(Easter Sunday in Blue Beach)

 

By Rex Catubig

BY the time the Sunday PUNCH reaches the newsstands today, morning has broken  and the traditional Abet-abet  depicting the encounter between the Risen Christ and His beloved Mother Mary on Easter Sunday would have already taken place at the Tondaligan Ferdinand Beach. It would have also officially marked the start of the Bangus Festival season.

Like in the breakthrough event last year, the traditional religious practice was updated with the inclusion of the encounter of Jesus with John, the fisherman, and the other disciples, which can be ascribed to two biblical passages.

In the first, Jesus met a frustrated Peter who came back with no catch. He bid him, together with brothers John and James, to cast their net anew. And they were rewarded with an abundant catch. (Luke 5:1-11)

The second was after the Resurrection. The disciples went out to fish but had no luck. The resurrected Jesus who they had not recognized, called out to them from the shore to cast their net again. Miraculously, they were blessed with a bumper harvest. When they came ashore, they were greeted by the sight of Jesus grilling fish on burning coals. He asked them to bring some of their catch and invited them to have breakfast. (John 21:1-17).

So what brought on this update on tradition?

The vicariate pastor, Archbishop Soc Villegas, once reportedly minced no words and chided, “Bangus is not the city’s patron saint”.

Bbeing a devout Catholic herself, Mayor Belen Fernandez became concerned. She realized that the Bangus Festival must extend beyond being solely a street extravaganza. It must reflect the community’s socio-religious heritage to be truly meaningful and relevant to the people.

“How can we relate the Bangus Festival to St John?”(who is the City’s patron Saint), she pondered.

We traced back the connection that is rooted in biblical references. St John was a fisherman before becoming an apostle and subsequently the evangelist he is popularly known as. He was one of three fishermen, along with his brother James, and Peter, who were the first followers of Jesus.

Upon presentation to Fr Soc Villegas of the plan to hold an Easter Sunday mass at the beach, we daringly tossed the idea of integrating St John as a Fisherman to the reenactment and create a triptych encounter. Thankfully, the idea was welcomed with a few suggestions to make it compatible with religious protocol.

In addition,  to lend added significance to the upcoming Bangus event,  last year in a mesmerizing homily, Fr Soc essayed a brilliant and eloquent deconstruction of the primal elements that define our life as Dagupeños and the blessings we derive from them.

Water, from the rivers, the fishponds, and the sea that surround the city. Fire from burning coals as we grill fish. Ichthus, or fish that abound in our midst.

All these are the God-given and beneficent blessings that we have been favored to be bestowed with. And in no other circumstances could our fervent thanksgiving be gloriously celebrated.

Glorious Easter had  broken by the time you read this.

Despite the rigmarole that had relentlessly pushed the city to the brink, the pall of gloom is lifted, the indomitable spirit born of faith, hope and love rises above and triumphs over adversity.

It’s the dawn of a new day. And Bangus Festival is off to a blessed start.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments