Pastores Taft – Learn more

After crossing the Philippines’ longest bridge, the San Juanico Bridge and driving four hours, we finally got to Taft town in Eastern Samar. Four women in their late 50’s and a three-member band were on hand to welcome my team and I. From their looks, they were excited to sing and dance. After all, the last time they danced the pastores was that Christmas before the Second World War in 1941. And since then all was forgotten. There was never a move to revive the town’s best-loved tradition, the pastores.

                The youth of Taft regard Hollywood’s commercial imposition on priorities and manner of handling delicate traditions such as pastores and other Christmas practices as the call of the time – a time to change from those repetitive drab dance steps, and “funny”-sounding songs with pop rock music, Santa Claus, bright lights colorful Christmas trees and fabulous high-tech toys. Realizing that culture changes and moves in progression, the tag between the pastores and commercialism is on.

                Help is needed if only to keep the pastores going for a few more years with just a handful clinging to hope that assistance and recognition may come long way very soon. These pastores followers are the inspiration behind the move to uphold the usefulness in giving meaning to the Christmas season. It was these Christmas practices, pastores included, that bind the neighbors together and the community as well.

                Pastores Taft narrates the shepherd’s adoration to the newborn Child, the gifts they brought and their invitation for the world to also come and adore the King. Inspired by a Spanish villoncinco (carol) that specified gifts of chestnuts, oranges, candies, milk and farm products and also musical instruments played a violin, drum, flute, and guitar. And to lend local flavor, corn, palay (rice grains) and poinsettia flowers were added.