Aguman Sanduk 2023

AGUMAN SANDUK @90 Celebrating the unique cultural tradition of the good people of Minalin, Pampanga. The Aguman Sanduk ("Fellowship of the Ladle") is an event held every New Year's Day afternoon in the remote yet cultured town of Minalin. One New Year's Day in 1932, the townsmen agreed to take control of the kitchen and whip up some dishes after getting tired of the usual lavish holiday fare. Since the kitchen was the domain of women at that time, men taking over it was rather unusual. So, to complete the experience, they upped it further by agreeing among themselves to cross-dress. They chose the "Reyna ning Sanduk" (Queen of the Ladle) usually the ugliest and funniest-looking among themselves and crowned him with a woven split bamboo trivet (lakal) accented by a dry fish (túyû) to dramatize the title further. It soon became a much-awaited town event participated in by the 15 barangays of Minalin.