Customs and Practices
Nabua has a rich array of customs and colorful practices that are found up to the present day.
Pangarana
This is the Nabua version of “serenading”. When a man wants to show his intent to court a woman, the man (sometimes accompanied by his friends) armed with a guitar or possibly a karaoke machine shows up on the woman’s doorsteps unannounced late at night. The woman or her family have either the option to turn on the lights and acknowledge the serenaders or just ignore them. In some cases, the event turns into an unforgettable event as the woman’s family may come up with some unique ways to get the serenaders out of their property, such as throwing a bucketful of hot water or unleashing “bantay”, the household watch dog.
Pa-aurora
The local folks are religious in nature so it is common for them to make a religious promise or ‘panata’ expressing their exultation to God because of a bountiful harvest or they have a petition that they wish would be granted. This is manifested through the local practice of “Aurora”. On nine consecutive nights, they would decorate an improvised "carroza" for their local patron saint and then visit the households in the neighborhood with singing and prayers.
Pista sa mga Kalag
On November 1, nearly all citizens take a trip down to the cemetery. This is their practice of honoring and remembering departed loved ones. They would offer flowers and light candles in their tombstones, sarcophagus, or decorate the family mausoleum with flowers and food. The local cemetery comes alive the night of November 1 to commemorate All Saints Day until the early morning of November 2 for All Souls Day. Masses at the cemetery are often offered on both days.
Tang-gal kin Cuaresma
During the season of Lent, some of the prominent families in Nabua will sponsor a “Tang-gal”. Tang-gal is the re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s Passion and Death on the cross. After the passion of Christ is re-enacted, the “tang-gal” is concluded with “Ire-Helena”, the story of Helene and Constantine in search of the True Cross.
Pag-li-li
When a family member or loved one passes away, the family, friends and relatives of the dead offer nine days of prayers. This is the nine days of mourning where they go to the local church to attend Mass and then continue their novena prayers at the house of the deceased. Prayers are offered to help the soul of the deceased rest in peace and at the same time to console the grieving family.
Katapusan
After forty days of mourning, the family, friends and relatives of the dead celebrate the passage by hosting a feast and invite all those who consoled them in their time of grief. Once everyone invited are gathered, they say the litanies and pray the Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Local folks believes that the soul of their dearly departed have now passed the stage of “roaming” and ready to rest in eternal peace. This is the time to let go and as a symbolism, they can now wear other colors of clothing instead of the traditional all black or all white.
Dotoc
Before the baranggay fiesta, "DOTOC" is a custom of nabueñans in worshiping their patron saint through nine nights of thanksgiving.
Read more about this topic: Nabua, Camarines Sur
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