14 January 2014 - The Philippine Consulate General joined Filipinos in Guam during their celebration of the 15th annual Santo Niño Fiesta on the island last January 12. The fiesta celebration was spearheaded by the core group of Santo Niño-Guam 2000 in close cooperation with the Aklan Association, Cebu Association, Iloilo International, and the Capizeños of Guam.
As main event of the celebration, a thanksgiving mass was held at the Dulce de Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Agana at 3:00 p.m., which was presided by His Eminence Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of the Archdiocese of Agana. The mass was concelebrated by His Eminence Jose Advincula Jr. of the Archdiocese of Capiz, who was invited as special guest from the Philippines for this year’s Santo Niño fiesta celebration.
Consul General Bayani V. Mangibin, together with Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian and some of the Consulate staff and their families, joined the mass celebration that was attended also by Guam Governor Eddie B. Calvo and First Lady Christine Calvo, Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez and his wife Lena Rodriguez, Senator Rory Respicio, and hundreds of Santo Niño devotees.
In his homily, Archbishop Advincula shared that even if the Philippines has experienced devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda last November, the feast of Santo Niño is an occasion for everyone, especially Filipinos in the Philippines and in Guam, to be united in joy and hope. He encouraged everyone to emulate the child Jesus in trusting the Lord and to always maintain hope.
Immediately after the mass, a procession followed around the Skinner Plaza, which was led by Archbishop Apuron and Archbishop Advincula and joined by other priests and throngs of Santo Niño devotees.
Also as part of the festive celebration, a fellowship dinner and cultural program was also held in the early evening at the Guam Bakery parking compound in Dededo, which featured presentations such as dances of Ati-Atihan of Aklan, Sinulog of Cebu, Dinagyang of Iloilo and Halaran of Capiz, and other entertainment numbers.
This year’s fiesta celebration is the 15th year that Aklan Association, Cebu Association, Iloilo International, and the Capizenos of Guam jointly celebrated the feast of Santo Nino.
In 1999, Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal gave an image of the Santo Niño de Cebu to Guam Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron.
In accepting the image, Archbishop Apuron challenged the Santo Niño devotees of Guam to celebrate the Santo Niño fiesta in a single celebration at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral. The Santo Niño – Guam 2000 was then formed for this purpose. It is composed of several Filipino organizations such as the Cebu Association, Aklan Association, Iloilo International, and Capizenos of Guam and Leyte-Samar Association. The Santo Niño – Guam 2000 is chaired by Mr. Tim Oftana. END
