The Angono Salubong is an Easter celebration in the Philippines that reenacts the meeting of the risen Christ and his mother Mary. It takes place in Galilea and involves a Kapitana who recites a long poem and birds that open a heart containing an angel. The Kapitana and her court wear expensive costumes and the role of Kapitana is highly coveted. The celebration combines religious tradition with dance and local customs, and has become a source of community and cultural pride.

1. ANGONO SALUBONG
An Easter Sunday Celebration

2. Salubong is a religious
celebration
 This relives the supposed meeting of the risen Christ
with the various personalities in the life of Christ:
his apostles, his mother Mary and Mary Magdalene
 The meeting place is designated as Galilea.
 The closed heart is opened by birds, after the
kapitana says her dicho.
 Then the child angel sings Regina Coeli, is lowered
and removes the dark veil of
 Virgin Mary

3. Tradition handed down by the
Spaniards
 The Spaniard conquistadores and the priests
were masters in using the religious events
and celebration to capture the attention of
the Filipinos
 But we are proud of this traditions as we do
this; there is none inWestern countries

4. The selection and dance of
Kapitana, Tinyenta and her
konsehala is an expensive
event
 The tinyenta and kapitana uses a
different dress every rehearsal
 There is a raffle as to who will be selected
for the next year celebration. A band
brings the winner to her house.

5. Every ladies in Angono
aspires to be the next
year’s Kapitana
 Every ladies would want to be the next
year’s kapitana
 Those who are kapitana’s even use the
event to run for election
 Even the gays would want to join this event

6. The dicho is a long poem to
be memorized
 I made a paper in college for the Spanish
subject for this salubong why I know this very
well;
 I even interviewed National Artist Botong
Francisco for this paper;
 For the dicho, the poem which is recited by
the Kapitana, is a long poem and takes one
year to memorize

7. Kaya “nabuksan na”
 It is the signal for the operators to release the
birds to open the heart bearing the angel
 Only the white, largest bird, the last to be
released will be able to open the heart.
 White signifies purity of heart

8. Salubong starts early

9. The tinyenta doing her dance

10. The kapitana and tinyenta
face the Galilea

11. Special T shirt for the
salubong

12. The big white bird who will
open the heart

13. The Galilea, the sun is
about to rise

14. The konsehalas

15. Galilea scenes

16. TV coverage of salubong

17. The big white bird has
opened the heart containing
the angel

18. The angel in opened heart
sings Regina Coeli

19. The angel removes Virgin
Mary’s veil; Christ has
risen

20. The angel has fully lifted
the veil

21. The kapitana and the birds
dance with joy for the Risen
Christ and Virgin Mary

22. The picture says it all:
alleluia on the banner

23. The Kapitana and the
tinyenta

24. Their dresses cost a fortune

25. The only religious part of
the salubong

26. Kapitana and staff photo ops

27. Pretty kapitana and tinyenta

28. More posing by Kapitana and
staff

29. The big bird – also star of
the salubong?

30. The Tinyenta with the angel
who lifted the VM’s veil

31. The big crowd at the Galilea

32. Funny antics by an angel

33. The ushers waiting for the
procession at the church

34. The kapitana and konsehalas
arriving at the church

35. The procession entering the
church

36. Renewal of vows on Easter

37. Credits:
 Photos by: Jorgeusbiker
 Sites:
www.jorgeusbiker.blogspot.com
www.holygardensgroup.blogspot.com
www.angonochronicles.blogspot.com