Showing posts with label tradition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tradition. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Halloween 2009 & the other holidays





In 36th Street in Astoria, New York, there are few Halloween props this year compared to last year. It seems even if the liberal pagan holiday of ghouls, goblins, witches and spirits has been increasingly popular, the celebration isn’t as strong this time. The costumed revelers on the street are not as many.

Perhaps, it’s the recession that makes people mark the holiday weekend in subdued way. Maybe, not so many are enthusiastic to join the fun. It may be too early for the children to come out in their exciting attires. Perhaps, moree conservative families are rethinking of the pros and cons of exposing children to a seemingly innocuous merriment that may have deleterious effects on the values of the next generation.

Our neighbor displays a mix of witches with brooms, and a few orange pumpkins with colorful smiling faces tangled in gossamers of eerie spider webs beside photos of howling foxes and werewolves. Farther down were flickering orange lights illuminating a shadowy scarecrow and a scary man sitting on a chair with bushy brows and blood-shot eyes. The front of a house with autumn leaves strewn in the lawn has many skeletons, spiders, and black bats flying on a smoky glass window. A raven on watch stands by the fence.

These are the sights we see during Halloween in America these days. Surely they excite children and adults alike. As the years pass by however, the novelty of the day appears diminished and more commercialized. How often did I see those decorations in a dollar store? The cape of Dracula and his garish mask with bloody fangs are fixtures I don’t miss.

Not until recently, Halloween is a celebration which many Filipinos don’t observe with vigor. However, because of globalization and ease of travel, the pagan happy tradition has caught our interest and that of kababayans in Manila and other provinces. This is true with Thanksgiving day as well---- the traditional harvest feast and family day remembered in USA since the days of the Puritans has now insinuated in many holidays observed in the Philippines.

We didn’t have pumpkin pies before. There were no turkeys to roast for the dinner table comes Thanksgiving day. We did not have those children (some too young and barely able to walk,) in colorful costumes asking for lollipops and candies in the neighborhood. We didn’t have outlandish Halloween parades and parties that sometimes degenerated into peace and order issues. Our parents didn't worry to escort their little kids on the road. They weren't afraid of chance encounters with law-breakers and child predators who roamed in the Halloween night.

Instead of the morbid and scary remembrances of death, sorcery, and evil which masquerade as plain merriment, in our country, we enjoy All Saint’s day, a folk Catholic tradition of paying tribute to our dearly departed. We take pains preparing to visit cemeteries and be with our families. The fun and excitement of being with loved-ones in candle-lit tombs remain important in our understanding of the ways of the living and the dead. Some of us don't even leave the cemeteries, they make them as their homes the whole year round.

For us, All Saint’s day, not the Halloween, is a prelude to the more wholesome message of Christmas. The multicolored lights over a simple nativity scene of Jesus are enough to carry us in sustained holiday mood for months. Except for a few spoilers, we love Christmas trees and the carols at the time of advent. The idea of baby Jesus in a manger with the lowly animals nearby is great. We are twinkled-eyed when we think of his birthday in a cold wintry night in December when the magical star shines way up the sky.

Message-wise, we like Christmas better than Halloween. The meaning of the Christian celebration is far-reaching and more profound than what we can imagine. We don’t need to be told why. (Photo Credits: Maytevidri; AfP/ Jewel Samad) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Clash between Penafrancia tradition & the secular festivities of Naga City government



With the backing of the Archdiocese of Caceres and the Roman Catholic clergy, religious groups of Naga City complained to the Naga City government for reneging on a bilateral agreement to ban activities that didn’t reflect the faith-based observance of the Penafrancia fiesta. In part, the letter sent by the laity to City Mayor Jesse Robredo read:

“We are disappointed and dismayed when we saw the calendar of activities prepared by the city government of Naga published in its widely distributed Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia pamphlet. Viva Naga and Viva Bicolandia Festival include activities that have been banned within the novena on moral grounds. In the joint statement, it is very clear that pageants and beer plazas should not be held within the period of the novena.”---Vox Bicol (09/13/09)

The letter was sent by concerned citizens representing groups like the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity, Apostleship of Prayer, Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association, Holy Name Society, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mother Butlers' Guild, Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), Couples of Christ, Pastoral Council of Bagumbayan Sur, Knights of Columbus, Children of Mary, and Visita Domiciliaria among others, airing their disapproval to government-sponsored revelries like gay beauty pageants, street parties, and drinking fests.

Demanding for accountability from those who plan and implement the highly secular civic celebration, the church-affiliated groups considered the vulgar activities disrespectful to the tradition of prayer to God and Ina that the Bicol-wide Penafrancia celebration is known for.(Photo Credit: Jerry Lim Lee) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Penafrancia Fiesta: "Harubay ki Hesus asin ki Ina " plano sa Naga para sa mga peregrinos



Sa pag-uswag nin tradicion kan Penafrancia sa Bicol, an mga tawo sa Naga pupu’nan an "Harubay ki Hesus asin Ina," sarong religiosang actividad dapit sa pag-dangadang kan ika-300 anyos na debosyon sa mahal na imahen ni Nuestra Sra. de Penafrancia sagkod ang retrato kan Divino Rostro ni Hesus.

Kan hinapot si Fr. Louie Occiano na pamayo nin Caceres Communications Commission, an "harubay" suanoy na tataramon na an muyang sabihon pagbareta o pagbandillo. Segun ki Nellie Llaguno, presidente kan Apostolado nin Pamibi (Apostleship of Prayer) sa Naga, an harubay sarong paguiromdom asin pagbandillo kan Septiembre na bulan nin pag-omaw sa Ina ni Kristo sagkod sa Divino Rostro. Sabi man ni Fr. Andrew Recepcion, an harubay sarong pag-andam sagkod imbitasyon sa maogmang fiesta.

Pinag-aapudan ang mga taga–Naga na magin bukas sa mga peregrinos (pilgrims) na masungko sa ciudad para sa bulan nin kapistahan. An nobena kan Divino Rostro mapu’on sa Septiembre 2 hanggan sa kapistahan sa aldaw kan Traslacion sa Septiembre 11. An fiesta kan Panafrancia naka-takdang i-celebrar sa Domingo, Septiembre 20, 2009.

Sa taon na ini, an plano iyo an pagka-igua nin parada nin mga tawo sagkod awto (motorcade) na mapo’on a las 7 nin aga sa Simbahan ni San Judas sa may tinampo kan Almeda. Dangan, an parada mapadagos hanggan maka-abot sa Basilica kan Penafrancia.

Abot sa 299 na lobo ang ipapalayug para ipag-bandillo an halos tres siglos (Tri-centennial) na pag-rukyaw asin debosyon ki Ina kan kabikolan. An pag-observar nin sagradong horas (holy hour,) sa simbahan susundan nin pag-pakumpisal, dangan iguang mahal na misa.

Maw’ot kan mga pamayo kan harubay na an celebrasyon maging imbistasyon---parte kan tradicion nin pamibi na iyo ang centrong mensaje nin fiesta. (Photo Credit: jerrylimlee) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Viva La Virgen! Viva Divino Rostro!



En Septiembre 11 hasta Septiembre 19 hoy ano, con orgullo, celebramos la fiesta del Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia, la patrona del Bicol en Filipinas. Rogamos para gozo, bondad, y paz. Felicidades a todos!

PENAFRANCIA FIESTA 2009
New York, New Jersey & Connecticut
September 11 to September 19, 2009


“It must be the same date, rain or shine, that fiestas had been recalled in many states and cities across the continental United States. With all the Bicolanos and their respective organizations from California to Chicago to Hawaii to Virginia to New York, one might wonder how many Filipino-Americans paid tribute to the patroness of the Bicol region.

As the chills of autumn set in and the soft slanted rays of the sun become more apparent in the early evening, a pork roast, a bottle of cold San Miguel beer, and line dancing can well define the Penafrancia fun.“
----Penafrancia in America by Augusto F. Mesia, M.D.

(Photo Credit: maberry)

RELATED BLOG: "OLPDA unveils schedule of 2009 Penafrancia Fiesta in Northeast" posted by mesiamd at 7/29/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Remembering Mother Mary on the Feast of the Assumption



Posted by mesiamd at 8/14/2009

Feast of the Assumption of Mary to Heaven
Saturday, August 15, 2009


“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”


(Photo Credit: Lawrence OP)

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PostHeaderIcon Celebrating Baao Pintakasi 2009 in Las Vegas Nevada in style!

by Augusto F. Mesia, M.D.

Before August 24, St. Bartholomew, the revered patron saint of Baao, Camarines Sur must be very happy. The itinerant apostle who traveled and evangelized near the coast of Caspian Sea, Persia, Armenia, Egypt, and as far as India was remembered early this year in America.







Before the feast day, in Las Vegas, his special memory was celebrated. Saint Bartholomew had been venerated not only by the Roman Catholic Church but by other Christian denominations such as the Eastern Christian Orthodox Church, the Coptic Christians, Anglicans, and Lutheran Churches.







In the 1st century, the martyred follower of Jesus was flayed and beheaded for his heroic Christian deeds. For that, Baaoenos had not forgotten to honor St. Bartholomew's valor, faith, and religious conviction. That was why last Saturday, August 8, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fabulous Pintakasi 2009 pulled earlier than Baao's fiesta back home to glorify his name. A solemn mass officiated by three priests ushered in the affair.













The grand event with lots of surprises was attended by an eager crowd of Baaoenos and friends who traveled far and wide to join the fellowship that certainly had the trimmings of the traditional merry celebration of the Bicol town. A good number came to join the fun, but certainly, there were those who in their absence were sorely missed.













The feast started with a concelebrated thanksgiving prayer that united the attendees and set the festive tone of the grand occasion. In a capacious hall decorated by balloons, they gathered in intimate togetherness, partaking the food and joys of being glued as a community---bonded in ways that only they could ever fully express.







Pintakasi 2009 was particularly dazzling for not only did the day gather hundreds of spritely guests, friends and relatives, but it brought something impressively memorable in Baao’s name. The hosptality is immense. Young and old, they came to share camaraderie and spread around friendship in a place far removed from the quaint town of their origin in Camarines Sur.









Having seen familiar beautiful faces, those who attended huddled in animated “kurumustahan,” in what could be regarded as plain fun within the fleeting time frame of an action-filled weekend. Rinconada dialect must have been the hot currency of conversations which heightened the closeness of the Baao herd.





The hall had that electrifying buzz. Talented Baaoenos showcased their dances and songs. Some went for a refreshing deep in a pool with the children. Others cracked their novel “pangisihan” to the delight of the crowd.







There were those who were content sipping chilled wine in a friendly round table, thumping their feet to the candence of nearby music. A group laughed it out loud in the parlor games that brought winners and losers in an exciting competition of agility and wits.







The bright sun, nearer than usual to the hearts of many, drenched Nevada, sans nieve (snow) for which it was named, at the peak of summer---Surely, it was to the delight of those who came for the Pintakasi whose festive spirit had taken root on their senses.





The memories they brought home this year would hum in their thoughts like fine-tuned mellow music till the next fiesta brings them back again in a cycle of unity and goodwill. They will tag along their innocent children to add wonder and joy to the yearly tradition.(Photo Credits: Angel Martires, Tony Martires, Tess Salah) =0=





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PostHeaderIcon Photos from the BNAA-OLPDA Picnic

BNAA-OLPDA Picnic, Liberty Park, New Jersey
Sunday, July 19, 2009















A day after the grand ball of Bikol Naional Association of America Convention (BNAA), the Bicolandia Association Inc. of the Eastern Seaboard USA, in cooperation with the Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotees Association (OLPDA) and the BNAA delegates, guests and friends held a happy picnic at the Liberty Park in Jersey City, New Jersey on July. (Photo Credits: Boy Cabaero; AFM) =0=

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