VICE President Noli De Castro, a Black Nazarene devotee, shares his thoughts on the annual feast and on this year's preparations. As in previous years, De Castro says he offers a prayer to the image. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Thea Alberto .
Thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene attend mass at the Quirino grandstand. Mostly dressed in maroon and yellow, throngs of young and old devotees join the procession, blocking the path of the Black Nazarene as it inches its way to the Quiapo Church. Photos taken by INQUIRER.net reporters Thea Alberto, Izah Morales, Lawrence Casiraya and Marjorie Gorospe.
By Anna Valmero INQUIRER.NETWITH the strong influence of Chinese culture, Filipinos borrow several traditions from the Asian neighbor in celebrating the New Year. Over time, it has been part of our culture as well as other parts of the world to watch out for forecasts from Feng shui experts so we can better be guided in the following year. 2009 is the year of the Earth Ox in the Chinese Zodiac. For the coming year, growth will be slow but it will be sure, says Feng shui expert Master Aldric Dalumpines of Punsoy.com. Dalumpines says there are three elements to reading the upcoming year. First, the earth element -- signals earth related industries will have a rosy outlook. These include real estate, memorial parks, agriculture, mining and related businesses like construction, and even oil. Another good area for business is aqua farming, since water is a stronger element than earth, he says. Another element in the forecast is the animal sign, says Dalumpines. Ox, in Asian culture, refers to the carabao or water buffalo and not the Western bull. As a beast of burden, the carabao is the engine of growth especially in agricultural countries. The third part is the cyclical pattern of the sign, in which years falling under the Sign of the Ox are also years of crises. The Chinese are optimistic about 2009 since a crisis also provides opportunities. To rise above the challenges, he advises everyone to be patient and diligent and to save money. 2009 is also a time of harvest for people who have worked hard over the last three years. “2009 is the best time for the country to lay foundations strongly for the future -- as seen before when Filipinos have become creative and resilient over time,” the Feng shui expert says. “With the United States and other parts of the world suffer in the global recession, now is the best time for the country to shine since we are already vaccinated and immune to meltdowns, thanks to our training under our previous national leaders,” he says. He says the upcoming elections is boon for national projects since there will be no hoarding of resources to support infrastructure and healthcare projects. He cautions though that there will be political figures who will try to remain in power even after 2010. On the bright side, he says there will be a pool of fresh faces in the local politics, as in the case of newly elected U.S. President Barrack Obama. “Manny Pacquiao will be a dark horse in 2010, more so if he will be able to win his next two bouts,” he adds. When asked about the chances of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to win in 2010, he cautioned that the national leader should not push her luck too much or take unnecessary risks, such as the Charter Change. He says the president was able to benefit from the perfect Feng shui of the late Diosdado Macapagal’s burial site He says it is too early to speculate who will claim leadership. But two things will happen. First, religious groups will sell block voting of its members to the highest political bidder. Secondly, it spins a different turn for the entertainment industry ironically and paradoxically as comedy will be highly favored by masses who will seek temporary relief from the situation. As with other spiritual practices like religion, Feng shui serves as guide -- one way of allowing the signs of the universe or nature to speak to us -- and it is all tied up to that “One Great Power” above, he says.
By Marjorie Gorospe INQUIRER.net AS a predominantly Catholic nation, it has become a Filipino tradition to light four candles of Advent during the Christmas season. This year, my family was chosen to sponsor the mass on the lighting of the pink candle, which is a way of celebrating the prophesied second coming of Jesus Christ. I must admit that Filipino traditions can be very demanding. But it has persisted for years because it has been one way of bringing families together. In my case, I was required by my mother to go to Tanay in Rizal – our hometown – to attend a special mass. During the mass, I became part of the procession of the priest, lector and lay ministers. The rest of my family was asked to light the pink candles, while I was asked to read a written prayer prepared by the parishioners. This event reminded me of the days when I was still eager to complete the Misa de Gallo before Christmas. Amid the cold weather in Tanay, I braved the early morning shower to attend the early mass with my mother. During my childhood, I was exposed to such traditions especially during Christmas. But as I listened to our priest during his homily, he lamented about the “Simbang Gabi” as “Simbang Tabi,” a pun that describes how some younger people have used this Filipino tradition as an opportunity to meet friends. Times have changed. Lighting the candle of advent also reminded me of the times when my family got together. Back then we were all complete. However, like most Filipino families today, two of my sisters now live abroad, leaving me as the one only one left to read the prayer. I have a brother but I am not sure if he’s too keen on assuming this role. Nevertheless, our priest reminded me that lighting the candle symbolizes “rejoicing.” Every year, traditions have brought Filipino families together and the lighting of the candle of advent was one of them.
By Quay Evano Dubai, UAE -- For a devout Catholic Filipino like Cristy Atendido, Christmas won’t be complete without attending the traditional “simbang gabi” or midnight mass and completing all nine days of it. So, when she left the Philippines to work as an Overseas Filipino Worker in the Middle East last year, it was one of the things she thought she won’t be able to do since she was going to the world’s region of the Islamic religion. But last December she was able to go to the midnight mass although wasn’t able to complete it. This year, she is focused on completing it and last night she was able to attend the first celebration of the simbang gabi. By the way, she’s still in the Middle East.Cristy is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Catholic Filipinos and millions of Christians who are fortunate to be allowed to practice their faith in a Muslim country, which is a very rare occurrence especially in a war-torn region like the Middle East, where people of different religions and even of the same religion fight and kill each other in the name of God. Cristy lives and works in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hailed around the world for its religious tolerance and interfaith openness. It is perhaps the only Islamic nation in the Gulf with the most Catholic churches, a total of seven (7): St. Mary’s Church (Dubai), St. Francis of Assisi Church (Jebel Ali, Dubai), St. Joseph’s Church (Abu Dhabi), St. Mary’s Church (Al Ain), St. Michael’s Church (Sharjah), Church of Mother of Perpetual Help (Fujairah), and St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church (Ras Al Khaimah). The church in Abu Dhabi is the UAE headquarter of the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia which is being overseen by Bishop Paul Hinder O.F.M. Cap. Masses are held everyday and most churches have mass celebrations in different languages like English, Arabic, French, Malayalam (South Indian language), Tamil, Urdu (Pakistani language) and Tagalog. Majority of the Catholics and other Christians in the UAE are from the Philippines and South India and the others would be from European countries like the United Kingdom, Italy, and France and Gulf countries like Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. People of different faiths and religions work and live in peace and harmony in this open Islamic city and even celebrate each other’s important religious festivals. Christians greet Muslims “Eid Mubarak” during Ramadan, Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr and greet Hindus “Happy Diwali” and “Happy Onam” during their festival of light. Muslims and Hindus in turn greet Christians “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Easter”. This is an amazing contrast to neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, the seat of Islam, where celebrating even having a cross ornament could bring one to jail or in Iraq where Sunni and Shiite Muslims are engaged in an endless bloodshed. It is only Qatar which has lately allowed the construction of Christian churches in its city. Christmas is widely celebrated in the UAE as malls, hotels and other business establishments put up Christmas decorations all over the city. Christmas carols waft through the air and business establishments cash in on the Christmas fervor by offering endless sales. Although there are still minor restrictions like churches are not allowed to have a cross structure on its façade (but other Christian symbols are allowed in the interior) and proselytizing, the UAE has showed the world that in diversity, there could be some form of unity wherein peaceful living could be achieved. The country’s leaders from the ruling family of Dubai, the Maktoums and the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the Al Nahyans, have been called visionaries not only for making their country one of the richest countries in the world in only a span of 37 years, but for their vision of creating a society wherein Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and people from other religions could live as one without hatred and fear. It is actually the late leader of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum who donated the land where St. Mary’s Church was built and donated funds for its completion. Most of the priests in the seven Catholic churches in the UAE are from India and the Philippines. St. Mary’s Parish Priest is Father P.M. Peter and its famous Filipino priest is Father Zacarias Parra who is endearingly called Father Zaki by most parishioners. Along with other priests and sisters, they are responsible for holding masses and other Christian services like baptisms, weddings, catechisms and confessions. As thousands and thousands of Filipinos arrive in the UAE daily, the churches have become a refuge for OFWs as they fight homesickness and loneliness and live with the everyday struggles of living in a foreign land. Especially now as Christmas approaches, homesickness is at an all time high. But the “simbang gabi” keeps Filipinos and other Catholics with the renewed vigor and optimism they need to survive another year of being away from their loved ones. After hearing the midnight mass, they are even treated to “kakanin” being sold by fellow Filipinos. There are bibingka, suman and other Filipino native delicacies being sold inside and outside the church premises, really making Dubai and the other emirates their home away from home. For Cristy, she said, the only thing missing is to see small children singing Christmas carols in the streets and houses and to have her one and only son Adrian, a college student back home, to be with her this Yuletide season. But aside from this, she feels that the spirit of Christmas and the Catholic faith is very much alive in the UAE.
By Izah Morales INQUIRER.net SOMETIMES you just hate the rain especially the nonstop downpour that causes flooding -- not to mention wet socks and feet. In Muntinlupa City, however, no rain can stop the celebration of the Banhayan Festival as residents of barangay Cupang and Buli danced and sang despite the strong rains. I saw people who were barefoot not complaining, as they followed the long route of the parade. Young and old folks rejoiced in honor of their patron saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino. One of the members of the Mother Butler Guild, Mrs. Matilde Fernandez, recalled that the Banhayan Festival began in 1995 as a way of thanksgiving and praise to their patron saint who they believe is miraculous. According to her, Banhayan, a term coined by their former parish priest Fr. Balmare, is also a celebration of the ties of barangays Buli and Cupang. Apart from Fernandez, Inang Auring Malaca, 71-year-old candle vendor, is among the many believers of the miracles of their patron saint. In her dream of patron saint, Poong Kulas, she was told to get San Francisco leaves to put on a body part, which needed healing. Since then, she said she became a 'hilot' in their place. As Inang Auring lighted the candles and said prayers, she showed how her faith keeps the fire burning and how prayers can bring miracles. It is as if they are saying, “What else would you hold on to when darkness befalls you?”
By Beverly T. Natividad Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--The Catholic faithful, through the intercession of saints, ask for good health, a rich spouse, even the winning lotto numbers. But if it’s strength they need to make great sacrifices, they turn to the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz. This year, Lorenzo Ruiz celebrates the 20th anniversary of his canonization in 1987. This simple Chinoy Church escribano (scribe) from Binondo is also the patron saint of Filipino migrant workers. Martyred in Japan, he is seen as an empathetic figure by many overseas Filipino workers who experience the same loneliness and alienation working and making sacrifices in foreign lands. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said Lorenzo Ruiz also represents the Christianity in the hearts of Filipinos in the world. “Kahit saan nandoon ang mga Pilipino, ang katapatan sa Diyos ay dala-dala ng Pinoy (Wherever the Filipino may go, he carries his faith in God),” Rosales said. Every Monday, the faithful at the old Binondo Church in Manila pray a novena to Lorenzo Ruiz as part of the church’s devotion to its very own parishioner-turned-martyr. By praying the novena, they ask God to give them strength to make great sacrifices, just as Christ delivered himself in sacrifice, and just as the Filipino saint willingly did, despite threats of torture in Nagasaki, Japan in 1637. Twenty years after his canonization on Oct. 18, 1987, Lorenzo Ruiz is venerated not only by Filipinos in the Philippines but also by Filipino communities and pilgrims elsewhere in the world. Last week, Rosales said he presided over Holy Mass in Seoul, Korea, to commemorate the feast day of the Filipino martyr. Some 5,000 Filipinos attended the event. On Sept. 23, the Filipino community in New York also held high Mass at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, presided by Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes, to observe the feast day of Lorenzo Ruiz. Last year, the same high mass in New York was presided by Rosales and was attended by an overflow crowd of 4,000. A church in lower Manhattan has been named after the Filipino saint. The Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, which is located on Broome Street in New York, is not yet a parish church but it is attached to the Philippine Pastoral Center of the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York. Fr. Erno Diaz, the chapel’s director, told the Inquirer by e-mail that the church is located near Chinatown, owing to the saint’s Chinese origins. In Manila, the shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz is located in the heart of Binondo. The 400-year-old church, which used to be the Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is now called the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, primarily because the Filipino saint was a parishioner here. “We consider it a gift that he was from here. Incidentally, he was the reason for the raising of the church to a minor basilica under his name,” said Leonida Aranda, lay president of the Basilica’s Parish Pastoral Council. The area fronting the Binondo Church, which used to be the Plaza Calderon de la Barca was also renamed Plaza San Lorenzo where the statue of the martyr now stands.
Dubai, UAE -- For a devout Catholic Filipino like Cristy Atendido, Christmas won’t be complete without attending the traditional “simbang gabi” or midnight mass and completing all nine days of it. So, when she left the Philippines to work as an Overseas Filipino Worker in the Middle East last year, it was one of the things she thought she won’t be able to do since she was going to the world’s region of the Islamic religion. But last December she was able to go to the midnight mass although wasn’t able to complete it. This year, she is focused on completing it and last night she was able to attend the first celebration of the simbang gabi. By the way, she’s still in the Middle East.
Cristy is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Catholic Filipinos and millions of Christians who are fortunate to be allowed to practice their faith in a Muslim country, which is a very rare occurrence especially in a war-torn region like the Middle East, where people of different religions and even of the same religion fight and kill each other in the name of God. Cristy lives and works in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hailed around the world for its religious tolerance and interfaith openness. It is perhaps the only Islamic nation in the Gulf with the most Catholic churches, a total of seven (7): St. Mary’s Church (Dubai), St. Francis of Assisi Church (Jebel Ali, Dubai), St. Joseph’s Church (Abu Dhabi), St. Mary’s Church (Al Ain), St. Michael’s Church (Sharjah), Church of Mother of Perpetual Help (Fujairah), and St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church (Ras Al Khaimah). The church in Abu Dhabi is the UAE headquarter of the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia which is being overseen by Bishop Paul Hinder O.F.M. Cap. Masses are held everyday and most churches have mass celebrations in different languages like English, Arabic, French, Malayalam (South Indian language), Tamil, Urdu (Pakistani language) and Tagalog. Majority of the Catholics and other Christians in the UAE are from the Philippines and South India and the others would be from European countries like the United Kingdom, Italy, and France and Gulf countries like Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. 
People of different faiths and religions work and live in peace and harmony in this open Islamic city and even celebrate each other’s important religious festivals. Christians greet Muslims “Eid Mubarak” during Ramadan, Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr and greet Hindus “Happy Diwali” and “Happy Onam” during their festival of light. Muslims and Hindus in turn greet Christians “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Easter”. This is an amazing contrast to neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, the seat of Islam, where celebrating even having a cross ornament could bring one to jail or in Iraq where Sunni and Shiite Muslims are engaged in an endless bloodshed. It is only Qatar which has lately allowed the construction of Christian churches in its city. Christmas is widely celebrated in the UAE as malls, hotels and other business establishments put up Christmas decorations all over the city. Christmas carols waft through the air and business establishments cash in on the Christmas fervor by offering endless sales. Although there are still minor restrictions like churches are not allowed to have a cross structure on its façade (but other Christian symbols are allowed in the interior) and proselytizing, the UAE has showed the world that in diversity, there could be some form of unity wherein peaceful living could be achieved. 
The country’s leaders from the ruling family of Dubai, the Maktoums and the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the Al Nahyans, have been called visionaries not only for making their country one of the richest countries in the world in only a span of 37 years, but for their vision of creating a society wherein Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and people from other religions could live as one without hatred and fear. It is actually the late leader of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum who donated the land where St. Mary’s Church was built and donated funds for its completion. Most of the priests in the seven Catholic churches in the UAE are from India and the Philippines. St. Mary’s Parish Priest is Father P.M. Peter and its famous Filipino priest is Father Zacarias Parra who is endearingly called Father Zaki by most parishioners. Along with other priests and sisters, they are responsible for holding masses and other Christian services like baptisms, weddings, catechisms and confessions. As thousands and thousands of Filipinos arrive in the UAE daily, the churches have become a refuge for OFWs as they fight homesickness and loneliness and live with the everyday struggles of living in a foreign land. Especially now as Christmas approaches, homesickness is at an all time high. 
But the “simbang gabi” keeps Filipinos and other Catholics with the renewed vigor and optimism they need to survive another year of being away from their loved ones. After hearing the midnight mass, they are even treated to “kakanin” being sold by fellow Filipinos. There are bibingka, suman and other Filipino native delicacies being sold inside and outside the church premises, really making Dubai and the other emirates their home away from home. For Cristy, she said, the only thing missing is to see small children singing Christmas carols in the streets and houses and to have her one and only son Adrian, a college student back home, to be with her this Yuletide season. But aside from this, she feels that the spirit of Christmas and the Catholic faith is very much alive in the UAE.
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