“Who are we at present? Who are we now? What can we say about us?” Rev. Father David Lupo, SS.CC. asked in his feast day homily on November 12 at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Seat Pleasant, Maryland.
It was our parish’s 98th year celebration. The two-day event, which commenced the night before, highlighted the multicultural diversity of the parishioners which consist of 14 different cultures. Dances, skits, poems, songs and fashion show were performed representing the following countries: Jamaica, Martinique, Italy, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Guyana, Ethiopia, (native) America, Philippines, etc. Also highlighted during the night were displays of various cuisine (which we feasted on after the show) and artifacts from different cultures.
This was my first time to get involved in
church’s activities. When the event organizer approached me about representing
the Philippines
during the feast and got my approval, I didn’t realize what I was putting
myself into.
But along the way, I proved one thing.
“Time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained."
Surprisingly, all things came into place
and went easily for me in relation with my multicultural day assignment from
the church. Roger Gonzales, the assistant of Cultural Attache’ Joy Quintana of
the Philippine Embassy was so accommodating and spared extra time with me in
the office to lend me four Filipino costumes, a Filipino flag and a parol
(lantern) owned by Tess Taylor from the Couples For Christ. I had also bumped
with Jonathan Degala, former driver of Philippine Ambassador to Washington, DC Albert del Rosario who now
works at the Embassy of Egypt, during lunch time. Jonathan cooks like an angel
and during our conversation we had agreed that he would cook “adobo” and
“pinakbet” for me.
And so, we had filled up the empty
Filipino table during the event. We displayed two Muslim costumes, the parol
(lantern), a kid’s barong tagalog courtesy of Grace Jaramillo also of the
Philippine Embassy, the adobo, pinakbet and some rice.
My daughter, Kristine, wore the Igorot
costume from the embassy while I wore my old barong tagalog. I didn’t realize
that this barong, which I bought eight years ago now from Malacanang’s employee
cooperative, would play a role for me in the future.
The invited Filipino performers who were
from McNamara High School stood out in their very
challenging Tinikling and Bangko dance. Incidentally, some of them were my
kids’ friends from the CFC Youth For Christ group.
After the presentation, a Jamaican couple
approached us commenting on the Tinikling and Bangko dances. They said they had
been to the Philippines
at some point in time. Likewise, when we bumped into Father David he said, “you
have to teach me that dance!” Another lady, from Trinidad & Tobago, also approached
us saying how much she loved adobo. She gladly hurried back to the Filipino
table when we assured her there’s adobo
in there.
It was a most valuable experience for me.
It was a night of reflection and discovery. Watching the people’s cultural diversity,
its oozing beauty, and being among them (beyond my expectation), brought about
a sense of amazement, great admiration and reverence to the One responsible in
this wonderful creation.
“We are God’s work of art!? Father David
continued as the church attendees, the parishioners, settled down following the
beginning of the cultural mass that started with a colorful parade. “As God’s
work of art, we are called to do more. To give back to God our time, talent and
treasure. What percentage of ourselves do we give back to God . . .?"
By Hermie Climaco
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