 |
| A colorful and lasting tradition tradition at Mabalacat City, Pampanga, Maytinis, is a pride of the City. |
As a tourist, one of the best times to visit Mabalacat City, Pampanga is on a Christmas Eve, December 24. Just a few hours before the Christmas High Mass, the Mabalaqueño Catholic faithfuls are preparing for their beautiful tradition - Maytinis and the City is totally dressed up for the Christmas, courtesy of the LGU-Mabalacat.
In other Philippine towns, Maytinis connotes a dramatic Filipino retelling of a biblical scene where St. Joseph and Virgin Mary searched for a place to stay in Bethlehem. They found no room and so Jesus Christ, the Holy Child, was born in a manger.
But in Mabalacat City, Maytinis connotes a colorful Filipino version of another biblical scene where shepherds follow the Star of Bethlehem to find the Holy Child. Mabalaqueños from barangays of all directions carry their version of the Star of Bethlehem and proceed towards Our Lady of Grace Parish Church to attend the Christmas High Mass.
At around 8:00 p.m., just few hours before noche buena, when all the barangay contingents have arrived, the lantern procession called Maytinis, begins. Yes, it’s a religious procession on a Christmas Eve!
Maytinis is an eye catching Christmas eve procession where the faithfuls carrying colorfully lit lanterns or parul accompany their barangay patron saints around town and then back to the Our Lady of Grace Parish Church for the High Mass. The procession is serenaded by local choirs singing “Dios te Salve, Maria.”
Maytinis is an eye catching Christmas eve procession where the faithfuls carrying colorfully lit lanterns or parul accompany their barangay patron saints around town and then back to the Our Lady of Grace Parish Church for the High Mass. The procession is serenaded by local choirs singing “Dios te Salve, Maria.”
After the midnight mass, citations were given to the barangays to recognize their efforts for the event. While the event is not strictly a contest, for 2016, worthy of note are the following:
Most Festive: Sitio Aguso and Barangay Dolores
Most Innovative: Sitio NorthVille
Most Creative: Sitio Santa Maria
Most Attractive Parul: San Joaquin
Most Simple: Barangay San Francisco
Most Modern: Barangay Cacutud
Most Colorful: Barangay Atlu Bola
Most Punctual: Barangay Mangalit
Most Number of Delegates: Sitio Lourdes
Most Prayerful: Sitio Santa Maria Homesite and Barangay Poblacion
Best Choir: Sitio Santa Maria Home site
Best Iconography: Sitio Xevera
Best Modern Parul: Barangay Santo Rosario and Sitio Lourdes
Best Carroza: Barangay Santo Rosario
