Tristan is the lead angel in Bulusan's Aleluya

This coming Sunday, in an elaborate folk theater complete with props and a 3-story tall structure tower, an angel will descend from here to lift the black veil off the Blessed Mother's face. This signifies the end of mourning and the peak of the celebration-The Resurrection. Aleluya in Bulusan.

Tristan with his young frame--not yet a teener (but not too young to be always in the company of her watchful mom), will have the chance of a life time to do the task. A feat since he will be fastened in a contraption that looks like an enlarge chicken nest. This will slowly descend as he sings in his angelic voice the 'Aleluya' song that he has been practicing for weeks now under the tutelage of a local cantora.

Let us wish Tristan a successful and and shining performance on his momentous and glorious role--lead angel soloist of the 'aleluya' event in Bulusan. In the local parlance, he will be the 'madagit', an allusion of a flying angel  from above (heavens). In one swift precise move Tristan must be able to lift the veil  not unlike that of a bird of prey snapping a prey-thus the name 'dagit' which means to snap. The black veil covering the face of the mourning Blessed Mother will be the target as she passes by during the early morning procession prior to the main event.

Photos show a confident but shy Tristan on his way home to Lubas, San Rafael after the Palm Sunday Mass and Hosana in Bulusan. Also in the photo is his mom and younger brother (obviously too tired and sleepy because of the early dawn 'hosana' singing chores around the Poblacions of which both of them were members of the choir for the Palm Sunday 'hosana'). The same choir will perform in the Aleluya event.

Palm Sunday is 'hosana' in Bulusan.



Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines