Every Easter Sunday
Sabuaga Festival or the Flower Showering Festival is a day long festivity celebrated in the municipality of Santo Tomas, Pampanga every Easter Sunday. It is a festival deeply rooted in the religious and spiritual tradition of the locals where they scatter or “sabuag” flower petals to the life size saint figures mounted on carrozas which is especially evident in Salubong, a common tradition in the Philippines where they reincarnate the meet up of the Risen Christ and the Sorrowful mother.
The term “Sabuaga” came from a play of two Kampampangan words, “sabuag” - as mentioned earlier – and “sampaga” which means flowers.
The festival came from the initiatives of the 2010 Holy Week Observance Executive Committee, headed by Samuel Santos, who planned to highlight the rich culture of Santo Tomas, Pampanga.
In middle of the year 2009, Sam Santos with the help of the local parish priest, Fr. Joseph Mary Bacay, consulted with the Dir. Robby Tantingco of the Kapampangan Center of Studies if it would be possible for the municipality to have its very own festival. According to the Dir.Tantingco, a festival can be made as long as the festival coincides with the tradition of the locality with the purpose of preserving the culture of the Thomasians.
In August 5, 2009, the Holy Week 2010 Executive Committee composed of Sis. Paulette Santos, Eva Mallari, Joodi Basilio, Yeng Zapata, and Irwin Nucum with the parish leaders, Ely Zapata and Romy Nucum sat down for a meeting to plan for the future course of events for the festival. It was also on that day where Fr.Ramon Torres expressed his support for the upcoming festival.
With the concept in mind after series of brainstorming sessions, the executive committee and the newly appointed parish priest Fr. Dino Albert Pineda worked with the local government units (LGUs) headed by Mayor Joselito Naguit in coordination with the barangay captains and Sanguniang Kabataan representatives came up with the plan for the upcoming festival fusing with it the LGU project of “One Barangay, One Product”.
Instrumental forces in this invaluable feat were award winning composer and lyricist Irwin Nucum who helped with the conceptualization of the festival and internationally acclaimed choreographer and musical director Andy Alviz, who wrote the music for the first festival and who also conducted a 3-day workshop for the SK representatives on basic street dancing moves, costume making and free interpretation performances.
Churches/Shrines
The 1929 St.Thomas The Apostle Parish Church (Poblacion Santo Tomas, Pampanga) belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando (Archidoecesis Sancti Ferdinandi; Created Diocese: December 11, 1948. Elevated to Archdiocese: March 17, 1975. Erected: June 25, 1975. Comprises the Civil Province of Pampanga, City of San Fernando and Angeles City. Suffragans: the Diocese of Balanga, Iba and Tarlac. Titular: St. Ferdinand, King, Secondary Patron: Our Lady of the Assumption. Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, DD; Coordinates: 14°59'19"N 120°42'30"E; Titular: St. Thomas the Apostle). The Feast is July 3 and its Parish Priest is Rev. Dino Albert N. Pineda of the Vicariate of Christ the King, under Vicar Forane, Rev. Reynaldo D. dela Cruz. Former Parish Priest was Rev. Bernabe Flores. It has a population of 9,202, with Catholics, 8,833.
On February 14, 2004, the Parish Pastoral Center and Convent were blessed and inaugurated by Bishop Paciano Aniceto. On October 16, 2004, the Columbarium, Mortuary and Museum were blessed.
The 1962 San Matias Parish Church (San Matias, Santo Tomas, 2020 Pam¬panga; Titular: St. Matthias, Apostle, February 24 & May 14) belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando (Archidoecesis Sancti Ferdinandi; Created Diocese: December 11, 1948. Elevated to Archdiocese: March 17, 1975. Erected: June 25, 1975. Comprises the Civil Province of Pampanga, City of San Fernando and Angeles City. Suffragans: the Diocese of Balanga, Iba and Tarlac. Titular: St. Ferdinand, King, Secondary Patron: Our Lady of the Assumption. Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, DD). Its incumbent Parish Priest is Rev. Marius P. Roque, of the Vicariate of Christ, under Vicar Forane, Rev. Reynaldo D. dela Cruz. It has a population of 16,672 with Catholics, 16,005. The former Parish Priest was Rev. Marlon Cunanan and Parochial Vicar was Rev. Nestor Figueroa.
St. Matthias (Hebrew transliteration Mattityahu) (d. 80), according to the Acts of the Apostles, was the apostle chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following Judas' betrayal of Jesus and suicide. His calling as an apostle is unique in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus, who had already ascended to heaven, and, it was made before the descending of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church.
Plaza/ Recreational Area
Located at Poblacion, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Local Restaurant
Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Mr. Dometrio Pineda – former Mayor (owner) Tel No. 4365230
It serves native foods and more on grilled
Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga 9233129997
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
(045) 436-5230
Well known in Pansit Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
(045) 436- 7196
Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Located at Moraz Dela Paz, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Located at San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
Swimming Pool and Recreational Area
Located at Moras Dela Paz
 |
 |
 |
 |
