May 1-3 has always been celebrated in Sta.Cruz, Marinduque as the town fiesta, meaning three days of feasting and fun. It brings to mind a place that, in the days when a mixture of Spanish and Tagalog was still spoken on the island, was the center of celebration where the town's rich and religious congregated.
That's an old convent beside the Sta. Cruz Church.Church, reputed to be the oldest in Marinduque, that has survived typhoons, earthquakes and strife. The upper level of this century/ies-old convent (Santa Cruz de Napo was its old name), houses one of the biggest wooden halls in all of the island. Until today, laughter and voices during banquets for various
occasions still reverberate in the mountain air.
The hall, very well-preserved with walls and floors of
hardwood up to 2 feet in width could take in as many as 500 guests. Its lower level, converted into classrooms since 1974 as the
Holy Infant Parochial School for grade-school kids is made of adobe walls and
floors with windows protected by thick iron grills and thick, heavy doors of
hardwood.
The original look of this old structure, circa 1881. From the Marche files showing the old glory and splendor of the building while a banquet was taking place.
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| Staircase with old wood balusters. Photo: Dan Pagulayan |
Excerpts from the Marche files:
“The next day was the feast of the town. After the religious ceremony at the church, a procession attended by all the faithful went through the streets of the town, adorned with canopies of greenery and garlands of flowers.
"In the evening, a big banquet was given by the parish priest of Santa Cruz. He was the son of a Frenchman and a Spanish woman, but he did not know a word of the paternal language. He also had his collection, from which he was willing to deduct a few shells for me.” (Luzon and Palawan, Marche, with illustration titled Fete a Santa Cruz de Napo)
"In the evening, a big banquet was given by the parish priest of Santa Cruz. He was the son of a Frenchman and a Spanish woman, but he did not know a word of the paternal language. He also had his collection, from which he was willing to deduct a few shells for me.” (Luzon and Palawan, Marche, with illustration titled Fete a Santa Cruz de Napo)
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| Familiar-to-the-town windows of capiz-shells. |
Fiesta 2018 Highlights this time:
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| Visit of Miss Earth Beauties |
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| Performance by popular singer Angeline Quinto |
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Mayor's Ball with Dangal ng Santa Cruz Awards  Sports Clinic and Exhibition Game at the Gymnasium with PBA Players Derick Hubalde, Mark Andaya and Paolo Hubalde. |
