Santacruzan in the new normal

The mother and son pair of Fiel Angeli and Renji as Empress Helena 2021 and Prince Constantine, respectively.

Most Filipinos, including Boholanos, are devout Catholics. They honor and celebrate saints on feast days. 

In the Philippines, May is a merry month not only because it is the season of fiestas with gastronomic treats, but of the “Flores de Mayo” - Spanish for "flowers of May", one of the devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary starting from the first until the last day of May of every year. 

It is the time when girls believing in “Ad Jesum Per Mariam” – to Jesus through Mary – offer flowers and implore her intercession to bring their prayers and supplications to Jesus.

The Santacruzan, derived from the Spanish term “santa cruz” or holy cross, is being held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It depicts Saint Helena (Reina Elena) and Constantine the Great of Constantinople’s search for the “true cross”. 

Some trace its connection to May from the May 3 date of “Roodmas” commemorating the finding by Saint Helena of the true cross in Jerusalem in 355 observed on May 3 in some Christian churches and rites. 

In the Philippine setting, Santacruzan is made a colorful festival and has become an integral part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love, and romance  because of the personalities who portray the biblical figures and traditional personifications during the procession with Reina Elena holding the holy cross beside Prince Constantine. 

In Bohol, even with the pandemic, Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish relived the Santacruzan offering of flowers to Mary spearheaded by Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG, parish priest, that started with the rosary, novena, holy mass, and ended with a motorcade around Barangay Cogon, the biggest barangay in the Tagbilaran City in terms of population. 

Following the COVID-19 health and safety standard protocols, the sagalas as well as their escorts wore face masks and face shields. 

This year is special because there are, indeed, so many things to be thankful for, especially the “angels” here on earth for their outpouring of generosity for the fundraiser which totalled P421,670.75 for the church improvement projects, specifically the completion of the counseling room and priests’ rooms.

Cogon Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish' Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG with Empress Helena 2021 Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao - Gabin and her son, JF Regelbert Johnson "Renji" as Prince Constantine, and John Nino M. Dacullo, Santacruzan 2021 Committee chair.

Empress Helena 2021 is Fiel Angeli Espejo Araoarao - Gabin, daughter of Rep and Wincie Araoarao and a resident of Graham Avenue, Cogon’s Purok 2 for the past 51 years. 

She is married to Engr. Jerome John Gabin from Siquijor and has 2 children, AJ Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” and JF Regelbert Johnson “Renji” Gabin who escorted her as Prince Constantine. 

The “sagalas” were Luzviminda Bayne, Purok 5 (Queen of Sheba); Lolita Acedo, Purok 6 (Rebecca); Leonisa Eroy, Purok 4 (Reina Caridad); Rebecca Yecyec, Purok 1 (Deborah); Marie Anne Udtohan-Diores, Purok 3 (Reina Fe); Irenea Tocmo, Purok 8 (La Divina Pastora); Rosa Nina Aranilla, Purok 12 (Hagar); Cecile Vitor, Purok 7 (Reina Esperanza); Maricris Tumale, Purok 10 (Esther); Lovely Pilayo, Purok 11 (Ruth); and Debbie Calabria, Purok 9 (Reina Madre). 

The fundraiser was coordinated by John Nino Dacullo, chair of the Parish Youth Coordinating Council, together with Flor Anabelle Cesar, Venice Doron, and Merlita Cagata. 

Fashion designer Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad designed Empress Helena 2021’s white Philippine terno.

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