TAYABAS Recalling history in drama and parade

TAYABAS, Quezon — This town recently celebrated an important event in its history when it was granted autonomy or self-government by the Spaniards on Aug. 13, 1898.

Every year since then, the event they call "Araw ng Tayabas’’ is celebrated by the people with parade and literary-musical program. Tayabas was the cabecera of the defunct Tayabas province for 131 years (1779-1910).

A quick look at historical files would reveal that in 1591, Tayabas was created into a province under the name of Kalilayan. On March 12, 1902, the civil government was established in Tayabas with Lucena as its capital. On June 12, 1902, the district of Principe, formerly under Nueva Ecija, and the district of Infanta, including Polillo which was under Laguna, were annexed to Tayabas. On Sept. 7, 1946, Tayabas was renamed Quezon Province.

Tayabas today is only 3-hour drive from Manila. Its stately municipality lies at the foot of the mystical Mount Banahaw. It is bounded on the north by Lucban, Lucena to the south, Pagbilao to the south-east and Sariaya to the west.

Actually, history states that Tayabas was founded by Franciscan missionaries in 1578. Its distinguished citizen, Manuel Luis Quezon, the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, was the reason why Tayabas province was renamed after him.

I arrived in Tayabas on the eve of its celebration upon the invitation of Eppie Macalinao, Beth & Elmer Mendoza, Emily & Rodel Mendoza and Masyang Landrito. It was rainy season but somehow, the weather that day, Aug. 12, cooperated.

Staying at the Sumilang-Macalinao residence, our tour with Eppie and Emily brought us first to Casa de Communidad museum where the 18th century wardrobes and relics are displayed. We were mesmerized by the mestiza dress worn by Georgia A. Caceres during the Southern Tagalog Fair in 1964 which was highlighted by the "Miss Tayabas" beauty pageant. The mestiza gold lamé dressed with beaded apron was patterned after the clothes worn during the carnival-queen days. Also on display was the vestment worn by the first Filipino parochial priest, Rev. Fr. Isabelo Velez Martinez (1896). Our next stop was the Tayabas Tourism office that keeps important historical relics and artifacts like the century-old kalesa.

Then we proceeded to the famous Minor Basilica de Tayabas where St. Martin de Archangel, the town patron saint, is kept. From the keyshaped belfry of the church, we could see a bird’s eye view of the whole town. Inside the belfry, one can hear the voices of the distant past of this once Hispanic town through the church’s damp bricks covered with moss; archaic bell that dates back to the 18th century; an old clock; and centuries-old images or statues of saints.

We then paid a visit to the tomb of Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar, founder of the Institute of the Missionary Catechist of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus. "Make a wish and it will be granted to you," Eppie whispered to me during the said visit.

The next day was the "Araw ng Tayabas" celebration. Opening the day’s event was a Latin mass at 6 a.m., officiated by Mons. Tony Obea, followed by a parade participated in by people dressed up in 18th-century costumes: as soldiers, high-ranking officials, Guardia Civil and the frayles, women in Filipiniana dress and as Katipuneros.

The parade was spearheaded by the municipal mayor, Severina Cabuyaonadres, Cong. Rafael P. Nantes of the 1st district of Quezon province and his wife Betty, Grace Enverga, wife of Quezon province Gov. Willie Enverga and Miguel Malvar III, great grandson of Gen. Miguel Malvar. They were all dressed for the occasion.

It is somehow disheartening to note that when the parade started at 7:30 a.m. and made rounds at the town’s major thoroughfares, people in the place did not eagerly watch it. Instead, most of them flocked to the site where the emancipation drama would be re-enacted.

The play, "Tayabas, Malaya Ka Na!" written and directed by Rodell Mendoza, was staged at the patio of Tayabas Minor de Basilica. Its main cast is Sofio Alandy, a native of Tayabas and influential among the Spaniards, Gen. Miguel Malvar stands as a major cast, too, for he controlled Tayabas.

The highlight of the play is Spain’s relinquishing of its administrative powers over Tayabas to its inhabitants, after negotiations between Alandy and Malvar. And so as the flag of Spain was lowered to its pole, the Philippine flag was raised gradually. When both flags reached its end goals, there was a rousing and thunderous applause from an audience numbering 5,000 more or less. It was indeed a sight to behold. I even saw some people crying while the Philippine flag is being hoisted. Somehow, it was like watching an Independence Day celebration. But for the people of Tayabas, trece de Agosto is a day like no other.

Senator Jamby Madrigal was the special guest of honor. She donated illustrated books for the elementary school students of Tayabas. Madrigal pledged to support the SUSI Ng Tayabas, a theater group responsible in the reenactment of Araw Ng Tayabas, in all their forthcoming projects. She also lauded the Tayabas Tourism Office for its preservation of various century-old artifacts.