#FEATURE
By Arphie Gabriel
In every catastrophe there’s always a lesson to learn in the end of the story.
Twenty-one years ago in Bocaue, Bulacan, while people celebrate their yearly tradition of launching a big boat pagoda a tragedy occurred unexpectedly.
Every year the town has to sail every first Sunday in the month of July celebrates their fluvial Pagoda sa Wawa in remembering the discovery of a woman who was saved from drowning by a floating miraculous cross which is presumed to be the Holy Cross of Wawa in the river 200 years ago. As part of the festival, a replica of the cross on which Jesus was crucified is paraded in the pagoda decorated with splendid trimmings and guided by colourful bangkas. Hundreds of people not just only the Bocaueños attend the procession even tourist or persons from other town for a nine-day novena.
In spite, probably because of the river setting hundreds of devotees wanted to be accommodated inside the pagoda even usually it souse each other with water during the procession. Besides those who cannot find space on the crowded pagoda simply swim alongside however, some of them not became contented which is reason why the pagoda suddenly sank in July 2 year of 1993.
The pagoda, which was already overloaded with devotees, sank because of an uneven distribution of weight in the vessel. Unfortunately, this time the cross did not save the lives of about more than 300 people were killed in there that measured the faith of Bocuaeños. The tradition was halted after that in 1994 and resumed in 1999 continuing without the said famous pagoda instead using small crafts up to present not only to commemorates the Holy Cross of Wawa, but also the devotees where killed during the said tragedy.
In seeing the other half page of the story, during the tragedy there’s an elementary student, was proclaimed a hero after giving his life to save four children from drowning during the sinking of the pagoda. In the present times, his act was given more worth when it was published in February 2007 in the social studies textbook like “Ang Lahing Pilipino sa Nagbabagong Panahon” authored by Lazelle Peligno and Ela Rose Sablaon which used in public and private schools.
As the Pagoda sinks in the said tragedy, the economic state of the town also has been drowned. After twenty-one years when that tragedy has not been forgotten, the pagoda had set to sail again this year of 2014 as Monsignor Albert Suatengco proposed to revive the yearly tradition of their town. It was successful and secured celebration of the whole town through the help of the Catholic Church together with the Barangay committee. Safety measures were kept in place. For one thing, the new 45-foot, three-storey pagoda is said to be well-built than before. It was built after consultations with engineers and the coast guard that only 200 to 250 people are allowed to ride at a time and all of them must wear the life vests provided. In addition, children ages 7 below are not allowed to go on the pagoda, while those 8 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by their guardian. The bangkas accompanying the pagoda also have to get permits to join the festival, to ensure their orderly participation in the procession. Smoking and alcohol are also not allowed for more safety precautions to the said festival for the Bocaueños prove what they have learned before.
“Matagal na na nilang gusto ‘yan maraming gusto makita ‘yong dating saya. ‘Yong pangunahin ay tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mga sasakay. ‘Yong pinag-aralang mabuti ng mga peace and order group dito, kapulisan, bumbero, munisipyo lahat para matiyak lang yong kaligtasan, lahat ng stage center na mga kasangkot sa pagbabaik ng ganitong pagdiriwang,” said Marcelino Salonga, former Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Biñang.
For Bocaueños this was the sign for them to start over again after the dilemma. This revival of the Pagoda Festival, Krus sa Wawa serves to show that the Filipinos are faithful by their religion and beliefs. It was true that people learn from their past, after the heartbreak they experienced. Maybe that tragedy paused this celebration for so many years however; there are Bocaueños who still have their trust with their own culture and beliefs which do not vanished..
By Arphie Gabriel
In every catastrophe there’s always a lesson to learn in the end of the story.
Twenty-one years ago in Bocaue, Bulacan, while people celebrate their yearly tradition of launching a big boat pagoda a tragedy occurred unexpectedly.
Every year the town has to sail every first Sunday in the month of July celebrates their fluvial Pagoda sa Wawa in remembering the discovery of a woman who was saved from drowning by a floating miraculous cross which is presumed to be the Holy Cross of Wawa in the river 200 years ago. As part of the festival, a replica of the cross on which Jesus was crucified is paraded in the pagoda decorated with splendid trimmings and guided by colourful bangkas. Hundreds of people not just only the Bocaueños attend the procession even tourist or persons from other town for a nine-day novena.
In spite, probably because of the river setting hundreds of devotees wanted to be accommodated inside the pagoda even usually it souse each other with water during the procession. Besides those who cannot find space on the crowded pagoda simply swim alongside however, some of them not became contented which is reason why the pagoda suddenly sank in July 2 year of 1993.
The pagoda, which was already overloaded with devotees, sank because of an uneven distribution of weight in the vessel. Unfortunately, this time the cross did not save the lives of about more than 300 people were killed in there that measured the faith of Bocuaeños. The tradition was halted after that in 1994 and resumed in 1999 continuing without the said famous pagoda instead using small crafts up to present not only to commemorates the Holy Cross of Wawa, but also the devotees where killed during the said tragedy.
In seeing the other half page of the story, during the tragedy there’s an elementary student, was proclaimed a hero after giving his life to save four children from drowning during the sinking of the pagoda. In the present times, his act was given more worth when it was published in February 2007 in the social studies textbook like “Ang Lahing Pilipino sa Nagbabagong Panahon” authored by Lazelle Peligno and Ela Rose Sablaon which used in public and private schools.
As the Pagoda sinks in the said tragedy, the economic state of the town also has been drowned. After twenty-one years when that tragedy has not been forgotten, the pagoda had set to sail again this year of 2014 as Monsignor Albert Suatengco proposed to revive the yearly tradition of their town. It was successful and secured celebration of the whole town through the help of the Catholic Church together with the Barangay committee. Safety measures were kept in place. For one thing, the new 45-foot, three-storey pagoda is said to be well-built than before. It was built after consultations with engineers and the coast guard that only 200 to 250 people are allowed to ride at a time and all of them must wear the life vests provided. In addition, children ages 7 below are not allowed to go on the pagoda, while those 8 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by their guardian. The bangkas accompanying the pagoda also have to get permits to join the festival, to ensure their orderly participation in the procession. Smoking and alcohol are also not allowed for more safety precautions to the said festival for the Bocaueños prove what they have learned before.
“Matagal na na nilang gusto ‘yan maraming gusto makita ‘yong dating saya. ‘Yong pangunahin ay tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mga sasakay. ‘Yong pinag-aralang mabuti ng mga peace and order group dito, kapulisan, bumbero, munisipyo lahat para matiyak lang yong kaligtasan, lahat ng stage center na mga kasangkot sa pagbabaik ng ganitong pagdiriwang,” said Marcelino Salonga, former Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Biñang.
For Bocaueños this was the sign for them to start over again after the dilemma. This revival of the Pagoda Festival, Krus sa Wawa serves to show that the Filipinos are faithful by their religion and beliefs. It was true that people learn from their past, after the heartbreak they experienced. Maybe that tragedy paused this celebration for so many years however; there are Bocaueños who still have their trust with their own culture and beliefs which do not vanished..
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