Catmon Sugat, for many years now, has been done at the Reclamation Area in Brgy. Flores, Catmon, Cebu. Yet, according to some old folks of the town, the Sugat, very long ago, was held at the old Acacia Tree area near the Town Plaza which is just a few meters down the Parish Church. Furthermore, according to an old grandmother, there were many angels that were harnessed then, as if in flight; not only one like we have in the present.  

      There had been plans of transferring the Sugat from the Reclamation Area to the Mayor Pedro J. Monsanto Sports and Cultural Center or the Town Plaza. In fact, a mini steel Sugatan had already been constructed inside. Indeed the plan was carried out last year. Sugat 2006 was held inside the Town Plaza instead of doing it at the customary location. Because the steel Sugatan proved to be unusable as it is not as stable, sturdy and safe as it should be, a wooden ramp was constructed at the stage area. For the first time in long years, the angel was not hung on a harness. She was simply made to walk on the bamboo ramp on her way to take the veil off the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the process, something hilarious happened. Due to some miscalculations the little angel could not reach the veil. After a few futile attempts, the veil had to be taken off with the aid of a stick.

      There were expressions of disappointment. Many were not ready for that radical change in tradition. I, for one, really wanted the Sugatan to be held in its traditional location at the Reclamation Area. There were others who said that they did not feel the Easter Spirit at all. Still, others found the celebration and the staging of the Sugat 2006 in the Plaza as less exciting and less interesting than when it was held at the Reclamation Area where the spirit-lifting, cool early morning sea breeze freely refreshed everyone.  

      On the second week of February 2007, the Catmon Parish Pastoral Council had a meeting. One of the most important agenda was the decision-making on the venue of Sugat 2007. The meeting ended with the decision of staging the Sugat in the Town Plaza again because there was uncertainty in the procurement of enough bamboo poles for the making of the Sugatan.

     However, during the last week of February 2007, I met Mana Luming Nuńeza who told me the great news. They had finally found sources of bamboo poles enough for a Sugatan that would be built at the Reclamation Area. She added that Inday Ellah Aribal had already agreed to be the angel again, now that the Sugat would be done back at the Reclamation Area. The girl initially declined after recalling that hilarious incident in the Plaza during the Sugat 2006 when she failed to reach the veil. In Sugat 2005 at the traditional place, Ellah first experienced being the angel suspended on a harness. She was delightful enough to do it again this year.  

THE SKY was clear that morning of April 7, 2007. The Reclamation Area was coming alive with more than a dozen men, mostly Brgy. Flores residents, making the Sugatan out of bamboo poles which they tied securely with palm leaf (buli). It was really exciting watching the Sugatan rapidly taking its form. The men efficiently worked starting with the four bamboo posts. Then, they moved on to form the top platform, the portion that would serve as “heaven”. Concurrently, in Brgy. Flores Chapel, the CWL members prepared the Novae (the six triangular-shaped props to be installed at the center opening of the Sugatan). They also made decorations out of Kalachuchi flowers and silver papers. These would later on be hanged sparingly on the wide cloth that is painted with clouds, serving as the sky. Other residents also helped in preparing the food that would be served to the worker-volunteers. In the late afternoon, the Sugatan was completed.

      In the early evening, rehearsals were done. The casts of the drama polished their acting, synchronizing their every move with the pre-recorded lines or dialogues. The choir practiced their songs. Inday Ellah, the angel, tried the rope or harness, and was being raised and lowered repeatedly with the aid of a pulley. Evidently, she enjoyed the process instead of being scared, as she was smiling all the time.  

Sugat 2007 Events

     A Mass with the ceremonial Baptism of Fire and Water was held in the Parish Church that night. By ten o’clock, some people started to congregate at the Sugatan. When the mass in the church ended, processions taking different routes on the way to the Sugatan followed. The images of San Pedro, San Juan and Santa Magdalena on their respective carros were taken to the Sugatan following a different street. The Risen Christ and the purple veil-covered Blessed Virgin Mary respectively took different routes as well. Eventually, all met at the Sugatan, as the word obviously implies.

      At around one o’clock in the morning of Easter Sunday, the Sugat activities commenced. A drama was played onstage. The script was prepared by Rev. Fr. Sherwin Leo Ferrater, a newly ordained priest who spent his mission in the Parish. It was really a very good script; however, when the play reached the middle part, a sudden gust of wind followed by a rather heavy rainfall occurred. Of course, that wasn’t part of the effects as it really caused the audience to search desperately for places to shelter. Eventually, the rain stopped just when the Sugat highlight was about to start.  

The Highlight

     Basically, the highlight consisted of the traditional singing of the “Regina Coeli” or “Rayna sa Langit”, the opening of the novae, the releasing of doves, followed by the lowering down of the singing angel who was suspended on a harness to take the veil off the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary facing the Risen Christ.

      After the rain, the area right under the Sugatan was still heavily packed with people who initially went there to take shelter but later on chose to stay for the ceremony highlight. At first, I had to struggle my way to find a spot at the center in order to catch the action at a close range. Then, the novae opened and the angel was lowered. Immediately right after the angel grabed the veil, some people moved in to pull flowers from the carro even before the whole ceremony was over. Because many believed that the flowers falling from above the Sugatan are more potent than those on the carros, more and more people rushed in towards the center when the confetti of petals started to fell. Since I was holding two cameras (one still and one video), I could not support myself when the people suddenly came forward to catch the dropping petals. I was repeatedly pushed face forward into the carro/vehicle carrying the Blessed Virgin Mary. (This explains the camera shakes and the noise in the video clip of the Sugat highlight that is posted below. Some parts have to be edited out as they are incomprehensible due to the extreme movements). Nevertheless, the experience was exhilarating.  

     The highlight culminated with a fireworks display and the burning of an effigy of Judas wrapped with Judas’ belt firecrackers.  

The Easter Eucharistic Celebration

For the first time the Easter Mass was celebrated at the Sugatan. In the past, the people had to return back to the Church after the Sugat ceremony for the early morning Mass. This time, an altar was set up on the stage at the Reclamation Area. Rev. Fr. Sherwin Leo Ferrater officiated the Mass. The weather finally turned fine that Easter Sunday morning. After the mass, greetings of “Happy Easter” echoed everywhere, as people who have just experienced some kind of spiritual resurrection headed home.  

The Future

      Rumors of eventually transferring the Sugat area to a new location are still going on. Where will the Sugat 2008 be held? Only time and circumstances can ultimately tell.  
 

      Please click  HERE or on the photo links above to view the Sugat 2007 Slideshow.

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