Christmas Spirit in Sta. Ana by Gabino Joaquin G
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VOL. 11 No. 3 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 Christmas Spirit in Sta. Ana By Gabino Joaquin G. Barcelona, Grade 10-Ruby mood of festivity and solidarity right on the spot. These delicious series of devotional dawn Masses A takes over Sta. Ana during rice desserts are often paired with that lasts for nine days. It begins Christmas time. The community lives coffee, tsokolate or salabat. Seasonal on December 16 and culminates the spirit of the holidays amid the delicacies have become an iconic part on December 24 with the midnight pressing demands of scheduling and of the holidays, attracting lines of Eucharistic Mass. Children shopping. people around the food stalls. and adults flock to the parish in As early as September, seasonal Despite the constant hustle and anticipation of the Birth of Jesus. lights and decorations spruce up the bustle, the heart of the celebration “The tradition never gets old. It’s surroundings of the town, a show of still lies in the Sta. Ana Church, also been a part of the Church ever since color set against the night sky. Local known as the Parish of Our Lady of it was established four hundred years groceries and malls are packed with the Abandoned, which hosts many ago,” said the lector. people planning the perfect meal Advent and Christmas activities and These Masses are an intrinsic or the perfect gift. Just outside of events. facet of the celebration, providing these centers, a variety of tiangge or Church lector Benjamin Tejada a chance for the people to blend in bazaars, crowd the Felipe Calderon has lived in the town for fifty years, harmony. Together, individuals from Plaza. taking part in half a century’s worth all walks of life can celebrate and A unifying factor for the town is, of Christmases in the community. practice the values that Christmas without a doubt, the local food fare “It’s always a special time,” advocates. sold on the streets and around the Tejada said, “because Sta. Ana really “That’s the beauty of Christmas, church. Almost every day, vendors comes together during the holidays.” it’s universal,” Tejada said, “no sell puto bumbong, bibingka, and Central to every Christmas matter what kind of person you are, suman, impressively cooking them celebration is the Simbang Gabi, a it’s a time of peace, love, and giving.” 2 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 3 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 3 n NEWS n FEATURE An English Tea Party for All Our Lady of the Abandoned Church By Ikea Raine Pahate Grade 8-Emerald kills in baking, pastry English tea, sandwiches, pastry, and Meanwhile, academic Sproduction, service, hosting, table dessert to the student-guests on the coordinators, guidance counselors, manners and proper etiquette taught first day then it was vice-versa on the and our campus manager, Mrs. in the Technology and Livelihood next day. Katherine Chua, were also in Education Program (TLE) class In-charge of the first day’s table attendance to observe the students in were once again put to the test as set-up and service were Janielle the said activity. The Grandeur Beyond Grade 8-Emerald students hosted a Cruz, the manager, assisted by Aaron traditional English afternoon tea party Lanuza. When asked about her By Shanley Jose Retablo on October 10 to11 at Bistro Terraza. experience as a manager, Cruz said, Grade 12-Jose Dressed in colorful day dresses, “At first, I was surprised that they ne cannot talk about Sta. Ana, statues found in the exhibit is the frocks, hats and English suits, Grade assigned me as the manager. It was Manila as a site of exploration replica of the original Nuestra 8-Emerald students took part in a challenge [for me], but I learned EDITOR-IN-CHIEF O without mentioning its age-old stone Senora de las Desamparados planning and organizing the two-day the importance of order and open- Lia Mei Sing 12-Jose church. Since the first construction of or Our Lady of the Abandoned, event while being assisted by TLE mindedness.” ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF the original edifice in 1720, it has been the patron saint of the Sta. Ana teacher Ms. Geneva Aguinaldo. The Heading the service team on Alessandra Gepte 11-Amorsolo one of the most suggested places to Church. It displays Our Lady of class was divided into two groups. the second day, Assistant Manager visit for people wanting to explore the the Abandoned carrying the Holy The first group Gabriel Villanueva said, “I was able MANAGING EDITOR old district. Its notable features such Child, both of them wearing an was assigned to to learn managerial skills … and how Gabino Barcelona 10-Ruby as the Spanish Baroque style retablo imperial crown atop their heads. serve the to carry teapots [with the help of JD NEWS EDITOR behind the altar and the magnificent The image of Our Lady’s sunburst Salazar, the manager].” Gabriel De Castro 12-Jose dome interior that extends all the halo is quite a sight to see, as Moreover, four selected students Adrienne Malabanan 10-Ruby way up to the ceiling have often it uses a rare sala-salamin or donned their formal wear and Kayryll Guinto 7-Emerald been described, but not many know mirror-like technique. Even the showcased their hosting skills as the Ianne Ramirez 7-Emerald about the Marian exhibit found in the cross the Holy Child carries is event’s emcees. Camarin Dela Virgen FEATURES EDITOR convent’s cloisters, which people can adorned with all sorts of jewels. “It was a great experience. It Shanley Jose 12-Jose visit by climbing a flight of stairs from On January 20, 1720, the baston boosted my confidence,” emcee Mehar Jhea Buela 11-Amorsolo the church itself. de mando (baton of command) Ganshani said, “I learned more about Reenon Cabilzo 11-Amorsolo Just before the second landing of held by Our Lady was perceived the history and culture of tea parties. this staircase there can be found a to be of such fine quality that the We watched our classmates work LITERARY/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Charles Perez 10-Ruby statue of San Miguel with one hand Governor General and Archbishop hard … Also we got to bond with our Mehar Ganshani 8-Emerald holding an up-raised sword and one of Manila personally donated the teachers over a cup of tea.” Ikea Pahate 8-Emerald foot on a slain beast. image. Upon this new addition, Leela Rodriguez 8-Emerald Further up the stairs, the visitors the image was then named “La LAYOUT ARTIST are finally greeted by the Marian Gobernadora de Manila.” Maria Roceo Sy 9-Emerald exhibit where various statues of the Behind its noise, dirt, pollution, Virgin Mary are lined up along the and traffic, Sta. Ana holds GRAPHICS EDITOR cloisters of the convent, some of treasures of the past that are Kirsten Dava 9-Emerald which were selected from the private worth more than any gold. Behind PHOTOJOURNALIST collections of cultural leaders such the most beautiful architecture, Verho Menghrajani 12-Jose as Jaime Laya, one of the people Sta. Ana cradles cultural treasures involved in the restoration of the Sta. that define our glorious past. The References: CONTRIBUTING WRITERS jolotamayo. (2016, May 20). Sta. Ana Church, Ana Church. grandeur this district possesses Historical Gem of Manila. Retrieved from Kristen Ona artesacraph: https://artesacraph.wordpress. Jonathan Gutierrez Jr. Polished narra floors and is bountiful, all we need is to look com/2016/05/20/sta-ana-church-historical-gem- Keanne Dizon exquisite beamed ceilings further beyond the obvious. As a members of of-manila/ Miguel Abellon accentuate the Spanish-style convent, the Sta Ana Community, I know that Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2010, September 8). Louise Aguilar Marian exhibit opens today at Santa Ana Church. adding to the colonial feel of the we are excited to see the grandeur Retrieved from PressReader: https://www. exhibit. One of the most-viewed behind the next wall. pressreader.com/philippines/philippine-daily-inq uirer/20100908/282346856131258 4 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 3 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 5 n STUDENT PROFILE n TEACHER PROFILE Christian Fernandez: Our Casa Gem, A Pokemon Card Diamond Altasin Ramos By Adrienne Michell Malabanan Trader’s Journey Grade 10-Ruby By Ianne Ramirez Grade 7-Emerald certain teacher in the Casa department opportunity. This encounter with Dr. Soliven A has touched the hearts of generations would eventually pave the way to a fulfilling nown for his unpredictable in Hong Kong last of OBMC Sta. Ana students. Brimming with fifteen-year teaching career in OB. “It was Kstrategies that are guaranteed to June 11. His crafty passion, Mrs. Diamond Altasin Ramos has difficult at first because Casa has over 300 take his opponents by surprise, loyal techniques helped him been one of the school’s many treasures Montessori materials and exercises. I had Montessorian Christian Fernandez of clench the 36th spot and the years she has spent with OBMC to learn and remember all of them, and Grade 7-Emerald, competed nine times out of 1088 international contestants. can testify to her dedication to the teaching then teach them to my students.” Difficult in seven different countries. He even Moreover, Fernandez also profession. as it was, she worked hard and did her joined the World Championship for shared one of his memorable “There’s something about the innocence best for her students. She claims that her Pokemon Trading Cards, representing competitions in the Pokémon of children,” she said, “It’s great to see them greatest joy as a Casa teacher is to watch the Philippines in 2017.