Wednesday, October 19, 2011

VIVA EL SENOR NOEMI

Ave Maria Purissima!

Annualy, every 22nd and 23rd of October, we are celebrating the true birth date of our Lord Jesus Christ as told us by Mahal na Ingkong. 


The 25th of December which is being celebrated primarily by the Roman Catholics, and other Christian denomination and sects was in fact the day when the son of the pagan Roman god was born, Mithra. Roman Catholic Church, in their effort to convert the pagan Rome, cristianized their festivals. They put Christ to be celebrated on the same day, and with the decree of the Emperor, people followed suit. 


Gradually, the celebration for the pagan god was replaced or substituted by the birth of the Messiah, the true Son of God. The same thing was done to almost all of the pagan festivals in Rome and in its colonies. This was the way how the Roman religion made its way to the hearts of the people. They baptized or christen the pagan festivals and substituted their icons, symbols, and meanings with the Christian meanings and names of Saints, hence came the Patron Saint of almost all events, places, dates, ages, and profession.


FOR THE APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH


For us, sealed servants we celebrate annually the true birth date of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every October. And we call the infant Jesus in his name, "NOEMI".


THE NAME NOEMI

The name "Noemi" was one of the,if not the only, names of the child Jesus. The book Martir ng Golgotha told us that it was the name that our  Blessed Mother used to address her son when he was being searched after being lost for three days; he was found with the doctors and elders in the temple of Jerusalem. Mahal na Ingkong told us that the name Noemi was Jesus name so as to hid his identity from the searching Roman soldiers who were tasked to behead children ages 2 below. Noemi was the name of the child Jesus and he was born on the evening of October 22.

OCTOBER 22-23
There are at least two types of Calendar being used these days, the Lunar and the Solar Calendars. The Lunar Calendar follows and counts the appearances of each new moon to calculate days, month, and years. While the Solar Calenda based its count to the movement of the sun. Hence, Lunar or Luna for the moon, this is where we got the day of LUNES or Moon-day or simply Monday.

It is said that in the ancient time, there were ten months in a year which was modified later on into twelve, inserting the names of Julius and Augustus, both Cesars of Rome. With this insertion October, November and December which were supposed to be the 8th, 9th, and 10th month of the year were also adjusted accordingly.

KASAYSAYAN NG LAHI

The highlight of the festivity was the re-enactment of the birth of Jesus through the melodrama entitled "Kasaysayan ng Lahi" which were being prepared by the National Auxiliary and with participations of other regional auxiliaries. The Kasaysayan ng Lahi narrates the Salvation History from the fall of Lucifer, the creation story, the temptation and driving our of the first couple, Adam and Eve, from Paradise, to the Patriarchs, to Joseph the dreamer, Moses, the Judges, the Kings, the Prophets until the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Everyone is invited to watch this wonderful presentation.

"KARACOL OR ATI-ATIHAN"

Karakol tagalized "Charcoal" for the tagalog "uling" which is also identified as Ati-atihan is the next highlight of the event as several Auxiliaries, painted with black or charcoal, dressed in tribal attire, dances with the beat of drums, whistles,and cheers while other sealed servants raised and danced their Sto Nino images during the procession.  Ati-atihan is a tribal and native dance of Kalibo on the island of
Panay in honor of the Sto Nino.


< Excerpt from http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/culture3.htm

ORIGIN OF ATI ATIHAN


In the thirteenth century, long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, light-skinned immigrants from the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) in Indonesia arrived  on Panay. The local people of Panay, the  Ati (negritos), a small and dark (black) kinky-haired people, sold them a small piece of land and allowed them to settle down in the lowlands.  The Atisthemselves, lived more upland in the mountains. 


One time the Ati people was in need of food because of  a bad harvest in their homelands. They came down to the lowlands of the Maraynon and asked them food. Every year since then, the Atis came down to the lowland inhabitants to ask for some food. They danced and sang in gratitude for the helping hand.  A real friendship was born and the Maraynon  started to paint  their faces black  in honor of the Atis and took part in the fiesta










Spanish influence

Honoring Santo NinoAfter the Spaniards settled down in the Philippines, some Catholic elements infiltrated in the fiesta, especially honoring Santo NiñoA Spanish representative arranged a deal with the local leaders of the Atis and the leader of the immigrants from Borneo. The outcome of the deal was, that in the future the existing native celebration would be dedicated to the Santo Niño. Nowadays it is a mix of parades, procession and dancing people on the rhythms of monotonous music of  drums or the rhythmic tinkling of metal and stone on bottles. It looks as if the dancing never stops! The ritual dance originates from the Atis.  The name Ati-Atihan means "make-believe Atis."  

Viva kay Santo Niño!

It is said that the procession is the climax of the fiesta. It is held on the last Sunday. The  street dancers never fail to enter the Kalibo church every time they pass by.

< END EXCEPRT - from http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/culture3.htmhe slogan  "Viva kay Santo Niño!"  is repeated 

frequently. It is clear that it is Santo Niño who is honored


The 2008 SENOR NOEMI CELEBRATION WITH THE PATRIARCH
celebrated at EDSA INA POON BATO SHRINE.





















THE BULILIT
In this event, some of the 'bulilit' or child spirit of the sealed servant also joins the celebration by manifesting themselves in little voices and honest to goodness children's behaviour. This is a must see event for all.

And of course, the event would not be complete without the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and confessions. 



VIVA SENOR NOEMI, VIVA... GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO ALELLUIA!