Merry, maddening Aguman Sanduc
by Daisy C. L. Mandap
Unique is the word to use in describing the New Year's Day celebration in Minalin, Pampanga. While everybody else is fast asleep or is suffering from a hangover from the previous night's revelry, Minalin's townsfolk are up early; raring to greet the first day of the New Year with merriment.
The day's festivity is called "Aguman Sanduc." Translated literally, it means Ladle Organization. And this, of course, does not explain the nature of the affair unless one talks to the elders of the place. The older people in Minalin, more than the young, know how and why the "Aguman Sanduc" has persisited through the years.
Dr. Feliciano Pacia, one of the prime movers of the yearly affair, says that the first Aguman was held in 1931. At that time, he says, only six barios participated: San Nicolas, Sto. Rosario, Sta. Rita, San Pedro, San Francisco and Sta. Catalina.
In the past years, however, the whole town was involved, with every barrio putting up a float to depict themes relevant to the times. As an incentive, the floats are awarded cash prizes to be used in barrio projects.
Several youth organizations have decided recently to join in the gaiety. As a result, no less than 15 groups now participate in the yearly festival.
According to Dr. Pacia, the Aguman in its first years was simply an eating club. Every New Year's day then was marked by the sharing of food among the participating barrios. But even then, Dr. Pacia says the Aguman says the Aguman festival was already being held for the primary purpose of greeting the New Year in a happy mood.
Sometime after World War II, a novel feature was included in the Aguman, possibly because of the need to boost the morale of the people. The founders came up with the idea of a Miss Aguman Sanduc, who for merriment's sake, was bedecked with a ladle-shaped scepter and a crown of rattan. And to make the search all the more hilarious, the affair's organizaers decoded to recruit their "queen" from among the town's menfolk.
Judging from the roster of those who agreed to become Miss Aguman, it would appear that coaxing the men was not such a mean task. The list even includes such prominent residents of Minalin as a mayor, provincial board member, a ConCon delegate and a state prosecutor. These, aside from several local executives and professionals who also agreed to wear gowns and make-up before their townmates.
But the younger men are not as easily convinced. Farley, a 24-year-old resident of barrio San Francisco I says, "They have to get drunk first before they can gather enough courage to parade around town in a dress."
It seems, though, that joining the festival at least once has become part of the growing-up years of every male in the town. Farley himself relented three years ago. "I felt really awkward wearing that dress and the bra underneath it," he relates. "But I couldn't back out of it anymore."
He is still asked to join the float of his barrio but Farley has declined the offer. He has grown quite a fine mustache and is hesitant to shave if off only for the parade.
Mustache or no mustache, however, the older men somehow manage to look very much at ease during the parade. In this year's celebration, for example, the old men of Sto. Rosario, which won the Best Float award, were even dancing to the tune of "Planting Rice is Never Fun," with all the grace and assurance of a female farmer.
Just as absorbing was the sight of a small group of young men, who. drunk or not, managed to walk erect and grave-faced. The names pinned to their clothes proclaimed that they were playing the part of the original founders of the Aguman.
Then there was also a group dressed up in Hawaiian sarong, another in outfits that were in vogue at different periods in the country's history, and still another in Ifugao-inspired costumes.
Fun being the order of the day, though, most groups showed up with alternately funny and bizarre themes. Most were dressed up as candidates. Others were dancing like the Atis of Kalibo. One group purportedly intended to show the evil effects of drug addiction, but made the supposed victim elicit convulsive laughter from spectators with his cotton-stuffed nostrils and bottomless coffin.
After the day-long celebration which included, aside from the parade, parlor games, a marathon, and tennis and basketball exhibition matches, the people ended up in a mini-auditorium at the plaza. Leading the parade to the auditorium was the executive committee of the festival, headed by Sangguniang Bayan representative Leonardo David, who was crowned Miss Aguman Sanduc '82.
Guest speaker at the program was Justino Lagman, who at 79, is the only known surviving founder of the Aguman.
Capping the program and the entire festivity was the awarding of prizes to the best floats in the parade. Not surprisingly, those with more sober themes were adjudged as winners. Awarded were: barrio Sto. Rosario, first and second prizes: bo. San Pedro, third prize; barangay La Loma, fourth prize; and Kabataang Barangay, fifth prize.
As the crowd dispersed for the night, one could sense that in this affair, winning loses much of its significance to the privilege of being part of a happy, meaningful celebration. With the Aguman Sanduc festival to look forward to every year, the people of Minalin couldn't start the new year but bright - and right.
Weekend
January 24, 1982