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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, February 2, 2017
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A devotee of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria enters the Jaro Catheral grounds on the eve of Jaro fiesta. Today, Feb. 2, 2017, thousands of pilgrims are expected to pack the cathedral. JOSELITO VILLASIS/PN
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ILOILO City – Today, thousands of devotees of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles) and cockfighting enthusiasts are expected to converge in the district of Jaro.
The annual religious and district fiesta is considered one of the biggest in the country. Policemen are on alert.
At the century-old Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, pilgrims will be queuing to kiss or touch what is believed to be a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary.
On the other hand, those hoping to get rich quick will gather at the Iloilo Coliseum in Barangay San Isidro for the famous Candelaria cock derby. The annual event draws even affluent cockfighting enthusiasts from abroad.
IT’S ABOUT FAITH
Yesterday, the eve of Jaro fiesta, a young lady was seen pushing a wheelchair at the cathedral.
The 20-year-old Shaira Castillon, a Nursing student at West Visayas State University, was accompanying her 90-year-old grandmother and another family member visiting the cathedral a day ahead of the fiesta to avoid the expected huge crowd today.
The cathedral visit during fiesta was a family tradition, said Castillon.
They were from Antique province but eight years ago her grandmother needed to regularly see her doctor in this city so they decided to maintain a house in Molo district, said Castillon.
Her grandmother may be frail but this has not prevented her from celebrating her faith and devotion to the Virgin Mary.
“Biskan may ginabatyag ka basta gatuo ka lang gid, wala man may madula sa imo,” said Castillon.
Yes, the past eight years made them closer to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, an inspiration and source of their hope and strength, said the doting granddaughter.
Every time her lola wanted to go to the Jaro Cathedral, Castillon said she would always find time to accompany her.
“I went to a Catholic school when I was a small child. Nadala ko gid until mag-high school and college,” said Castillon.
‘SALOG’
Jaro’s original name was Salog or Saro. It was one of the more economically-advanced areas of Iloilo City even during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and probably the richest town of the entire colony (1521-1898).
Historical artifacts indicated that the town once conducted trade with China and Siam (Thailand) due to its port along the navigable river that ran through the town.
It was also the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas during the Spanish rule of the Philippines.
Jaro officially became a city in 1886 until it was later absorbed by the city of Iloilo along with the neighboring towns of Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Arevalo in the early 20th century when all economic activities were shifted to the port of Iloilo.
Located between Dungon Creek and the Jaro River, the district of Jaro fulfills the ideal design for establishing communities during that era: a site between two rivers, with a church and plaza in the center, and homes of affluent families in the vicinity.
The Jaro Cathedral is the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Jaro and site of the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary that Pope John Paul II crowned in 1981.
The district, notable for its 19th century architecture was also the hometown of hero Graciano Lopez Jaena who, along with national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, established the Propaganda Movement against Spain.
MIXING DEVOTION AND BUSINESS
Every Jaro fiesta is also an opportunity to make some money. Evelyn Silva, 58, and daughter Edlyn Pacheco, 38, of Barangay Jalandoni, Jaro are vendors selling the popular perdon candles at Jaro Cathedral.
They’ve been selling perdon for a decade now, they told Panay News yesterday.
But it’s not just about money, said the mother and daughter. It has become a devotion of sort, too, they insisted. The two were members of the church-based Magagmay nga Kristiyanong Katilingban (Basic Christian Community).
“We’re happy to dispose all of our perdon but for us, selling candles is more than business. We’re not after raking in huge profits. Doing this during the fiesta has become a panatâ (a vow),” said Pacheco.
Yes, she prays to Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria.
“I feel better after I pray to her whenever I have problems, when I’m hurt. I am more at peace,” said Pacheco.
SECURITY
In a bid to keep the fiesta peaceful, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is imposing a gun ban.
Around 200 policemen are being mobilized to secure the district, particularly areas where people converge such as the cathedral, plaza and Iloilo Coliseum.
There will be 24-hour checkpoints and policemen may conduct body frisking.
The highlight of today’s fiesta is a solemn afternoon procession.
“We are appealing to the public. Celebrate the annual fiesta peacefully and avoid creating trouble. We have enough men to arrest rabble-rousers,” said Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson./PN
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