Filipino News 15 January 2017

12 15- 31 JAN 2017 ISSUE 95 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
Sinulog 2017, 15th January, North Shore Events Centre, Auckland.
Miracles aplenty, pageantry,
dancing queens and street food
By SHEILA MARIANO
Oscar Batucan, Event
Organiser.
FMN: Pang ilang years
nyo na po ba ito ino-organize
ang Sinulog?
OSCAR: For 24 years.
FMN: Are you the
founder and the organiser
of the event throughout this
time?
OSCAR: Since the
beginning. We arrived in
New Zealand in 1986 and
the following year we
established Sto. Nino. It
took a while. We started
with about 200 people, but
now there are thousands.
FMN: Are you happy
with the attendance this
year?
OSCAR: This year a
couple thousand more people
attended. During the
mass all the chairs were
occupied and some had to
stand.
FMN: Has the 9-day
novena moved to St.
Patricks Cathedral?
OSCAR: Yes, we have
been holding the novena
there for the last three years
because of the size of the
cathedral.
FMN: Are the people
attending the novena mainly
from Cebu or from
everywhere?
OSCAR: Everywhere.
When we ask devotees why
they attend the Sinulog festival
they tell us that the
Infant Jesus has done miracles
for them. A lot of
women pray to get pregnant
and have a family.
FMN: Has Sto. Nino
granted you any miraculous
Oscar and Miriam Batucan,
‘Devotees of the Senyor Santo Nino Group’
Jessica,
Dela, Ema
and Dr Oliver
Samin
Janet
Espirito
favours?
OSCAR: Binigay nya ng
magandang, it's everyday
miracles - good health of
mind and body at saka we
can help other people yun
ang mga miracles na binibigay.
Janet Espirito, Devotee
from West Auckland.
FMN: Taga Cebu po ba
kayo?
JANET: Hindi, taga
Panggasinan ako (laughing).
FMN: Madalas po ba
kayo uma-attend ng
Sinulog?
JANET: Every year.
The Bernardo
family came
for the basket
ball awarding
FMN: Bakit?
JANET: Maganda, saka
ano masaya.
Jessica, Dela and Ema
(the nurses) and Dr.
Oliver Samin.
FMN: Do you come for
Sinulog every year?
DELA: Yes, every year,
but this time we volunteered
to be part of the medical
team.
FMN: How was it; any
serious problems because
of the hot weather?
DELA: Wala naman pero
mga nose bleeds lang. No
serious problems.
FMN: Will you volunteer
again next year?
DELA: Definitely, if all
is well.
Sinulog NZ Festival
Queen 2017:
Congratulations to Kimberly
Tabar who won the
Sinulog NZ Festival Queen
2017 crown and Best in
Gowns.
Ma Lita Luz Zhao was
PH Ambassador to NZ
Jesus ‘Gary’ Domingo
the 1st Runner Up
and Miss Friendship.
Carla Mae Bito-on
was the 2nd Runner
Up. Erica Soliman
was Miss Photogenic.
Krisha Ann
Nunez was Most
Popular.
Above: Tibiao caterers from Wellington
Above: Previous Sinulog Festival Queens
Credit: Freelanzer Photography
Centre: Sinulog supporters
Left: Didi Verata, Philippine Airlines
Below: Kimberly Tabar
Credit: Freelanzer Photography
Continues from pg 11
Many Americans saw
Trump as the better of two
evils. It was alleged that he
mistreated women. And it
was incredible that the secular
media attacked him by
accusing him of hating
homosexuals, when he has
actually come out in support
of them in the past.
The same media also
called him divisive because
he planned to build a wall to
keep out illegal immigrants
and wanted to deport those
who were criminals and
Trump gives pro-life movement much hope
illegally in the US. I know
many Americans were upset
with this rhetoric, because
of their loved ones possibly
being deported. Obama's
government deported over
2.5 million people from
2009-2015.
The new administration
also sees a new dawn in
relation to the United Nations.
Under Obama the US
often bullied other nations,
particularly Catholic nations
that sought to uphold
their value for human life
and particularly the unborn.
This bullying tactic also
meant coercing such
nations to abstain from particular
votes if they would
not support their way. But
Trump has already appointed
a pro-life woman to be
the US representative to the
United Nations.
As sore losers, the secular
media continue to bash
President Trump, but we
believe that he will in fact
bring to a halt much of the
social engineering and
oppressions of those with
Christian beliefs that Obama
forced on the American
people and other nations.
While the president often
shoots from the hip and has
said many deplorable things
he, together with his very
pro-life Vice President,
gives the pro-life movement
much hope.
Editor: Elly grew up in
Bohol and is the co-author
of 'Worth the Chase:
Finding Love God's Way'.
She is a contributing writer
for Kerygma Magazine and
also very artistic, creating
customisable name poems
on demand.
Brendan is the author of
five books, ranging from
love to science and religion
and the crusades. Like Elly
he has a passion for writing,
living and sharing his
Catholic faith with the
world.
Their books are available
as eBooks on Amazon.com
and as paperbacks in the
Philippines and New
Zealand.
You can contact the writers
by emailing: filipino
news@xtra.co.nz