Pastora: Vivid and Colorful Bulusan Christmas Memory

Pastora: Bulusan's Pastores de Belen

Pastora of Bulusan cuts a very striking image among Christmas traditions in town not only because of the colorful attire of the performers, the catchy Spanish lyrics of the song and dance repertoire but for most of Bulusanon the images of pastora are embedded in their childhood memories for both the performers and the audience alike.

Pink rules for this pastora (2009).

I for one was an avid member of the audience when I was young. The vividness of my memory goes at length to the minute details that include the dainty fans of the girls, the style of the crepe paper that fringes the hats, the colorful ruffled dresses (pink was the favorite color), the faux metallic shiny belts, the red color of the cheeks the color of papel de Japon are as clear today as it was 40 years ago. I t does not matter if later on I was able to connect that the traditional act of the pastora is in fact strongly influenced by Mexico another Spanish colony during the colonial period. For most of us it was an embodiment of fun in the spirit of the Christmas season that even the heart of a Christmas scrooge will surely melt as soon as these children start singing and dancing in front of his/her abode. It is customarily done that these Pastora be given tokens and gifts usually in cash form after each performance.

A house to house song and dance number with almost the same repertoire surprisingly seemed to be always fresh for me then. It was never tiring to hear and watch the same song and dance again and again.

Photo: Pamughaton.net

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines