Every year, we honor our patron saint here in Caduawan, Tabogon, Nothern Cebu, Philippines, The Mother of Perpetual Help, by celebrating the fiesta. Our family has always observed this tradition, and we take great pleasure in preparing for the festivities. Apart from the delicious food that we serve during the fiesta, what I cherish the most is the opportunity to reunite with my family and cousins in our home. Our house has become the designated gathering place for our relatives, and everyone comes to our place to join in the celebration. Join me as I recount my experience of this year's fiesta which was held last Saturday, October 28, 2023. It was yet another enjoyable and memorable year, which we eagerly anticipate every year. I will share with you what happened on the day before the fiesta (October 27,2023) and on the fiesta (October 28,2023).
My uncle and cousins from Valencia, Bukidnon visited us in Caduawan, Tabogon, Cebu to celebrate the fiesta. It had been years since we last saw each other, so the reunion was special. I was amazed by how much my cousins had grown since the last time I saw them. They were once little children like my son Jacob, but now they are adolescents, looking great. Unfortunately, my uncle's wife couldn't make it since she's currently working abroad. Despite the long travel, my uncle and two cousins made it to the fiesta just to be with us. Imagine we are situated in Visayas and they are currently residing in Mindanao so what a long travel it indeed is. It's always heartwarming to be with family during special occasions, and this reunion is just the start of reconnecting with other relatives who live far away.
An hour later, the karaoke that we rented was already delivered. We wasted no time in trying it out. My uncle tested the microphone by singing a song, and my son followed by belting out his favorite worship song, "10,000 Reasons." Singing is a big part of celebrations in the Philippines, and no party is complete without karaoke. Even though we had a disco at the covered court in our barangay, we still rented the karaoke for three days for the fiesta celebration. It just makes every occasion more enjoyable. I love to hear my cousins sing.
We've got a delicious fruit salad planned for the fiesta dinner, which also doubles as our dessert. Since we have a couple of coconut trees on our property, we decided to go with a macaroni fruit salad that includes shredded coconut. Each dessert has been perfectly portioned into small containers for our guests. Preparing the fruit salad was a fun bonding experience for me and my cousins, as we caught up on each other's lives while filling the containers. As they say, dinner is never complete without dessert!
We participated in the holy procession to honor our patron saint, the Mother of Perpetual Help. It was approximately a one-hour walk from our barangay, with all of us bringing candles and walking together. Religious individuals were in line, praying for our patron, while a band played instruments and added to the procession's atmosphere. Almost every person from our barangay joined the procession, making it an excellent way to reconnect with our community and express our love for our Mother of Perpetual Help.
During the night, we went to our covered court to dance and participate in the disco. This feels nostalgic for me because I cannot remember when was the last time I went dancing in a disco? We had a few drinks, and it was a fun night with my cousins and friends.
♡ October 28,2023 ♡
It's important to remember that the fiesta isn't just about indulging in good food and drinks, going to the disco, or attending events. The true essence of the fiesta is to celebrate our patron saint. My family and I attended the fiesta mass celebration, and it was a joyous occasion. I have always loved celebrating fiestas as it's a way of expressing our gratitude to our patron saint, The Mother of Perpetual Help, for all the blessings we have received throughout the year. I have so much to be thankful for. This year, we have received an abundance of blessings.
Roasted whole pig is a must-have food in the Philippines for every special occasion. Be it a birthday, a graduation, a wedding, or any other noteworthy event, a Filipino table is incomplete without a lechon or a roasted whole pig.The sight of the scrumptious pig brought smiles to everyone's faces, and we all relished the moment with excitement and happiness.
Unfortunately, I was unable to take photos of the other dishes we cooked and prepared due to being swamped and having my hands full. While we did prepare a variety of side dishes for our lechon, I only have photos of the finished products to share with you.
Lechon or Roasted Whole Pig
Papaya with Vinegar Sauce
My beau cooked this Menudo
Ampalaya Salad and Pork Steak cooked by my beau
We ordered Puto Flan
Hanging Rice, Watermelon, Papaya and Sticky Rice
Hanging Rice
Fiesta Tarpaulin
Bam e and Beef Steak we ordered from Capitancillo Restaurant Bogo City
Fiesta Dinner ♡
We enjoyed a variety of foods during our fiesta , which we shared with our family, friends, and other visitors who came to celebrate with us. This is one of my favorite occasions of the year, as it allows us to express gratitude and celebrate with those closest to us. After dinner, we sang karaoke and later went to a disco at the covered court. It was a memorable celebration that brought us all together.
I had a blast celebrating the fiesta with my loved ones and close friends. The night was filled with laughter and joy as we caught up after being apart for so long. I am grateful for everyone who made the effort to travel long distances to be here with us. The fiesta really does bring people together. I had an amazing time and can't wait for next year's celebration! Cheers!