Morong, Rizal - Culture and Tradition

Culture and Tradition

• Fiesta: The celebrated fiesta in Morong is the town fiesta, which is the first Sunday of February. During the early times, February would be known for the harvesting month in the town, it is a form of celebration and thanksgiving for a bounty harvest.
• Catholic Fiesta: The patron saint of Morong, Rizal is Saint Jerome. A doctor of the church, a priest and translator of the Bible. His feast day is September 30.
• Pabasa: A holy week activity, which is chanting the life and Passion of Christ. It signifies the start of the 40 days before holy week. In the town of Morong, not an ordinary Pabasa tone is used. It's mostly a tone of sadness and agony. This is done from different houses, who owns a "santo" or image used during Holy Week.
• Cordero: It is only in Morong that this tradition has been done for almost 60 years. Kordero, which means lamb of God, is a re-enactment of the preparation of the paschal lamb for the passover meal, that Jesus and his 12 apostles took, and eventually became the Institution of the holy Eucharist. Kordero also symbolizes Jesus as a sacrificial lamb who suffered to redeem mankind from sin. In Morong a lamb which is made of sweet potatoes and potatoes is processioned before the Maundy Thursday Mass. A tradition which is also being copied by other nearby towns of Rizal, and has been featured in the national newspaper. The Hermano represents the owner of the upper room, the place where the last supper took place.

• Pabasang bayan- A yearly event/exhibit that showcases the 40+ processional images, that started in 1996. Said event is usually done the Saturday before Palm Sunday in the town's gymnasium wherein a breathtaking tableau is made yearly showing the chronological events of the life of Jesus (e.g. 1996- 1997 -"Last Supper", 1998- "Wedding in Canaan", 1999- "The multiplication of bread and fish", 2004- "Jesus teaches in the Mountain", 2005- "The teaching of Christ in the lake of Galilee", 2006- "The public ministry of Jesus", 2007-" The baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan", 2008-"Jesus in the Temple", 2009- "the calling of the twelve apostles", 2010- "Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew", 2011-"Jesus healed the Centurion's servant", 2012- "Jesus Healed a paralytic man"). A must see attraction that is first done by the people of Morong, that has captured the attention of some nearby towns in Rizal and Metro Manila such as Pililla, Tanay, Cardona,Baras, Teresa, Binangonan, Cainta, Pasig City, Quezon City, etc. This event also is now being copied by the nearby towns, because it not only evangelized the gospel, but also shows unity of the town and treasures the old tradition of PABASA. The event was even featured thrice in The Philippine Daily Inquirer a national news paper in the Philippines and was covered by national networks such as ABS-CBN, TFC ( the Filipino Channel- ABS-CBN), GMA Network and GMA News TV ( former QTV channel 11 ). The difference between the usual Pabasa and Pabasang bayan is that the whole town is welcome to this event. Saturday night before Palm Sunday, anticipated mass is held in the gymnasium.
• Senakulo- A yearly activity during Holy week, a dramatization of the life and death of Christ. Senakulo in Morong is entitled "Ang Tagapagligtas". The play is divided into 3 nights. It starts in the evening of Holy Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, usually after the Procession. On the first night it tells the brief story of the Old Testament starting from the Creation, Adam and Eve, the giving of the Ten Commandments, the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Annunciation of Mary, birth of our Savior, and ends in the finding of Jesus in the temple. On the second night it tells the teachings, public life and ministry of Jesus, and ends in the planning to kill him by the Priests. Third night the most dramatic scenes are seen, such as Entry to Jerusalem, Institution of the Eucharist, his Agony in the Garden, the stations of the cross, his death and ends in his Resurrection. Senakulo is handled by Pakitamo for more than 15 years already. The play has been seen by notable personalities such as director Soxie Topacio (dulaang UP), Matt Ranillo III and Krista Ranillo. What differs the Senakulo in Morong from other town is the story, script and costumes used all conceptualized by members of Pakitamo.
• Kruz Na Mahal- The re-enactment of the finding of the cross of Jesus by Reyna Elena and Prinsepe Constanino. Each barrio will prepare a small caro with a cross. They would go around the place singing the kruz na mahal song: "Krus na mahal, Krus na mapalad, ang dakilang armas, bandila ni Kristo! sumakop sa lahat...." After the mini procession, the children present will be given lengua de patatas.
• Santa Cruzan- An old tradition of Morong that has been banned since the early '80s up to present as it became a fashion show and where the rich and the famous could show off in the town of Morong. The real purpose used to be for the veneration of the Virgin Mary. Girls from Morong, ages 6–30, would offer flowers and prayers to the blessed Mother. Girls included in this procession would also bring the seven alays for the Blessed Mother such as: Rosa Mystica, Torre ni David, Crown of Mary, Gates of Heaven etc. This tradition is attempted to be revived again by the Catholic Church in the year 2007 through voting, but comments such as the main purpose of it might again not be done and the fashion show and showing off would once again reign, the church decided to just make it a simple celebration, by doing a rosary and offering flowers to the Virgin Mother.
• Malatines- Is a Christmas Eve mass or usually called MISA- de Gallo by other places. December 24. Usually celebrated outside the church Patio. The much awaited scenario in the mass is the dancing of the star. Wherein a big parol comes down, from the top of the main facade of the church down to the belen located in front of the altar, while singing "Gloria" or "Papuri".
• KASALAN or Wedding- In the town of Morong Rizal, there is a different way to celebrate a wedding or in Filipino "Kasalan". In other towns such as Batangas they have the money dance, wherein the couple would do their first dance, and visitors would approach them and pin money, in Morong Rizal, a tradition of "PANGANGA" is done to help the couple start themselves. The couple accompanied by an old member of the family with a lighted candle. they would go to each table with a basket. the candle symbolizes the guiding light of the couple. As the couple approach each table, visitors would put their donation and sip a shot of whisky or wine as a "Thank you". The basket has a green clothe inside to cover the money given, so that the couple would not know how much the visitor would put. Another tradition during weddings would be the "hatiran" or wherein the bride accompanied by her parents would now transfer house. Its like a formal farewell of the bride to her house as she will transfer to the grooms house. What's exciting in this tradition is that each lightpost/ electric post that the couple would pass through going to the grooms house, the newly weds would kiss each other. This is appropriate if both the bride and the groom are from Morong Rizal.