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FILIPINO CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK RETURNS WITH  SIMBANG GABI SA KONSULADO

12 December 2014 - After a two-year hiatus, Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado (SGK) was revived and is back on its 27^th ear, as the delighted Filipino community resumed the traditional nine-day Christmas novena December 04 and will run until December 12 at the Philippine Center New York.

During its opening day, Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon acknowledged the efforts of the community saying, “This is a display of faith at work,” and thanked the organizations and individuals who never tired from requesting, coordinating with the diocese and sending petitions to have the Filipino Christmas custom back in the Consulate General. It may be recalled that New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan sent his approval of its return last September after much supplication from the community.

After the Consulate General announced its return, the planning committee started meeting as early as first week of September. As a sign of solidarity and unity, the Consul General cited that 45 organizations bonded together to sponsor the masses, program and fellowship during each of the nine nights. He noted with praise that the community is faithful in observing the religious tradition and expressed his hope for the younger generations to carry on the celebration of the Simbang Gabi and Panunuluyan year after year. He further encouraged the mass-goers to offer the novena prayers for the safety of the Philippines and the Filipinos in light of the incoming storm Hagupit/Ruby. 

Each of the evening starts with a recital of the rosary at 6:00 p.m. and followed by a reflection video on the Nativity verse, and the celebration of the Eucharist. On the last day, a live re-enactment of the Panunuluyan will be staged. A simple community fellowship and light dinner salo-salo proceeds at the Gallery Lobby, which includes caroling and gift-giving. 

The mass on the first night was celebrated by Father Patrick Longalong, who also served as the SGK Planning Committee Spiritual Director. Papal Nuncio to the United Nations and Boholano Archbishop Bernadito Auza presided the mass on the third day.

For the first time, SGK is recorded and broadcasted on live streaming via Handang Tumulong President Troi Santos’ YouTube account. 

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PHL EMBASSY IN ANKARA’S PAROL-MAKING WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS FILIPINO INGENUITY AND TRADITIONS

11 December 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara conducted its first ever Parol-Making (Christmas lantern making) workshop with the Filipino communities in Turkey on December 07.

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez reiterated in her brief message the significance of the parol  to every Filipino, especially those overseas, and how the parol as a symbol for peace, love and unity  showcase Philippine values and traditions wherever it is hung or displayed. She also cited the importance the workshop as it emphasizes the ability of Filipinos to work together for good causes.

The workshop, which was attended by more than 65 Filipino community members in Ankara, showcased Filipino creativity, patience and resourcefulness, as the participants transformed bamboo sticks and recycled materials such as empty plastic bottles and its caps, old magazines and newspapers, boxes of pizza, used plastic cups and utensils, among others, into parols.  Some also used the traditional materials used for parols in the Philippines, such as “papel de japon” or clear plastic papers of various colors.

Immediately after the workshop, all parols were hung in front of the chancery for the Lighting Ceremony led by Ambassador Sanchez and the Filipino community leaders in Ankara while the “Munting Tinig” Choir jumpstarted the Christmas season for Filipinos in Ankara by singing the songs “Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” and “Himig ng Pasko”.

“It was a beautiful feeling to be a part of the Philippine Culture. It was so much fun!” said Yagmur Artun, the Embassy translator who participated in the workshop and made her first parol which she intends to hang in her home.

A parol-making contest was also initiated by the Embassy with the theme “Christmas: A Time for Peace, Love and Unity”. On December 14, the Embassy will hold its first ever Parol parade along Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi, where the Chancery is located. The parade will showcase the parols made during the workshop and the ones submitted for the Parol-making contest. Winners will be announced during the Filipino community Christmas party on December 14.

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REIGNING MISS UNIVERSE VOWS TO USE TITLE TO HELP THE PHILIPPINES

18 November 2014 – Reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler vowed that she will use her title and continue helping the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan after seeing their plight during her recent trip to Coron, Palawan, one of the provinces hit by the strongest typhoon in recorded history.

During a private event co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, Miss Universe Organization and Dutch development agency Cordaid last November 12 at the Philippine Center, Gabriela said during her speech, “After I finished my studies I wondered what I would be doing in my life, the Miss Venezuela Pageant came and then later on I was crowned Miss Universe. That was one of the happiest moments of my life! When I had the opportunity to help the people of Coron, Palawan, especially the Banuang Daan community, I knew this is what I want to do in life- to help people!” 

The Venezuelan beauty queen recalled how respectful, unselfish and welcoming the people were during her visit to Coron. “They have no food, but they still made a big meal for me. I had to ask them to eat the meal with me. They did not have electricity, clean water or even homes, but they made sure I felt at home. I will definitely continue my work to help them,” added the teary-eyed Ms. Isler.

The Miss Universe Organization and Cordaid have partnered to create a global fund that will raise awareness and money for regions in the Philippines struggling to recover from the devastating effects of the typhoon. The two international organizations will call attention to the needs of projects that are essential to the country’s recovery.

“The Philippines is home to our biggest and most passionate fan base, which is so meaningful to the Miss Universe family,” explained Paula Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization. “The country was hit by Yolanda the night before our 2013 Miss Universe telecast and together with Cordaid, we will raise awareness and funds for long-term recovery aid to build, and rebuild, flourishing communities,” added Shugart. 

Cordaid began its recovery response and operations immediately after Yolanda struck, focusing on all phases of relief strategy with the protection and safety of women and children as a primary objective. A mission of the Miss Universe Organization is to empower women to serve as role models throughout their communities and across the globe. 

Cordaid assisted vulnerable communities not only to build safer homes, and restore water and sanitation facilities, but also to build back better and become resilient with emergency preparedness plans.

“Haiyan is not an incident, it's going to happen more often, and let's spend our money wisely and investing capacity of communities,” Cordaid's Dutch Economist Jan Willem Wegdam, said during his presentation.  Wegdam added, “So go bottom up, train people, make people aware, empower people, that's the way to go and that's the best investment we can make.”

Spending a good amount of time in the Philippines, Wegdam said he has learned not only that toilets are known as comfort rooms in the Philippines, but these typhoon-resilient comfort rooms make a strong shelter from the storm.  Wegdam said, “It has been shown that a lot of people during the typhoon were actually seeking refuge in their comfort rooms because that was the strongest building, building a comfort room is cheaper than building a house.”

Being the first event of the Consulate General to commemorate the first year anniversary of Haiyan, it was an opportunity for Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon to apprise the audience of the Philippine Government’s rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts. He reported the President’s approval of the Php 68-billion Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP), an 8.000-page Action Plan outlining implementation of 25,000 specific plans, programs and activities to rebuild and rehabilitate the affected areas in the course of one and a half years, or until 2016. 

Consul General De Leon likewise acknowledged the US Northeast Filipino community’s contribution in the form of Build-A-Shelter Project (BASP), a community-led partnership with Gawad Kalinga to build villages in Giporlos, Hernani and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar and Tanauan, Leyte.  The BASP has gathered the required funds and now is in the process of completing the homes for the four villages committed.

At the closing of the program, Miss Universe urged the guests to help in funding their mission to Coron.  More information on how to help may be accessed through www.cordaid.org/missuniverse.