Over 1,000 Catholic devotees flocked to the first-ever fluvial parade "Libad Apu Sto. Cristo" on May 1, 2026, kicking off the week-long Sampaguita Festival in Lubao, Pampanga . The historic celebration honors the town's sampaguita farmers and its status as one of the country's top producers of the national flower.
The image of Apu Sto. Cristo was carried along a two-kilometer stretch of the Porac-Gumain River, from the Bamboo Hub to Dalan Bapor, aboard one of approximately 30 boats accompanied by hundreds of devotees lining the riverbanks . The event was led by Former President and Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Lubao Mayor Esmeralda "Esmie" Pineda, and other local officials.
First-Ever Fluvial Parade Honors Apu Sto. Cristo's Origins
The inaugural fluvial procession holds deep religious meaning for Lubao's Catholic community. According to Fr. Jess Manabat, parish priest of Sta. Cruz Parish in Lubao, the image of Apu Sto. Cristo was originally found in water, making the river parade a "meaningful return to the devotion's origins and a way to deepen faith among devotees" . During the procession, participants released doves into the air and fingerlings into the river, symbolizing peace, prosperity, and a bountiful life for communities living nearby.
More than 160 personnel from various agencies, including the police, disaster response units, the Philippine Coast Guard, and volunteers, were deployed to ensure safety and order during the event . Residents noted active river life during the procession, with fish seen jumping as the parade passed through, which locals took as a positive sign for the community's future.
Week-Long Celebration Highlights Sampaguita Industry and Farmers
The Sampaguita Festival continued through May 6 with a series of vibrant cultural and community events. On May 4, seven clusters of barangays showcased street dancing and interpretative dance contests, alongside a parade of floats highlighting the sampaguita industry and Lubao's cultural icons . Mayor Pineda emphasized that the festival reflects the community's resilience and commitment to sustaining the sampaguita industry, noting that they have been "leveling up the competitions yearly to better entice younger people to participate".
May 5 marked the Kapistahan ng Lubao, the town-wide fiesta celebration honoring the municipality and its patron saints . The festival culminated on May 6 with Farmers' Day, where approximately 2,000 farmers and fisherfolk received ₱2,000 cash assistance, food packs, and sugar aid from Governor Lilia Pineda and Mayor Esmeralda Pineda . Fifty-eight farmers' associations each received 100 liters of diesel fuel assistance, distributed twice yearly to help ease the burden of rising fuel prices and sustain farming operations . Several associations were also provided with knapsack sprayers and coolers to improve agricultural productivity.
A Marketplace of Local Pride and Resilience
The celebration also featured a vibrant mini marketplace in front of the Lubao Municipal Hall, where local farmers and fisherfolk showcased and sold fresh agricultural produce and seafood, highlighting the richness of Lubao's farming and fishing industries while encouraging the public to support locally produced goods . Mayor Pineda reminded attendees that the festival is not only a cultural event but also a way to bring attention to sampaguita farming and its importance to local livelihoods, ensuring that younger generations understand the cultural and economic value of the town's signature industry .
