PEÑARANDA NUEVA ECIJA : The older devotees among the faithful in this Nueva Ecija town remember fondly the almost-forgotten—that is by the young people— Araquio—until recent celebrations of the Budang Fesival put the cherished tradition back in the limelight.

The Budang Festival, which is celebrated from May 22-27, celebrates Peñaranda‘s 167th founding anniversary. The Araquio, which is a revival of an old Catholic tradition, has become part of the festival from the time Ferdinand Abesamis became town mayor in 2013.