I went to Lumban, Laguna...and IT WAS SUPER FUN!!!
January, 27, 2013. I need to write about it because it was such a memorable and fun day. It was a break from my stressful everyday university life and super hyped-up fangirl life.
Actually, my original plan was to spend my weekend productively---meaning to do all my due acad-related stuffs, but in the end, i was dragged to come along with my friends to Lumban, Laguna. Not that i'm forced to, it's also my will, LOLS.
It was the town's Lupi Festival, a festival to celebrate Saint Sebastian The Martyr.
What is this festival? It is celebrated every 19th of January, but they have this 'Basaan' (pouring water) day every last Sunday of January. It starts with a parade of 'Kastikos' (floats) in the Lumban River where each barangay has its own designed float and an image of the patron, Saint Sebastian, then the parade will continue around the town where people will pour water to the Saint's images and among each other.
It's so fun. Everybody got wet and drenched with water. It's like playing like a kid. You can pour water to anybody you see walking or passing by the street, no one will get mad and you also can't be mad, haha.
In the morning, we hear the mass, but hooray! We just stepped out of my friend's house and we're already poured with water! It's so cold but it's really fun. As we walk in the barangay, water is splashing from everywhere. Sometimes, someone will come in front of us and pour deliberately water to us but oftentimes, water will come from above (from second floors of houses) and from our back (tricky people, haha). The surprise factor adds more fun. There's also some people who put ice in the water. WTF. It's so cold! But nevermind, it's really fun. (LOLS, i'm abusing the word 'fun'... but it's really FUN, what can i do? O.o)
When we return home from the mass, (yeah, we attended the mass soaking wet, well, almost everybody is. :)) it's our turn to pour water to whoever pass by in front of the house!! I really enjoyed it! XDDD I always put so much force in throwing water to them, haha, it's amusing..LOLS. And i like it very much when a tricycle would pass by and the passengers are trying to hide, it just makes me want to shower them more!! hahaha~It's enjoying to interact with almost the whole town, even if i don't know them and they don't know me... XDDD
Then at the afternoon, we joined the procession. Sugoi!!! I got to feel and see more the festivity of the whole town! and of course, i got poured with water more. (I became an art, according to Tego, LOLS)
It's amusing that each barangay came up with their own names, ours (yeah, i felt like i'm one of them, haha) was "Barkada ni Baste", and our theme color is blue with matching banner! We (me and my friends, we're four btw) are not locales but they gave us the honor to hold their banner, hahaha. It also seems to me that many households in the town owns a San Sebastian image. There were so many in the parade. It's their custom to shower water in the images and it's a belief that the water poured in an image is holy. So as a first-timers, we went under the Saint's image being showered by the people to be blessed. :) They also said that if it's our first time, we should make a wish and it will come true, so i made one! XDD (My friend says we're like tourists, LOLS. Well, we really are ne~ it's our first time :3)
Most of the images of Saint Sebastian are those with arrow shots, tied in a tree or post. I've looked up at wikipedia for infos regarding Saint Sebastian, and according to it, in Roman Catholicism, He is the patron of archers and of a holy death. I am curious to the reason behind the pouring of water practice but i can't seem to find any appropriate explanation. :(
And by the way, my friend's family is so great and very hospitable. They are so bonded, i felt the love between them. They made us eat delicious food and entertain us the best they ever could.
What made me enjoy and love more this festival is the fact that all the people in the town is very enthusiastic and cooperative in their feast. I felt and saw that everyone was happily enjoying their tradition, from the kids to the elders. The whole neighborhood is full of love and harmony. I would love to live in a place like this.
It's a pity that this is not that well-known in the country, but i think it just adds more charm to it. For a spectator like me, it's beautiful to see how the town celebrates in their own, doing their customs and traditions to worship their patron saint. You can feel very well the essence of their celebration. One can also feel that they belonged to the town with this. Because famous festivals are always jam-packed with tourists and thus more and more becoming a tourist spot.
All in all, my experience was really awesome. Exposing yourself to different cultures and traditions is truly educating and fun.
That's all. :)