Filipinos celebrate their National Day

Jun 19, 2014

By Bernard Anthony
Filipino Catholics thronged the Cathedral of St John (SJC) on June 8, Solemnity of Pentecost for a Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate their country’s 116th Independence Day which is on June 12.

Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia, J. Eduardo Malaya and several of its Embassy officials and staff were also present for the 8.00am Mass that was celebrated by SJC assistant parish priest, Fr William Michael. The SJC Filipino Ministry animated part of the Mass with a strong 40-member choir in attendance. Some of the Filipinos, including the ambassador, were spotted dressed in their traditional costumes. The Mass proper was in English, with a few hymns in Tagalog.

At Mass, the Filipinos gave thanks to God for His blessing on their country and her people and prayed for continued peace and greater prosperity to prevail in the Republic of the Philippines.

After Mass, the Philippine national anthem was sung.

The celebration continued with the colourful fun-filled Filipino-Malaysia Community Parade at the Fiesta sa Embahada, to commemorate the 116th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

The Cathedral’s Filipino group, namely the St John’s Filipino Ministry, Filipinos from other parts of the Klang Valley and elsewhere, numbering some 2,000 participated.

The parade started from the Philippine Embassy in Jalan Changkat Kia Peng and passed through several roads in the city around the vicinity of the Embassy and ended back at the Embassy.

After the parade, there were more events in the Philippine Embassy grounds. The St John’s Filipino Ministry (SJFM) also took part in song and dance performances.