The extravagant Lubenas Festival of Magalang, Pampanga has led to the recognition of its municipality's cultural heritage.
Interviewed during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime on Wednesday, June 12, Magalang, Pampanga Mayor Maria Lourdes Lacson said because of their Lubenas Festival, they received a Cultural Heritage Award in 2018 and first place in the category of Community-based Heritage Conservation Program of the Association Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) from Department of Tourism Pearl awards.
"Ang Lubenas po ay isang paraletergical na activity ng simbahang katoliko sa Pampanga. Nagsimula po ito sa pagsasagawa noong 1800s at ito ay pagbabago ng salitang novena pinalitan ng Lu-- ibig sabihin po liwanag sa isang siyam na araw na prosisyon ng mga parol bilang paghahanda para sa pasko," Mayor Lacson said.
According to Lacson, the festival has been celebrated for a decade and started in Bacolor, Pampanga during the approaching Christmas season.
"Sa mga kapampangan nagbigay ng ideya na lumikha ng mga parol na hugis bituin para sa prosisyon sa loob ng siyam na araw kaya't ang Lubenas ay naging isang paanyaya para sa komunidad na sumama at makiisa sa Misa de Gallo."
The festivity, according to Lacson, has resulted in the conservation and protection of their heritage. This has also helped people's livelihood in the community.
"Marami nga po ang lokal na manggagawa ang nakikinabang sa paggawa ng mga parol at ang demand po ng mga ito tuwing Lubenas ay nagbibigay ng karagdagang kita sa mga pamilya at mga artisants natin" she noted.
Businessmen were also given a chance to promote their products during the celebration. Some of its products are delicacies, handicrafts, and souvenirs.
The Mayor said thousands of people from different parts of the country are coming to town to witness the bright light made by the colorful lanterns.
Magalang, Pampanga's barangays are one with the making of lanterns, and a competition is being upheld, giving them a prize for a particular project they want to raise in their barangays.
"Malaking atraksyon po ito sa pagdagsa ng mga bisita sa iba't bang lugar, nagdadala po ng kita sa mga lokal natin. Gayon din po sa mga international orders po natin dahil nakilala na nila," said Lacson.
For Lacson, to maintain the tradition is a big help on passing the culture to the next generations.
"Ang Luvenas po ay isag mahalagang bahagi po ng kultura ng kapampangan at ang festival ay nagbibigay daan upang maipasa ang tradisyon na ito sa mga susunod na henerasyon," she remarked.
The Mayor said they came up with ordinances and resolutions to protect their heritage such as their Lubenas Festival.
