PORTFOLIO: FIESTA DE STA. ANA 2012

This is a photo essay on the different activities for the celebration of the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim held last July 26, 2012. This section is divided between the photographs during the 1.) Visitation of the the Pilgrim Image to different towns, 2.) the celebration of the Vesperas Mayores, 3.) the feast celebration proper and 4.) the joyful procession during the feast.

Photo Courtesy: Atty. Encebrin Javier-Inanuran (Parish of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Maysan, Valenzuela City), Arvin Kim M. Lopez, El Gideon G. Raymundo and Sem. Ulysses Ernesto F. Reyes (Parish and National Shrine of St. Anne)

Visitation of the Pilgrim Image of St. Anne
The pilgrim image of St. Anne went to the towns and Churches of Calumpit, Paombong, Malolos and Plaridel during the first part of the month of July which is the month of St. Anne. After all these travels, the image was finally brought to the home of the Hermanos Mayores, Gov. and Cong. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado in Calumpit before it came home for the celebration of the nine days in preparation for the feast of the town patroness.

Annual Fluvial Procession (Encuentro)

Next to the return of the image of St. Anne would be the nine days of preparation before the feast of St. Anne. One special day which was done on July 21, Saturday was the annual fluvial procession for Sts. Anne and Joachim wherein St. Anne would be brought to the rivers of Hagonoy, which are the source of the town's living. Here the image meets with St. Joachim, her husband in Olandes in the barrio of San Jose and from there march towards the shrine of St. Anne.

Vesperas Mayores

The ninth day of preparation would be the Vesperas Mayores which would begin the day of the feast on the evening. Traditionally, faithful from Hagonoy would dance and sing with folk music for the incoming celebration done during the afternoon. After the dancing of the mananayaw or devotees to the patron a mass would be celebrated. The presider for the mass this year was Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, D.D., Bishop of Kalookan who is a son of Bulacan. With him who celebrated was Rev. Fr. Joselito Robles Martin who is a son-priest of Hagonoy. On the part of the Hermanos, the Sy-Alvarado couple gave the vallartas to their children who were the ones who led the celebration of the people. At the night of the Vesperas starts the El Torre, a combination of brass band plays which sets off the beginning of the fiesta.

 Fiesta Proper

July the 26th is the celebration of the memorial of Sts. Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout the universal Church. Here in Hagonoy, the day is more so the thanksgiving of the town for the guidance the lady St. Anne has given its people. In this celebration, the whole town is led by the Bishop of Malolos, Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D. together with the parish priests of the Vicariate of St. Anne and the priest-sons of Hagonoy as well. It was here that the benevolent Hermanos Mayores, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Cong. Ma. Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado gave their gratitude for the climax and conclusion of the said celebration.

 Morning Procession

After the mass came the morning procession wherein devotees would bring their images of St. Anne in order to join the patroness in her different forms that come from the different families who own images of her in the town. Most of the images of St. Anne in Hagonoy are antique, including the ivory image which is owned by the Laderas family. With it come other images of the saint in various occassions from the adopted from the different places in America and in Europe where devotion to her originated such as in Beaupre, Canada and in Palude, France.

 

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