Taguig’s river festival, truly a global celebration

All is set for the celebration of four-century-old Sta. Anang Banak Festival in Taguig City today.

Local officials said this year’s event is expected to be more meaningful as the celebration has turned into a global gathering, with Taguigeños living in California keeping the tradition alive by holding their own fiesta from across the miles.

Inspired by their devotion to St. Anne, Taguig natives now residing in the US state organized and formed in 1984 the Taguig Association of America (TAA).

The TAA has chapters in San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga will lead the fluvial procession on the Taguig River leading to Laguna Lake, where an image of St. Anne, patron saint of the city, will be displayed.

Vice Mayor George Elias, on the other hand, will join the celebration of Taguigeños in San Francisco as simultaneous programs are also set in San Jose, San Diego and Los Angeles.

The festival traces its root to a legend of the miracle of the "banak" fish that took place in July 1587 on the river of the "Tagagiiks," the city’s ancient name.

It was believed that an elegant woman with a young daughter were seen inviting fishermen from towns around Laguna Lake to come fish in the river. Town residents discovered that the woman and child who invited them resembled the images of St. Anne and her child Mary on the church altar.

Since then, the river would overflow with fishermen getting their share of the thousands of schools of fish in waters surrounding the church.

The fishermen would then toss portions of their catch to people at the riverbanks. In turn, the residents would toss back delicacies and fruits.

In the modern day procession, a priest also gives a special blessing as the parade reaches the mouth of the Laguna Lake.

The image of the saint is also brought around in a dance parade dubbed as pandangguhan.

The city government, under Tinga’s leadership, continues to develop this festivity into a tourist attraction through a program to propagate the city’s culture and traditions even in foreign lands.