Entertainment

Filipino tradition of Santacruzan is alive and well in Milpitas, California

Last May 18, 2008, the city of Milpitas, California celebrated the Santacruzan at the Milpitas Sports Center.

The Santacruzan is a religious-historical celebration that commemorates Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, finding the holy cross in Jerusalem and bringing it back to Rome. It is also a pageant with the “Sagala” procession, during which local beauties represent the many aspects of Christianity.

The grassy field and the dirt of the oval, with Monument Peak and adjacent hills glowing in the late afternoon sun, made it reminiscent of a small-town festival in the Philippines.

Local talents, bands Bytes & Notes, Till’ Dawn, and Mirage, among others provided the entertainment.

Milpitas Mayor Jose “Joe” Esteves, a Filipino-American, presented keys to the city to Globe Executive Archie Monzon and featured Filipino artist Rachel Alejandro. When praised for her excellent rendition of “Sway”, just like dad Hajji did the night before at San Diego’s Pala Casino, she quipped, “Yeah… naghihiraman kami ng minus-one CD nyan (Yes, we borrow each other’s minus-one CD’s).”

Milpitas is a city in Santa Clara County. It is north of San Jose and is in the northeast corner of Silicon Valley.