03 February 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez attended the Sinulog Festival in Auckland on January 21. As the 21st annual celebration of the Feast of Señor Sto. Niño, the Sinulog Festival put the spotlight on the Filipino people’s deeply rooted Christian beliefs and the richness and vibrancy of the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage. More than 10,000 Filipino devotees of the Sto. Niño, families and friends from New Zealand and other countries joined in the 21st anniversary of the Sinulog celebration in Auckland, the largest city and home to more than 20,000 Filipinos.
The event was organized by the New Zealand Filipino Devotees of Señor Sto. Niño Trust with support from the Trustees, area coordinators, committee members and the outgoing and incoming hermanos and hermanas. The cultural theme for 2015 was “Sinulog Festival of Dances, An Offering to Señor Sto Niño”. The program consisted of a 9-day novena at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, rosary, novena and mass each night and the fiesta celebration highlighting the procession, people’s Sinulog dance offering, lunch fellowship and a cultural program at the North Shore Events Centre. His Grace Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland together with Filipino priests Fr. Larry Rustia, Fr. Gilbert Ramos, Fr. Sam Pulanco and Rev Carlos Guleng concelebrated the Mass. Ambassador Benavidez, Hon. Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie, Minister for Ethnic Communities, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Pacific Peoples and Associate Minister for Health, Mrs. Jules Lotu-Iiga, Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia, Honorary Vice-Consul Virginia Russell and leaders and members of the Filipino community, families and friends from other countries participated in the Sinulog celebrations.
In her message, Ambassador Benavidez conveyed the heartiest congratulations to the organizers and participants of the 21st annual celebration of the Feast of Señor Sto. Niño from January 16 to 18, which was a much-awaited occasion that continues to grow from strength to strength over the years. “Today, the celebration and atmosphere of the Sinulog signifying the strength of our Christian beliefs and richness of our spiritual and cultural heritage serve as the anchor that sustains and inspires Filipinos in New Zealand, back home in the Philippines and other countries all over the world. The Sinulog sounds and sights, rhythm and dance will be rendered by the devotees of Señor Sto. Niño from the Archdiocese of Cebu before the start of the grand Eucharistic celebration on January 18 to be led by His Holiness Pope Francis whose Papal Visit to the Philippines on January 15 to 19 carries the theme of ‘Mercy and Compassion’ embodying the humility, simplicity, service, care and love of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,” Ambassador Benavidez stated.
She also cited the steadfast dedication and wholehearted commitment of Oscar and Miriam Batucan, the first ever Filipino-New Zealand Couple to be awarded the Benemerenti Medal given by Pope Benedict XVI on 20 July 2009. The couple was also rewarded with the Queen’s Service Medal in the 2015 New Year’s Honors List for their services to the Filipino community in New Zealand.
Ambassador Benavidez also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the members of the NZ-Filipino Devotees of the Señor Sto. Niño Trust to organize the yearly Sinulog Festival and to mount community-based activities for the benefit of Filipino migrants, youth and families are exemplary. “The Philippine Embassy is blessed to have them as our vital partners in promoting a strong sense of community and connectivity among Filipinos, showcasing the vibrancy of Filipino cultural and spiritual heritage, enhancing our people based relationship with New Zealand and contributing to the multicultural enrichment and ethnic diversity of Aotearoa. May this Sinulog festival be our way of strengthening our unity and solidarity with each other, thanking Señor Sto. Niño for instilling in the Filipinos child-like faith, wonder and affection and all-embracing trust in God and heightening our sense of nationalism and pride on the continuing significant economic growth and record breaking economic gains and unprecedented credit upgrades of the Philippines. I reiterate the Embassy’s continuing support and services to all of you, keeping in mind the directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III to restore the culture of honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability and hard work in all frontline services of the Philippine government and the call of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Foreign Service personnel in any time zone to serve with a smile, go the extra mile and reach beyond our grasp,” Ambassador Benavidez said.
The Sinulog fiesta celebrations in Auckland were filled by joyful cheers and resounding applause for the basketball teams awarding ceremony, cultural performances from the Ati-Atihan, Pintados, Dinagyang and Sinulog tribes, Sinulog Festival Queen presentations, music and dance productions, raffle draws, food stalls, organization and business booths and mardi gras atmosphere. END