Magalang Town Fiesta
When Magalang was transferred to its present site, people brought with them their patron saint. The town fiesta, observed on August 24, is the feast day
of San Bartolome (St. Nathaniel). This special day is being shared with “Balen A Melakuan” in San Bartolome, now a barangay of Concepcion in the province of Tarlac.
Several months before the fiesta, people would raise pigs (one for lechon and the other for the meat to be prepared with different “putahe” like morcon, asado, menudo, relleno, estopado etc. Days before the fiesta, the houses are being cleaned with “pakiling” leaves. Ante vispera or three days before the fiesta, desserts are being prepared like pastillas de leche, caramel, yema, leche flan, brazo de Mercedes and others.
In making desserts they use only the “ebun native” and “gatas damulag”. They make also mouth melting ensaymada and puto seco with carabao milk. Vispera (the day before the fiesta), it’s the turn of the “kudkuran ungut” to be heard because of the preparation of coconut milk based kakanin like tibuk-tibuk, kalame, tamales and the suman bulagta with latik.At the crack of dawn, the sounds of pigs and chicken being butchered can be heard. Meat grinders were not yet available then so the sound of the “palang and tangnan” were like music to our ears. The food is being cooked halfway “singkotsa” during kabisperasan. All the bones (butul-butul) which was cooked into adobo and tidtad and the pork skin into “pitityan” (chicharon) is being eaten by the kitchen staff while they prepare all the foods for the fiesta.
Recados are being prepared before they retire for the night. Now comes the “kapiyestan” on the 24th. The streets festooned with colorful banderitas are filled with merrymaking complete with a marching band. The men prepare the “lechon” to be roasted in the charcoal pit. The “garapinyera” (ice-cream maker) makes the best sorbetes flavored with queso real or the fruit in season.After the morning mass, the doors of houses were opened to one and all – relatives and strangers – for the fiesta food.
The town plaza came alive with different games and a carnaval for the whole day but at night it looks more alive with the lights and sights of many attractions. Besides the tsubibos or the ruwedas, aluyans for the adults, there were rides for the children. Fun games were bebetu, bingo and dagis-dagisan. One can win money, drinking glasses, plates, cups and saucers, pitchers and even food. While the young generation enjoy themselves in the plaza, the olds are busy entertaining visitors and making never ending “kwentos” to update relatives. Finally, it’s time for the relatives to go home. They are given “bakal” (loot bags) for them to take home for the “taung bale” so those who were left behind will also enjoy the fiesta food.
The day culminates with the crowning of Miss Magalang with their handsome consorts. The day after the fiesta, the “abo” (left over foods) is heated for the cleaning staff who will clean all the mess. The housewives look for “baratilyo” (bargains) because the makeshift stalls and the people selling goods will be leaving the town. Today’s fiesta celebrations are more simple. Free for all eating is gone. The banquet is only limited to friends and relatives. However, the quest for Miss Magalang has been retained for the town’s bet to the Miss Pampanga provincial contest. Gone are the long preparations. Some buy ready cooked foods, others do not prepare at all.