SUBMITTED BY: Anthony Jay P. Nepomuceno

The 30th Annual Pateros Town Fiesta in honour of Pateros' patron saint, Saint Martha, took place on Saturday, July 26, 2009. Organized by the Pateros Community of Metro Toronto and the Devotees of Santa Marta the event was held at the Regina Mundi Retreat Centre in Newmarket, Ontario. The 30th Annual Pateros Town Fiesta was attended by over 350 people with some coming as far as New Jersey, California and Florida to join in the festivities.

The day started with a holy mass and was followed by the "pandangguhan" procession with a live marching band. True to the tradition, the devotees danced the pandanggo and goodies such as candies, coins, balut, etc. were thrown to the dancing devotees. Following the procession was a picnic lunch complete with Pateros' famous balut and "lutong itik". A fluvial procession in the nearby creek was held after lunch. The rest of the afternoon was filled with dancing, games and entertainment.

This annual event was a private affair started in 1979 with a small group of about 3 families from Pateros, Metro Manila. It is held annually on the last Saturday of July at Regina Mundi and is preceded by a nine day novena at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Church in Don Mills.

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