Photo courtesy of alaricxyz flicker site.
True to our Spanish roots, Filipinos are agog about beautiful people. This is even more evident during this time of the year when our country celebrates Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a Catholic flower festival held in honor of the Virgin Mary. Everyday, in May, the children will march down the church’s aisle with flowers in hand. The flowers will then be offered to the Virgin Mary. This month-long festivity ends with a Santacruzan (a parade of sagalas 'muses') with their dashing escorts. The procession features the most beautiful women in the community. Being chosen as one is an honor. This procession is being held in several places in the country, from the far flung provinces to the poshest of place in the metropolis. More often than not, in high profile Santacruzan, famous Filipino couturiers design the gowns of the muses. These muses are most likely celebrities or beauty queens.
Watching the procession excites the entire neighborhood, from the grandfathers even the kids. People of all ages get to enjoy this once a year spectacle because everyone has a chance to view beautiful people, lovely gowns, flower arcs. For me though, my memory of Santacruzan has an added twist…it's the last hurrah (summer vacation activity) before school starts in June.
Just like most festivals in the Philippines, Flores de Mayo / Santacruzan is hinged on a Catholic belief. This is being held to commemorate St. Helena’s (Sta. Elena – Constantine the Great’s mother) mythical finding of the cross. Legend tells us that 300 years after the death of Christ, St. Helena, at the age of 75 went to Calvary to search for the Cross. Diggings were conducted at the site of Crucifixion and three crosses were unearthed. These crosses were tested on a sick servant and the cross that made the servant feel well was identified as that of Christ’s.
Ok, don't ask me if I've been a sagala 'muse' before because I won't tell you :P
-r-
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