September 7, 2007, Friday
The photo exhibit “ Pamanang yaman “ formally opened the week – long celebrations for the Sariaya Town Fiesta 2007. Located at the second floor of the Parish Convent known as the Residential Museum, it features 23 framed computer enhanced old photographs one original framed photo circa 1925, and a charcoal portrait of Mrs. Matea Valdoria Vda de Mendoza, showcasing the religious heritage of the town. The earliest dates back to the late 1900s, a photograph of Rev. Fr. Amado Alandy of Tayabas, the very first Filipino parish priest of Sariaya who served from May 1907 to August 1922, while the most recent features the members of the 1957 Sariaya Parish Council led by parish priest Rev. Fr. Eufrocino Lusterio in front of the then newly renovated church.

Diocese of Lucena Bishop Emilio Z. Marquez and Mayor Rosauro V. Masilang cut the ceremonial ribbon, with parish priest Rev. Msgr. Melecio V. Verastigue, Mrs. Rowena Z. Masilang, Councilor Gerardo Q. Abril, Comite de Festejos 2007 President Juanito B. Manigbas and Parish Council for Economic Affairs (PCEA) President Fiscal Rosario I. Rondolo. Also witnessing the opening of the photo exhibits were Mrs. Lilia Cadiz – Castillo, Miss Conching Cadiz, and members of the Sariaya Tourism Council who mounted the exhibits, among others. A hearty morning merienda was then served at the dining hall of the Residential Museum.

Almost simultaneously, devotees of the Santo Cristo de Burgos from Sariaya and elsewhere had an eventful get – together cum merienda at the Devotional Park east of the parish church, after the 8 am mass officiated by Bishop Emilio Z. Marquez. This happy reunion was organized through the efforts of the Parish Council on Church Heritage and Devotions.

At about 4:30 that afternoon, a street dancing by the Sariaya East Central School students was held around the town plaza, the church patio, the Municipio and selected streets of town to drum up the September 7 – 14, 2007 celebrations, culminating in the Sariaya town fiesta and the official declaration of the St. Francis of Assisi parish church into the Diocesan Shrine of Santo Cristo de Burgos. Afterwards, they did the whole choreography with much cheering at the center of the park, the music provided by their school’s lyre band.

September 8, 2007, Saturday
A Tae Kwon Do competition called “ Arya Sipaan “ was held at the Sariaya Sports Complex at 7 am, participated by young Sariayahins and their peers from neighboring towns and provinces in the Southern Tagalog Region. A Medical – Dental Mission was then held at the Devotional Park from 8 am to 12 noon.

A street dancing was held as scheduled in the afternoon participated by young people around the so – called cultural center of town so described. Thereafter, the “ Salo salo at Konsiyerto “ fund raising project of the PCEA followed at the Devotional Park that featured the all women Angelicum Choir, together with ten male singers included for the undertaking.

Dinner was served on the tables good for eight persons while everybody awaited the start of the concert, amidst the beautiful, well - lighted confines of the Devotional Park. The stage was an intricately designed capiz ensemble, adorned with apt flower arrangements to complement the lovely surroundings.

The arrival of parish priest Msgr. Melecio V. Verastigue, with Mayor and Mrs. Rosauro V. Masilang signaled the start of the concert, with the choir members massing at the center pathway provided between the dining tables, wearing flowing white attire. They were then presented, and they walked to the stage for a candle - lit doxology number, followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. The emcee acknowledged the presence of Msgr. Verastigue as well as Mayor and Mrs. Masilang, and PCEA President Fiscal Rosario I. Rondolo, together with all the sponsors who made the event possible. The repertoire was divided into four parts, with the appropriate eye- catching costume changes for each. A power point Video production ran simultaneously while they sang, that showed the group hiking up Mamala and having fun time at sea, a reference to the Mount Banahaw and Tayabas Bay geographical endowment that truly makes Sariaya unique among neighboring Quezon towns. Along with standard church choir music which is their forte, the group tried their hand at other numbers like “ Hahabol – habol “ and contemporary OPM hits like “ Tanging Yaman “ and the like. Four of their younger members rendered well – applauded ballades and broadway hits. An intermission number was provided by two little girls doing Hawaiian dances. Another power point production featured Monsignor Verastigue along with the notable accomplishments of his administration as parish priest of Sariaya like the Devotional Park, the Residential Museum, the church patio and the church renovations done with the help and support of the faithful parishioners themselves. It also included the institution and strengthening of church devotions, mostly through the help of various church organizations and others, as exemplified by the intensification of the uniquely Sariayahin tradition of pilgrimage to the Santo Cristo de Burgos, the Franciscan Museum called the Museo ng Debosyon at Buhay, and the like. He then gave a short yet meaningful inspirational talk, together with an encouragement to all the parishioners for continued support to all the ongoing projects of the PCEA.

September 9, 2007, Sunday
The third day of festivities began with the “ Arya Sipaan “,Tae Kwon Do demonstrations participated in by young Sariayahins at 7 in the morning. In the afternoon, the 3 pm regular Holy Mass for children officiated by Sariayahin priest Rev. Fr. Pedro Obon, the parish priest of San Antonio, Quezon, was followed by a story - telling session on the life of Santo Cristo de Burgos for the young parishioners. It was supposed to be held at the Devotional Park but was transferred to the Parish Hall north of it because of the rains.

At the park, a lively street dancing commenced, participated in by five groups from the new Nina Maria Parish of Barangay Castanyas. Eagerly shouting “ Viva la Nina Maria ”, young men and women in colorful costumes did crisp choreography numbers to lively music. They were from Barangays Bucal, Talaan, Pantoc, Limbon and Castanyas.

September 10, 2007, Monday
A flag raising ceremony at the park coincided with the launching of “ Arya Sariaya “, the program of the Local Government Unit under the administration of Mayor Rosauro V. Masilang. It started with a Doxology number by the Marriage Encounter Music Ministry Choir, followed by a band playing of the Philippine National Anthem.

The presence of local officials led by Mayor Masilang, Vice Mayor Romualdo Nonato L. Nantes, and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan was acknowledged by host Mr. Allan Loria of the Mayor’s Office, together with all the Departments of the Sariaya LGU, the Sariaya PNP, various organizations like the Senior Citizens Federation, the Sariaya Tourism Council ( STC ), the Bantay ng Bayan, and others, as well as the townspeople.

The certificate of participation to the “ Arya Sariaya “ mascot painting contest was read to be handed to all the respective students who joined it. Thereafter, the winners of the official “ Arya Sariaya “ jingle making contest were presented and the duo sang it with guitar accompaniment to the delight of everyone present. .

Mayor Masilang was then presented and after acknowledging the presence of everybody, he gave a short talk about “ Arya Sariaya “. He solicited the support and active participation of all Sariayahins to all its undertakings, which he said will be a collective effort to progress. Thereafter, the simple rites were concluded and refreshments were handed to everyone.

In the late afternoon, the CSTC street dancers in novel, gaily colored costumes,did a come on dance at the church patio before the holy mass to be officiated by Sariayahin priest Rev. Fr. Raul L. Enriquez, parish priest of Agdangan, Quezon.The spirited group then proceeded to the center of the park where they performed the whole choreography repertoire to upbeat music for the townspeople. The “Arya Hataw“ Hip- Hop Dance Competitions was that evening’s feature at the Sariaya Sports Center,complete with the appropriate lights and sounds, giving all Sariayahins a dose of youthful electricity.The adrenaline rush proceedings were also seen live from Sariaya Cable Network Channel 3.

September 11, 2007, Tuesday
After the street dancing around the so – called cultural area in the late afternoon, the “ Likha – Awit ng Debosyon Sa Santo Cristo de Burgos “ started at the Sariaya Sports Complex. The Marriage Encounter Music Ministry Choir opened the night with the solemn singing of “ Our Father “, followed by “ Lupang Hinirang “. The presence of Parish priest Msgr. Melecio Verastigue was acknowledged, so with Mrs. Rowena Z.. Masilang who came in place of her husband, Mayor Rosauro V. Masilang.

The hosts of the program then introduced the panel of judges composed of Rev. Fr. Alex Oracion of the St. Ferdinand Cathedral who was the chairman, Rev. Fr. Everett Calvendra of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary and Rev. Fr. Gilbert Talabong, the Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception in Barangay Lutucan.

There were four finalists for the Santo Cristo de Burgos song writing contest and each of them were introduced first before their individual video interviews played onscreen at the right side of the stage. They were Mr. Jiro Lorenzo L. Directo with his guitar –accompanied composition “ Ang Tinig “, Mrs. Marie Belle Gracielli Alcala – Pureza singing “ Santo Cristo de Burgos, Kapatid “, Mrs. Jocelyn Marie Reyes – Flores with “ Sa Krus Ni Hesus “ and Mr. Ghil Catapang singing “ Magpugay Sa Santo Cristo de Burgos “.While the results were being tallied, the Marriage Encounter Music Ministry Choir were called back onstage to render an intermission number. It was followed by the adrenalin rush performance of a young group who was declared as one of the “ Arya Hataw “ Hip – Hop Dance Competition winners the previous night.

Certificates were then handed individually to the contestants as they went up onstage. The results were as follows :

Fourth Prize with P 1, 500 cash – Mr. Jiro Lorenzo L. Directo
Third Prize with P 2, 500 cash – Mr. Ghil P. Catapang
Second Prize with P 4, 000 cash – Mr. Marie Belle Gracielli Alcala – Pureza
First Prize with P 10, 000 cash – Jocelyn Marie Reyes – Flores

September 12, 2007, Tuesday
Two schools performed for this afternoon’s street dancing. The spear – bearing, face painted students of the Canda National High School in leopard spots costumes embellished with feather headdresses and necklaces gave off an African air minus the black skin color. Meanwhile, the bamboo pole carrying young people of the Sariaya Institute, wearing apparels painted with Middle American designs interspersed with sequins topped by “ Tambo ‘ headdresses was a fusion of Indian and Muslim Filipino elements. Both groups were accompanied by drums as they danced their way into the church patio and the Municipio, culminating in their ethnic – inspired choreography performed at one side of the park’s center court. The boxing ring for the night’s “ Arya Bakbakan “ confined them to eastern side near the Sariaya Sports Complex but their tour de force performances were much applauded by the crowd.

Meanwhile, the complex was abuzz with the general rehearsals for the “ Gabi ng Kultura at Parangal “ for the night of May 13th. Eight schools were each given previously set participations to the Santo Cristo de Burgos – inspired cultural presentation. They were the Saint Joseph’s Academy, the Sariaya East Central School, the Sariaya West Central School, the St. Francis High School, the Lutucan National High School, the Canda National High School, the Sariaya Institute and the Computer Systems and Technology College ( CSTC ). The rehearsals started at 1 pm and continued until past 8 in the evening. Snacks and dinner were provided for them, as well as the jeepney ride fare for the CNHS and the LNHS groups.

Towards the evening, a slight rain fell but the boxing enthusiasts either brought their umbrellas or took shelter in the nearby buildings and trees, bracing themselves for the exciting crowd drawer of the night, the “ Arya Bakbakan “ boxing matches.

To be continued...

Pagsisiyam para sa Kapistahan Ni Sto. Cristo De Burgos at Pagtatalaga sa Simbahan ni San Franciscong Assisi Bilang Pandiyosesis na Dambana ni Sto. Cristo De Burgos

STO. CRISTO DE BURGOS
Gabay at Tagapamagitan ng Nagpapanibagong Sambayanan

Unang Araw : Setyembre 5, 2007, Miyerkules, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Mabuting Pastol (Juan 10:11)
Selebrante : Rdo. Msgr. Oscar I. Leano

Ikalawang Araw : Setyembre 6, 2007, Huwebes, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Dakilang Sacerdote (Hebreo 3:1)
Selebrante : Rdo. P. Wakefield C. Lagarile

Ikatlong Araw : Setyembre 7, 2007, Biyernes, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Propeta ng Kataas-taasan
Selebrante : Rdo. Bienvenido G. Lozano

Ikaapat na Araw : Setyembre 8, 2007, Sabado, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Hari ng mga Hari (Pahayag 17:14)
Selebrante : Rdo. P. Carmelo G Villocillo

Ikalimang Araw : Setyembre 9, 2007, Linggo, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de burgos,Tagapagligtas ng Sanlibutan (1 Juan 4:14)
Selebrante : Rdo. P. Pedro V. Obon

Ikaanim na Araw : Setyembre 10, 2007, Lunes, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Tagapag-turo (Mateo 23:11)
Selebrante : Rdo. P. Raul L. Enriquez

Ikapitong Araw : Setyembre 11, 2007, Martes, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Ulo ng Iglesya (Colosas 1:18)
Selebrante : Rdo. Gerry M. Juarez

Ikawalong Araw : Setyembre 12, 2007, Miyerkules, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Kaibigan ng mga Makasalanan (Mateo 11:19)
Selebrante : Rdo. P. Joey A. Faller

Ikasiyam na Araw : Setyembre 13, 2007, Huwebes, 5 n.h.
Sto. Cristo de Burgos, Anak ng Diyos (Lukas 1:36)
Selebrante : Rdo. Msgr. Melecio V. Verastigue

SETYEMBRE 14, 2007. BIYERNES, 9 n.u.

KAPISTAHAN NI STO. CRISTO DE BURGOS at PAGTATALAGA SA SIMBAHAN BILANG PANDIYOSESIS NA DAMBANA NI STO. CRISTO DE BURGOS
Misa Konselebrada na pangungunahan nina Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal, Arsobispo Angel N. Lagdameo at Obispo Emilio Z. Marquez kasama ang mga bisitang pari.