Pinoys pack Chater Garden for ‘Misa de Aguinaldo’ amid drizzle

By Vir B. Lumicao

Fr Miranda officiated at the traditional Misa de Aguinaldo in Chater Garden

About 5,000 people, mostly Filipinos, braved a light shower and packed Chater Garden on the evening of Dec 24 for the “Misa de Aguinaldo 2018,” the highlight of the Filipino community’s celebration of Christmas in Hong Kong.

Many of the mass-goers, mostly workers who were unable to fly home this Christmas, recorded the mass or took selfies with their cellphones while holding umbrellas to shield them from the rain.

Visiting  priest, Fr. Jerry Miranda, kept the celebration solemn but also fun, with his humor-laced homily.

A towering Christmas tree in Chater 

Fr Jerry, who also delivered the homily in the 2017 midnight mass, spoke of the spirit of giving that grips overseas Filipinos months before Christmas, when they start hoarding chocolates and other goods to fill balikbayan boxes that they ship to their loved ones back home.

Because of the length of time it takes for the boxes to arrive, some of the goods inside may no longer be good for consumption. Thus, the sender may hear such remarks as, “Hopiang di mabili, may amag sa tabi,” Fr Jerry sang out..

Turning serious, the priest likened the doting OFW to God, who, out of His great love for His people, gave them His son Jesus Christ as their savior.

Fortunately, he said, this true spirit of Christmas is being relived by overseas Filipinos wherever they are, despite attempts by some businesses to commercialize the joyous occasion.

Before the “Misa de Aguinaldo” started at around 10pm, the winning entries in the “PaSTARan” 2018 native lantern-making contest were chosen after being paraded around  Chater Garden. 

The “Misa” and “PaSTARan” were both sponsored by the Philippine Consulate General and LBC Hong Kong. 

Consul Roderico Atienza led the officers and staff of the Consulate who graced the evening’s program, as Consul General Tony Morales was out of town.