Fiesta na! Fiesta na! Ing Diyos puryan taya: 25 years of rising and moving forward together
Words by Hannah Pineda.
Photos by VDLR Fiesta Committee 2024.
The vibrant historical roots of the Samendang Festival can be traced back to 1998 when Reverend Father Rey Dela Cruz, the parish priest then of Barangay Dila-dila in Santa Rita, Pampanga introduced the street dance.
The term ‘Samendang’ means ‘dance.’ It was also an expression used mostly by the elderly when they play with their grandchildren: ‘Samendang na ka, samendang na ka’ or ‘sayaw ka na, sayaw ka na’. Samendang was first coined by the late Tomas Barrera from the clan of Barreras in the vicinity of Barangay Dila-dila, Sta. Rita, who actively served in the church.
The festival was subsequently initiated by youngsters dressed in recycled tapestries of flamboyant shades primarily made of sacks, dayami, old CDs, leaves, and chicken feathers as their headdresses. The music, an integral component of the celebration, reflects the depth of people’s faith. “Fiesta na! Fiesta na! Ing Diyos puryan ta Ya! Virgen Maria, ipangadi Mu ke sana!” (It’s time to celebrate! It’s time to celebrate! Praise the Lord! Virgin Mary, pray for us!). The unique fusion of rhythm and music contributes to the dynamic aura with the dancing of the figure of the patron and street dance performances, incorporating a resounding energy to the festival.
Moreover, the festival holds a central place in the community’s faith, serving as an expression of reverence and gratitude to the patroness saint of the barrio, Virgen Delos Remedios. This deep-rooted connection to faith results in a memorable celebration that resonates throughout the town. The initiative to include Samendang in the festivities of the feast of Virgen delos Remedios, in honor of the Eucharistic visitation, was spearheaded by the late Glen Panlilio Luna, who served as the fiesta committee president in 1998, along with Among Rey.
In the subsequent year, Peter David, elected as the committee chairman, upheld Samendang as a vital part of the week-long festivities. Additionally, Ria Barrera, Darnel Naredo, and Cherry Sibal enhanced the street dance by involving grade-schoolers and high school students from the six barangays under the parish’s jurisdiction: Pias, Pulong Santol, Ebus, San Basilio, Dila-dila, and Becuran.
Contributing to the vibrant atmosphere, the Tibuk-tibuk Festival, a cooking competition showcasing the authentic Kapampangan sweet delicacy of milk pudding, was launched by prominent clans such as the Pinedas, Mendozas, Alvizes, Davids, and Barreras. This native kakanin dish is traditionally crafted from ground rice, coconut cream (kakang gata), latik, and dalayap. It competed against and was outdone by the seven zones of the barrio.
The preservation of the festival relies on a rich blend of traditions that have remained intact to this day. On its silver jubilee in 2024, Mrs. Aurea Semsem, the hermana mayor from the esteemed lineage of the Pinedas, ensured the continuation of this cultural heritage.
Indeed, Barrio Dila-dila was alive with excitement during its culmination on April 25, offering a delightful experience for all the senses. A vibrant mix of traditions, visual and auditory spectacles, and culinary delights was seamlessly integrated and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
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