Sta. Ana

Memorial: 26 July

Profile: Mother of Our Lady. Grandmother of Jesus Christ. Wife of Saint Joachim. Probably well off. Tradition says that Anne was quite elderly when Mary was born, and that she was their only child. The belief that Anne remained a virgin in the conception and birth of Mary was condemned by the Vatican in 1677. Believed to have given Mary to the service of the Temple when the girl was three years old. Devotion to her has been popular in the East from the very early days of the Church; widespread devotion in the West began in the 16th century, but many shrines have developed since.

Canonized: Cult extended to the whole Church in 1584.

Name Meaning: Gracious one; grace

Today is the Feast Day of Sta. Ana.

It is the time of the year where the statue of the saint will be placed in a ferry for the river procession. That is why the event is called Sta Anang banak.

Actually, there are three processions during the feast day.
Early morning, there is a street parade of students. They are dressed in costumes usually, the females as fishes and the males as fishermen. This parade is very colorful and well-choreographed.

The river procession comes at around two o’clock in the afternoon to five o’clock in the afternoon. People from the parade dance gracefully while throwing some food to the viewers. Also, foods like boiled egg, apples, bananas, santol, sandwiches, suman and others are blessed.

Almost all of the people in Taguig proper gather near the river waiting for the procession.

After the river procession, there will be a mass at six o’clock and after the mass. The last procession will start at eight o’clock in the evening. This is the usual procession with people holding a lighted candle and praying.

Of course there is the nine days novena before the feast day.
There are bazaars near the church. There is also a small carnival and a program in front of the church that usually last till midnight.

Sure, Sta. Ana is really exhausted with the schedule and all but in no doubt, the saint is very delighted on how the people of Taguig celebrate the day and how grateful they are for having Sta. Ana as their patron saint.

By the way, the school beside the church, that is my Alma Mater. It used to be named as Sta. Ana Parochial School and now as Colegio de Sta. Ana.

And during those years, we really are looking forward for this event just because we usually have a one-week celebration which means, No Classes! haha!

Happy Feast Day!