The Philippine Santacruzan
Not quite Flores de Mayo, but still an important symbol of Filipino folk catholicism.
Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo are used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same, even though they both fall in the month of May. While both Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo appear to be similar, have pretty similar origins, and are very important traditions for Catholic Filipinos, Flores de Mayo is celebrated on the whole of May and features novenas and parades in honor of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
Santacruzan specifically refers to a parade that references historical figures at the end of Flores de Mayo, on the final day of May. It is a celebration where pageant queens can represent historical figures, all while carrying on the unique traditions found in Filipino Folk Catholicism.
Historical Roots and Catholic Foundations
The first Santacruzan was held in the middle of the 19th century in Malolos, Bulacan following the issuance of the Papal Bull in 1854 that decreed the Virgin Mary as an immaculate person, or someone who is free of sin.
The parade commemorates the quest of Queen Helena of Constantinople and her son, Constantine the Great, on a quest to find the Holy Cross. The parades are meant to reenact the search and the subsequent celebration in Jerusalem once the cross had been found.
The Santacruzan precedes a nine-day long Novena mass to honor the True Cross. The parade consists of girls wearing gowns, sometimes Filipinianas alongside their male escorts dressed in Barong Tagalog, all while walking under an arch of flowers or a bamboo arch. Each girl in the parade represents either a historic character, like a saint, a queen, or a virtue.
The Symbolism Behind the Queens
Each reyna (queen) in the parade represents a specific historical or biblical figure and they hold a specific item, and oftentimes have a flower that represents their character. Reyna Helena is the main character, carrying a cross as a sign that she saw the cross. She also holds a red rose that symbolizes the blood of Christ. Notable public figures may be selected as Reyna Helena.
Other queens in the procession include Reyna Esperanza who carries the anchor which symbolizes the virtue of hope, and is represented by the iris. Reyna de Las Estrellas brings light to distressed minds, and is symbolized with a hyacinth, the cardinal virtue of prudence. Reyna Abogada protects the poor while Reyna Justicia represents righteousness. Both reynas are symbolized with a lily.
Other historical figures represented in the parade include Reyna Sheba who visited King Solomon and kneeled by a beam that would become part of the True Cross, Reyna Veronica who holds the Veil of Jesus, Reyna Cleopatra and Reyna Deborah.
Cultural Representation Through the Reinas
In the grand Santacruzan procession, each reyna (queen) serves as a powerful symbol, representing the diverse facets of Filipino history, faith, and identity.
Reyna Banderada holds the modern Vatican flag, symbolizing the arrival of Christianity to the Philippines. Reyna Aeta represents the indigenous Aeta people - the first peoples who inhabited the Philippines who are often associated with pagan beliefs. She often carries the national flag.
Reyna Mora represents the Muslim Filipinos, or Moros, who mostly live in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago in southern Philippines. This Reyna wears traditional clothing found among the predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the Bangsamoro region.
The Three Mary’s represent a Mary among the followers of Jesus: Reyna MarÃa Magdalena, Reyna MarÃa Cleofe, and Reyna MarÃa Salome. Additionally, Reyna Fé, Reyna Esperanza, and Reyna Caridad represent the theological values of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
The Structure and Flow of the Parade
The Santacruzan parade must follow a specific order. The character Methuselah starts off the parade, followed by the queens and their escorts, the many Marian apparitions, and then Reyna Helena. Some of the significant Marian apparitions in the parade include the Pamayanan Caysasay originally found in Taal, Pamayanan La Naval who is associated with the victory at the 1646 Battle of La Naval in Cavite, Pamayanang Peñafrancia - the patroness of the Bicol Region, and Pamayanan Prompto Socorro - the icon that represents the image in Binondo. All of these images are associated with local Filipino Catholicism.
Other Marian apparitions including Pamayanan Fatima, Pamayanan Lourdes, and Pamayanan Guadalupe are the images that are featured in the procession that are revered in more global Catholic reverence. In more traditional settings, rondalla ensembles play the traditional music, while devotees following the parade hold candles and offer prayers.
More Than a Procession
While the Philippine Santacruzan is known for being a beautiful religious procession, it is also a celebration that weaves together a tapestry of Filipino history, faith, and culture. It’s a celebration of grace, heritage, and devotion, wrapped in pageantry and carried forward by generations.
Whether you’re a traveler seeing it for the first time or a Filipino reliving it year after year, it offers both spectacle and soul, where veneration meets festivity, and grandeur and faith becomes a living, breathing tradition.