By Oliver Demano Exclusive to TFLA Pampanga, Philippines — Every Holy Week , all roads lead to this town north of Metro Manila to witness the Philippine’s long tradition of “Semana Santa” or Holy Week. Aside from native food which Pampanga is well known for, the province is also popular for its Holy Week’s sacred […]
By Oliver Demano, TFLA correspondent in Manila My family and I booked a hotel two months before the Pope’s Visit near the area of Quirino Grandstand in the famous Luneta or Rizal Park to ensure our attendance to his celebration of the Holy Mass on January 18. On the night before the spiritual event, my […]
By Oliver Demano The FilAm L.A. Exclusive Editor’s note: January 9 in Manila is one of the most well-known and largest religious celebrations in Manila where millions of devotees to the Black Nazarene, an ebony-colored statue of Jesus Christ carrying the Cross, flock around the streets of Quiapo in several mile-long procession. This annual procession, […]
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Dateline Manila. With but a few days shortly after my homeland arrival had taken place, during the last days of November 2014, queries arose: “Aren’t you fortunate that you will be covering Pope Francis’s visit?” How I wish I could have answered positively in line with their caring views! Another […]
The 2014 Peňafrancia Festival is held to celebrate the feast day honoring Our Lady of Peňafrancia in the month of September by the United Bicolandia of Los Angeles (UCBLA), the umbrella organization of Bicolanos from Southern California. Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and Madame Fides Herrera-Lim graced the event together with officers and staff from the […]
By Cecile Caguingin Ochoa On May 24, Pastor Alexander Achacoso, a University of the Philippines alumnus, led his visiting fraternity buddies in dedicating a commemorative fountain, part of the cosmetic phase of the church rebuilding after fire wrought damages day after Christmas two years ago. The cost of the damage was estimated at $500,000 which […]
The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles attended the 10th Archdiocesan Filipino Marian Celebration of the Santacruzan held on May 11 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Rev. Alex Aclan of Los Angeles led the Eucharistic celebration with the auxiliary bishops and clerics […]
By Cecile Caguingin-Ochoa The Season of sacrifice is upon the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world in the remaining 37 days or so. Starting from receiving ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday, the faithful once more begins the pilgrimage from Lent, a 40-day season of self-examination, fasting and penance in preparation for Easter Day […]
By Lawrence C. Ochoa Many Filipino expatriates bring with them cherished Christmas memories from home by celebrating Simbang Gabi, popularly known as “midnight mass” or “mass at dawn.” The archdiocese of Los Angeles ushered in this important tradition by supporting local parishes as they simultaneously hold Simbang Gabi every day from December 15 throughout the […]