Santa Cruz de Mayo returns to Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Twenty-eight designers from cities across Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will showcase their creativity by dressing sagalas and biblical characters for the return of Santa Cruz de Mayo in this city.

The celebration is organized by Circulo de Bacolod Foundation Inc. under the leadership of its president, Sandra Ruth Sycip.

This year’s event carries the theme “A Tradition of Faith, A Celebration of Heritage, A Community United.”

The initiative aims to revive and preserve the spiritual and cultural legacy of the traditional Santa Cruz de Mayo while highlighting the creativity and unity of the Negrense community.

Santa Cruz de Mayo, also known as Santacruzan, is a Filipino Catholic tradition held during Flores de Mayo, a monthlong Marian devotion in May.

The celebration will take place May 16, beginning with a Mass at San Sebastian Cathedral.

A solemn procession will follow, passing through Lacson Street and South Capitol Road before culminating at Ayala Malls Capitol Central.

The crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Fatima will be held at the mall.

Around 150 participants and collaborators are expected to take part in the celebration.

The revival of Santa Cruz de Mayo was among the flagship projects proposed by Circulo de Bacolod’s new set of officers after they assumed office last year.

The initiative traces its roots to a meeting initiated by lawyer Juan Orola, who introduced Mita Rufino during her visit to Bacolod City in 2024 to reintroduce the tradition.

Discussions continued the following year and took concrete form in January after the project received official approval from Msgr. Ronaldo Quijano of the Diocese of Bacolod.

Under the leadership of project committee head John-John Ditching, the project was formally launched during a meeting with designers on Jan. 21.

The event is being held in partnership with the Diocese of Bacolod, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and the Jamero family.

It has drawn strong support from designers across the region, including 21 from Bacolod City, three from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, two from Bago City, and one each from Escalante City and Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

The foundation said the project is guided by research and traditional church practices provided by the Diocese of Bacolod through Quijano.

These efforts aim to ensure that the celebration remains rooted in Catholic and Filipino heritage.

Santa Cruz de Mayo 2026 is more than a procession — it is a living expression of faith, devotion to Mama Mary, cultural identity, and volunteerism among the people of Negros, according to the foundation.

Through the revival, Circulo de Bacolod hopes to strengthen community unity while preserving a cherished Filipino Catholic tradition for future generations.