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| The mother and son pair of Fiel Angeli and Renji as Empress Helena 2021 and Prince Constantine, respectively. |
Most Filipinos, including Boholanos, are devout Catholics. They honor and celebrate saints on feast days.
In
the Philippines, May is a merry month not only because it is the season
of fiestas with gastronomic treats, but of the “Flores de Mayo” -
Spanish for "flowers of May", one of the devotions to the Blessed Virgin
Mary starting from the first until the last day of May of every year.
It
is the time when girls believing in “Ad Jesum Per Mariam” – to Jesus
through Mary – offer flowers and implore her intercession to bring their
prayers and supplications to Jesus.
The
Santacruzan, derived from the Spanish term “santa cruz” or holy cross,
is being held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It depicts Saint
Helena (Reina Elena) and Constantine the Great of Constantinople’s
search for the “true cross”.
Some trace its
connection to May from the May 3 date of “Roodmas” commemorating the
finding by Saint Helena of the true cross in Jerusalem in 355 observed
on May 3 in some Christian churches and rites.
In
the Philippine setting, Santacruzan is made a colorful festival and has
become an integral part of Filipino traditions identified with youth,
love, and romance because of the personalities who portray the biblical
figures and traditional personifications during the procession with
Reina Elena holding the holy cross beside Prince Constantine.
In
Bohol, even with the pandemic, Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish relived
the Santacruzan offering of flowers to Mary spearheaded by Msgr.
Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG, parish priest, that started with the
rosary, novena, holy mass, and ended with a motorcade around Barangay
Cogon, the biggest barangay in the Tagbilaran City in terms of
population.
Following the COVID-19 health and
safety standard protocols, the sagalas as well as their escorts wore
face masks and face shields.
This year is
special because there are, indeed, so many things to be thankful for,
especially the “angels” here on earth for their outpouring of generosity
for the fundraiser which totalled P421,670.75 for the church
improvement projects, specifically the completion of the counseling room
and priests’ rooms.
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| Cogon Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish' Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG with Empress Helena 2021 Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao - Gabin and her son, JF Regelbert Johnson "Renji" as Prince Constantine, and John Nino M. Dacullo, Santacruzan 2021 Committee chair. |
Empress Helena 2021 is
Fiel Angeli Espejo Araoarao - Gabin, daughter of Rep and Wincie Araoarao
and a resident of Graham Avenue, Cogon’s Purok 2 for the past 51
years.
She is married to Engr. Jerome John
Gabin from Siquijor and has 2 children, AJ Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” and
JF Regelbert Johnson “Renji” Gabin who escorted her as Prince
Constantine.
The
“sagalas” were Luzviminda Bayne, Purok 5 (Queen of Sheba); Lolita
Acedo, Purok 6 (Rebecca); Leonisa Eroy, Purok 4 (Reina Caridad); Rebecca
Yecyec, Purok 1 (Deborah); Marie Anne Udtohan-Diores, Purok 3 (Reina
Fe); Irenea Tocmo, Purok 8 (La Divina Pastora); Rosa Nina Aranilla,
Purok 12 (Hagar); Cecile Vitor, Purok 7 (Reina Esperanza); Maricris
Tumale, Purok 10 (Esther); Lovely Pilayo, Purok 11 (Ruth); and Debbie
Calabria, Purok 9 (Reina Madre).
The
fundraiser was coordinated by John Nino Dacullo, chair of the Parish
Youth Coordinating Council, together with Flor Anabelle Cesar, Venice
Doron, and Merlita Cagata.
Fashion designer Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad designed Empress Helena 2021’s white Philippine terno.
* * *
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.
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