PANDACAN residents and devotees from far and wide will go to the Church of Sto. Niño de Pandacan today to attend Masses to honor the Sto. Niño. The feast falls on Jan. 14, but it is celebrated on the third Sunday of January, today.

Parish priest Lari Abaco will lead the celebration. Yesterday, the people held the traditional buling-buling, a street-dance festival where dancers carried the image of the Sto. Niño. It was organized by Samahang Sining at Kultura ng Pilipinas.

Solina Rosales-Iglesias, a devotee, joined the festival in years past when her daughter Sol Dorotea Iglesias-Tan had difficulty conceiving a child. She whispered prayers to Sto. Niño de Pandacan before His image inside the church; four years ago, her daughter bore a child. Sol is based in Singapore with her Chinese husband. Their son Gabriel Kit will turn 4 on Feb. 7.

History of Pandacan

Pandacan was established as a community in 1574 when Franciscan priests established the first mission in the district. Pandacan was originally part of the parish of Sampaloc, and became a separate parish in 1712.

The first stone church in Pandacan was built in 1732 by Fr. Francisco del Rosario. It would not be completed until after 30 years. The image of the Holy Child of Jesus, or Sto. Niño, was enshrined in the church after the image was found in a well beside the church.

The well is still there. People light candles around it. Folk beliefs say the water from the well helped heal the infirm. Father Abaco is preparing this early for the Tricentennial of the church in 2012. With documents of miracles attributed to the Sto. Niño de Pandacan, it is hoped the church would be declared a national shrine. What I know of Sto. Niño de Pandacan is what the late Pol Capistrano used to tell me. Pol would go to Pandacan faithfully during the fiesta.

Looking back

My aunt Vicky Foronda-Ornedo of Piddig, Ilocos Norte, would tell me stories of the old hometown when my brothers and I would visit as we were growing up. Her mother, Hilaria Foronda, whom we called Lola Ayyang, died at 95. I was not at the wake, but my mother Lourdes Darang, niece of Lola Ayyang, was. Of all the cousins, Auntie Vicky and my mother were closest.

Then she mentioned how the alumni reunion of Roosevelt High School in Piddig last year reached classmates abroad through this column.

New officers

These officers will prepare for the 70th reunion in 2009?Dr. Arturo SA Castillo (chair); Vice Mayor Honofre Bayag (assistant chair); Delilah C. Martin (secretary); Melen Baltazar (treasurer); Nancy R. Madamba (auditor); Rufino Guillermo Osias Corsino (sergeant at arms). Chairman is Roy Pandaroan, principal of Roosevelt High School.

The association awarded certificates of recognition to Matilde P. Chua and Ricardo A. Tolentino for exemplary services. Piddig Mayor Augustus Salazar commended the officers for the event?s success.

Special commendation was also given the board of directors: Aldea L. Flores, Vicky Foronda Ornedo, Carmelita F. Aramo, Edmundo Estavillo, Lito Raquiza and Marietta Agustin.

Camarin de la Virgen

The National Museum has declared the Camarin de la Virgen in Santa Ana Church a national treasure. The presentation of the certificate to Fr. Ely Manlangit, OFM, will be on Jan. 23, after the 4 p.m. Mass.

Dr. Jaime Laya?s ?Santa Ana Guide Book? will also be launched. Those who wish to order can text Fely Halili at 0916-4285709.

Sto. Niño de Providencia

Devotees of the Sto. Niño de Providencia will gather in the chapel in Pijuan Street, BF Resort Village, Jan. 24, from 7 a.m. onward to celebrate the 17th year of the miracle when the image started to spill oil from its body. A 2:30 p.m. motorcade will bring the image to Mary Mother of the Church Parish for the 3 p.m. Mass.

Msgr. Philip Ocol will officiate the concelebrated Mass.

Holy Cross pilgrimage

Three years ago, travel agent Sally Maddatu witnessed the influx of pilgrims going up the mountain of San José, Tarlac, to venerate the relic of the Holy Cross that is enshrined in a chapel of Monasterio de Tarlac. Miracle healings have been experienced by pilgrims.

Sally is organizing a pilgrimage on Jan 30. The arquetta bearing the relic is opened only twice a year: Jan. 30, when the chapel and relic were blessed by then Papal Nuncio Fernando Filoni; and Sept. 14, feast of the Holy Cross. Fr. Archie Cortes is the prior of the Servants of the Risen Christ maintaining the monastery and chapel.

Pick-up points are Alabang, SM Megamall and TriNoma. Rosaries from the Holy Land will be given to the first 30 pilgrims who will text her at 0906-2395166, 0908-5015267.

UST Seminary reunion

The University of Santo Tomas Alumni Priests Association (UST-Alpa) will have its 74th Alumni Homecoming Jan. 20-21 at the UST Central Seminary. This year?s theme is ?Thomasian Clergy: Radiating the Light of God?s Kindness.?

This year?s homecoming is very special since the seminary is at the threshold of UST?s 400th-year celebration in 2011. This year, it is also celebrating its 80th year as the Interdiocesan Seminary of the Philippines.

To make the homecoming celebration memorable, UST-Alpa will honor all the former rectors of the seminary; Dominican professors and formators; Golden Jubilarians of Batch 1959; Silver Jubilarians of Batch 1983; and the new Thomasian bishops, Msgr. Gerardo A. Alminaza, auxiliary bishop of Jaro; and Msgr. Bernardito C. Auza, apostolic nuncio to Haiti.