Holy Thursday 2008

Photo c/o RMO

"The way it came is the way it will go" (Croatian proverb). I can still vividly remember Holy Week 2008. Earlier that week, I got an email from NZ immigration that our application was declined. I was so full of myself, believing that I can navigate the application since I was educated, could read and write! But I was wrong! I ticked off and answered yes to stuff that I barely had any idea. It was a very expensive mistake!

My brother Jonas was visiting from the U.S.A. and we were at the former Fiesta Carnival site in Cubao which was then converted into the SM Supermarket. We were there to buy supplies to take with us on our annual visita iglesia. It was Jons who was originally from Aotearoa New Zealand. I really felt sad and heartbroken. I was really looking forward to coming to NZ and now all my dreams have been squashed. I was putting everything on the line and now it wasn't going to happen. I told my brother and he reassured me that something great is really coming my way.

The following day we proceeded with our church visits. We normally go the route that starts in Antipolo and then the eastern towns of Rizal province: Tanay, Pililla, Teresa, Morong, Baras, Jala-Jala.

Then we cruise on to the Laguna towns: Kalayaan, Pakil, Pangil, Santa Maria, Mabitac, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Lumban, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Cavinti, Magdalena, Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, Victoria, Pila, Calauan, Calamba, Bay Los Baños, Alaminos, San Pablo.

We even went as far as some of the Quezon towns: Lukban, Dolores, Tiaong, Lucena City, Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, San Antonio.

We were beginning to visit the churches in Batangas: San Juan, Lobo, Batangas City, San Juan, Rosario, Alitagtag, Balayan, Agoncillo, Talisay, Mabini.

There was one-time when we started with Cavite towns: Silang, Indang, Tagaytay, Amadeo, Mendez; moved to Batangas and Laguna towns, and end with Rizal towns like: Cardona, Binangonan, Angono, Taytay, and Cainta.

Of course we did more than the 7 or 14 church visits. I think there was once when we did the churches in Metro Manila. When we return to Metro Manila (we live in Cainta), we get to see the wave of people walking up to Antipolo for the vigil. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, Holy Thursday is still a working day.

Filipino dance groups at the ASB Polyfest

Photo c/o RMO

"When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind" (African proverb). 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the ASB Polyfest. There were 22 Auckland high schools with Filipino dance groups. Last year it was only 11 and the years past, I believe was even smaller.

The performances were at the Diversity Stage with heaps of other dance groups dancing to a myriad of dances from Filipino, Fijian, Hawaiian, Mongolian, Chinese, Colombian, Scottish, Roma, African, and some more that I know were also present. All of these groups were squeezed into two days, Wednesday and Thursday. It used to be spread over three days but funding constraints this year made it two.

I only got to see the Filipino dance groups from Alfriston College and Onehunga College perform. The rest I could only catch a glimpse on the live stream or in the different social media accounts of the participants. All of them were quite impressive and very creative! The theme for this year was "Legacy - a treasure handed down."

My Pinoy students from Otahuhu College also joined for the second time this year. Just like all the other students from the 22 colleges, they prepared really hard, made heaps of sacrifices with their time and bodies, and was truly all out in presenting our Filipino culture and heritage. I always made them feel that this is not just a competition but a celebration of being Filipino. An old-timer (a teacher, who participated in the early years, mentioned to me that, back then the Diversity stage was non-competitive).

Since the Philippines falls under the Asian Continent category here are the winners for 2025. Just like last year when it was an all-Filipino winners (1st Avondale College, 2nd One Tree Hill College, 3rd Otahuhu College), this year it's again an all-Filipino one: 1st Kelston Girls' College, 2nd Ormiston Junior College, 3rd Avondale College.

The overall winners for the Diversity Stage are: 1st Kelston Boys' HS (Fijian group), 2nd Kelston Girls' College (Filipino group), 3rd Ormiston Junior College (Filipino group). Congratulations and all the best to the winners, as well as all the participants too. Mabuhay!