Moments from our Simbang Gabi Celebration December 2006

Simbang Gabi - 2006

By Angel Nieva

It was indeed a special celebration of Simbang Gabi we had last year on account of the main celebrant being Bishop Oscar Solis, a Filipino, to fit the nature of this native advent mass of ours. It was equally meaningful to us for Fr. Joe Visperas as a con celebrant which could be his last participation with us in this event, depending on how his parish assignment works out this year. We thank them well together with Fr. Emil who filled in for Fr. Tony.

As planned and expected, it was a very successful celebration because of the overwhelming support shown by our general FABP membership during the liturgy and at the reception.

Participation by other parishes in terms of the presence of their parols was rather low due to two other parishes celebrated Simbang Gabi at the same time as ours. But for those who showed up and shared our celebration, thank you very much. In spite of it, however, we had a pretty good overall turnout, not only with our members but also from our Beatitudes parish community and others from neighboring parishes. We have promoted this event very well over the years that our parish community looks forward to it like something of a parish Christmas party with good food, entertainment and fellowship. As our prime religious event, it lived up to its name in conveying the spirit of Christmas and the good tidings it entail in all of us.

Thanks again to all the people who donated their time, effort and the food that contributed greatly to its success and the wonderful feeling that the attendees experienced at the event. Likewise, a profound gratitude to the young people who performed the entertainment numbers especially the “tinikling” that persuaded Bishop Oscar and Fr. Joe to show their dancing skills for it.

It’s a tradition that FABP is greatly proud in celebrating it every year. It just needs our continuing devotion and support as it promotes the Filipino identity in our parish community.