By: Atty. Romulo Rivera

A group of members and officers of the Mitcham Filipino-British Association (MFBA) headed by its president Ronald Dalida joined various Filipino organizations in London in celebrating the Feast of Santo Nino. The event which was held yesterday (January 16, 2011) at the historic St. George’s Cathedral, Westminster Bridge Road in London was organized by various Filipino communities led by London- based Filipino priest, Fr. Jake Dicto, in answer to a challenge posed by Bishop Lynch on his return from a conference in Manila in 2009. The intention was to unite the various Filipino communities in London as they express the Filipino faith and culture.

History has it that Santo Niño is the first image of Catholicism that represents the image of Child Jesus, brought by the Spaniards and given as a gift to native royal couple,  Rajah Humabon and wife  Hara Amihan in Cebu and  to spread Christianity in the island. In recent years, Filipinos turn to the Santo Nino to invoke His assistance in times of difficulties by offering prayers, sacrifices, and reliefs in their necessities or consolations in their adversities as exemplified in the ‘People Powers’, a bloodless revolution that changed oppressive and corrupt leaderships in the government.

The Feast of Santo Niño (Holy Child) is a very significant and well celebrated event for all Catholics all over the globe. In the Philippines, it is observed in different parts of the country and as part of tradition Filipinos carry this through wherever they are. Like the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the celebration is composed of long procession of the image and colorful fluvial parade joined by hundreds of thousands of devotees. Every house prepares sumptuous meals for relatives and friends that will visit the house to join in the celebration. Food is over-flowing, parlor games  and street dancing are held on the streets of each community with musical bands doing the rounds that provide the festive mood with majorettes’ doing dance exhibitions.

The event gave the MFBA another opportunity to broaden its Network and to meet with dignitaries from the Philippine Embassy in London led by ConsulGen Tess De Vega and First Consul Bernadette Fernandez. For lack of material time, the group skipped the cultural presentation by the participating Filipino organizations after partaking with the packed meal that followed the Mass which was attended by an estimate of more than 500 Filipino devotees. The EKIZ Band had a previously scheduled practice and audition in preparation for the forthcoming Valentine’s party on 19 February 2011 where everybody is again reminded and enjoined to attend.

Please visit our Website "www.mitchampinoy.com" to view pictures and more details of the event.