Pasig Traditions*
A. The Fiesta
One of the earliest accounts of the Pasig Fiesta was
described by the Belgian traveler J. De Mann on
December 8, 1870 the feast day of Pasig’s patron
saint, the Immaculate Conception.
Pasigueños celebrate the fiesta as an expression of
their faith and an act of thanksgiving for a good
harvest. The fiesta also served as a reunion for
families, relatives and friends.
De Mann described seeing solid silver altars in the
homes of wealthy Pasiguenos. He noted that
residents felt deeply honored when European guests
entered their houses. A grand proces¬sion followed
after the mass, where residents carried lamps and
Chinese lanterns accompanied by bands. Dazzling
fireworks followed at night after the grand ball at the
Plaza Rizal. The author called the young women
beautiful Indian damsels, entertain¬ing and dancing
with the European guests.
When I was younger, I associated the fiesta with the
misa cantada which I found longer than the ragular
masses. After mass, I would see at the church patio
would have many vendors carrying helium-filled
balloons, candles and different papier maclie animals.
Several days before the fiesta, there would be a
perya near the plaza and the finals of the singing
contest would be held on the eve of the fiesta.
Among the dishes usually served were menudo,
pancit, kaldereta, morcon, lumpiang gulay, leche flan,
ube and sweet beans, among others.
B. All Saints’ Day
Todos los Santos or All Saints’ Day is observed on
the first of November, with people visiting the grave
if their loved ones to offer prayers, candles and
flowers. People are expected to have cleaned the
grave days before. The catholic cemetery is located
just behind the church while the Chinese cemetery
(also referred to as “Barracks”) is located in
Caniogan. The day after, or All Souls’ Day, is also
reserved as a day for remembering the dead
although less people go to the cemetery.
B. All Saints’ Day
Todos los Santos or All Saints’ Day is observed on
One of the earliest accounts of the Pasig Fiesta was
described by the Belgian traveler J. De Mann on
December 8, 1870 the feast day of Pasig’s patron
saint, the Immaculate Conception.
Pasigueños celebrate the fiesta as an expression of
their faith and an act of thanksgiving for a good
harvest. The fiesta also served as a reunion for
families, relatives and friends.
De Mann described seeing solid silver altars in the
homes of wealthy Pasiguenos. He noted that
residents felt deeply honored when European guests
entered their houses. A grand proces¬sion followed
after the mass, where residents carried lamps and
Chinese lanterns accompanied by bands. Dazzling
fireworks followed at night after the grand ball at the
Plaza Rizal. The author called the young women
beautiful Indian damsels, entertain¬ing and dancing
with the European guests.
When I was younger, I associated the fiesta with the
misa cantada which I found longer than the ragular
masses. After mass, I would see at the church patio
would have many vendors carrying helium-filled
balloons, candles and different papier maclie animals.
Several days before the fiesta, there would be a
perya near the plaza and the finals of the singing
contest would be held on the eve of the fiesta.
Among the dishes usually served were menudo,
pancit, kaldereta, morcon, lumpiang gulay, leche flan,
ube and sweet beans, among others.
B. All Saints’ Day
Todos los Santos or All Saints’ Day is observed on
the first of November, with people visiting the grave
if their loved ones to offer prayers, candles and
flowers. People are expected to have cleaned the
grave days before. The catholic cemetery is located
just behind the church while the Chinese cemetery
(also referred to as “Barracks”) is located in
Caniogan. The day after, or All Souls’ Day, is also
reserved as a day for remembering the dead
although less people go to the cemetery.
B. All Saints’ Day
Todos los Santos or All Saints’ Day is observed on
the first of November, with people visiting the grave if their loved ones to offer prayers, candles and
flowers. People are expected to have cleaned the grave days before. The catholic cemetery is located just
behind the church while the Chinese cemetery (also referred to as “Barracks”) is located in Caniogan. The
day after, or All Souls’ Day, is also reserved as a day for remembering the dead although less people go
to the cemetery.
C. Christmas Day
The Panuluvan of Jesus is still being practiced today in Barangavs Maybunga, Buting, Kalawaan and
Santolan. This is procession is a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s efforts to find shelter on Christmas
eve. Homeowners are expected to deny the couple shelter until they finally reach the church.
The Panuluyan ng Niňo Jesus is practiced in Sitio Ulilang Kawayan, San Joaquin. A day after Christmas, the
baby Jesus is brought from house to house with a choir and a sacristan ringing a bell. Families visited are
expected to make a donation to the church.
Carolers use improvised musical instruments like a tambourine made of bottle caps and empty milk cans.
They go from house to house.
On Christmas eve, families eat Noche Buena together whether rich or poor. On Christmas day, children
visit their ninong and ninang for gifts.
flowers. People are expected to have cleaned the grave days before. The catholic cemetery is located just
behind the church while the Chinese cemetery (also referred to as “Barracks”) is located in Caniogan. The
day after, or All Souls’ Day, is also reserved as a day for remembering the dead although less people go
to the cemetery.
C. Christmas Day
The Panuluvan of Jesus is still being practiced today in Barangavs Maybunga, Buting, Kalawaan and
Santolan. This is procession is a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s efforts to find shelter on Christmas
eve. Homeowners are expected to deny the couple shelter until they finally reach the church.
The Panuluyan ng Niňo Jesus is practiced in Sitio Ulilang Kawayan, San Joaquin. A day after Christmas, the
baby Jesus is brought from house to house with a choir and a sacristan ringing a bell. Families visited are
expected to make a donation to the church.
Carolers use improvised musical instruments like a tambourine made of bottle caps and empty milk cans.
They go from house to house.
On Christmas eve, families eat Noche Buena together whether rich or poor. On Christmas day, children
visit their ninong and ninang for gifts.
* Aside from oral accounts from other people, this compilation of tradition is also based on Osorio, Theresita dela
Paz. "Lores of Pasiguenos." Pasig. Ed. Virgilio Lacaba. Araw ng Pasig Millenium Book Committee, 2001. 24-33.
Paz. "Lores of Pasiguenos." Pasig. Ed. Virgilio Lacaba. Araw ng Pasig Millenium Book Committee, 2001. 24-33.
| M. Reyes Roque, Last Updated 9May2006 Email Queries from students & researchers are welcome; including requests for enhanced quality pictures. |
| Pasig At the Turn of the Century: the River as Life |
| Women and children in a Public Laundry. From the Philippine Digital Archive of the University of Michigan. |
| The river was a source of livelihood. A fishtrap made of woven bamboo strips is on the foreground on the right. From the Philippine Digital Archive of the University of Michigan. |
| The river allowed people from Pateros, which used to be part of Pasig, to raise ducks. Then and now, Pateros is known for its balut (boiled duck embryo, a local delicacy) and itlog na maalat (salty preserved egg usually with red colored shell). From the Philippine Digital Archive of the University of Michigan |