It’s the most wonderful time of the year again at the Culinary and Christmas Capital of the Philippines, the Province of Pampanga, and a lot of celebrations has been done from here and anywhere else.
Meanwhile, there is a specific town which wants to invite you to join them and experience how ‘giants’ practice their celebration of Christmas here at the 6th Majigangga Festival 2018 in Sta. Ana, Pampanga.
The festival being held at Barangay Santiago features a parade of giant characters of about ten feet tall that requires one person to operate and the costumes were made out of wire and colorful cloth.
Majigangga is a Kapampangan word that means giant, the event is also somehow similar to the Higante Festival of the Tagalogs held in Angono, Rizal.
It was believed that the interesting tradition was derived from the country of Mexico, where there is a form of street pageant called “mojigangga,” which, in turn, was adapted from medieval Spain.
Kapampangans adapted the transported practice, using the puppets as symbols of evil, unlike in Mexico where they represented saints and royal figures.
According to oral history, while Jacinto Quiambao or Apu Cintu is acknowledged by the community as a pioneer Majigangga artist, the tradition is said to date back to earlier than the Second World War, and was stopped during the Japanese occupation. Manuel Quiambao, the son of Apu Cintu thought of reviving the tradition in the 1970s.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post from I love Sta. Ana, Pampanga, the committee made an official statement shirt for the 6th Majigangga Festival, it aims to raise more funds to the said festival and add more fun to it.
Festival goers will surely look forward to facing the “giants” and a meaningful Christmas at the town of Sta. Ana which also got the nickname of “Procession Capital” of Pampanga because of the unceasing parades of devotion which reflect the deep faith of the community.
