The new archbishop of San Francisco in the Philippines

back in 2009 for the Feast of our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Cardinal subito!

CBCP reminds the faithful about Flores de Mayo

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines CBCP) urged the faithful on Tuesday, not to turn this month’s Flores de Mayo festivities into mere pageants of beautiful women and “strongly discouraged” the “third sex” from participating in the processions.  [See why what is going on in our Mass, come as you go, make-your-own-rules kinda attitude just turns anything under the sun as if it were just our own piece of cake that we want to decorate according to our own caprices?  That is the reason why even a procession like the Flores de Mayo Santacruzan has become a joke and a fashion show even for the transexuals and cross dressers!]

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma reminded their flock that the festivals of May were meant as offerings of prayers and flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and not beauty contests.

Palma said he was really praying that this year the flock, would be more enlightened about the true essence of the month-long celebration culminated by the Santacruzan, a novena procession on the last day of the Flores de Mayo.

The procession is held in honor of St. Helena, [huh?!  Not the Virgin Mother?]  mother of Emperor Constantine the Great who was said to have found the relics of Christ’s cross in Calvary, according to Palma.

As the legend goes, St. Helena discovered three crosses and instructed one of her sick servants to lie down on all the three. The servant was said to be miraculously cured upon touching one of the three crosses. This was then determined to be Christ’s cross.

Since its introduction in the Philippines during the Spanish period, Filipinos continue to celebrate the santacruzan, usually marked with a procession of embellished floats and ornately dressed characters representing the various religious characters.  [Uniquely Filipino!]

“We should all reflect on the celebration of Flores de Mayo, which is a time of offering flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” said Palma over Church-run Radio Veritas on Tuesday.

“It is a beautiful tradition and I pray that the Santacruzan will not be reduced to a mere parade of pretty young women and the third sex. [Not the right choice of a term actually.] It must be an expression of prayer and faith and the gift of the cross,” [Amen!] added the leader of the Church hierarchy.

While other Catholic bishops do not necessarily ban gays from joining the Santacruzan, [by not saying anything against it!] Palma stressed on Tuesday that the dioceses and archdioceses of the Catholic Church “strongly discourage them from participating in the procession.”  [If they cross-dress!]

“We discourage anything that would distract the people from their faith and devotion and from the important roles of Mama Mary that we would like to honor,” said Palma, adding that it should not become an avenue for gaining popularity.

As much as possible, they should not turn the event into a fashion show or treat it as a mere venue for merrymaking, he said.

“We should respect tradition [like the TLM?  sorry can't help it.  haha]… it’s a sign of faith and an event to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary,” stressed the senior prelate.

“I hope the people would refrain from staging parades for popularity’s sake or to showcase lewd clothing especially among women and even the gays because it doesn’t look good,” added Palma.

In many provinces, the processions are often occasions for gays to parade in female or transgender finery.

“Let the Blessed Virgin Mary be the center of the celebration and I hope it will always be in the spirit of faith and gratitude,” he added.

For his part, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said reducing the holy celebration into a fashion show could be considered “blasphemy.” He suggested that people pray the rosary to make the event more meaningful.

***

Why can't the LGBT community hold their own street parade but not using the Santacruzan?  Yeah, they are Catholics, but there are things that they need to consider.  Cross-dressing is a no-no in the Church and it is a big no-no to even do it in a religious procession.

I hope the parish priests and most especially our bishops follow the example of the CBCP president.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

We need more bishops and priests who can stand up in public for what is right!

Reflections and musings: The Black Nazarene

I was at the Basilica of the Black Nazarene yesterday and I came as a pilgrim, acknowledging that I am a sinner seeking the Doctor of Life who Himself is wounded.

I am surprised to see more people this year than in the previous years that I came to the Quiapo for the Señor's feast.

Yes, my friends, the Black Nazarene has a special place in my heart.  Whenever my schedule permits it, I make it a point to go to the Basilica to pay Him a visit.  Even if I am on an errand to go to either Sta. Cruz or Binondo or Divisoria or Carriedo, I will make a quick turn to Quiapo, pay Him a visit, both by kissing the feet of His revered image and at the Adoration Chapel, before I go about my business in the area.  So in turn, I effectively made all my trips to downtown Manila start with a pilgrimage to the Basilica.  Parking is hellish, though.

I went to Quiapo yesterday to fulfill a yearly vow.  I made a list of petitions I will bring to my pilgrimage.  There were a couple of requests sent to me.  And yes I included you dear TPC readers.

This year's Feast is much different in my view as there are way more people in the Basilica and in the surroundings of the Quiapo community.  I was literally pushed into the Basilica because of the sea of humanity who wanted to go into the church.

While Mass was going on, medical volunteers hurriedly bring pilgrims who fainted.  They were escorted out of the Basilica in wheel chairs.  I prayed for them as well.

There were so many people who heard Mass that even a whole battalion (no literally) of EMHCs were on hand to help distribute Holy Communion.  In spite of that, the EMHCs were unable to go around the church to distribute Holy Communion.  I wasn't able to receive Holy Communion even if I was already inside the Basilica.

As the Mass ended, we all sang with raised hands the official song for the Nuestro Padre.  After which a thunderous applause and shouts of "Viva!" rang in and out of the Basilica.  I continued praying even if the people around me jostled to get out as fast as they can after the Mass.  I prayed for those who asked me to pray for them and fixed my gaze on His revered image.  I know I had to get out too since the next Mass was about to start.  The time between Masses was less than 5 minutes.  The Basilica was still full even after the last Mass had ended.  Just as I was pushed into the Basilica, I had to rely on the wave of humanity to push me out as well.

Seeing the devotees put their all just to touch the cross or the robes of the Lord, brings me back to the Gospel story of the woman who was suffering from a hemorrhage.  Christ asked who touched Him, but Peter told him that large crowds were around Him so almost everyone touched Him.  But Christ knew that there was this one person who touched Him because as the Gospel said "power came out of Him."

And when Christ and the woman were able to talk, Christ said ""Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

That was what the devotees to the Black Nazarene were doing.  They are not touching just the wood.  They are touching Christ.  The sacrifice that men and women go through just to accompany Him who carried the very instrument that would put Him to His own horrific death, walking barefoot like Him, shows you the faith these men and women have and their resolve to fulfill a VOW they made to the Lord.

A prayer for healing, for financial prosperity a special favor for someone...Christ must be very busy hearing all of these prayers.  Remember that scene from Bruce Almighty, when the character of Jim Carrey heard all the prayers of the people all around the world at the same time?

I prayed, as hard as I can.  I know He hears all of us and He knows what is in our hearts, but I still prayed, because He is just waiting for us to tell Him what we want.  I cried while I prayed, knowing that my petitions and requests are petty considering the gravity of the things He did for us.   But I told Him " Bihira lang po ako manghingi sa inyo kahit halos buong buhay ko ibinigay ko para pagsilibihan kayo at ang kapwa ko.  Pasensya na po.  Maingay ngayon at marami kayong dinidinig na panalangin.  Pagbigyan niyo naman po ako, at pakinggan ang aking mga hiling.  Pasensya na po at pabigat ako sa inyo."  (Rarely would I ask anything from You even if I gave everything for You to serve you and my brothers and sisters.  I beg your indulgence.  The place is noisy and you are listening to a lot of prayers right now.  But please, just this once, give me what I beg of you.  I am sorry I am such a burden to you.)

I am crying now, just recalling these words which I uttered while I gaze upon the Nuestro Padre enthroned in the High Altar of the Basilica.  I gazed upon Him and then turned my attention to Him in the tabernacle.

As I left the Basilica, and passed by and kissed and wiped with my purple hanky three life-sized replicas of the Señor for veneration (or in Tagalog pahalik), I was left with a sense of awe for the festival: How the Lord called all Filipinos from all walks of life to the Church.  Believe it or not even Muslims were around the church selling CDs of the songs of the Quiapo Church.  The Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno song was blaring all around Carriedo and Raon.  Thankfully, it was the voices of pilgrims praying and singing, not of the souvenir hawkers, and police and military personnel's voices that I could remember hearing around the Basilica.

Some may call it fanaticism, or even idolatry.  But I leave it to the Lord, because as a fellow devotee myself, I see and hear it from my fellow pilgrims.  They are not after the wooden image.  If it were the case, then there would be no queues to venerate the replicas.  We would all be ganging up on the original image securely enthroned in the High Altar.  No, we, devotees, do not see it that way.  We kiss and touch every single image of the Nazareno we could find on that day, even the smaller ones that our fellow pilgrims are carrying.  Because it is not about the wood.  It is about what the wood represents.  It is He whom we want to touch and kiss and worship!

This morning while having breakfast, I turned on the TV to see what happened in Quiapo last night.  To my surprise, the procession has not finished yet.  The andas was still in Plaza Miranda.  At 6:15 of the following morning, the andas bearing the Señor was finally pulled into the Basilica while you can hear his faithful sons and daughters shout "Viva!  Viva!  Viva!".

Goosebumps suddenly turned to tears.  My eyes welled up and I started crying.  Luckily I was alone in the table and my family did not see me looking that way or I have to answer their questions why my face suddenly made an ugly contortion.  I cried when I saw the devotees and Hijos in the andas who stayed for 22 hours to finish the procession.  THEY FOLLOWED HIM WHO CARRIED HIS CROSS.  I suddenly felt asking myself:

"Can I too take up my cross daily and follow Him?"

My Christian life is all about that, I believe.  Our life is about that.  Just carry that cross until the end of the journey.  One step at a time.  And the Señor, showed me how to do it.  Even if I have to trip and stumble along the way to Calvary and finally the Empty Tomb.

The lesson is:  JUST KEEP GOING ON.

Til next year's Translacion, dear TPC readers.

PS:  I will be in Quiapo again this weekend.  And yes, I will bring you with me.

Live streaming of the Mass at the Black Nazarene Basilica

Live streaming of the Black Nazarene Procession

Courtesy of GMANews.tv

Faith

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:8)

If I only touch his garment...(Matthew 9:21)


***


If the Roman centurion and the woman suffering from a hemorrhage are too fanatic to say those words, then call these people fanatics of the Lord.


It's the faith that spells the difference.

VIVA SEÑOR VIVA!!!

I will pray for all of your dear TPC followers at the Basilica as I make a will come there as a sinner and a pilgrim.

Fake priests, know how to spot them

They are your usual fare during the All Saints' and All Souls Day fests.

***

MANILA, Philippines – A cemetery official warned the public against fake priests roaming around cemeteries and offering services in exchange for money during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.  [Just seeing these "priests" roaming around, hawkin their services is already enough to sound the alarm bells in you, eh?]

Manila North Cemetery officer-in-charge Edgardo Noriega said he received reports of fake priests roaming around cemeteries offering prayers for the dead and blessing tombs for a fee.  [Hey Filipino Freethinkers!  Here's your blast from the past!]

Noriega said legitimate priests do not turn their services into a commercial act. He added the local parish of San Roque already informed him that it will be dispatching priests in the city to officiate Holy Masses for the souls of the departed. [The parish church in Blumentritt has jurisdiction over the Manila North Cemetery.]

He also advised the public to check for the priest's identification card in order to avoid fake ones.  [Better ask for his celebret.  If he does not know what a celebret is, then shoo him away or call the police.  But...but...some priests of today, those who are modernists from MST and SVST do not even know what a celebret is!  Ha!]

“Dapat tingnan nila. Kasi yung mga talagang seminarista, [Seminarian?!  What the?  I thought we are talking about priests here?] naka sabit yung mga identification cards nila saka yung mga crucifix nila sa leeg nila. Iyun talaga ang mga authorized na galing sa simbahan ng San Roque,” he said in an interview on dzMM.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), meanwhile, explained that families who pray for their departed loved ones can gain plenary indulgence.

The CBCP explained that “plenary indulgence, according to Canon Law, is the remission of sins of one whose offenses have already been forgiven. But to gain the plenary indulgence must fulfill certain requirements, including going to confession and praying for the intention of the pope.”  [not just by doing the rituals, ok?]

It also appealed to the public to observe the solemnity of the Catholic tradition by not doing unnecessary activities inside the cemetery.

Fr. Leo Gilbero, La Loma Cemetery Chaplain, noted that Filipino families have made the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day an opportunity to hold a reunion and eat together.

“We should also set boundaries to keep with our faith, like for example the bringing of food [and partaking of meals] in the cemeteries. What is that for?” Gilbero told CBCP News.

“Maybe it is due to the culture and the influence of other cultures," he added.

***

Or maybe the Church has been lax the past years in reminding the faithful of what feasts are all about, like All Saints' and All Souls' Day.

Bring back the Sense of the Sacred, dear Fathers...

PLEEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!

***

On another note, these hawkers who roam around cemeteries "blessing tombs" and "praying for the dead" are not Roman Catholic priests.  They belong to the church of Ingkong, aka The Catholic Apostolic Church.

They are a cult and they are NOT ROMAN CATHOLIC, hear that "Fr." Bunag?

So, beware, just call the police ok?  Tell your relatives about this.

Roman Catholic priests are so busy with so many things in their own ministries the last thing they could think of is roam cemeteries and ask people if they want to bless their dead.  Some of these con-artists even have this scheme of saying that they are conducting a fund raiser for a new church.

Just say no!  This is not allowed in the Church.

Ok, clear?

Viva Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno!

I will make my annual pilgrimage to the Basilica tomorrow after our Council Meeting and 1st degree exemplification of new brother knights.

I will include all of you dear TPC readers in my prayers. If there is any special intention you would like me to pray for, please send them in via email. I will be reading my mail tomorrow morning before I go to the Basilica.

I will also especially pray for our dear country, the Philippines...

...for the end of theological and liturgical dissent...
...for the conversion of those who foster the culture of death, materialism and secularism!

and of course for my family, friends and those who have hurt us.

The Señor has answered a lot of my prayers among them my grade for my Masteral thesis which he gave EXACTLY as I asked Him, for the healing of my son which I requested you to pray for in a previous post and for a lot of things mundane they may be that He has always granted.

Viva Señor!

No more Simbang Gabi in Malls

This news made my day!

***

MANILA, Nov. 19, 2010—The faithful who used to attend simbang gabi masses in malls are now urged to go to the parishes for the celebration.  [Come to think of it, our parish church is our "home church".]

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in a directive sent to archdiocesan clergy said, simbang gabi masses will not be allowed anymore in malls “unless there is a chapel in the establishment, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated with frequency and duly approved” by the archdiocese.

The guidelines are issued to ensure a “proper, solemn, dignified and meaningful celebration of the Simbang Gabi”, the cardinal said. [Huzzah!]

“We do not allow Simbang Gabi to be celebrated in corridors and hallways of shopping malls where the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is needlessly exposed to shoppers that are indifferent to the celebration,” Rosales said in the circular.  [Can my dear TPC readers sign in and comment a HUMONGOUS "AMEN"?]

He said masses for simbang gabi should be celebrated in the parishes or chapels that are duly recognized by the parish.

Simbang gabi, also known as misa de aguinaldo is traditionally celebrated at early dawn, from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m., although it is already a practice in many parishes to celebrate simbang gabi masses in the evening.

“If the Misa de Aguinaldo is celebration from 8:00 o’clock in the evening onwards, it should be motivated by genuine pastoral care for the spiritual benefit of the faithful,” the cardinal stressed.  [I know one priest who even wanted to shorten the nine day Mass and have it to three, a sort of Triduum type.  But I know his real motives behind it, but I do not want to spoil the great news.  Maybe in another post.]

The simbang gabi masses celebrated in the evening started during martial law years because of the curfew imposed by the government at the time.

But the practice has remained because many faithful “who follow the urban rhythm of work find it easier to join in the evening instead of the dawn Masses.”

“We wish to encourage the practice of Simbang Gabi, whether at dawn or in the evening, because it is a great source of spiritual nourishment to our faithful,” the cardinal said.

But celebration of simbang gabi masses at other times such as morning, mid-day or late afternoon mass is not allowed since it “is not in keeping with the liturgical norms of the Archdiocese of Manila and is to be regarded as an abuse.”  [How could it be called a Dawn Mass if it is not celebrated at dawn?  The liturgical meaning of the dawn is so rich in that it tells the faithful to joyfully anticipate the coming of Jesus, like the sun rising from the East.  There are biblical allusions to this and even the Fathers of the Church wrote about this but I do not have the luxury of time now to dig them up.  Can my dear TPC readers help me in this one?  I am sure Doc Ben can help in this one.]

The simbang gabi or the nine-day dawn masses preceding the feast of Christmas is a tradition brought into the country by the Spanish evangelizers. [Nine days...the same number of days the Apostles and the Blessed Mother spent waiting for the coming of the Paraclete.  Thus, we have the novena.]

In 1953, the Plenary Council of the Philippines formally requested Rome for special dispensation to celebrate the nine-day dawn masses leading to Christmas. [And we got it!  The only one in the world and Filipinos are known for this.]

Celebrated with solemnity, the simbang gabi masses are votive masses in honor of the Virgin Mary.

“For Filipino Catholics, Simbang Gabi is above all an expression of their filial devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. For nine consecutive days, they join and accompany her, so to speak, as she awaits the birth of her Son,” according to Rosales. [An allusion to the coming of the Son to the world as Man.]

“May the faith and devotion of Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Filipino nation, inspire us to receive in our hearts and home God’s surpassing Aguinaldo [Filipino for gift] in the person of Jesus Christ. [He is the greatest gift.] Let us keep her company through prayer and good works, so that she may also keep us company as we journey toward the fulfillment of God’s promise of peace in our nation and in the world,” the cardinal further said. (CBCPNews)

***

Will other bishops of the metro do the same thing?

Usually, they follow the liturgical directive of the Archdiocese of Manila, but it is something for us to wait and see.

In the meantime, a HUGE THANK YOU to His Eminence for this wonderful directive!

We need to bring back the sense of the sacred into the celebration of the Mass.

Gone were the days when we hear church bells peal for the Angelus and folks in the streets would stop dead in their tracks to pray.

We hope that this lukewarm attitude to this beloved prayer does not befall the Mass.

And I sincerely hope that this directive is followed suit in all dioceses all around the country.

And that all Sunday Masses in malls be done within a consecrated chapel.

Proper things in the proper place and in the proper time.

Old wine in old wine skin.  New wine in new skins.

Christmas in Asia

A brother Sir Knight, SK Frank Quadrino of John Paul II Council # 8372 also in New Haven, CT, the birthplace of the Order of the Knights of Columbus, sent me an interesting link about the "Christmas in Asia" exhibition in the Knights of Columbus museum.  

An interesting tidbit, SK Frank's wife is a Filipina who hails from Manga in Tagbilaran City.  Married for six years, God blessed their marriage with a 5 year old son.  Brother Frank is a member of Fourth Degree Member of the John Barry Assembly 97 also of New Haven.  He is also a Faithful Captain of his Assembly and a Past Deputy Grand Knight of his Council. 


His wife is very supportive in all his KofC work.  They are also active in their own parish.  In fact, she is assisting Asian Christmas" theme that is currently under construction at the K of C Museum here in New Haven and lots of native Pinoy Christmas displays all from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.  Top that!

The exhibition will run from November 19, 2010 to February 13, 2011.  Hey, the same length of time that Pinoys celebrate Christmas.  Ha!

Here is the write-up for the exhibition:

The sixth annual Christmas crèche exhibition at the Knights of Columbus Museum includes more than 100 crèches (or Nativities Scenes) from 22 Asian countries. The crèches come from the Holy Land in the Middle East and across the continent to Japan on the Pacific Rim. Many of the countries have only a small population of Christians, in contrast to the Philippines which is the third largest Catholic nation in the world. Also included are original Holy Family paintings and prints from Japan, China and Korea. Some styles are uniquely Asian while others follow European techniques and craftsmanship. Several detailed crèches were created by a one-of-a-kind Christian Woodworking Work Shop in China. The exhibition’s crèches and paintings are on loan from seven collections, including the Maryknoll Missionaries in China. Visitors to Christmas in Asia will also enjoy the Mother Teresa: Life Spirituality and Message exhibition, which will continue to April 3, 2011. The Museum’s 10th annual Christmas Tree Festival will open Dec. 1, 2010 and run concurrently with Christmas in Asia.

 To read more about the museum, click this link.

For those who can visit the museum, please do drop an email.  I would love to hear from my brother Sir Knights.

I am hoping that this one be brought here to our country.

And make sure, Humpty Dumpty isn't around to make a killing out of this!  I am sure we will be there to kick him out.

By the way, it's the 4th week, and as expected, he is still too chicken to fight for against church meddling in politics, but this time in an INC temple and a Muslim mosque.  Chicken joy!

I do not want to end this post with a bitter after taste.  So...

Huzzah for Brother Frank and his wife!  A truly Columbian family!

Vivat Jesus. 

Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Today is the Feast Day of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

For more about this devotion, click here.

On this your great day, dear Mother, I offer this song as my prayer of trust...

Just got back.

Would you believe it?

I just got back from a two day trip to Lucban, Quezon and I just got back.  I was not able to update my blog because of my wireless service provider's excellent connection speed.  Yes, there was sarcasm in there.

Take my advice.  Don't waste your money.  Leave your body untouched!  DON'T PAINT YOUR BODY!!!

If you get what I mean?  (wink)

No, that's not the part I was asking for you to believe.

I was already there for the annual Pahiyas festival which I attended last year but I have to go back to Manila ASAP.

Darn...

A humble request from a Nazareno devotee

(Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Manila website)


I am a Nazareno devotee so correct me if I am wrong.

The priest above is Fr. Anton Pascual. He is the director of Radio Veritas and spiritual director of the charismatic group El Shaddai. I always see him on TV but I rarely see him say Mass at the Quiapo Basilica.

I always see him during the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January 9. He has the mic before the grand procession begins. He asks the devotees to either raise their hands, wave their white towels or hankies or to follow verbatim the prayer he utters.  That's right, just...every...feast...day.

Wouldn't it be nice to see him regularly at the Basilica saying Mass, let's say every Friday? Not just every feast day, right?

Just asking, Father.

UNIQUELY PINOY: THE GREAT FEAST OF THE HOLY CHILD OF CEBU

"Pit Señor!"

These are the words that ring out in the Basilica and in the streets of Cebu, as devotees and on-lookers alike celebrate the Feast of the Santo Niño of Cebu.

 "Pit Señor!" is a shortened form of the Cebuano prayer to the Lord "Sangpit Señor!" or "Hear my Lord!" , a prayer of supplication of the devotees who dance the Sinulog or religious dance.  This dance has its pagan origins where according to historians was danced by native Cebuanos before the Christianization of the island and of the country.  Natives would dance holding their idols.  But after the arrival of Magellan, the newly baptized natives continued the tradition and offered the dance to the Child-King-God!

The Philippines is the only country in the world which the Holy See approved a special liturgical feast for th Holy Child.    It is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of the month of January or the week after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The Santo Niño of Cebu pre-dates the Infant Jesus of Prague.  The Cebu icon was given as a gift on 1565 while the Prague image can trace its origins in 1628.

Like the Prague image, devotees (like me) attest to the miracles and graces they have received through the image.  My family and I received a special favor from the Holy Child after I made a pilgrimage to Cebu.

Here is the miraculous image where image is kept.

At the base of the image is a small reliquary where you can find the relic of the True Cross.  Devotees kiss this also.

Here is a photo of the main altar of the Basilica.  The retablo is the original one and survived the liturgical frenzy of the '60s.

 The image of the Santo Nino is on the left side altar while the tabernacle is on the right side of the altar. (I can only speculate why.  I'll keep it to myself.)

You can see in one of the niches an image of the Santo Nino, second row from the top, right above the crucifix.  It is a replica.  The saints in the other niches are Augustinian saints, the basilica being under the care of the Augustinians.  One side chapel features a huge frame containing reliquaries of these saints.

A piazza, if I may call it, was built in front of the Basilica to accommodate the large number of devotees who come to Mass every Friday, which is assigned as the day novena masses are held.

 
For more interesting articles about the Holy Child of Cebu...
   The Wikipedia entry
    The official website of the Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño 
    More before and after photos of the Basilica
   Interesting history of the Image
   International Association of Devotees
   

Uniquely Pinoy: Pahiyas Festival

In a couple of days, I will be heading to Southern Luzon to attend the beautiful Pahiyas Festival. It is a colorful feast in honor of St Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers, as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Houses along selected streets of Lucban are decorated with agricultural produce. One of the very uniquely Lucban decor of the festival is the kiping, a wafer made of rice, ground, mixed with water and coloring and the paste spread on the leaves of an indigenous plant. These are steamed and cooled. The "cookie" is carefully stripped of the leaf and left to cool. These are then woven to decorate their homes.

The streets where the procession of the image of St. Isidore will pass are the ones usually decorated. The municipal government sponsors a contest for the most beautifully decorated houses. Corporate sponsors gang up on the chance to be a sponsor. The organizers do not invite sponsors. The sponsors beg to be part of the festival. I should know. A friend is a member of the organizing committee.

The main procession, judging and awarding is held on May 15, the feast of the saint. For more traditional pinoy fiesta eye candy. To learn more of the Pahiyas Festival go to http://www.pahiyasfestival.com/home/