The Tradition, The Faith
The first Araquio presentation took place in the town of Penaranda, Nueva Ecija 122 years ago. According to Francisco Vergara Padilla, the master/director of Araquio group in the barangay of Sto.Tomas in Peñaranda, they continue the tradition not just because their forefathers bestowed it unto them but also because it develops into a thanksgiving ceremony for all graces they continuously receive. He explained that this tradition has also the power to heal the sick. On the presentation, when the Christians defeated the Muslims they would find many pieces of cross and the only way to know which of these is legitimate is to ask a sick audience to pick the one he or she thinks is real. The sick person is considered healed once he or she picks the cross, regardless of which is which.
Brass bands are indispensable in the festival that during the time modern musical instruments weren't available yet the bands used indigenous materials like bamboos. Mr. Padilla said that during his grandfather's time they had been using basins and utensils as substitutes. Crowd participation is also present in Araquio, in fact the audience can join in the middle of the presentation. The performers would continue their choreography but pause their dialogues to give way to the dancing audience as the band plays on.
Aside from Mr. Padilla, we were able to interview three other Araquio connoisseurs whose ages are from 50 to 60. But however old they are, they could not trace back the original composer and actor in the festival. All they could remember was that a certain Leon Estanislao who lived not more 50 years ago enlivened this tradition in their town.
Nueva Ecija in May
Araquio is usually presented in May, during town fiesta ---the feast of the Cross. Because the date of the feast varies from one town to another, Nueva Ecija can be considered an Araquio province in the month of May. This festival starts with a Eucharistic Mass celebration and ends with the ever-elaborate Flores de Mayo. Each performing group is given a day or two to perform in the town plaza, and thus it becomes a weeklong presentation when there are many groups lined-up. Funding the performance has never been a problem for the groups, as it has turned into a spiritual vow of many local wealthy families to sponsor the festival. Sponsors, called hermana or hermano give no less than fifty thousand pesos. If we were interested to sponsor them, Mr. Padilla teased, we would have to line up for the 2003 sponsors because even next year's festival has already a complete list of sponsors.
