A Milestone Year For Naga
Monday, December 24, 2007
Naga launches festival of shepherds’ tales
By Jujemay G. Awit
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE year 2007 is a milestone year for Naga.
Even as it became a city, it also honored its traditions by officially launching its own festival, the Pastores de Naga.
Pastores de Naga depicts the shepherds’ retelling of Joseph and Mary’s journey to find a birthing place for the Savior, according to the Christian tradition.
The story is told through songs and dances. In between songs, the presenters tell the story in a poetic manner.
Six groups from the different national high schools in the city—Naga, Tuyan, Uling, Langtad, Balirong and Pangdan—presented their version of the pastores in colorful costumes.
City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong was the picture of a proud local executive when they launched the festival yesterday.
“I hope this will continue as a tradition of Naga City and the entire Cebu. It’s so nice to be able to arouse awareness among people,” Chiong said.
The pastores was how the Requinto clan caroled every Christmas, a practice handed from one generation to another. The practice is believed to date back all the way to 1600 and has gathered its own lore. Chiong heard that whoever didn’t honor the tradition in the clan got sick.
But with Naga adopting the Requinto tradition as its own festival, Chiong hopes the pastores will outlive political administrations. In five to 10 years, Chiong wants the festival to attract an international crowd.
“To see it more ambitiously, we will go global. Maybe (we will join) the Pastores de Mexico or Pastores de Spain,” said Chiong.
The pastores was originally noticed during the Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo, which showcases Cebu’s tourist spots and local festivals.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia encouraged Chiong to develop the festival.
While this is only the first year, the Pastores de Naga will be joining the “festival of festivals” in August, an activity the Province hosts as part of its anniversary celebrations.
The pastores was the highlight, but it was not the only activity during Naga’s festival.
It was officially opened last Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion of the Virgin Mary, with a festival of lights procession.
Naga City Hall and all the trees and Belen displays at the St. Francis Ocean Park were all lit up.
A lantern competition was also held, as well as a daygon tour of the Requinto clan. The festival ended last night with a parade, the presentation of the pastores, fireworks display and dancing.
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Mensahe ni Mayor Val Chiong
The following is the Pastores de Naga Christmas Message to be delivered by Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong for the Festival’s culmination today afternoon. The speech is in Cebuano:
Mga Naganhon, atong mga dinapit, mga kaigsuonan …
Nagsud-ong ko nga malipayon sa atong mga igsuon nga nagparada karong hapon. Di man lang gud dugay nga niingon si Gob. Gwen Garcia nga himuon nato nga festival kining Pastores nga among gitan-aw sa Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo sa miaging Septembre.
Tinuod apiki na gyud sa panahon. Apan ang mga Naganhon wa magpalupig sa kamubo sa tulo ka bulan ug sa kadaghan sa angayang andamon.
Dakong garbo ko nga namulong karon atol sa unang Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival.
‘Pride in our roots; realizing our vision.”
Mao kini ang tema sa atong festival nga nagsumada sa matawag nato nga social impact sa mabulokong kalihokan.
Kay kinsa may Naganhon ang di mapasigarbuhon nga atong siyudad mao diay tinubdan sa mga Pastores festival sa ubang mga dapit sa Luzon?
Kay kinsa may Naganhon ang di mapasigarbuhon nga kining atong kalihokan karon kabilin pa man sa mga Spanish missionaries nga niabot dinhi sa Naga pipila na ka siglo ang milabay.
Ang Los Pastores mao ang pasundayag nga sayaw-duwa-kanta-balak nga naghulagway sa pagpangita sa mga Pastores kun shepherds kang Baby Jesus nga bag-ong natawo diha sa Pasungan didto sa Bethlehem.
Gitudlo kini sa mga Spanish missionaries aron mapakuyanap ang mensahe sa pag-abot sa atong Manunubos.
Mapasalamaton kaayo kita sa mga Requinto kay tungod sa ilang tulumanon nga nagpasa sa tradisyong Pastores gikan sa usa ka henerasyon ngadto sa sunod, atong makita karon ang mga orihinal nga dance steps ug ang musika sa Pastores kaniadtoi.
Kining maong festival nagsubay sab sa atong Vision and Leadership 2020 kun VAL 2020.
Tuyo nato ang pagmugna og mabulokong festival nga makapahiusa sa mga Naganhon labin na sa panahon sa Pasko.
Tuyo sab nato ang pagmugna og mas magkanindot nga festival matag Pasko nga maoy ulion unya sa atong kaparentehan nga tua na karon sa gawas sa Pilipinas.
Kay kon kining atong Pastores de Naga Christmas festival makadani og mga Naganhon nga karon tua na nagpuyo sa gawas, makadani sab kini og mga turista nga gikan sa gawas ug ubang dapit sa Pilipinas.
Ako nang makita nga sa sunod katuigan ang tanang dalan sa kalibotan mopadulong sa Naga matag saulog nato sa Pasko.
Kaanindot paminawon nga ugma damlag, ang atong madungog sa tibuok kalibotan mao ang panawagan nga “Mamasko ta sa Naga, bay!”
Ug unsa may epekto niining turismo sa atong bag-ong Siyudad sa Naga? Dugang economic activity.
Gani, subay sa VAL 2020, di lang dolyar gikan sa turismo ang tuyo natong danihon dinhi sa Naga. Gusto sab kitang makita ang pagsunod sa mga investments anha sa mga industrial centers nga nanurok dinhi sa atua.
Naa ang proyekto ni Gob. Gwen Garcia diha sa Tinaan. Naa sab ang proyekto sa Plantersbank ug sa MRC diha sa Cantao-an.
Gusto ko nga makita unya nato ang pag-invest sa mga Naganhon dinhi mismo sa mga economic zones nato sa Naga.
Gusto ko nga makakita unya sa atong mga paryente nga nahimo nang eksperto sa lain-laing industriya didto sa gawas nga anhi mopuyo na atua aron magnegusyo o motudlo ba sa umaabot natong city college.
Idungan kini sa umaabot nato nga pantalan, sa bag-ong merkado, ug uban pang mga proyekto subay sa atong VAL 2020.
Kining VAL 2020 maoy damgo nga inyong gisuportahan sa niaging piliay sa Mayo ug sa barangay.
Niining kalihokan karong Pasko, atong gipakita nga di lang diay kini akong damgo.
Damgo kini natong tanan nga ato nang gianam-anam sa pagmugna aron matinuod.
Daghang Salamat! Merry Christmas!
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Morality play to highlight Naga Christmas activities
Monday, December 03, 2007
Sun.Star Daily Cebu
THE City of Naga will stage the revival of an old tradition that depicts a poetic morality play and dance as part of its activities for the Christmas season.
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Requinto clan: Preserving the Pastores tradition
This article was written by Zorabelle Fran Uy, a UP Cebu Masscom student, based on interviews by Balbino “Ka Bino”Guerrero of Narcisa Requinto and Barangay captain Fernando “Nanding” Requento of Tagjaguimit, Naga City. Continue reading
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Pastores de Naga Dance Workshop
A Dance Workshop will be held today in Naga City as preparation for the Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival 2007 Street Parade and Grand Presentation come December 23, 2007. The following is Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong’s welcome remarks for the said undertaking. The speech is in Cebuano:
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The City of Naga in Pictures
December is already here and along it, the next Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival activity with the Immaculate Conception Mass and Procession come Saturday.
Meanwhile, we’re posting some of the pictures displayed during the photo exhibit in SM City Cebu from November 28 until today. Check them out:
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Pastores de Naga now in Friendster
Pastores de Naga is now in Friendster!
Check it out at http://profiles.friendster.com/pastoresdenaga or add our Friendster account: pastoresdenaga@gmail.com
Also, the Indigay sa Parol mechanics and registration can be now viewed and downloaded in our newly uploaded page in our blog.
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Mamasko ta sa Naga bay!
The following is the Pastores de Naga Christmas Event Launch Speech delivered by Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong in SM City Cebu yesterday:
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Naga City sets Pastores Christmas Festival
Cebuanos will witness the grandest Christmas festival as Naga city stages next month the first Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival that features the unique Pastores poetic morality play and dance handed down to since the Spanish times.
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Pastores de Naga Launch on Nov. 28
The Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival will be officially launched this Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
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Welcome to the Official Pastores de Naga Blog
Welcome to the Official Pastores de Naga Blog!
The new City of Naga in southern Cebu is proud to present the First Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival that revives the age-old Pastores tradition and turns it into the grandest Yuletide celebration in Cebu this December 2007.
The Pastores tells the story of the shepherds’ search for the baby Jesus portrayed as a poetic morality play and dance. The 16th century Spanish missionaries, who used it in teaching Catholicism in new Spanish colonies, started the tradition in fishing and tanbarks settlements of Tuyan and Tinaan that soon became the Naga town and parish in 1829.
Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mayor Val Chiong embarked on this Christmas pageantry to call attention to the new city’s rich cultural roots and make the most of its potential to attract tourists and investors.
With the theme “Pride in our Roots; Realizing our Vision,” Mayor Chiong carries out a vital component of his strategic program for the development of the City of Naga dubbed as Vision and Leadership 2020 or VAL 2020.
This Blog will contain all the highlights of the Pastores de Naga Christmas Festival, including statements, photos, event coverage from the mainstream media and blogs, and hopefully, videos and podcasts in the future.
Keep posted for updates. In the meantime, check out the Pastores de Naga Story and Schedule of Activities.
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Pastores de Naga 