Santero Festival redefines Macabebe

MACABEBE, Pampanga – The first Santero Festival was held to celebrate the 443rd founding anniversary of this town on January 17.

Macabebe, one of the oldest towns in Pampanga, is home to the Santeros. They are craftsmen who uses wood, ivory, cement or fiber
glass to produce an ecclesiastical art piece known as ‘Santo,” usually an image of Jesus Christ, The Blessed Virgin Mary or patron saints.

Macabebe Tourism Officer Catherine Flores disclosed that other residents of Barangays San Gabriel, Sto. Rosario, San Roque and Sta.
Maria benefit from the ecclesiastical art-making industry. They make eyelashes, clothes and hairs of the ‘Santo.’ Most of the Santeros are
based in San Gabriel.

Gener Bautista, a 70-year-old Santero, said he had inherited from his parents and grandparents the making of holy images. He was able to send all his seven children to college as a Santero.

Bautista said an image cost between P5,000 to P150,000 pesos. The most expensive stands about 5 feet tall.

He said that some of his works were sent to Los Angeles, U.S.A. and Guam.

Macabebe Mayor Annette Flores-Balgan said the Spanish colonizers played a huge role in influencing the first Santeros of the town. They
brought to Macabebe holy images from Spain.

“First, they were only making Santos for their own. Later it became an industry,” said Balgan.

“How can you love your own town if you don’t know its history?” she added to explain the holding of the festival.

Eight schools – Colegio De San Lorenzo, Sta. Maria High School, San Esteban High School, San Nicolas Academy, Telacsan National High
School, Caduang Tete High School, SV-SF High School and Macabebe High School – joined the street dancing and free interpretation
competitions. Perlita Calara and Conrad Gueverra were the dance choreographers.

“The steps are based on the making of the holy images,” said Calara.

She added that Macabebe National High School were adjudged overall-champion and Sta. Maria High School first runner-up. (30)