A Feast for Everyone.

My niece Hannah and her husband Naldy and my sister Sonia had been harping at it over several family gatherings; about the Feast hosted by Filipino Catholic lay preacher and inspirational speaker Bo Sanchez, Kerygma founder.

My own daughter had given me in the past several books written by Bo.  And then my niece gifted me with a couple more.

I like the style of writing of Bo; simple and humorous, so I continued to read his books.

Once an older person in church said that he'd like to see more Bo Sanchez's speak in the parish Bible seminars but then he added it seemed to him that Bo only speaks about happy times, and does not prepare his listeners or members of his prayer community for the bad times.

I didn't comment on this one because I haven't heard Bo Sanchez actually speak.

Yesterday we had the chance to hear Bo Sanchez speak.

We attended his Talk at the PICC Plenary Hall which centered on Solutions - Choose God’s Long-Term Solutions. This was the second of a three-part talk, Guaranteed: Three Things God Promises You: Supply, Solutions, Significance.

My seatmate to the left, a chubby boy who's probably eight or nine was so infectious.  He'd say what Bo asked the audience to say, and ask what Bo asked the audience to ask, and sang along with the beautiful choir, complete with body and hand actions.

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And looking around and above, I saw the same kind of enthusiasm and vibrancy from everyone. 

Meanwhile a younger boy seated at the front who was playing a game in his cell phone earlier became attentive and sang when the choir led the song I am counting on God.

The Feast was a welcoming event.  At the lobby of the Plenary Hall, members carried sign saying "Welcome First Time Attendees," and had easy smiles for everyone.

Ushers were friendly; so was everyone.  First timers like us felt the immediate warmth and genuineness of the people around us.

In his talk, Bo Sanchez used live persons to clearly illustrate his point; it was highly effective. The gist: don't focus on your problem, instead, focus on your purpose. Ask for God solutions.

Before the Talk, Fr. Alex Balatbat celebrated the 10:45 am mass.  He was energetic and gave an excellent homily on the Sunday Gospel reading.

After the talk, people milled around the lobby buying books and stuff. First timers were invited to join other first timers in small groups labelled "couples, singles, call center agents, etc." as prelude to joining "caring groups" or cg's. Caring groups meet during the week, and before and after the talk on Sundays.

On the way out, we saw caring groups huddled in meetings.

Physically, we were hungry when we left PICC as it was close to 2 p.m. but spiritually, we were completely fed.

In Bo Sanchez' own words, " Ultimately, I want to “franchise” the FEAST to the various parishes all over the Philippines—and around the world.

Through the internet, we’ll be video streaming the Manila FEAST to hundreds of similar gatherings in various parish churches, thus strengthening the parishes by giving their parishioners the option of attending the FEAST in their own local parish," said Bo.


Watch live video from The Feast on Justin.tv

Senor Nazareno.

The Black Nazarene at the Minor Basilica in Quiapo.

The famed Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila is close to my heart. At age 7 years or maybe even younger, I had been brought there by an aunt.

It was a regular devotion. I was a child suffering from asthma so my Aunt took me with her on her Friday novenas to pray for good health. She would walk on her knees down the aisle towards the altar and I would walk with my feet with her.

After the mass, we'd fall in line to kiss the Black Nazarene.

Wikipedia says that "The Black Nazarene, known to devotees in Spanish as Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (Tagalog: Poong Itim na Nazareno; Spanish: El Cristo Nazareno Negro) is a life-sized, dark wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying the cross while representing his passion and agony and is believed to be miraculous by many Filipino Catholics.

A Replica of the Black Nazarene, displayed outside the Basilica.

Originally with fair complexion, it turned dark after it survived a burning galleon ship on its arrival from Mexico. The image is currently in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo district, Manila, Philippines where it is venerated weekly with Friday Novena Masses.

The statue is celebrated on three annual occasions, and comes out of its own basilica each New Year's Day, Good Friday and on January 9, celebrating its novena feast, transfer (Spanish: Traslación) and enshrinement in the present Basilica, and is attended by several million devotees."

An older sister was also taken to the novenas and even wore the Black Nazarene's red robe.

On the feast days of the Black Nazarene on January 9th, we would be spectators for years of the most spectacular procession held in the Philippines. Those years, the processions were not as crowded as today; kids were still able to participate.

My Aunt became a devout Black Nazarene devotee because she told us that it was in one of her novenas that she had the vision of the man she would finally marry; my Uncle.

The Friday devotion to Senor Nazareno was special to me as a child; it also meant seeing Hollywood movies along the cinemas in Avenida Rizal and feasting at Wa Nam, a Chinese restaurant.

In the years ahead and into adulthood, my Friday novena to the Black Nazarene didn't take place anymore. It became sporadic. It became a 10-minute prayer as I passed the Church on my way to shopping for shoes in Carriedo, or going to the movies in Sta. Cruz, or on my way to U.P. Diliman and home.

Procession on the Feast Day of Senor Nazareno, January 9.

In my recent over stay in Manila, I re-discovered the Black Nazarene of Quiapo again. As I was not a regular member of any church, I worshipped in a number of churches: at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in Megamall, at the San Andres Apostol in Cainta, St. Francis in Mandaluyong, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, and the Basilica in Quiapo.

Thousands of devotess reach out to the Black Nazarene.

These days if I attend the  Friday novena to Senor Nazareno, it is no longer the Hollywood movies that I look forward to after the mass, but shopping for fresh vegetables and fruits along Villalobos and reminishing the Quiapo days of my childhood.

Senor Nazareno maybe a spectacle to foreign tourists, an event to capture on cameras, but to its millions of devotees, He remains a source of healing and miracles.

Media Noche.

Media noche means the half of a night or middle of a night.  It is used in the Philippines to connote New Year's Eve or that time when the clock strikes at 12 midnight, and it is in between the old and the new year.

Media Noche is literally celebrated with a bang in the Philippines; fireworks and firecrackers and even gun shots roar and light up the night and sky.

This New Year 2012-2013 celebrations, at least 413 people were reported injured. A six- year old girl is still in a coma at a  hospital with a gun shot wound in her head and a four-year old boy who went to use the bathroom in his cousin's house died from four gun shots/

Filipinos traditionally celebrate New Year's eve and day hosting or attending family reunions. And since the dawning of the Metro Manila film festival, New Year has also been the last day to see Tagalog movie entries to the festival.

Gift giving or what we call in our family "monito, monita" is another Filipino Holiday Season tradition.  It is the counterpart of exchange gift but here the relative you give a gift to remains a secret until the name is called out in the actual handing out of gifts.

Media Noche is also an occasion to bring out the best holiday food in the table.  The usual Pinoy media noche fare always include the jamon or Chinese sweet ham, queso de bola (Chinese edam cheese) tsokolateng cacao, buko salad, Pinoy sweet spaghetti, pan americano, halayang ube o sweet purple yam, 12 round fruits, and of course, liquor, liqueur and wine.

In the olden days, children went from house to house and were given money by the old folks; even non- relatives knocked at houses and received food and money. 

In the village where we live, it is quite surprising to still have people whom you don't know holler "namamasko po," (Merry Christmas, can we have some gifts?).

The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on New Year's Day so it is a  holiday of obligation.