TAPUSAN FESTIVAL, A DECADES OLD TRADITION OF ALITAGTAG

Marching Brass Band

I was born and raised in Alitagtag so I grew up enjoying the yearly festivities in my hometown. The most famous of which is the recently concluded “Tapusan Festival” or “The May Flower Festival.” As far as I can remember and even just recently, the sound of the approaching marching brass bands have always been the early morning alarm probably not only for me but for many Alitagtaguenos every May 31st of the year. There are only two occasions marching brass bands parade the streets of Alitagtag, during town fiesta every May 7th and May 31st, the Tapusan. However, the excitement and the festive mood is more felt during Tapusan as we got to watch and listen to not only one but a least three bands parading the streets representing the three barangays closeby our place.

  

It was believed that the festival started even before Alitagtag was established as a town separating from the old town of Bauan. Alitagtag was founded in 1910 and the “Tapusan” can be considered as one of the oldest Catholic traditions in the province of Batangas. This only proves the townfolk’s deep Catholic faith that has been passed on to many generations. “Tapusan” is just the 2nd part of the month long celebration in our town. It actually starts with the tradition called “Paalay.” I vividly remember when I was a kid, my grandparents used to reserve one day for this occasion as “panata” or a solemn promise. This is some sort of small scale “hermana”, a sign of thanksgiving and to honor Mother Mary by offering flowers. Back in the days, the flower offerings were not as simple as buying flowers and arranging them in vases. Early in the morning, we pick flowers such as kalachuchi, alibangbang, ball lilies, caballero and Cat's tail  (in order from above photos) around the town. The most common place is the cemetery. Yes, it is abit freaky but flowers bloom there beautifully and they have lots of it. The harvested flowers were placed on super sized containers and sprayed with water for the day’s event. Each petals of alibangbang and caballero were removed from its receptacle and the “florestas” (florists) as they are called composed of young kids and middle aged women arranged the petals in a bamboo stick or toothpicks to make a new flower. Banana sheaths were cut into different intricate designs mainly highlighting the initials of the “hermana”. The “AVE MARIA” letters and heart shaped banana sheaths were also made. The flowers on bamboo sticks are then forced into the precut banana sheaths and arranged beautifully creating a beautiful “eme.” The cat’s tail flower is specially used for the heart for its dark red color. As part of the celebration, the “hermana” usually prepared a snack whom everyone is welcome to partake and eat. The event normally starts at 3pm and before 6pm the “hermana” and the florists will do a procession to the church  for the prayers and flowers offerings to Mother Mary. This has been a yearly tradition back in the days. But as the years passed, this decades old tradition is becoming less and less practiced more importantly the way how flower offerings were made. In this time and age where people tend to prefer “instant” stuff, the quick and easy way is to buy prearranged flowers. I wish the old ways can be revived before it becomes extinct and forgotten by the new generation.

And then, the main highlight of this month long celebration, the "Tapusan." To be the “Hermana Mayor” holds a very important role for this one day event. The prestige and honor of being the "Hermana Mayor" has the monetary consequences as he/she has to finance the building of the “karosa” as well as the hiring of the brass band and preparing the food for all the guests and “sagala”. The Hermana Mayor also dictates how grand the design of the float will be. Although the building of the “karosa” are the combined voluntary efforts of all the members, the associated cost for the materials, flowers and lighting are billed to the Hermana Mayor. It may be too excessive for some to spend quite a large amount of money for this one day event but the deep faith of the Alitagtaguenos somehow outweighs the cost. My aunt for one in 1968 became the Hermana Mayor after graduating from medicine as thanksgiving.

Kapisanan ng Flores de Mayo Karosa 2017

Street Dancing

Our family is a member of the “Kapisanan ng Flores de Mayo” which covers the Poblacion area. There are ten barangays joining the Tapusan this year. The whole day event starts with the street dancing in the morning participated by all the barangays. The marching brass bands parading the streets provided an added flavor to the already  festive mood of this special event. But one thing is certain, the Tapusan Festival of Alitagtag is a very religious celebration of thankgiving and honoring Mother Mary and our faith to the Holy Cross. This will and must always remain this way. When all the beautiful belles and their consort are ready and lined up with their light bulbs on, the procession starts, normally at 6pm. The Herman Mayor always occupy the spot in front of the float all throughout the procession. All the barangays start the procession almost at the same time and they all pass-by the town's main church in reverence to the Holy Cross. To be able to watch all the processions, the best place to stay is nearby the church grounds. The procession normally finishes before midnight.

Without a doubt, the main attraction of the "Tapusan" is the grand display of the floats or locally known as "karosa". Different barangays build their own "karosa" with the different images of Mama Mary occupying the main altar adorned and decorated with different kinds of flowers and not to mention the hundreds of light bulbs illuminating the whole float. Every year, the design and concept of all the floats change showcasing the artistic talent and creativity of the Alitagtaguenos. The decades old photos (see below) which were kept in our family albums provide a very real evidence of how the float designs as well the materials used has progressed overtime from the use of papers to styroforms and even the use of indigenous materials. Even robotics and remote controlled feature are incorporated in the whole design to prove that though the tradition is very old, we still managed to adopt to the modern technologies available but maintaining the main purpose, to give honor to Mother Mary in the month of flowers. 

It has been a decade or so since the last time I visited the Philippines and witness the “Tapusan Festival” in my hometown. I am glad to be back again. 

I hope that the local government will further promote this festival throughout the country for all the Filipinos to experience this unique celebration that is truly “ala eh” and pride of the Alitagtaguenos.

For information, the following are "kapisanan" joining the yearly festival:

1. Kapisanan ng Flores de Mayo (Brgy. Poblacion Proper)

2. Kapisanan ng Diwa ng Kababataan (Brgy. Poblacion West)

3. Samahan ng Kababataan (Brgy. Poblacion East)

4. Kapisanan ng Bulaklak sa Mayo (Brgy. Conception)

5. Kapisanan ng Bukang Liwayway (Brgy. Pinagkurusan)

6. Kapisanan ng Bahay Kubo (Brgy. Dominador East)

7. Kapisanan Perlas ng Silangan (Brgy. Dalipit East)

8. Kapisanan ng Pagkakaisa (Brgy. Dalipit West)

9. Kapisanan ng Bagong Pag-asa (Brgy. Balagbag)

10. Kapisanan ng Liwanag sa Karimlan (Brgy. Muzon Centro)

(Note : Some of the above photos were taken decades ago preserved and saved in the our family albums. This only proves the Tapusan Festival in its early beginnings already shown the great artistry and creativity of Alitagtaguenos which is indeed commendable and something to be proud of. The information are only based on what I know based from my experience and being a resident of Alitatag, Batangas).