IWAII Plans Flores de Mayo 2004
by The Ipula Wives Association of Ivana, Inc. (IWAII)

The Ipula Wives Association of Ivana, Inc. (IWAII) is an association of Ipula women who married an Ivaneo (Native of Ivana, Batanes) and are currently residing at Ivana, Batanes. It is a SEC-registered non-profit, non-government organization whose objective is to mobilize the Ipula women, in cooperation with other Ivatan women to be active in socio-economic and community-oriented activities, including but not limited to socio-cultural enhancement and preservation, maternal and child health and income-generation for self-improvement and general welfare.

For its first project, IWAII was able to get the support of the Local Government Unit by allowing the use of a piece of land beside the Multi-Purpose Building at the Ivana Town Plaza for a mini playground. Funds was raised for the fencing of the area and Hon. Congressman Florencio B. Abad committed to provide the funds for the playthings such as the swing, seesaw and slide to be installed at the playground. This year, the IWAII launched the popularity contest for the Mr. and Miss Valentines 2004 with candidates coming from the four barangays, Radiwan, Tuhel, Salagao and San Vicente. Aside from the trophies and other prizes, the proceeds of this project will be used to implement the Dancingang Bayan - a program and dance party to be held at the Town Plaza on Valentines Day wherein the awarding/coronation will also be done.

Another upcoming project of IWAII is the celebration of the Santacruzan, or Flores de Mayo, which is proposed to be held during the St. Joseph Parish Town Fiesta on May 1, 2004. The project proposal which is submitted to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) for partial funding support, is to hold the Santacruzan before the evening show. As an added spectacle to the most colorful Maytime festivals which have a religious and social meaning, its origin is of a Christian interpretation on Empress Helena's (mother of Constantine the Great [Reina Elena to the Filipinos]) search for the Holy Cross right after the Holy Wars in Europe and the Middle East. At the age of 75, Empress Helena went to calvary to search for the cross where Christ was crucified. After some archeological diggings at the crucifixion site, she unearthed three crosses, which she tested by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ's. The Holy Cross is believed to have been the Cross of Christ in Calvary. St. Helena died asking all Christians to celebrate the discovery of the cross every May 3rd.

The Ivana town fiesta is one of the most attended fiestas in Batanes, not only because the Ivaneos are hardworking, peace-loving people like their Patron Saint, San Jose, but because it is celebrated in the month of May, a summer month, wherein the weather is good, schools are on vacation, and Ivatans living abroad are visiting to enjoy the companionship of their families and friends. Tourists, foreign and local alike, come and go, taking along with them memories and photographs of sceneries and performances taken from the Town Fiesta celebration. This is one occasion where Ivatans, young and old, join forces to deliver very entertaining performances featuring the Palo-Palo, the Sagalas and the Gozos, the Fundango, Mamajemajes and many other cultural presentations. The simultaneous celebration of the Flores the Mayo or the Santacruzan, will highlight the evening show. This is also an opportunity to present the men and women of Batanes who are achievers, who persevered to excel and contributed to the pride and glory of the Ivatans in one way or the other.

This attractive and colorful procession will be preceded by a nine-day novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The entourage will be composed of honored choices of ladies and gentlemen taken from the community and will be preceded by a band, a choir, the Ciriales (3 young boys carrying candle poles and the crucifix), and then the Archbishop (or priest) carrying a Bible. The Ave Marias will follow - each child in white gown simulating an angel holding a letter forming the word AVE MARIA. Followed by Reina Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith (she carries a coss), Reina Esperanza -symbolizes the virtue of hope (she carries an anchor), Reina Caridad -symbolizes the virtue of charity (she carries a red heart), Reina Banderada -representing the coming of Christianity (she carries a flag), Reina Sentenciada - with hands bound by a rope symbolizing innocent women who have been convicted (accompanied by two Roman soldiers), Reina Justicia -- personification of the "mirror of justice", she is blindfolded and carries a weighing scale and a sword, and Reina Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.

The next sequence of entourage shall be the Biblical Figures: Methusela - is a bearded old man, bent with age, riding in a cart simulating a hermit. He is preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire - a reminded that all that glitters will end up as dust like what he is toasting; Reina Infanta Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the other; Reina Sheba - who visited the famed King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and riches. She carries a jewelry box. Reina Esther - the biblical Jewish who spared her countrymen from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King Xerxes. She carries a scepter; Samaritana -- the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder; Maria Veronica -the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana imprinted with the three faces of Jesus; Maria Magdalena - she carries a bottle of perfume; Salome - carrying an incense; and Divina Pastora - the Divine Sheperdess - she carries a shepherdess staff and a young goat. The Marian Portrayals will follow: Virgin Mary - the Mother of Christ - she is carrying handkerchief, Mother Dolorosa, Rosa Mistica - with a rose flower in her hands symbolizing the Mystical Rose of the litany of Loreto; Reina Luna - she carries a wand with a quarter moon, Reina de las Estrellas - she carries a wand with a star, Reina de los Angeles - surrounded by angels showing the Blessed Mother as the "Queen of Angels: and then the Reina de las Flores - Our Lady crowned as the "Queen of Flowers"; Reina Paz (Queen of Peace) - she carries the symbol of peace; Reina de las Propetas -she carries an hour glass; and Reina de las Virgines - she carries a rosry and is surrounded by two little angels.

This will be followed by a Carroza with lights attached to a generator, bearing the Image of the Virgin Mother and followed by a Choir singing "Dios Te Salve". This is followed by the Historical Personages like Cleopatra - reclining in a swing carried by two men; Mark Anthony - carrying a Roman Sword; Reina Mora - carrying a Muslim Fan, surrounded by Aetas sympolizing the state of the country before the coming of Chistianity (these are the unconverted pagans); Datu - carrying a Kris; Reina Sheeba (with Escort) - carrying a miniature Palace; Reina Elena - the legendary Founder of the true Cross, she carries a Crucifix; Constantino - young boy with escort; and then the Empratriz with scepter and crown.

The tail end of the procession will be a band playing Dios te Salve followed by religious organizations holding lighted candles and praying the rosary. The procession will end at the church where all the flowers will be offered to the Virgen Mother by the "angels" in the procession.

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Appeal for Funding by IWAII and the Local Government Unit

I. PROPOSED BUDGET (Flores de Mayo 2004):

LGU Counterpart:
Promotion, print and radio (before & after) .............P 30,000.00
Food .....................................................................30,000.00
Sound System........................................................ 5,000.00
SUB-TOTAL .......................................................P 65,000.00

For Funding Support:
Arko - construction, painting, bearing names of sagalas
= (10 arkos x P800.00) .........................................P 8,000.00
Flowers - paper flowers (reusable yearly)................... 3,000.00
Video .....................................................................3,000.00
Photo documentation & Processing ..........................3,000.00
Rechargeable Lamps(or sulu) ...................................6,500.00
Floral Arrangement - Carroza and Stage ....................3,000.00
Band 1 ...................................................................3,000.00
Band 2 ...................................................................3,000.00
Choir 1 (from other Municipalities) .............................3,000.00
Choir 2 (from the local church) ..................................3,000.00
Ark Holder, Canopy Holder, Carroza (30 x P150) ........4,500.00
Miscellaneous .......................................................10,000.00
SUB TOTAL .......................................................P 50,000.00

GRAND TOTAL .................................................P115,000.00

The appropriation for the Bands and the Choir will be in the form of snacks, transportation during practices, and small honorarium for their performances. Two bands are needed, one in front and one at the tail end of the procession. One band will be playing at the plaza to entertain guests and local residents while waiting for the programs to start, while the local band with go around the town while playing their music. The P30,000 appropriation for the food will be served to all program participants, guests and tourists, from morning till night, including snacks. They will be housed at the Municipal Building until their performances are over. Snacks during committee meetings, invitations and other expenses shall be borne by the Miscellaneous account.

The rechargeable lamp is the modern equipment which will be used to light the parade. This could be replaced by a Sulu, a native lantern with diesel as fuel, but the rechargeable lamp is less risky and could be used over and over again. This could be kept at the Municipal Stockroom for safekeeping.

The Santacruzan is an activity that could gather all Ivatans in one big occasion during the summer. Something worth participating in, and worth remembering over and over again. Something to look forward to aside from the Batanes Foundation Day.

Allow us to take advantage of this opportunity to solicit your personal/commercial advertisement to be printed in our Souvenir Program. The rates are as stated below, please make your check payments payable to LGU-Ivana; Santacruzan Project.

AD RATES: (Please check box)
Back Cover - whole page (Full Color) .…………………………. P10,000.00
Inside Front Cover ……………………………..……………………. 5,000.00
Inside Back Cover …………………………………………………… 5,000.00
Whole Inside Page ……………………………… …………………. 3,000.00
One Half Inside Page ……………………………… ………………. 2,000.00
One Fourth Inside Page ……………………….…....……………… 1,000.00

SPECIAL LISTINGS (Please check box)
Benefactor ……………………………………………......………. P 1,000.00
Sponsor ………………………………………………............………. 500.00
Donor ………………………………………………..............……….. 300.00

Please take note that solicitations are purely voluntary. Your contribution will largely contribute to the success of the occasion. We hope to receive your commitment/pledges/advertisement on or before February 28, 2004 in order for us to finalize the layouting of the souvenir program.

For your comments/suggestions/contributions, please contact Mr. Anastacio A. Barsana (Municipal Mayor of Ivana) through email address: t_barsana@yahoo.com.

Thank you very much and Mabuhay ang Ivatans!