Page 21 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

21July to December
2017

Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado 2017 Concludes in New York

The annual Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado ended on 13
December 2017 with another capacity crowd converging at the Philippine
Center in New York for this unique Philippine yuletide experience.

70 Filipino-American Organizations and business
establishments took part as sponsoring groups in 2017’s Simbang Gabi –
a record number for this much-anticipated yearly activity.

The final night of the 9-day series of novena masses was co-

sponsored by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the

Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the

Philippine Department of Tourism-New York, the Philippine Center Philippine Consulate General officials pose with Fr. Patrick
Management Board, the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. Longalong, Fr. Rogie Castellano, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De

(PIDCI), the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Philippines-New York Vega, sponsoring organizations, volunteers, and choir members after
(JCI Philippines-New York), and Philippine Airlines (PAL). the last Simbang Gabi mass .

Fr. Patrick Longalong, a Filipino-American priest based in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, and newly-arrived
Filipino Priest Fr. Rogie Castellano con-celebrated the final Simbang Gabi mass. Fr. Longalong serves as the Spiritual Adviser
of the Simbang Gabi Committee. As is part of recent Simbang Gabi tradition, the mass was preceded by a re-enactment of the

“Panunuluyan” or the folk tradition of the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. The Panunuluyan was organized and
featured performances by members of the JCI Philippines-New York and their families. The music for the last night was
provided by the Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompeii Roman Catholic Church in New York.

The evening’s celebration was capped by a Filipino salu-salo and a raffle. The
top prize of a roundtrip ticket from the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines was won
by Mr. Sergio Gonzales Canayon from the Filipino Parish Group of St. Michael’s Church
in New York.

Ave Pimo, one of the regular Simbang Gabi volunteers remarked, “Simbang Gabi
fills a need in the Community to come together in fellowship and thanksgiving at this
special time of year. We are happy and honored to help keep this tradition alive in the
US.”

The Philippine American Association of Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega thanked all the officiating clergy,

Connecticut (PAAC) Rondalla perform well- sponsoring organizations, volunteers, and participants for making the Simbang Gabi sa
loved Filipino songs a the 6th night Salu-Salo. Konsulado part of their must-do activities every December.

(Continued from page 20… Simbang Gabi Starts).

Vivian Talambiras-Cruz of the sponsoring organization, the Coalition of Alumni Associations of different Philippine
schools, thanked the capacity audience who attended the mass and all those who participated. She renewed the call for the
community to pray for one another’s well-being and success.

The traditional Filipino Salu-Salo followed the mass. The Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado ran until 13 December 2017
with masses held at 6 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Fr. Roy Regaspi with Consul General Dizon-De Vega and Special Guest PNP Head General Ronald
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomes sponsoring organizations on the second night of the Simbang Dela Rosa greets conveys a yuletide
everyone to the first night of Simbang Gabi 2017. Gabi. message to the Fil-Am Community.