APALIT -- An old Catholic Church tradition has been revived by residents here in time for their 174th three-day town fiesta celebration held every June 28 to June 30.
For decades now, the three-day fiesta celebration was highlighted by a fluvial parade held on the 28th where the image of St. Peter the Apostle, known as "Apung Iru" to the locals, is fetched from his "home" in Barangay Capalangan here and paraded along the Pampanga River before the image is brought to the St. Peter the Apostle Parish Church where devotees can give praise.
A fluvial procession is again held on the 30th but on that time, the life-size image is brought back by residents and devotees to its home from the three-day fiesta celebration.
But this year's celebration is considered more historic by residents and devotees as the century-old image of Apung Iru was joined by St. Paul the Apostle, or "Apung Ambu" to locals, during the fluvial procession on Thursday.
The new life-sized image of Apung Ambu sat right beside the image of Apung Iru in a colorful boat as they paraded around the Pampanga River, together with hundreds of residents and devotees who came from different places in the province.
Based on the records of the Catholic Church, the solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul are simultaneously celebrated every June 29. The story about the two apostles depicted as being always together lies on their roles in the history of the Church as Peter was the known leader and Paul being the great missionary before they were both executed in Rome.
According to Mayor Peter Nucom, parish priest Rev. Fr. Emil Dizon, together with the 2018 Fiesta Executive Committee, thought of reuniting the two ancient Church leaders this year and revive the old tradition practiced by early devotees.
"For the longest time, Apaliteños were only celebrating the solemnity of Apung Iru when it was supposedly be with Apung Ambu. With the guidance of our parish priest, Apung Emil, we reunited the two saints and made a historic celebration of the Apalit town fiesta," he explained.
From this year forward, the solemnity of the two ancient Church leaders will always be remembered and celebrated by Apaliteños during the town's three-day fiesta celebration, said Nucom.
