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| The first Misa de Aguinaldo held at the new OFW Global Centre |
About 300 people crammed the newly opened OFW Global Center in Admiralty Tuesday night to join the traditional Misa de Aguinaldo organized by the Chaplaincy for Filipino Migrants and the Philippine Consulate.
Among the
worshippers at the mass officiated by Filipino chaplain Fr Jay Flandez, were
Consulate officials led by Consul Sheila Monedero-Arnesto and Vice Consul Allan
G. Revote, and various Filipino migrant leaders.
In his homily, Fr Jay likened Jesus Christ to a migrant worker who left the comfort of his home to become the guiding light of his family.
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| Most of the worshippers were PCG staff and Filcom leaders |
Like Him, people can help spread the word by living the life of true Christians, said Fr Jay. “If we live our faith we can inspire people. If we live our faith, we can heal the world,” he said.
As in previous years, the mass was preceded by the announcement of the winners of the Consulate’s “PaStaran” or parol-making competition among migrant workers’ organizations.
This year’s big
winner was Diwa’t Kabayan Benlife Society, which won both the Grand Prize as
awarded by the judged, and the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by
the biggest number of “likes” that the entry garnered on Facebook.
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| The winners of PaStaran pose with Consulate officials who acted as judges |
The gathering ended with another Filipino tradition, a simple snack of puto, cuchinta and sandwich, which was offered to everyone who attended.
The traditional Christmas eve mass for Filipinos used to be held in Chater Garden but was moved to the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town in recent years.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
This year, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration which runs the OFW Centre, offered the use of the community hall in the 20,000-foot facility, making the mass more intimate, and served as a refuge from the cold outside.
The Misa de
Aguinaldo, is traditionally celebrated in the Philippines between 10:00pm and
midnight on Christmas eve.
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| The winning parols, with the Grand Winner at center, are displayed on stage |
On the other
hand, the “parols” or star-shaped lanterns which adorn churches and private
homes across the country, are regarded as the light that beckons people to come
and adore the new-born Saviour.
Like the pre-Christmas novena or the Simbang Gabi, the Misa de Aguinaldo is a custom brought to the Philippines some 400 years ago by Spanish friars, and has since become an integral part of Christmas celebrations in the country.
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