8 rays of its sun stands
for Pampanga, the province of the
Aguman Capampangan. Isn't that cool? |
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