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Filipinos in New York usher in Christmas with celebration of Simbang Gabi at the Philippine Center
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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL - NEWS RELEASE
16 December 2005
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New York, NEW YORK --- The Filipino community in New York and neighboring states ushered in Christmas with the celebration of the first evening of Simbang Gabi on Wednesday, 14 December at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in Manhattan. The sponsors of the first Simbang Gabi were the Coalition of Philippine Schools Alumni Association and the United Nations Philippine Cultural Society.
Filled to capacity, Kalayaan Hall looked festive with Philippine parols and a 7-footer Christmas tree decorated with sinamay and capiz trimmings. Reverend Monsignor Ruben Dimaculangan, Second Counselor at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the U.N., celebrated the mass. In his homily Monsignor Dimaculangan talked on conversion of hearts by way of the Holy Family. A Philippine Rondalla provided Christmas carol music.
After the mass, the crowd shared in the food, consisting of native delicacies such as pansit, bibingka, puto and suman.
Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, a project that was initiated by the Consulate General twenty years ago, starts on 14 December and lasts until December 22. Each mass is hosted by the various Filipino-American organizations. The Philippine Consulate General in New York is a co-sponsor of the last Simbang Gabi on December 22.
New York Consul General Cecilia Rebong said “the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado allows Filipinos in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) to experience the Filipino way of celebrating Christmas.” “It is heartwarming to note that one of the nine masses is sponsored by five youth groups, namely, Philippine New York Jaycees, Youth Sector of Filipino American Human Services, Inc., Collaborative Opportunities for Raising Empowerment (CORE), Kalusugan Coalition, and Diverse City Theatre. These young Filipino Americans are proud of the beautiful Philippine Christmas tradition,” Rebong added.
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For more information:
Philippine Consulate General in New York
556 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036 US
Email: newyork@pcgny.net
(212) 764-1330
Fax: (212) 382-1146
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Office Hours:
Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Closed on Philippine and U.S. Holidays
Acceptance of Passport Applications:
Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 4:00pm only
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© Copyright 2008 Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York. All Rights Reserved.
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