Maytinis (Kawit, Cavite)

One of the events that I look forward to during the Christmas holidays is watching the yearly Maytinis parade held in my home town of Kawit, Cavite. There is no clear background on when and how the tradition started but the Maytinis parade showcases several scenes from the Bible. The parade normally happens on the eve of Christmas. The parade starts in the evening that passes several baranggays in Kawit and ends in the church where a mass is held afterwards.

Maytinis consists of several floats, wherein each float is assigned to a Baranggay in Kawit and usually a contest is held to choose the best float.

The floats consists of:

Eba't Adan (Adam and Eve)
This is the first float on the parade and shows Adam and Eve after eating the fruit of the forbidden tree.

La Purisima Concepcion

This is the second, and this is from our baranggay. This portrays the Virgin Mary on top of the world while the announcement of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin.

Si Noe at Ang Baha (Noah and the Flood)
The rainbow signifies God's promise that there will be a better day after the flood.

Pagligtas Kay Moises (The Saving of Moses).

The float shows the people that adopted Moses when he was sent up the river.

Haring David (King David)
King David's rise to power after defeating Goliath.

Ruth at Noemi

Ruth coming back to her mother-in-law after his husband, son of Noemi dies. She decides to stay with her mother-in-law.

Samson

Samson, whose strength comes from the length of his hair, together with Delilah who in the end cuts his hair.

Infanta Judith
Shows Judith as she asked John the Baptist to be beheaded.

Reyna Ester (Queen Ester)
A heroine in the bible, having a Book in the Bible named after her.

Zacharias

The angel announces to Zacharias that he would be a father soon to John the Baptist.

Pagbati (The Annunciation)

The angel shows up to Mary to announce her pregnancy to Jesus.

Pagdalaw (Mary Vists her Sister Elizabeth)
Mary visits her sister Elizabeth as she gives birth to John the Baptist.

Panunuluyan (Mary and Joseph's travel to find a place to give birth)

Mary and Joseph's journeys to Bethlehem to find a place to give birth to our saviour Jesus. The float stops by many houses during the parade and performs "panunuluyan" where they sing in front of the houses and they get pushed away until they reach the church.

Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Angels shows up to the shepherds announce the birth of Christ.

Inang Pilipinas
The Last float showing a woman portraying the image of the Philippines.

From Maytinis 2009

Finding Time..

It has been a while since I have updated this blog. Now that there is time, I can update it again.

The Philippines has undergone a lot of calamities during this year, hopefully the new year would be more calm. Hopefully no more storms and heavy flooding. I don't want to see EDSA under water again.

Amidst all the challenges, we Filipinos were able to stand tall and go through it all, in fact, almost everyone has the holiday spirit, preparing for Christmas, excited to spend Christmas together with family members and friends, but may we not forget the true meaning of Christmas. It is the time of giving, or sharing, forgiving, being thankful for all the blessings.

As we enter the new year, may we forget the hurt that this year has brought us, but let us not forget the lessons of everything that has happened to us, let us not let history repeat itself.