Province observes Santa Cruzan
(June 2, 2018)
Across the archipelago, Flores de Mayo, a daily offering of flowers to Mary, is observed all throughout the month of May, which culminates with a May 31st Santacruzan, a grand dénouement that, as its Spanish name implies, binds in a very different religious and spiritual theme – the unearthing of the True Cross by Reyna Elena, or St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
A Santacruzan procession showcases ostentatiously dressed teenage “queens” of Flores de Mayo as biblical and allegorical figures, their consorts, and the capping of the year’s Reyna Elena.
Atty. Premolito Plaza, Provincial Administrator, said that ‘it is fun to see the kids in their splendid barong tagalog and dashing Filipiniana attire as you all take pleasure in this Santacruzan.’
Those who paraded last June 1, 2018 at the Capitol grounds from the Chapel as the starting point, included Reyna Fe, Reyna Esperanza, reyna Abogada, Reyna Sentenciada, Justicia, Judith, Sheba, Esther, Samaritana, Veronica, Marian, Tres Marias, Divina Pastora and Reyna de las Estrellas.
Also there were Rosa Mystica, Reyna Paz, Reyna de las Propetas, Reyna de la Virginia, Reyna de las Flores, Reyna Patriarca, Reyna Emperatriz and Reyna Elena, among others.
“When we conceptualized this event, we took into account two bare essentials – one is to nurture and deepen our children’s appreciation of our rich religious custom and cultural tradition. It was a different Sta. Cruzan in 2013 where there was a full-scale and full-blown pageant of real beauties from different offices and municipal LGUs,” said Atty. Plaza.
He added that ‘he knows that the kids’ and parents’ hearts are overflowing with excitement, optimism and enthusiasm as you lie in wait for the meaningful and colorful spectacle unfolding right into our very eye, but let me tell you that the preparation and completion leading to today would not have been likely without the tremendous efforts of our working committee with the Provincial Tourism Office as the lead organizing unit.’
“I would like to explicitly recognize the wholehearted support of our workaholic Capitol employees, staff and personnel who are very participative and kind enough to take part in the run-up of Flores de Mayo which took center-stage at the Provincial Chapel.
Clearly, the endurance and persistence of team-players, partners and stakeholders who came with their loving, cute and beautiful children, provide for the snacks and offer assistance in everything we do to make the Flores de Mayo remarkable and unforgettable for our children,” said Atty. Plaza.
In this light, Atty. Plaza quoted Mahatma Gandhi who once said that, “A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”
And in the words of Pope Francis, “Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.”
by: John Glenn Platil
Across the archipelago, Flores de Mayo, a daily offering of flowers to Mary, is observed all throughout the month of May, which culminates with a May 31st Santacruzan, a grand dénouement that, as its Spanish name implies, binds in a very different religious and spiritual theme – the unearthing of the True Cross by Reyna Elena, or St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
A Santacruzan procession showcases ostentatiously dressed teenage “queens” of Flores de Mayo as biblical and allegorical figures, their consorts, and the capping of the year’s Reyna Elena.
Atty. Premolito Plaza, Provincial Administrator, said that ‘it is fun to see the kids in their splendid barong tagalog and dashing Filipiniana attire as you all take pleasure in this Santacruzan.’
Those who paraded last June 1, 2018 at the Capitol grounds from the Chapel as the starting point, included Reyna Fe, Reyna Esperanza, reyna Abogada, Reyna Sentenciada, Justicia, Judith, Sheba, Esther, Samaritana, Veronica, Marian, Tres Marias, Divina Pastora and Reyna de las Estrellas.
Also there were Rosa Mystica, Reyna Paz, Reyna de las Propetas, Reyna de la Virginia, Reyna de las Flores, Reyna Patriarca, Reyna Emperatriz and Reyna Elena, among others.
“When we conceptualized this event, we took into account two bare essentials – one is to nurture and deepen our children’s appreciation of our rich religious custom and cultural tradition. It was a different Sta. Cruzan in 2013 where there was a full-scale and full-blown pageant of real beauties from different offices and municipal LGUs,” said Atty. Plaza.
He added that ‘he knows that the kids’ and parents’ hearts are overflowing with excitement, optimism and enthusiasm as you lie in wait for the meaningful and colorful spectacle unfolding right into our very eye, but let me tell you that the preparation and completion leading to today would not have been likely without the tremendous efforts of our working committee with the Provincial Tourism Office as the lead organizing unit.’
“I would like to explicitly recognize the wholehearted support of our workaholic Capitol employees, staff and personnel who are very participative and kind enough to take part in the run-up of Flores de Mayo which took center-stage at the Provincial Chapel.
Clearly, the endurance and persistence of team-players, partners and stakeholders who came with their loving, cute and beautiful children, provide for the snacks and offer assistance in everything we do to make the Flores de Mayo remarkable and unforgettable for our children,” said Atty. Plaza.
In this light, Atty. Plaza quoted Mahatma Gandhi who once said that, “A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”
And in the words of Pope Francis, “Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.”
by: John Glenn Platil
