-The Santa Cruzan was a novena procession commemorating St. Helena’s mythical finding of the cross. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great. According to legends, 300 years after the death of Christ, at the age of 75, she went to Calvary to conduct a search for the Cross. After some archeological diggings at the site of the Crucifixion, she unearthed three crosses. She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ’s. St. Helena’s feast day falls on August 8 but the anniversary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3, in the Philippines, this celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo. -Differ from other Santa Cruzan -Young women are chosen from among the townspeople to represent the various characters in the parade. Each is carried on a bamboo arch and escorted by a young man. The highlight of the parade is Reyna Elena, representing St. Helena whose discovery of the cross is commemorated by this feast. She is escorted by Prinsipe Constantino, under a canopy of flowers.
Occasionally, movie and TV stars and other celebrities join in and are featured as major sagalas and escorts. Putong Polo Festival (November 12) – Barangay Polo – As part of the San Diego de Alcala Feast Day, it is one of the unique food festivals in the country which features the famous putong Polo, the small but classy “kakanin” which was originally created in the town of Polo, Valenzuela. Putong Polo literally means native steam rice cake (puto) of Polo (the town where it originated) as food to appease hunger and a means of generating income thus inspiring the lives of the unfortunate. According to Rita C. Carlos, president of We Care Foundation, Inc. , the week-long Putong Polo Festival is celebrated in connection with the feast of San Diego de Alcala, patron saint of Polo, Valenzuela City and known as the saint carrying a basket of flowers and giving food to the poor. -Putong polo Festival is all about … Feast of San Diego De Alcala (November 12) -Barangay Poblacion -The feast is all about the celebration of the feast of the oldest church in Valenzuela City, which includes annual boat racing, street dancing and different fabulous activities of the festival. – The church of San Diego de Alcala was built in 1632 by the people of Polo.
The Residents were taken forcedly to labor to complete the church after the town has gained its independence through Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod. The entrance arch, which takes over 4 century are the only parts of the structures left until these days because the main structures were destroyed by bombs during the occupation of the Japanese. But Polo and Poblacion celebrates the Feast of San Diego de Alcala to show their love and respect to the oldest church in Valenzuela. Mano Po San Roque Festival (May 12) -Barangay Mabolo -In Valenzuela, according to the myth, San Roque is also known as the patron saint of the unmarried.
It’s the day for single women to ask for help in finding their true love. There are countless tales of single girls who danced and prayed in the procession and who claim to have found their husband during the fiesta. – The feasts contain a street dancing and procession along the Barangay Mabolo systematic fares in commemoration of the feast of San Roque, highlighting the customs and traditional celebration of the festival. http://www. highbeam. com/doc/1G1-124498696. html http://webcache. googleusercontent. com/search? q=cache:PUmRgnekv7AJ:depedvalenzuela. com/landmarks. html+Feast+of+San+Diego+De+Alcala&cd=7&hl=tl&ct=clnk&gl=ph http://www. hiltravelphotos. com/mayfestivals. html http://www. pinoytravelblog. com/travel-destinations/271/feast-of-san-roque-barangay-mabolo-valenzela-city-metro-manila Polo, a small but peaceful town was once a part of Meycauayan, Bulacan. In 1623, Polo was made into an independent town through the joint efforts of Don Juan Monsod and Father Juan Taranco. The San Diego de Alcala Chapel which was completed in 1632 became the gathering place of the town people and has stood witness to the battles fought between the brave Filipinos and the colonizers during the Spanish, American and Japanese times.
On July 21, 1960, through Executive Order No. 401, President Diosdado Macapagal has conferred the creation of Municipality of Valenzuela in honor of Dr. Pio Valenzueala, an important personality in the history of the Philippines. Dr. Pio Valenzuela was one of the leaders of the Katipunan who instigated the revolution of the Filipino people against Spain. In September 11, 1963, another order was signed by the president uniting the municipalities of Polo and Valenzuela under one government.
Although the late seventies and early eighties was considered to be a period of turmoil for the country, this era was considered to be the golden age of Valenzuela as during this time, the economy has enjoyed tremendous growth. On February 14, 1998, the municipality of Valenzuela was turned into a city. Valenzuela City is the 12th city of Metro Manila and from then on until the present time, Valenzuela’s economy rapidly flourished. Valenzuela City’s textile mills, lumberyards, ceramic factories, auto assembly plants are only some of the industries that have provided the residents with livelihood.
The city is also noted for its export quality bamboo furniture. Did you know that Valenzuela City has the largest barangay hall in the Philippines ? The 3 storey building that is touted to have a 3,000 square meters floor area was inaugurated on May 15, 2008 by President Arroyo and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian. In spite of the fact that this city is less than an hour drive from the busy metropolis, a visitor can find interesting places with rustic ambience in Valenzuela. The centuries old house where the patriot Dr. Pio Valenzuela was born on July 11, 1869 is still standing in Velilla Street, Barangay Pariancillo Villa. Another point of interest is the belfry and the entrance arch of the San Diego de Alcala Church. Residents of Polo were forced by the Spanish friars to build the church which was finally completed in 1632. The main church was bombed during the Japanese occupation and to this day only the four centuries old belfry and entrance arch exist. People of Valenzuela City have their share of festivals too.
The Mano Po San Roque Festival is celebrated every May 12th with street dancing and a procession of the image of San Roque along the main streets of the city. The feast of San Diego de Alcala is celebrated every 12th of November. Street dancing, procession, boat racing and other merry making activities characterize this occasion. The Putong Polo Festival is in consonance with the feast day of San Diego de Alcala. This food festival has the Putong Polo as its main feature. This native kakanin was originally created by people in Polo, Valenzuela.
