Aurora marks 32nd Foundation Day

BALER, Aurora  ,Philippines – Aurorans celebrated yesterday its 32nd Foundation Day and the 123rd birth anniversary of the late former First Lady Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon, after whom it was named with the usual pomp and pageantry but with a different tack. A revisiting of the deadly 1735 “tsunami” that killed 500 families and wiped out the old township.

For the first time in its annual anniversary celebrations, Aurorans led by Sen. Edgardo Angara, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and the entire officialdom of the province launched the “Kinagunasan Festival, a festival of hope, a celebration of life.”

Angara-Castillo said that the historical event inspired the Angaras to translate and interpret the occurrence into artistic dance and movements and into powerful sound and music, the chaos, violence, merry-making, struggles, entertainment and daily activities of the townsfolk.

She said the festival was launched to show to the public the determination of the people of Aurora to survive trials and challenges. “Not only to survive but to survive with success and rebuild their lives,” she said.

Some 115 students performed the Kinagunasan dance portraying the historic tragedy, complete with props. Each of the performing student was given P1,000 each by the governor in recognition of their feat.     

“Kinagunasan (wiped out) is the local term for the “Tromba Marina” or tsunami that hit the town in 1735. The tsunami was survived by only seven families, including the Angaras, who went up the Mt. Castillo, a neighboring hill now called Ermita Hill.

A replica of the old town and the survivors are now placed at the slope of Ermita Hill.

Other survivors include the Bihasas, Bitongs, Carrascos, Ferreras, Lumasacs and Poblete clans. Because of this experience, the Bitongs migrated to San Jose (now Ma. Aurora) and the Bihasas to Inategan (now San Luis). The Angaras were believed to be migrants who came alone with the Franciscan missionaries from neighboring provinces.

This year’s anniversary rites carries the theme: “Broadening Aurora’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy.”

The Angaras laid a wreath at the bronze statue of Doña Aurora at the Capitol compound together with Ricky Quezon Avanceña, one of her descendants, after the Mass.