THE ARAQUIO FESTIVAL

by Queruine S. Ocampo

The Araquio festival is a celebration traditionally held every May in Nueva Ecija. The festival dates back to
the Spanish colonial period and is celebrated with a theatrical/religious presentation similar to Spanish
zaruelas, dramatizing the spread of Christianity in the country and the war between Christians and
Muslims.

The name Araquio is said to have come from “Heraclio”, the name of a bishop during the time of
Constantine the Great. The first Araquio presentation took place in the town of Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija
over 120 years ago. Before modern musical instruments were available, the bands used instruments
made from indigenous materials like bamboo. According to Francisco Vergara Padilla, director of the
Araquio group in the barangay of Sto. Tomas in Peñaranda, during his grandfather’s time they used
basins and utensils as substitutes.

Araquio is usually presented in May, during the feast of the Cross. The date of the feast varies from one
town to another. This festival starts with a mass and ends with the elaborate Flores de mayo celebration.
Each performing group is given a day or two to perform in the town plaza, making it a week long
presentation. Local wealthy families usually make it their spiritual duty to sponsor the festival,
sometimes giving no less than fifty thousand pesos.

Festival performers sing, act and dance while a brass band plays. The choice of songs and choreography
varies, but the script has remained the same since the tradition started. It tells of the feud between
Muslims and Christians that started over territory. In the play, Christians use the power of the cross,
symbolizing their faith, to defeat the Muslims, who later retaliate by stealing the cross. After many
battles, the cross is recovered, and the Muslims are Christened.

Normally, there are 16 performers in each Araquio group. Nine of these play Christians led by Reyna
(Queen) Elena and Haring (King) Constantine. The Reyna Elena has two servants, Laida and Blanca. The
rest are soldiers named Alberto, Arsenio, Rosauro, Fernando and Leonato. The Muslim group, on the
other hand, is composed of seven people, led by Ordalisa or Erlisa and the Emperor. Their soldiers are
Emir, Dublar, Marmolin, Engras and Sagmar. The male Muslims wear red costumes with feathered
headdresses, while the male Christians wear either blue pants and white top or black pants and blue top.
The female costumes are similar for both Muslims and Christians, except that the Christian women wear
a sash or “banda” while the Muslim women wear feathered headdresses similar to their male
counterparts. The players stand on an elevated stage, either wood or concrete, during their
performance.

This cross is the main reason why Araquio is being played. Many people believe that it has the power to
heal those who believe. At the first friday of May, the Reyna Elena of the Araquio hold this cross and let
the people wipe this with a towel.
Espasol To Highlight Peñaranda Festival

By Gio M. Padilla

PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija, May 14 (PNA) –The people of this town offer an alternative getaway to
complete your summer experience.

Besides a water event, they will showcase a rice-based product which one would love to taste – espasol.

Espasol, the sticky sweet made mainly of flour from glutinuous rice, grated young coconut, sugar, butter
and condensed milk takes the lead alongside with beautiful faces of local ladies, during the week-long
town fiesta dubbed as "Peñaranda Budang Ganda( An extremely beautiful Peñaranda), the local's version
of Flores De Mayo.

Town mayor Ferdinand Abesamis said espasol would be the main feature of the celebration that runs
from May 20 to May 26.

"Espasol is one of the major sources of livelihood of our constituents and it is really delicious compared
to others," Abesamis said.

Espasol will take the center stage on May 23 during the "Budang Habang Espasol" where residents will
prepare at least a kilometer of the delicacy, from Barangay San Josef to Barangay Sto. Tomas.

He said the municipal government, in coordination with line agencies such as the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), has been introducing steps to further uplift the industry, including the conduct of
seminar on production, labeling, packaging to marketing to people engaged in its production.

But, he said further intervention should be made to expand the shelf life of their banner product.

"Because it is made of coconut, its shelf life is considerably short," he said.

Aside from espasol, Peñaranda Budang Ganda Flores De Mayor also features the first Peñaranda River
Cross to happen on May 19. (PNA)