In Apalit, Pampanga, the annual “Libad ng Apung Iru” (St. Peter’s Fluvial Parade) stands as the town’s most celebrated event. Devotees from Apalit and neighboring areas gather for a vibrant three-day feast from June 28 to 30, honoring St. Peter the Apostle, the town’s patron saint. This celebration expresses gratitude for a fruitful year and a bountiful harvest.
During the festivities, colorful banderitas flutter in the breeze, and creatively decorated boats and barges glide along the Pampanga River. The town comes alive with food, music, and the infectious smiles of its people.
The tradition dates back to June 28, 1844, when the first fluvial procession took place. An over-century-old ivory image of the apostle, believed to have been crafted in the late 1700s, is paraded along the river. This procession is among Pampanga’s most renowned religious events.
Another of Apalit’s treasures is the St. Peter Parish Church, located in Barangay San Juan. Initially constructed in 1883, the church underwent a significant renovation in 1989, led by Msgr. Rustico G. Cuevas. Despite these changes, the church maintains its structural integrity, capacity, and aesthetic beauty, remaining a proud symbol of the town.
The majority of Apalit’s residents are Christians, predominantly Catholics. The town also hosts the headquarters of the Members Church of God International, also known as Ang Dating Daan, under the leadership of Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano. Other religious institutions include a Muslim mosque, Seventh Day Adventist Church, United Methodist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and various evangelical churches.
Apalit is not only a hub of religious activity but also a center for commerce among its neighboring towns. It features prominent supermarket chains like Puregold Price Club, Inc., SM Savemore Market, and local grocery stores such as Red Camia, Chuzon, and DD’s Supermarket.
The town’s ‘Gastropark’ food park, the first of its kind in Pampanga’s fourth district, offers a diverse array of cuisines from around the world. Every weekend, it transforms into a lively venue with live bands and spoken word poetry, making it an ideal spot for family outings and gatherings with friends.
Apalit’s name derives from the vernacular term for the narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus), which once grew abundantly along the riverbanks. As of the 2010 census, the town is home to 101,537 residents known for their industriousness and warm hospitality.
Surrounded by the towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and San Simon in Pampanga, and Calumpit, Pulilan, and Baliuag in Bulacan, Apalit thrives on fishing and farming as its primary sources of livelihood.
Apalit is a green yet modern municipality, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, spiritual richness, and a taste of urban life. It is an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation, faith, and a vibrant community experience.
“Libad ng Apung Iru” (St. Peter’s fluvial parade) might be the well-known and most awaited annual event for this town where devotees from here and nearby towns and provinces celebrate together a three-day feast in honor and gratitude to St. Peter the Apostle, Apalit’s patron saint, for giving a bountiful, meaningful year and harvest.
Colorful banderitas, creative designs to each boats and barges as it passes along the portion of Pampanga River, lots of food and smiles from the people fill this town every June 28 to 30 each year.
The first annual fluvial procession began on the 28th of June 1844, where a more than century-old ivory image of the apostle was paraded along the Pampanga River, it was also considered as one of the most famous religious processions in Pampanga.
The life-sized, seated image of “Apung Iru” is dated back from the last quarter of the 1700s.
The St. Peter Parish Church located in Barangay San Juan here is also definitely one of the prides of Apalit, though it was first built in 1883 and had a major renovation in 1989, initiated by Msgr. Rustico G. Cuevas, the church still possessed the qualities of a good construction in terms of its solidity, capacity, light and artistic beauty.
Most residents in Apalit are considered Christians, with a majority professing Catholicism.
Aside from Catholicism, the main headquarters of the Members Church of God International (also known as Ang Dating Daan) headed by Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano is located here.
Different churches of different religions were also located in the town like the Muslim Mosque, Seventh Day Adventist, United Methodist, Jehovah’s Witness and other evangelical churches.
Aside from religions and churches, Apalit is also rich in commercial establishments among its neighboring towns, famous supermarket chains like Puregold Price Club, Inc., SM Savemore Market, local grocery stores like Red Camia, Chuzon, and DD’s Supermarket are also available in the town.
The municipality also has its own version of a famous foodpark called ‘Gastropark’ and it was also considered as first in the fourth district of the province, it offers different kinds of cuisine from different parts of the world.
A live band and spoken word poetry is also available here every Friday to Sunday, perfect for a family bonding and friends’ hangout.
Apalit got its name from the vernacular name of the first-class timber tree apalit or narra (Pretocarpus indicus), growing in the banks of the nearby river.
It is a town inhabited by 101,537, according to 2010 census, beautiful and diligent townsmen and local officials.
The municipality was also surrounded by the towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin and San Simon in Pampanga, and Calumpit, Pulilan, and Baliuag in Bulacan.
Fishing and farming are considered as the top source of livelihood of the townsmen.
Apalit is a green but modern municipality, a perfect destination for those who wants to relax with nature, faith and at the same time have a taste of what it feels like to live in an almost city town.
