DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-018-07                                                                                                                                                                          12 January 2007

filipino Community in Singapore celebrates 8th year of traditional Simbang Gabi

12 January 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Belen F. Anota reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the growing Filipino community in Singapore celebrated the traditional nine-day Novena Mass or Simbang Gabi from 15 to 23 December 2006, followed by a Christmas Eve Mass on 24 December 2006 for the 8th straight year, under the leadership of Filipino parish priest Fr. Angel Luciano, CICM.

For the year 2006, the community adopted the theme, “The Holy Sacraments,” which started with a general briefing on all the Sacraments and also featured special presentations on the Word of God and Christmas.

As with previous years, the celebrations of the Masses were held at various churches around Singapore. The community was also welcomed by the respective Filipino ministries of these churches to the anticipated fellowship among the members.

Amid untimely rains and wet weather of the season, Filipinos flocked the churches – the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Boon Lay, in the easternmost side of Singapore; the Church of the Holy Trinity in Tampines, in the westernmost end; the Church of Our Lady of the Star of the Sea in Yishun, in the northernmost end; and in the centrally located Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Queen Street.

Some 2,000 Filipinos were present in each of the Masses with varying themes such as Baptism, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick.

Right after every Mass, the churchgoers shared food and delicacies. The steaming hot chicken arroz caldo, courtesy of Fr. Angel's own parish, St Michael Church, was a regular favorite in all the fellowship gatherings.

The Masses also provided an opportunity for the community to donate to the Filipina domestic workers temporarily housed at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) with their daily necessities such as food, toiletries, beddings, etc.  About six to eight of the Filipinas at the FWRC attended the Masses, while more than 60 were present in the Christmas Eve Mass.

Ambassador Anota, who was present in all the Simbang Gabi Masses, also offered her Christmas wishes and message of love and sharing to all during the Christmas Eve Mass. END

/epa

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