Fiesta fever in the Philippines: It’s the time of the year again where we celebrate fiestas all over the country, and one of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines is the Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo. Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance. This festival commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reyna Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.

A novena (nine days of prayer) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan.

In our hometown of Calumpit, Barangay Caniogan is celebrating its fiesta on Sunday in honor of their patron, Sta. Cruz with Noel Laforteza as this year’s fiesta committee chairman. SKMM was told that a motocross was held today (Friday) with Jove Saulog as one of the guest participants. There will be more special events tomorrow and will be culminating on Sunday.