Lupi sa Lumban

Viva! Viva! San Sebastian! This is what we Lumbenos usually shout towards our town patron. This chant of ours is being accompanied by the beating of the drums. The town fiesta of Lumban, is known as one of the festive and happiest celebration in Laguna.

Viva! Viva! San Sebastian!!!

Well, fiestas and festivals are still part of travelling let me introduce you to my favorite and most awaited event every January in Lumban.

Before I proceed with the main idea of the 2nd part of my blog regarding Lumban, I will tell you first all the basics that you need to know when it comes to this town.

Let's start with transportation, Lumban, is one bus and jeepney ride away, you will drop off by Sta. Cruz the fare is 117 if coming from LRT/ Buendia, then from Sta. Cruz, ride a jeepney with a signage of Siniloan, or much better if you will ride a jeepney with the signage of Lumban, because Lumban jeepney drivers, have issues with Siniloan jeepney drivers. The jeepney fare costs 13 pesos from the bus terminal.

Let me discuss with you more of the town's history, Lumban follows the Spanish grid housing system, with the church, municipal hall, and the plaza at the center of the town. It is in Lumban, where the first stone church was built outside the walls of Manila, in the year 1572 and the church was completed in the year 1600 with long years of labor and several tragedies, under the order of San Pedro Bautista, the first parish priest. The Lumban church is the first Franciscan building in the province.

The convent of the church still serves as a dormitory for seminarists of the Diocese of San Pablo. It is also here where the Holy Eucharist was first kept and held, and the first Eucharistic procession outside Manila was also held here, and up to now it still remains as a town tradition.

Lumban church until the year 2012.

The church's original facade before it was changed in the year 2013, you would also notice our town's patron saint situated at the top of the belfry, which can be seen by afar when you are passing by Lumban bridge. Sadly, it was removed when they renovated the church's facade. As of now, I don't know if we still hold the title for the first stone church built outside Manila. 

Lumban church as of now.

This is the current look of the church, good thing they spared the belfry and did not renovated it, but San Sebastian was removed from the top and was changed by a cross, well according to them, when the church was built, a cross was place at the top of the belfry. I think they just restored it.

More information about the church, the church structure is somehow different from some of the churches in the province because the belfry is octagonal in shape and it is situated at the right side of the church (if you are facing it). Just like the churches of Paete, Liliw, and Nagcarlan.

The church was first dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, but in the year 1800's, our town adopted San Sebastian the Martyr as the patron.

The reason behind why we adopted San Sebastian, stories says, (the story differs, and it may have a different version, this is the version I knew).

The original image that was found
floating in Lumban river.

Lumbenos found him floating at the Lumban river after a storm passed by, believing that it also belongs to one of the locals, they put the patron at the altar, then a local from Pagsanjan, happened to pass by, seeing that their chapel's patron is at the altar, he then negotiated with the parish priest, and asked if he could get their patron back, after getting it back, another storm passes by, making the San Sebastian image float again from Pagsanjan going to Lumban, from here, the locals of Pagsanjan decided to give the image to Lumban already.





The Lumbenos knowing that San Sebastian wants to stay in Lumban, they made him as the town patron, making San Francisco as the secondary patron.

Since, our patron was found floating in the Lumban river, this gave birth to the "paligong poon" and "lupi", well this are two different events in the month of January.

To further discuss, the dates of Lumban town fiesta are January 19, 20 and the last Sunday of January.






January 19, this is what we call, "Bisperas", the "paligong poon" is held during this day, because according to some of the elders, "kailangan munang maligo ni San Sebastian sa ilog, bago siya ilagay sa kanyang andas at bago iprusisyon bukas (January 20).

011916- Paligong Poon (c) Abet Rana

The difference of this Paligong Poon with the celebration on the last Sunday of January is that the original image of San Sebastian is the only one being processioned in the river coming from the San Sebastian Chapel at Barangay Primera Parang then will pass by the church (since the church is facing the river).




It will stop by a few minutes to say a prayer and will continue the fluvial procession until it dock at Barangay Wawa, and will pass along the street of Rizal until it reach the San Sebastian Church.

San Sebastian last January 20, 2016.

The next day January 20, is the town's feast day, the day will start as soon as the church rang its bell at 4 in the morning. Lumban is known, because of the happenings and hospitality of Lumbenos when it comes to handaan. Musical bands perform along the streets and the day ends at a solemn procession at the evening.

At the eve of the Lupi celebration a "Kongzert" is being held near the chapel, this concert is sponsored by Congressman Benjie Agarao, a fellow Lumbeno. The one who sings in the said concert are known Filipino band and singers such as Aegis, Itchyworms and even Yeng herself had done a performance. I wonder who will sing this year.

The image being brought out of the
chapel (January 31, 2016)

For the last day of the festivity which is the last Sunday of January, this is probably the noisiest, happiest and wettest day in Lumban. It all starts with a mass at the San Sebastian Chapel in Barangay Primera Parang, the mass will end at around 10:30, the original image will then be brought out of the chapel going to the river wherein the devotees carries him in a shoulder borne andas, and together with the devotees they will ride a kaskito.

013116- A town fully
devoted to San Sebastian

This time it is not only the original that is being processioned, different images of the patron is joined by the different  Lupi organizations. The celebration is very much alike with the Paligong Poon that was held every January 19, but the difference is the route of the procession was changed and different performance acts done by the hired dancers of the different organizations are being presented all throughout the parade. This time the procession pass by the General Luna street then it will also pass through the national highway, and the procession will end at the San Sebastian chapel, the celebration lasts until 4 or 5 in the afternoon.


One of the miracles attributed to our patron, is right after the Lupi Celebration on the last Sunday of January, the temperature isn't that cold anymore, compared to the past days before the Lupi. This was supported by the saying of the elderly, "kapag na paliguan na si Anda Bastian, mawawala na yun lamig dito sa Lumban."

Here are additional photos:

Ang kaskito na sakay
ang orihinal na imahe ni San Sebastian.
(January 31, 2016)

013116- Ang pag- ahon ng orihinal na imahe
 sa daungan sa Barangay Wawa

013116- Ang pag prusisyon sa bayan. Paligong Poon

All in all, I explained the happenings during the month of January. Probably, this is everything you need to know about this different fiesta of ours, it may not be one of a kind, but our devotion to our patron is very much different and alive.

Additional information:

Retablo Mayor

It is said, that the altar of San Sebastian church was changed for several times. The current altar structure was derived from the first structure of the altar when the church was built.

San Sebastian Martyr, (original image)

Many suggests that a replica should be made in order for the original image to be preserved, but I think most people don't want a replica being processioned during the festivity.

The vestment that the image is wearing is his "regalia", made out of "pilak" and "pok-pok" (meaning engraved designs). The image is also repainted several times already. 

I suggest you guys, (those who read my blog) to come visit Lumban this upcoming January 19, 20 and 29, 2017. If you guys will go to Lumban on the 29th, make sure that you are prepared to get wet.

I would also want to add, that public utility jeepneys are being thrown with water especially if you pass by Lumban bridge, I suggest that never travel between the time of celebration. It is a tradition for us to throw water to passing vehicles especially jeepneys. So if people living in the towns from Kalayaan and beyond are going to Sta. Cruz, better not travel on the 29th.

You have been warned!

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this informational/ travel related blog!

The fiesta program for this year,
you are all invited to join us in this
celebration! (c) Myeko Paguio

Please do read this article related to this festivity of ours, written by Kimmy Baraoidan of Inquirer, thanks. HAHAHAHA!!! http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/865860/be-ready-to-get-wet-in-this-laguna-town-fest-in-honor-of-patron-saint-of-cops-soldiers

All photos used are mine except for the credited ones. 
I used a waterproof pouch in order to take photos of the last year celebration.