Los Angeles: The 10th Anniversary of ABS-CBN's "Bantay Bata' Fundraiser was held at the prestigious Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel. The traditional and most revered Filipino Holiday themed event started with a Pre-Dinner Reception at the Courtyard featuring traditional Simbang Gabi faire—hot chocolate, puto bumbong, ensaymada, bibingka, pan de sal with kesong puti and other delicacies.
Sit Down Dinner followed at the Filipino Town Plaza celebration featuring Filipino holiday dinner menu created by Rod Aglibot, internationally-acclaimed Filipino culinary consultant.
Church Courtyard and Town Plaza Guest Artists entertained the guests. Among the performers were Lea Salonga, a Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, and Theatre World award-winning Filipino singer and actress who is best known for her portrayal of "Kim" in the musical Miss Saigon. In the field of musical theater, no other Filipino has achieved the same international recognition as Salonga. She has been the first to win various international awards for a single role.
Joining Lea was Becca Godinez, an artist who has a broad crossover base. She has performed in concerts, in theatre plays and musicals, has written words and music for herself and other artists, recorded albums, and has traveled to numerous countries to perform. Her ability to speak, write and sing in several languages has also contributed to her crossover appeal.
Other performances were rendered by the "Tinig at UCLA' choir. Tinig, which means “voice” in Tagalog, is a student-initiated, student-run, Pilipino-American Chorale Group under the Ethnomusicology Departmentof UCLA. Tinig strives to celebrate Pilipino culture through traditional chorale music, as well as the "Los Angeles Filipino Rondalla". Rondalla Club of Los Angeles (RCLA) was formed in 1991 in Los Angeles through the efforts of the late Nitoy Gonzales, former Rondalla maestro of the famed Bayanihan Dance Troupe from the Philippines, Leonilo "Boy" Angos, also a former member of Bayanihan, son of Nitoy Gonzales, and Tagumpay "Pi" M. de Leon, son of the late Philippine composer and national artist, Felipe Padilla de Leon. Other members are Kathleen Mangusing, Ador Tan and Patrick Tanega.
Joining them were the "Search to Involve Pilipino Americans" (SIPA) Children’s Choir. Search To Involve Pilipino American (SIPA) Children's Choir is composed of Emi Ordaz of Virgil Middle School, Tifffany Navarro of John Burroughs, Edison Mazariegos of Precious Blood Middle School, Matthew Pascua of Virgil Middle School, Elijah Baguio of Rosemont Elementary, Allisandra Baguio of Rosemont Elementary, Allen Abrillo of Rosemont Elementary, Micah Linog of Precious Blood Elementary, Elizabeth Cosio of Precious Blood Elementary and Patricia Manzanilla of Precious Blood Elementary.
(Photos from Top L-R: Becca Godinez with Asian Journal Publisher Roger Oriel, Atty. Michael Gurfinkel receiving Award from Jovie Saddul assisted by Lea Salonga, Vicky Bello with Apl de Ap of the "Black Eyed Peas" presenting Award, Asian Journal Publisher Cora Oriel receiving Award, Event Producer & Bantay Bata Member Ted Benito, Lea Salonga, AJ's Cora Oriel, and Bantay Bata Board of Trustee Member Gina Lopez. Photo coverage by Angeli Lacson)
Simbang Gabi
Literally meaning “night worship,” Simbang Gabi is the Filipino tradition of attending Church service in the pre-dawn hours in preparation for Christmas. For nine consecutive early mornings before Christmas Day, Catholic Churches throughout the Philippines ring their bells around 3 am to invite the faithful to worship and announce the start of this holiday custom.
Simbang Gabi is also a festival for the senses for the whole family. Around the country, churches and their courtyards are decked with multi-colored streamers and parols—the traditional Christmas lanterns that adorn the homes of Filipinos around the world during the holidays. Amidst the strains of a rondalla band and the caroling of children, families gather at Church courtyards after mass to partake of traditional early morning refreshments of hot chocolate, bibingka, ensaymada, puto bumbong, pan de sal with kesong puti, and other delicacies.
For Filipinos everywhere, Simbang Gabi ushers in the start of the Christmas season, and it represents some of our most deep-rooted ideals—trust in God, love of family and country, and hope for peace on earth.
Simbang Gabi 2007 Leadership Awardees Included:
Mending Kids International
www.mendingkids.org
This leadership award is presented in recognition of Mending Kids International’s
efforts to create a partnership with ABS CBN Foundation USA and Philippine Airlines Foundation to bring children from the Philippines who are in need to life-saving medical operations to the United States .
Michael Gurfinkel
www.gurfinkel.com
Through Citizen Pinoy, his highly-rated show on The Filipino Channel, Attorney Michael Gurfinkel has promoted Bantay Bata to his many loyal viewers. This leadership award recognizes this special effort and Michael’s years of advocacy in support of reuniting Filipino families in the United States as a preeminent Immigration Lawyer.
Filipino American Library of Los Angeles
www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org
For over 22 years, the Filipino American Library has been preserving and promoting the Filipino heritage, history and culture in the only Pilipino American Library that exists in the US. The Library is also ABS-CBN Foundations USA's partner in a new initiative to promote financial literary in the Filipino communities within the Los Angeles area..
The Asian Journal
www.asianjournal.com
In the last 16 years, The Asian Journal, through the leadership of Roger and Cora Oriel, has brought the power of print media to spotlight on the issues that are important to the Filipino American communities in the United States. This leadership award recognizes the publication’s special role as a community advocate through excellent, unbiased and fair reporting of the news in our communities.
Proceeds of Simbang Gabi 2007 will benefit the Children’s Village of Bantay Bata
Established in May 2003, the Children’s Village serves as a shelter for children who need medium to long-term care and rehabilitation as a result of abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment by their parents or guardians, or even due to congenital special needs. Children at the Village are provided extensive nutritional, educational and psychological intervention in a live-in, home-like environment before reuniting them back into society.
Situated in Norzagaray, Bulacan, the 2.5 hectare compound with 6 cottages is home to at least 130 children at any given time, ranging in age from 3 months to 16 years old. The Village has the capacity to house up to 200 children.
Congratulations to the awardees as well as to the numerous guests who supported a truly great fundraiser event for a good cause that has spanned one decade of service to the Bantay Bata 163, the child welfare program of ABS-CBN Foundation that not only rescues and rehabilitates sick and abused children, but also provides shelter, therapy and quality home care for rescued children until they can be reunited with their families or referred to proper child-caring agencies.
Bantay Bata 163 gives emphasis on the family through the following services: training and advocacy on child abuse prevention, rehabilitation of families in crisis, educational scholarships, livelihood, community outreach and medical and dental missions. To all who supported the event, thank you for touching the hearts of thousands of children and their families for the past ten years. This is the real spirit of Simbang Gabi.
(Jay Fermin ppp-usa)