ORANI, Bataan — Barangay Mulawin headed by Punong Barangay Marvin S Dela Cruz in Orani, Bataan hosted last Sunday, May 19, what is called by many as the “grandest Santacruzan in Bataan” featuring some celebrities from GMA Network headed by couple Max Collins and Pancho Magno.
Dela Cruz told newsmen who covered the event that this activity is part of the four-day celebration of the village’s fiesta where businessman Jon Arizapa served as Hermano Mayor.
“Bagamat maliit lang po ang pondo ng ating barangay sinisikap po nating magawan ng paraan sa pamamagitan ng ating mga kaibigan para mapaglingkuran ng maayos at mapasaya ang ating mga kabarangay,” Dela Cruz, who owns MSD Trucking, said.
Arizapa played a big role in helping the first-termer village chief to make their constituents and kababayans happy with their celebration.
“Sa mga susunod pong mga buwan ay marami po tayong sorpresa sa ating mga kababayan na magpapasaya po sa kanila,” Arizapa of Afaji Builders told this reporter.
Traditionally, the Santacruzan (from the Spanish words santa cruz or “holy cross”) is the ritual pageant held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo.
It honors the finding of the True Cross by Helena of Constantinople (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great.
Its connection with May stems from the May 3 date of Roodmas, which Pope John XXIII deleted in 1960 due to the trend at the time to abolish holy days.