Don Bosco School of Theology (DBST), Parañaque, Philippines
Parañaque, Manila, 9 February 2020 -- With permission of Don Bosco Parañaque’s superiors, on the 1st day of the lunar new year, the year of the rat (25 January 2020) the celebration for the New Year was organized at Don Bosco School of Theology (DBST), Paranaque, Manila, Philippines by the Vietnamese Salesians who are studying in the Philippines. Lunar New Year is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is so special and important for the Vietnamese people that wherever they are, around the world and now especially in the Philippines, they gather and celebrate with the same tradition as if they were in Vietnam.
There were more than 700 participants in this event including the Salesians in the three communities of Don Bosco Parañaque, Vietnamese Priests, religious, and many lay people around Manila.
The celebration began at 8:30 a.m. with the Holy Mass, followed by the program with 8 items and a party with most Vietnamese traditional foods for Lunar New Year celebrations, such as sticky rice cake with vegetable pickles, Vietnamese sausage, candied fruits… Finally, the celebration ended with traditional and fork games.
This was the second time Brother Jani Áron, SDB (UNG province) attended the celebration. He said "I was very happy about the celebration of the lunar new year. I appreciate it very much because it was a very well organized event. I think the program was very well prepared also. There was a variety of food, games, activities. It was a very good opportunity to talk, to share with others." and then Brother Áron added "for me, the most impressive is the hard work of the Vietmanese group in both the preparation and cleaning up part. I was looking forward to the cock-fighting game but I had to do something else at that time so I was not able to see it."
Brother Joseph La Htoi, SDB (Myanmar province) said: “I feel very happy about this event because it was well-organized. All the people were very happy. They enjoyed the Lunar New Year celebration a lot. It is good to know each other and serve one another.” He added “the most impressive thing for me was the Holy Mass. It was well-prepared and solemn at the same time. The singing was very good as well. All the participants were active. Even though there were not enough chairs around they served themselves.”
This was the first time Brother Marco Bau', SDB (INE province) attended the celebration. He said “I am very grateful for experiencing the Lunar New Year together with the Vietnamese people. I've never celebrated this moment before, since in my country, Italy, this tradition is not present. First of all, I had the chance to admire the deep faith which was perceptible during the mass. In particular, I was touched by the songs with these Vietnamese melodies and rhythms, so different from those that I have learned in my country but after all expressing the same faith. Nonetheless, I felt myself involved in the party thanks to Vietnamese brothers and the chance they gave me to play the guitar in the program that followed the mass. I tasted many different food with the good fellowship of the Vietnamese people and their numerous friends. Even after lunch the atmosphere was very warm and full of laughing and games. As a Salesian brother, I consider this experience of meeting with the Asian cultures a great privilege: often I feel like it I have been given the chance to see the beautiful fruits stemming from the dreams of Don Bosco. Once I return to Italy, I will never forget these memories and the great teaching of faith, feast and fellowship that I have received here. Cam on!”
Pictures of the celebrations:
Video Clip about all activities of the Celebration
Interview with some participants:
