Mexico, Pampanga - Religious Culture and Traditions

Religious Culture and Traditions

• Good Friday Rites: The faithful remember the passion and death of Jesus by the pondering of the Seven Last Words of Christ and the “Tanggal” (a re-enactment of how Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross). After the "Prusisyung Pasu at Pamangutcut" (Procession of the Scenes and Burial of Christ), the traditional “Burul” (literally means: wake) where the Santo Entierro seems to be in a wake follows. In here people would visit and pray before the image. After which, in the midnight of Good Friday, there is a procession of the Virgen de Soleded (Our Lady of Solitude). The said procession is a ‘silent procession’ meditating and joining with the Virgin’s sorrow and grief. Usually, single men and women join the procession believing that they will be blessed in their opted state of ‘single blessedness' in life.

• Easter Sunday Celebration: The faithful joins the whole of Christendom in the celebration of Easter. During the day, the Filipino tradition of "Salubong/Encuentro" is being done. After which is the "Pacbung Judas" or the burning of Judas' effigy follows on.

• April 24: This is regarded as the Mexico Day, following the date of the establishment of the town and parish in April 24, 1581 (Also the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Augustine). During the said day, the parish organizes the Augustinian Festival as a tribute to the Augustinian forefathers of the town. During the said Festival, a procession of different Augustinian saints and blesseds is being done. Among the images joining the procession are: Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Rita of Cascia, Saint Thomas of Villanova, Saint John of Sahagun, San William the Hermit, Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki, Saint Ezequiel Moreno, Our Lady of Consolation and Cord among others.

• May 4: Mexico's town fiesta is celebrated in honor of its patron saint: Saint Monica (Mother of Saint Augustine).

• September 4: The people of Mexico celebrate the feast of Virgen dela Consolacion y Correa (Our Lady of Consolation and Cord; Patroness of the Augustinian Order) during which they receive blessed cinctures imitating the gesture of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving her own cincture to Saint Monica during her grief and sorrow due to her son's misgivings.

• December 15-24: The Mexicanos welcome the Christmas Day by the annual "Lubenas Pascu". It is during this celebration that they parade colorful lanterns and decorated carozzas. According to Tantingco: Lubenas came from the word novena, which means nine days, referring to the nine-day simbang gabi. But while the rest of the country was content with attending dawn masses for nine consecutive days, Kapampangans went a step farther by holding a procession on the eve of every simbang gabi, i.e., they had a procession after dinner, which means they slept late, and then woke up before dawn for the simbang gabi (or simbang bengi in Kapampangan).

• Game Show Success: It is no secret that Mexicanos have a distinct tradition of winning and eventually becoming champions in televised QUIZ SHOWS. One of the most notable among them is Engr. Manaloto, a former student of the University of the Assumption, who was the former champion of IQ 7, the Quiz segment of Student canteen. Engr. Manaloto is also recognized as the only person to have successfully defeated Mr. Bong Barrameda, one of the longest reigning champions of the said show. Another notable Mexicano to do well in a televised QUIZ SHOW is none other than Jonathan Dizon, a registered nurse who also graduated from the University of the Assumption, who eventually became the first champion of GAME KNB. He won the jackpot prize of the time which was worth P1.150 million.

• According to Alejandro S. Camiling, CPA with Teresita Z. Camiling, BSE, MA in their article "The Town of Mexico, Pampanga" the following families trace their history to the Town of Mexico. Bondoc, Canlas, Cunanan, Dizon, Hizon, Inventor, Jimenez, Lacandola, Laus, Laxamana, Lazatin, Lising, Lorenzo, Lumba, Makabali, Manalang, Maniago, Maniti, Meneses, Nuqui, Ocampo, Panlilio, Padilla, Pinpin, Punsalan, Quioc, Salas, Sampang, Santos, Tala among others.