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Saturday, November 10, 2018

CAVITE CITY FIESTA : A Glimpse of History

Photos c/o : http://pintakasi1521.blogspot.com

According to old Caviteños, the celebration of the Cavite Fiesta reached its height of grandeur and magnificence during the administration of Don Juan Salcedo y Mantilla de los Rios in 1880 to 1886. The suffering brought about by the cholera epidemic in 1882 was so great that the governor postponed the celebration of the fiesta until the puerto had recovered. On January 20-21, 1883 complying with the request of the old Lady, Governor Salcedo sent a circular to all the principalias of the province to participate on the said fiesta. The jubilant tollng of the bells of the different churches of the Puerto and the booming salvos of cannons from the Rotal of San Felipe ushered the day of the fiesta. Then came the gobernadorcillos of all the towns of Cavite together with their respective town officials composed of teniente mayors, jefes de policies, ganados, sementeras, tenientes 20, tenienetes 30, cabezas de barangay and aguancilles all garbed in their colorful uniforms as prescribed by their ranks. Accompanying theses officials were their town brass band.

All the streets of the Puerto had colorful arches. Banderitas or multicolored buntings hung on the streets. There were effigies of celebrated historical and war personalities. The Calle Real glowed with crystal and other lanterns of different colors called globos: virina and bombas. Streets leading to the Ermita were lined with with temporary stores where edibles such as small singkamas boiled in brown syrup, candies, rice cakes, corn puddings and other native delicacies, fruits consisting of naranjitas from Calamba, peanuts, manzanitas, lansones, lomboy and apulit were sold, while ice cream vendors from Manila were stationed along the Porta Vaga wall, near the Potable Water deposit. There, they made ice cream in garrapinera de lata. Every visitor never missed the famous mamones of Panderia de Nora Chorang Gonzales and the sumptuous tamales of Nol Domingo Matias. There were also fondas restaurants and rowing refrescos.

On the day pf the fiesta, every household set a lavish table outshining the Christmas spread. The Caviteños well-known fondness for good food and fancy for delectable, high-seasoned Spanish guisine would almos be an envy of a king. On the tables of well-off Caviteños were gastronomical delights like paella, arroz ala Valenciana, cocido Madrileno, callos, sopas de ajo ala Castellana, morcon, embutido, estofado de lengua, pochero, pastel de tortillas and many more.

In the afternoon civic parade, there were gigantes made of bamboo dressed in carnival attire. Inside were men that made them move, There were also the juego de toro held in the improvise bull fight arena at the Plaza de Armas. Other native games like juego de anillo, carrera de saco and regattas were held. The military had their exhibitions too.

The highlight of the fiesta was the magnificent procession of the Virgen de la Soledad. 


The route of the procession were not only brightly-lighted but carpeted with expensive rugs and were covered overhead by canvasses and sails of boats to protect the participants from getting wet in case of rain. At the joyous pealing of the bells of the Ermita the Virgen dela Soledad, borne on a silver carroza, would be ushered out of the chapel. On top of the frame was a golden dove representing the Holy Spirit. There were six silver angels with their faces and hands made of ivory.

Eight other smaller angles were in the lower part of the carroza. Each angel had a silver laurel on his hand. Twenty four silver ramitas and forty eight ramilletes served as flower decorations for the carroza. Cords were tied on each side of the carroza. Each cord was held by six sacristans who served as guards of honor as well. There were six campanillas tied up on each cord. The fie sound of campanillas would be heard as they dangled, announcing the approaching carroza of the Virgin. Before the Virgin was brought inside the church, her conversation with the soldier at Porta Vaga would ne reenacted. The day of the fiesta ended wth a display of fireworks. 

Photos c/o : http://vsoledaddeportavaga.weebly.com

Genoveva Edroza, a writer in Filipino, stated that the grandiose celebration of the fiesta of San Diego in Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere was actually based in the fiesta celebration of Cavite.


Source: Cavite: Culture e Historia
Edited by: Teresita P. Unabia
Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto


                         

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