More than 100 leaders of the Filipino community in Oregon and supporters gathered last month at the conference center of the Grotto in Northeast Portland for the official launching of Dambana: The Filipino Faith Shrine.

The shrine is a collaboration between the Filipino community of Oregon and the Grotto, the National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, in Portland.

It will be built on the upper gardens and feature the image of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), as well as the Blessed Mother and San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, as all three are symbols of the community’s cultural affinity with these intercessors. Dambana — the Tagalog word for shrine or altar — is envisioned as a sanctuary that blends Filipino faith and culture. It is a symbol of the community’s unity and dedication, and will serve as a legacy to future generations.

“This is our Filipino dream in Oregon – to build the Dambana, as a testament to our strong and involved community, grounded in its faith and values, and dedicated to serving each other,” says Pia de Leon, one of the organizers of the project.

Read more of Filipino community to build shrine at Grotto

For the first time, the Novena dedicated to the Holy Child of Atocha is available in English. Three local scholars and authors from New Mexico have worked together to produce the Novena in both English and Spanish. The bilingual booklet for the Novena to the Santo Niño de Atocha has been released by LPD Press. Father Thomas J. Steele, S.J., Dr. Charles M. Carrillo, and Felipe R. Mirabal have compiled, edited and translated theNovena. The booklet is $3@ and has the full Novena in Spanish and English. The compilation and translation work took five years to complete. The three authors did this project because of their love for the Santo Niño de Atocha Carrillo¹s daughter is named for the Santo Niño. Carrillo and Steele have written many books on the religious traditions of New Mexico and all three have written many articles and have taught various religious subjects including at UNM. One area retailer said they had a Spanish version of the Novena but they have 15 people a day asking for an English version.

Sales of the booklet are being handled by LPD Press, 505/344-9382.

via Paul Rhetts, LPD Press

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Here’s an interesting news from U.K. Reuters.

MANILA (Reuters Life!) - With red lanterns and Lunar New Year banners swinging in the breeze, Manila’s bustling Chinatown looks like any other welcoming the Year of the Rat — except for the Virgin Mary and child Jesus icons (Santo Nino - ed).

Jewellery store owner Tammy Chua is one of hundreds who start the day with a prayer at a Roman Catholic church in Chinatown, before hurrying back to open her small shop.

“I don’t see any conflict in me being a Catholic and doing what we Chinese practice during Lunar New Year,” Chua said.

The 75-year-old has set up a stall of Lunar New Year sticky rice cakes, and expects brisk business over the next few days, as one million ethnic Chinese in the Philippine capital celebrate the Lunar New Year with fireworks, dragon dances and feasting.

Read the rest of the article from UK Reuters

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The recent Sinulog celebration in Cebu, Philippines was the biggest in History so far.

See more at PinoyCentric.com

Photo: Noah C. Omamalin

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