San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish at Pleasant Hill Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Bulacan 3023 PH - "Sambuklod Festival" - A Unique Celebration in Honor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz
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"Sambuklod Festival" - A Unique Celebration in Honor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz
by Emily Galang-Sequeira |
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Most festivals in the Philippines are ancestral traditions from generation to generation that have been preserved up to the present time. These legacies depict the multi-faceted re-enactment of customs and beliefs of the Filipino Christians, thus, Fiestas and other Feast Day celebrations are held. It is an expression of the Filipinos’ strong faith in God and respect and admiration to the Patron Saints whom they consider models and guiding inspiration in their spiritual life. This was made manifest when San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish launched on September 23, 2001 the SAMBUKLOD FESTIVAL – the first of its kind in honor of the First Filipino Saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz.
SAMBUKLOD which is an acronym for “Sambayanang Buhay at Umuunlad Kasama si Lorenzong Dakila” really hopes to achieve what its name implies- UNITY. Considering that most of the parishioners hailed from different cultural and ethnic background and had settled to form a new community, unity among the residents has always been elusive. With a new festival and tradition that the people can identify with as purely their own as a new parish and community, this dream of unification amidst diversification is no longer impossible to achieve.
The Festival includes a traditional parade of floats participated by the different sub-parishes and organizations using recycled materials. The highlight of the affair is the Street Dancing Competition or Mardi Gras which has a different theme every year. Sambuklod elicits from the people their cooperation and team spirit- necessary ingredients to make a community move towards progress not only in their social and economic life but most importantly, in their spiritual growth.
On its third year, Sambuklod 2003 has been participated in by more diverse groups as the festival has been adapted by the City Council of Tourism as the official festival of this city. It is also a venue wherein eco-tourism can be promoted not only city-wide but also on the national level and perhaps in the future in the international scene too.
To view photos of Sambuklod 2002, click here.
To view photos of Sambuklod 2003, click here.
To view photos of Sambuklod 2004, click here.
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