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San Francisco, CA: Pasko na naman. It’s that time of year
again when Filipino-Americans, homebound in the United States and
for whatever reason unable to be balikbayan, turn nostalgic and
yearn for the old traditions and customs of their youth.
Multicolored lights and beautiful parols everywhere. Street
urchins singing carols. Bibingka and salabat. Music
everywhere. Church choirs. Bells tolling, calling folks
to early, dawn devotions.
Some of us “make do” and attempt to imitate
in a smaller and more modest way, the traditional activities and
rites of the advent season, particularly the Simbang Gabi.
Local activities, however, are limited by weather, time and work.
Simbang Gabi at 5 a.m.? Too cold, too early. Who would be cooking
puto-bumbong at that unholy hour? Some parishes opt to
celebrate the nine-day novena at 7 in the evening, even offering
traditional delicacies like bibingka, puto, lugaw and pan de sal
after the Mass to the attendees. But it’s just not the same.
Through the collective effort of eight San
Francisco parishes with predominantly Filipino members, an authentic
Simbang Gabi novena is presently being celebrated at St. Stephen’s
Parish starting last Sunday. St. Stephen’s is located behind
the Stonestown shopping mall, which is beside the University of
California San Francisco.
The first Simbang Gabi brought together a big
crowd of devotees, including Dr. Mar and Mila Rayos, Edna Rodis,
Edna Casteel, Chit Applegate, Bea and Jose Delgadillo, Aida Barrios
and Candi and Milo Duazo. The participating churches included
St. Brendan’s, St. Cecillia’s, St. Gabriel, St. Finn Bar, St.
Emydius, St. Anne, Star of the Sea and St. Stephen’s. The
Mass celebrants included four Filipino parish priests, Fathers
Arnold Zamora, Mark Reburiano, Raymond Reyes and Msgr. Floro Arcamo.
At dawn on Christmas Eve, George Niederauer, Archbishop of San
Francisco, will officiate at the holy Mass.
The Knights of Columbus at St. Andrew’s in
Daly City and their ladies, the Daughters of Isabella, hosted the
Christmas party for some 78 seniors at the Fil-Am Council last week.
Not to be outdone, the Golden Gate Lions offered Christmas gifts to
the seniors during the health fair, which was conducted at the Fil-Am
building last Sunday. Dr. Leni Martinez and Alicia Marcos took
charge of health screenings and blood pressure and diabetes
check-ups. Also assisting were Norma and Mario Panoringan, and
Commissioner on Aging Venni Zamora.
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