MikeLigalig.com

  By RODNEY J. JALECO
ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

SILVER SPRING, Maryland - It’s been called the “Mother of all Philippine festivals”. Carrying its infectious drumbeat and shouts of “hala bira!”, Fil-Americans from Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia braved a light snow dusting and freezing temperatures to stage the Ati-Atihan and Sinulog here, marking the feast of the Sto. Niño.

The Christ the King Church community center was filled to capacity. Over a hundred Fil-Am devotees of the Sto. Niño or image of the Child Jesus, joined by curious American friends, celebrated the annual religious feast commemorating the Philippine’s conversion from paganism to Christianity in the 16th century.

“It is a very important Philippine tradition and our history,” said lawyer Arnedo Valera of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC).




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