WHEN THE TRADITIONAL VENERATION FOR THE PATRON IS OVERSHADOWED BY SECULAR FESTIVITIES

ILAGAN, Isabela- In terms of Faith; there is no delineation for the Church and State according newly installed Rev. Fr. Edmundo Castaneda as head of the Saint Ferdinand Parish in the poblacion of the Capital of Ilagan.
Fr. Castaneda commented on the conduct of public service emphasizing on the honesty and service oriented delivery of basic services to the people by officials regardless of their religious belief and creed.
Barely a week since assigned here, the new Parish Priest said he does not mind if the feast of Ilagan's Patron Saint- King Ferdinand of Castille has been overshadowed by the ongoing conduct of the secular “Mam-mangui” (Corn) Festivities of the Municipal Government initiated by Mayor Josemarie Diaz.

ILAGAN PATRON SAINT, KING FERDINAND OF CASTILLES
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THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT FERDINAND
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Casteneda said he understands the changes in time having his Parish limited to the realm of the poblacion and immediate vicinities since the Cathedral has been moved to Gamu town.
Castaneda said Ilagan Parishoners are still active and are responding to Church activities specially those in line with the feast day of the Patron to include the regular novena prayers held in the Church in veneration of the saint.
BLACK CLOUDS HOVERING ILAGAN: "WRAT OF THE GODS?"

At the town hall along Rizal St. at the Poblacion; Municipal and Barangay officials have been making their festival creation as merry as ever even as the tail of the leaving typhoon Chedeng apparently spoiled slated activities in line of the “Mam-Magui” hype. The Municipal Information Office relayed in a morning radio broadcast of the possible scrapping of some festival activities organized by Mayor Diaz to include the catching fray of Ilaguenos of greased pigs and chickens for their “pulutan” in the streets of the town earlier closed by the Police for the event.

At the evening of May 27; the town proper remained apparently an abandoned settlement had not for a free concert held at the Community center where bulk of residents in the poblacion jampacked the forsaken and dilapidated public hall if only to catch a feel that the capital is celebrating its fiesta.
The concert had left the carnival set up at the town's south end a run for its existence that night since the the people's lack of interest to flock the place has been coupled by the muddy grounds brought by continuous rains and lack of attractions to persuade promenaders.

DEAD TOWN PROPER: IS THERE A FIESTA???

Castaneda said it is not fair to equate the drab fiesta of Ilagan to the wrath of the Gods having been neglected by the festival hypes conducted by local officials. First; he said the “Mam-Mangui” is an exclusive celebration of the local government and secondly; the Church feels more comfortable celebrating the religious feast day free from political influence.
In fact; Castaneda said said local officials admitted they could not participate in sponsoring the Feast Day Mass of St. Ferdinand on May 30 and even sought the possibility of moving the celebration to the 29th. The Local Government's reason: officials will be busy conducting the Parade event on the very date of the feast day.
However; Castaneda slated an LGU sponsored mass in the Patron's honor on the 29th but the real feast day mass still goes on at the 30th.