Pateros mayor announces changes in Feast of Sta. Marta celebration
Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III announced changes in the celebration of the municipality’s yearly Feast of Sta. Marta.
Every second Sunday of February, people of Pateros celebrate the Feast of Sta. Marta. This year, they will celebrate it on Feb. 11.
Pateros celebrates the feast by having a Pagoda sa Daan that is done every Saturday morning or a day before the feast, and Pandangguhan that is held Saturday evening outside the church.



The Pagoda sa Daan in Pateros in 2023 (Photos from the Pateros municipal government)
However, due to health concerns, the Pagoda sa Daan will be held in the evening.
“Naobserbahan natin na ang ating nakaugaliang Pagoda sa Daan sa umaga ng Sabado ay nagiging mahirap na para sa mga lumalahok at naghihintay sa lansangan dahil sa tindi ng init ng araw (We observed that our traditional Pagoda sa Saan in the morning of Saturday has become hard for participants and those waiting in the streets because of heat from the sun),” said Ponce.
He said those who dance could not last longer and there were incidents of dizziness and fainting, and others were taken to the hospital.
Besides this, Ponce said, the Pagoda sa Daan causes heavy traffic because of the parade of floats during working and business hours.
He said the municipal government and the church agreed to hold the Pagoda sa Daan in the evening of Friday, Feb. 9, before the feast.
This will be called the Pagoda sa Daan Parade of Lights that will start at 6 p.m.
“Inaasahan natin na magiging maginhawa sa lahat ang oras na ito lalung lalo na sa mga magsasayaw sa lansangan at doon sa mga maghihintay sa pagdaan ng Pagoda (We expect that the time will be more convenient for everyone especially to those who will dance in the streets and those who will wait for the pagoda to pass by),” said Ponce.
In addition, the venue of the Pandangguhan will be transferred to the Pateros Elementary School Multi-purpose Building in Barangay San Pedro.
An LED screen will be put up outside the Pateros Elementary School for those who cannot be accommodated inside the venue.