Kababayans celebrate Simbang Gabi in New York
The Philippine Consulate General in New York, together with its Filipino American Community Partner Organizations in the US Northeast, officially started the Christmas season with the annual “Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado,” a nine-day series of novena masses leading up to Christmas, on Monday, 08 December 2021 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. Reverend Father Fr. Patrick Longalong officiates the 1st night of the Simbang Gabi (Left Photo) . “The Voices of Friendship,” a Queens-based Filipino choir, sings Filipino Christmas songs to set the festive mood for the 1st Simbang Gabi.( Right Photo. Now in its 33rd year, the “Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado,” is considered as one of the most cherished and anticipated events of the Filipino Community in the United States northeast.
The first night of the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado was sponsored by the Coalition of Philippine Catholic Schools and Universities, ( Photos from PCGNY by Monina E. Tran)
Consul General Elmer G. Cato (Left Photo) in his welcome remarks, expresses his gratitude for the spirit of bayanihan that he says is very much alive in the Filipino Community in the US Northeast.”Kababayans are greeted with a visual feast of bright and colorful traditional Christmas lanterns upon entering the Philippine Center.(Right Photo) Preceding each mass is a paro/-lighting ceremony, at the lobby, where kababayan enjoy a visual feast of bright and colorful traditional Christmas lanterns, most of which came all the way from Pampanga, dubbed as the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines. (Photos from PCG NY by Monina E. Tran)