NEW YORK – The beloved Simbang Gabi tradition among Filipino Americans in New York is back – with the 36th Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado kicking off on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
The annual event, hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York in partnership with Filipino community organizations in the US Northeast, will be held from Dec. 5 to 13 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York.
Weeknight Masses start at 6 p.m. and weekend Masses begin at 3 p.m. The theme this year is “Liwanag at Pag-asa: Pasko ng Bagong Pilipinas.”
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Photo from New York PCG
“As we welcome the Christmas season, let’s come together to celebrate our shared faith and cherished traditions, embracing the joy and warmth of this special time,” the consulate said in its event announcement. Those who plan to attend the Simbang Gabi may RSVP here.
Also in the spirit of the holiday season, more than 50 Filipino American families recently came together at the Philippine Center to honor Filipino traditions and values through the art of parol-making.
Families work on crafting their own lanterns under the guidance of Helping Stars Foundation. Photos by Sherlyn Roxas
The consulate, in collaboration with The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey and Helping Stars Foundation, hosted a parol-making workshop at the Philippine Center.
ADVERTISEMENTVenessa Manzano of The Filipino School of New York and New Jersey opened the workshop with a discussion of the history and cultural significance of the parol, which was followed by a book reading of Christina Bryner’s A Filipino Christmas Wish by Jane Orendain.
During the workshop, families created their own Filipino Christmas lanterns with the guidance of Helping Stars Foundation artisans and facilitators.
“The parol reminds us that even in the darkest of times, we Filipinos shine with hope, faith, and joy,” Vice Consul Cathe Ryne Denice S. Aguilar said in her remarks. “It is a light that not only brightens our homes during Christmas but also binds us as a community, carrying our values wherever we may be.”
Some of the lanterns created by workshop participants will be displayed at the Philippine Center for the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado celebrations.
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