ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016

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‘Santacruzan’ showcase of rich cultural heritage of Philippines

Pinoys in Ahmadi celebrate annual May Flower FestivalBy Michelle Fe Santiago

Arab Times Staff

The Filipino Catholics in Ahmadi held the annual May Flower

Festival or better known as “San-tacruzan” on Friday at the Our Lady of Arabia Parish Church in Ahmadi with glitz and glamour as partici-pants showcased their exquisite and colourful gowns during the proces-sion.

The “Santacruzan” is a popular re-ligious festival held in many towns and cities throughout the Philip-pines highlighting the month-long celebration of Flores de Mayo. The “Santacruzan” depicts the search for

the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reyna Elena), mother of the em-peror Constantine the Great.

It is usually celebrated with a parade of decorated fl oats and elaborately dressed characters, representing various aspects of the Blessed Virgin Mary and other fi gures. Women dressed in terno act as ‘reynas’ or “sagalas” and are escorted during the procession by men clad in Barong Tagalog. They walk underneath elaborately decorated arches and are escorted by a band of men and women praying and holding lit candles. The festival was introduced to the country during the Spanish period and continues to

be celebrated by Filipinos all over the world.

Values“Santacruzan is a showcase of

the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines and most importantly it is a celebration of our faith. Even though we are far from home, we should uphold our values as Chris-tians,” stated Parish Priest Rev Fr Alfredo Micua, who celebrated the holy mass before the Santacruzan parade and festivity.

This year’s Reyna Elena was Desiree Barbadillo escorted by Lanz Anghelo Gaborno Jr with her entourage Maria Ysabela Makasakit

(Reyna Del Cielo) and escort Ja-meel Hamoud, Jesilyn Inopia (Ve-ronica) with Christopher Malilay; Nicollete Minsalan (Reyna Justicia) with Gabrielle Nicolas Minsa-lan; Veriza Ann Caballo (Reyna Candelaria) with Ferdinand Ragasa Jr; Reigna Gaborno (Reyna De Los Patriarcas) with Paul Gabriel Rum-baoa; Leann Marie Caballo (Reyna Caridad) with Gabriel Duquet; An-gela Mae Gerella (Reyna Paz) with Billie John Cene Gonzales; Seatiel Villena (Abogada); Maurice Leean Encio (Reyna De Los Santos) with Earl John Lloyd Gonzales; Krtsiel Baral (Reyna Sheba) with Allen Aguinaldo; Gieselle Lopena

(Reyna Fe) with John Eric Santos; Rachelle Co (Reyna Esperanza) with Jason Rodriguez; Kristina Rodriguez (Reyna Estrellas) with Kristian Darryll Viray; Elland Mae Casabueno (Reyna Mystica) with Marlon Aquino; Alezandra Cleofas (Reyna De Los Angeles) with Rudinie Dagana Jr; Sheila Gavin (Reyna De Las Virgenes) with Voltaire Barbosa; Melissa Florendo (Reyna Emperatriz) with Richard Leonor as escort; Dimer and Perla Barbadillo as the Hermano and Hermana Mayor respectively.

For this year’s biblical charac-ters, Angelo Jay Cazon represented

Methuselah; Gabrielle and Denise Poliquit (Igorot); Pione Grace Rum-baoa, Paula Guiia Rumbaoa and Thania Villena (Tres Marias) while the Ave Maria angels were played by Herchelle Evangelista, Shekina Tinana, Jean McGuire, Kelcee Flor-endo, Zandra Agatha Guce, Ylanna Elamparo, Veronica Gaza and Yana Bornilla.

Fr Micua thanked all the partici-pants and sponsors and commended the event coordinators of the San-tacruzan this year for the successful event.

The Santacruzan was capped by a dinner buffet showcasing delectable Filipino dishes.

The ‘Angels’ The Sagalas with their escorts

Hermano and Hermana Mayor Dimer & Perla Barbadillo

The procession Reyna Elena Desiree Barbadillo (extreme right) with her entourage Reyna Emperatriz Melissa Florendo

Some of the participants