This week鈥檚 milestones: Dec. 8 to Dec. 14
Dec. 11, 1571
The Spanish colonial administration, under Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, declared Pampanga as the first province in Luzon. Named after the Indung Kapampangan River, the largest river in the former empire, Pampanga became one of the richest provinces in the Philippines during this period. Manila and its surrounding regions relied heavily on Pampanga’s agricultural, fishery, and forestry products, as well as its skilled workforce. To manage governance and taxation, Spanish administrators divided Pampanga into towns (pueblos), further subdivided into districts (barrios), and, in some cases, into royal and private estates (encomiendas). Historically, Pampanga’s territory extended over parts of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales. However, as the population grew and new provinces were created, some Pampanga towns were absorbed into the emerging provinces of Central Luzon.
Dec. 12, 2021
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker in the Maribojoc Church, also known as Santa Cruz Parish, in Maribojoc, Bohol. It coincides with its reopening, eight years after it was destroyed by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that devastated Bohol province in 2013. Established as a mission and parish by Jesuit priests in 1767 under the patronage of Santa Cruz, the Maribojoc Church’s administration was later taken over by the Augustinian Recollects in 1768. In 1852, Father Manuel Plaza O.A.R. initiated the construction of the current church. It was completed in 1872. The church has witnessed significant historical events. During the Philippine-American War in 1901, it served as a refuge for the faithful from Loon. It also survived World War II, as it was saved from a fire that destroyed the town. In 2005, it was declared a shrine of San Vicente Ferrer by the Diocese of Tagbilaran and was proclaimed a National Cultural Treasure in 2010.
THIS WEEK’S FESTIVALS: Dec. 8 to Dec. 14
Lambayok Festival
Lambayok Festival (Dec. 8 to Dec. 14)
The Lambayok Festival is a celebration of culture, creativity and community in San Juan, Batangas. It honors the town’s rich agricultural heritage, which is integral to its identity, particularly its renowned coconut and pottery production. The festival name “lambayok” came from an acronym for “lambanog” (coconut wine), “palayok” (clay pot) and “karagatan” (sea). These three significant products have contributed to the town’s economic growth. This year’s celebration includes exciting activities, cultural traditions and festive events such as a trade fair, a cultural exchange exhibition with its sister city, Hongheon, South Korea, a civic parade, a beauty pageant, a street dance parade and more. Held on Dec. 12, the Lambayok Festival also coincides with the founding anniversary of San Juan.
Puto Festival (Dec. 9 to Dec. 14)
The Puto Festival is an annual celebration honoring Calasiao, Pangasinan’s iconic native delicacy, the puto—a delectable steamed rice cake. Calasiao has become synonymous with its mouthwatering puto, which serves as one of the town’s main sources of income. A pivotal moment in the festival’s history occurred in 2017 when Calasiao set a Guinness World Record for the largest puto mosaic. Volunteers worked together to assemble 320,000 pieces of puto, forming a mosaic depicting an image of a man feeding his grandson with the rice cake. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Fukushima, Japan, since 2012. This year’s festivities feature an exciting lineup of events, including a civic parade, beauty pageant, street dancing competition, Farm Family Day, and also the “Puto Construction and Design” competition, where participants showcase their creativity by designing and crafting unique creations from puto.
Compiled by: Nathalie Grace Adalid, Inquirer Research, Sources: Inquirer Archives, Tourism of San Juan, Batangas Facebook page, Aliguas Calasiao Facebook page, pangasinan.gov.ph, sanjuanbatangas.gov.ph, pampanga.gov.ph, nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com, pna.gov.ph, coa.gov.ph
