Accents
San Lorenzo fiesta a blast
Redding, California, Sept. 27—Give it to NorCal FACA to celebrate the feast day of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, in a super-duper blast Sept. 26. NorCal FACA of Redding has become a byword in the Catholic community of this city, and, you bet, of environs, too. Talk of guests coming from Red Bluff, Chico, Anderson, and hey, farther away Oakland and Daly City from where my daughter Rose’s family and relatives came for the celebrations.
To make a short name long, NorCal FACA is the Northern California Filipino-American Catholic Association. Coming from different provinces of the Philippines, NorCal FACA members know the essence of a “patronal fiesta” — the popular term in the homeland to honor the patron saint of the barangay or town. Picture the long procession: lassies in Filipina costume escorted by lads in barong, the floats of the Barangay Queen and other winning beauties, the angels, the little boys and girls attired respectively in the costume of the saint whether a he or a she, and at the end, the venerated statue of the patron saint followed by the older generation with their prayers via the loud speaker, and the band accompaniment in subdued cadence. Save for the band, the NorCal FACA San Lorenzo celebration was the embodiment of a “patronal fiesta.” Yes, there was a procession—the San Lorenzo statue borne on the shoulders. Very short, but thanks, there was no halted traffic as is usually the case in Bayan Ko.
Also called San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, he was born in Binondo, Manila, was arrested and died by torture in Japan while steadfastly holding on to his Christian faith. The year was 1637. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City, Rome, on October 18, 1987 (a case of better late than never?), making him the first Filipino saint and the first Filipino martyr. His patronage is for the Overseas Filipino Workers and for people living in poverty. It is interesting to note that in Lower Manhattan, New York, is the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the Philippine Pastoral Center said to be supported by 100,000 working Filipinos in metropolitan New York.
As with every saint-feast-day celebration back home, NorCal FACA’s started with a Mass officiated by Our Lady of Mercy parish priest, Fr. Jonathan Molina, a Filipino, with a troop of seven other invited priests participating on the altar. Seven, and all Filipinos, too. Who could beat that? At this point, worthy to mention Malou and Corsini Templado, Josie and Benny Cruz, and Sol Sullivan for the hassles, the invitations and accommodations, as well as for other aspects that contributed to the success of the religious event. And thanks to Maria Villezar for the program and for the printed songs that clearly showed the neophyte choristers when to apply the brake—yah, break it was before proceeding to the chorus. We just didn’t have the talent of Pia Azarraga and the choir ensemble that made the Mass extra solemn and meaningful. (Gosh, other names will sprout later on. And for those unnamed, just blame me. You’re just as worthy as those known to this writer who is trying to catch a deadline.)
The feast day of San Lorenzo is actually Sept. 28 which falls on a Monday. NorCal FACA celebrated it Sept. 26, a Saturday, for the convenience of everybody, just as other Stateside folks are prone to schedule their own community affairs. After the Mass, Dr. Raileen Lagoc (may I add that she’s the youngest daughter of my roommate and mine) acknowledged her fellow hermanas: Joan and Johnny Agarrado, Maricon and Jonathan Azarraga, Rollie Cadungon and Celia Mayer, and Nixon Barnuevo, Raileen’s significant other. The hermanas took responsibility for the reception at the huge Our Lady of Mercy Social Hall where the best in Filipino cuisine, lechon included, were beautifully laden buffet style. Not to forget the sweetest grapes, apples, and pears—the centerpiece of rows and rows of dining tables. Organic, all from the orchard of Lorna Dean who hails from Antique.
If the festive stomach development was great, so was the programme which opened with the singing of the national anthems. In front, the flags of the two countries, the US and our very own, fittingly adorned the San Lorenzo image side by other side. With the stomachs full, entertainment became most enjoyable especially when between numbers, one could go back to the sumptuous dishes for seconds. The dances and songs brought to the fore the directorial prowess of Encar Vegas. Gush, hers was patience with a capital P. I knew, being a proud member (ha! ha!) of the so-called Mabuhay Singers that Encar had directed. Our repertoire consisted of four songs: Gulong ng Palad, Pista, Dampa, and Alitaptap, songs that bring to mind bucolic barrio fiesta of old, rustic sceneries in the paintings of national artist Fernando Amorsolo, and the countrified, warm, friendly lines of another national artist, Felipe Padilla de Leon, composer of Alitaptap. (More about this in a separate column.) The Mabuhay group and the raffles (a TV set was the major prize) interspersed the dances to give the participants breathing space and time to change costume for another dance number.
In Sayaw sa Bangko, Romulus Ongaco paired with Jocel Dopkins, and Tyler Cervania with Jessica Damalerio. The foursome got resounding applause by dancing gracefully without falling from the bangko or bench. Talk of Filipino grace and agility. Tinikling, the national folk dance, caused heightened excitement with the addition of the walking tinikling version performed by Tyler and Bradley Cervania, with pretty Jocel Dopkins hugging the spotlight as star dancer. Romulus Ongaco and Lorenz Mallari were the experts who performed the rhythmic clapping of the bamboo poles. Played with a Latin beat, romantic Sarong Banggi was transformed to a stunning Cha Cha number in the artistic performance of Jocel Dopkins, Romulus Ongaco, and Tyler and Bradley Cervania. Above teenagers, joined by Norman Garcia and Dominic Mallari, performed their own rousing interpretation of Footloose with overflowing energy and vigor. A special dance number, Marinera from Peru, was contributed by skilled Beatrice Burga. Another special was the song rendition of Johnny Agarrado with his guitar accompaniment. The wistful song medley—the lines fan nostalgia and infuse feelings of being truly Pinoy—just made Florante and Freddie Aguilar mingling in our midst.
The merrymakings went happily wild with the kids’ version of Footloose where tiny Kien Michael Lorenzo Luna was adjudged best performer. (Like grandparents, like grandson, eh, Encar.) Pabitin (the modernized version of using balloons instead of clay pots) capped the festival — the balloons bursting and the kids scrambling for the candies as they fell.
All in all, a super-duper blast of a San Lorenzo fiesta celebration. Sacred, festive, joyful. Give it to NorCal FACA. Aw’right, give it to the Pinoy! (Email: lagoc@hargray.com)