Last January 16, my brother Roger
and his wife Faye Tabuno Gatal invited me to go with them to Cortes for
the town’s fiesta celebration in honor of the holy child Jesus, - , the Sto.
Niño.
Faye is the Comelec’s Election
Assistant II of the town
I would have declined because I had
gone to the Lim’s residence during vesper day upon the invitation of my good
friend Leizl Lim Gregorio and her brother Hon. Iven Lim who happens to be the
dynamic and very popular Vice Mayor of Cortes
Cortes Vice Mayor Iven Lim with wife Bebeth & family |
So why are Bohol fiestas so much
fun and anticipated?
1. THE PICTURESQUE SETTING &
IDYLLIC CHARM OF BOHOL’S COUNTRYSIDE
On our way to Cortes, Bohol |
Its nearest neighbor along the national highway to the north is the town of Maribojoc. It was named after a town in Navarre, northern Spain.
a bright pink municipio greets fiesta visitors |
Located high up on a plateau, the
town occupies a total land area of 4,377 hectares (10,820 acres) with a
population of 15,294 people according to the 2010 census.
2. THE STRONG SPIRITUALITY OF BOHOLANOS
We took time to visit the
charismatic Fr. Canizares at the church grounds so we could ask for updates on
Cortes Church that was one of the hardest hit by the Bohol quake last October
15, 2013.
The Church of Cortes is dedicated
to the Sto. Niño and thus known as the Sto. Niño Parish Church. It is situated
high up on a hill and like all Bohol churches is shaped like a cruciform.
The
church dates back to the middle of the 18th century although the bell tower’s
upper register was not completed until the 20th century.
The church is made up of cut coral
stone blocks. A portico is in front of an older façade and floral carving
frames the doorway. It has frescoes on its ceilings.
The main retablo has twisted
Solomonic columns and profusely carved flanges in the Baroque idiom. The Cortes
Church is a must-see especially for the religious pilgrims.
This is the sight that greeted us when we went to the church
The second of our three stops was
at the house of my sister-in-law’s officemate Joseph Magdalunes at the
Poblacion.
The food was awesome and we met new friends
While feasting on the native fried chicken and the humba, the Ramirez family recounted their harrowing earthquake experience
with Venus Ramirez |
It was finally time to say goodbye
and give our thanks to our fiesta hosts
As we traversed back to Tagbilaran,
I realized that our fiesta celebrations in Bohol are very unique and special
occasions where we pause and reflect on what life has given us.
Earthquakes or no earthquakes, our
rich cultural heritage and social traditions should be kept alive and kicking
Photo Credits: Roger Gatal
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