Some members of the youth ministry dancing with the accompaniment of the song “Pamimintuho sa Birhen ng Aranzazu.”
The very first and most awaited fiesta of the Our Lady or Aranzazu, after the biggest event the Canonical Coronation has finally arrived. Many are in awe for it is another new year for faith and devotion for the newly crowned patroness of San Mateo. It is the tercentenary of her being the patroness of the town so it is but fitting and proper that the community of San Mateo who are the beneficiaries of her maternal care and intercession spearhead this kind of celebration especially after his holiness recognized the Marian image.
A short program was commenced at 10:00 am at the front of the municipal hall which was organized to serve as a tribute for the Patroness of the town of San Mateo being venerated. Mayor Cristina Tina Diaz led the opening remarks on where she publicized that the president already signed the proclamation number 3 that declares September 21 as a special non-working holiday in the town of San Mateo as observance for the towns foundation day which is currently on its 446th year. The Mayors message mainly revolved around the unity of the people of San Mateo to be able to transcend every border, every boundary, and every difficulty the community might possibly encounter. She also captured the audience with her statement, We must never stop from making our dreams a reality. Before ending she also added that unity and aspiring for what is the best will make the town a progressive, competitive, and ready to embrace the call of the changing time community. Mayor Tinas opening remarks ended with her message on the focus of the communitys cooperation for the success of the feast.
Before the entrance of the image of Aranzazu, a brief history of the Kakanin festival was imparted where the town of San Mateo was once a very wide rice field. It was the main source of livelihood of the people making rice profuse in the community. Rice is actually the primary ingredient for kakanin that the abundant source paved the way for our town to be well-known for making scrumptuos kakanins, but it was only a form of a small livelihood back then. To revive the kakanin industry, it was thought to have kakanin festival during the feast of the Patroness Our Lady of Aranzazu that will serve as a way of thanksgiving to God and recognition for the decades of intercession of the Marian image. It was started on the year 2000 with the cooperation of the church and the local government that is still continuously celebrated until the present in its 17th year as tribute for the 300 year of maternal care of the Our Lady of Aranzazu in the town of San Mateo. After the very brief trivial sharing about the Kakanin festival, the image of Aranzazu was venerated with the accompaniment of the song Pamimintuho sa Mahal na Birhen ng Aranzazu and the participants of the Binibing San Mateo offering their represented kakanins for the image like pitchi-pitchi, ube halaya, biko and many more.
Right after the short tribute for the Our Lady of Aranzazu, Vice Governor Reynaldo San Juan Jr. gave his message in behalf of the Rizal provincial governor Rebecca Nini Ynares that wasnt able to attend the event. He said that the true reason behind the celebration is in honor of the faith, blessings thanksgiving, and years of devotion to Aranzazu by the local people. The vice governor also talked about the Kakanin festival as one of the venue in which the locals could showcase San Mateo, its people, its tradition, and its culture. Before ending, the vice governor has high hope that every year the local government and provincial government would maintain its resilient partnership.
The last but definitely not the least speaker of the program is Parish priest Rev. Fr. Lawrence Paz that blissfully greeted the visitors of the event and stated that the cooperation of the church and the local government was wholesome in organizing the event which is rare in national instances. He told the listeners that the government is in charge of taking care of the physical aspects of the people while the church is in care of the spiritual being therefore it is necessary for the church and the state to cooperate in fulfilling their duties to achieve their mission of helping in the progress of the community.
September 9 is not only a day for merriment and celebration but it is also intended for sincere prayer and reflection in honor of the 300 years of maternal care and intercession of the Our Lady of Aranzazu especially right after the patroness was just newly crowned and recognized by the pope. As a devotee and beneficiary of the Marian image, we must be proud and live to the values endowed by the great Marian image. Hail Our Lady of Aranzazu!(Mariele Aquino)
Mariele Aquino
Junior Writer, Website Team, Media Ministry
Mariele R. Aquino is a member and website writer of the NSDA’s Media and Public Information Ministry, an aspiring future medical specialist and currently a STEM senior high school student in the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas. Her principle in life is that genuine success is something achieved through a path and battlefield of dodging a thousand bullets without the course of self-centered desires and conducts for temporary existential accomplishment. As a form of simple youthful religious fervor, Mariele used her skills, talent and dedication in writing to serve her Lord but also to grow not only intellectually but more on spiritually.
