Schedule of Activities 2010

Source: dinagyangsailoilo.com

Fiesta sa Villa!

District of Arevalo (La Villa Rica de Arevalo), Iloilo  City’s Annual Fireworks Competition

Let’s HANGOUTin Arevalo. January 17, Sunday, 2010.

Villa orArevaloas it is popularly called today is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, in the Philippine province of Iloilo. It was originally founded as La Villa Rica de Arevaloby a Spanish official who built his mansion along the coastal settlement in the 16th Century. It was absorbed by Iloilo City during the 20thCentury along with the towns of Mandurriao, La Paz, Molo and the city of Jaro. Its historical church possesses one of the oldest Sto. Niño (Infant Jesus) figurines in the Philippines. Its prominent attraction is the Villa Beach along the coast which boasts several resorts and an outdoor nightlife such as open air restaurants and bars.

The District of Arevalo has thirteen barangays. This are Barangay Bonifacio, Calaparan, Dulunan, Mohon, Quezon, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Santa Molanida, Santa Felomina, Santo Domingo, Santo Niño Norte, Santo Niño Sur, Sooc, and Yulo Drive.

The annual fireworks display and competition is the highlight of the district’s annual patronal fiesta.It is a celebration in honor of the their patron, Sr. Santo Niño (Infant Jesus). The competition is a showdown between local fireworks makers and designers. The presentation is a deafening spectacle of elaborate and best-known fireworks: either the ones that produces sound; the ones that are mounted around the periphery of a wheel to rotate by rocket effect; the ones placed in the ground and emit balls or stars of fire at intervals; or the ones that explodes high in the air to produce any of the several types of display. Specifically, the celebration is for the entertainment purposes of the people of Arevalo and their way of frightening away bad luck.

photo and article source: iloilocity.gov and en.wikipedia.org

Celebrating the real Meaning of CHRISTmas

“For the first coming of Our Lord in the flesh [in which He has been begotten], in Bethlehem, took place [25 December, the fourth day] in the reign of Augustus [the forty-second year, and] in the year 5500 [from Adam]. And He suffered in His thirty-third year [25 March, the parasceve, in the eighteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar, during the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio].”

- Chalki manuscript of Hippolytus, as early as c. 205. Catholic Encyclopedia

Have a Blessed Christmas everyone.

Video source: youtube.com

Simbang Gabi is a tradition that was introduced by the Spanish friars to allow the farmers to hear mass before going to the fields early in the morning. It is also known by its popular Spanish name as the Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the rooster”. Simbang Gabi means dawn mass. It is a Filipino tradition that dates back to 1587. It was untroduced by the Spanish Missionaries to encourage the faith of the Filipino people. It is a series of nine early morning Masses (novena), starting as early as 4:00a.m.

The tradition begins on December 16th and ends at midnight of December 24th (the Midnight Mass) with Noche Buena. During the Simbang Gabi days, most churches open their doors before the break of dawn to welcome church goers.

To wake people up, church bells start ringing as early as 3 o’clock in the morning. Bright Christmas lights ans colorful parols (lanterns) decorate houses and the church. People put on their special clothes and jewelry to got to church. They wear their special sweaters because of the cool December breeze.

photo source:flicker.com

After the mass, food stalls outside the church await the church goers for the purchase of the traditional delicacies usually different kakanin (rice cakes), hot pandesal (yeast roll) and empanada (dough breadstuffed withmeat). These traditional foods are usually served with salabat (ginger tea) or coffee. Christmas carols are heard everywhere. You can see joy on the peoples faces.

Simbang Gabi is a spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Some look at it as a way of requesting blessings from the Lord. some believe that if they pray and complete the Novena, their personal wishes/request will be granted.

Filipinos start before dawn to celebrate the real Advent with the coming of the Light of Christ. There is Holy week before Easter, there is Simbang Gabi before Christmas in the Philippines.

source: St Lambert Parish Bulletin

A yearly tradition of the Municipality of Pototan, Iloilo, Iwag features dazzling lights and decorations with nightly cultural shows, food festival and agri-industrial fair. This year’s event opens 16th December until the mid- January.

photo source: valcaulin.com