Annual Pista ni Maria - May 18, 2024

FFRGOC just finished celebrating our Pista ni Maria event and attended by almost 300 people Just like other FFRGOC events, it was a success.

This event is the culmination of 9 Days Novena held at different parishes under the Diocese of Orange . Shown below was the schedule.

Pista Sa Nayon Schedule

Our event had a living rosary, procession and holy mass followed by sharing of food and enjoying seeing new and old friends and families and some of them we haven't seen for years.

Cold weather did not deter us, FFRGOC members/officers/directors and families and guests to be early to register.

Pictures below show the carosa fully decorated with fresh flowers on the prior night of the event. Registration of attendees and lining up the participants of the recitation of the Holy Rosary and the carosa with the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary are also shown below.

Husband and wife team. Marlon and Chat Agbayahi, Special Projects Directors. who supervised and work hard on the decor and theme of the carosa. The team who worked hard with them were Mary Ann Puzon, First VP, Sol Sollarono, Treasurer, Boots Mercado, Auditor and Nenita Miyata, PRO Director

Our past VP, Fely Claudio together with our volunteers were Rica Werner, SW Chapter Director, Ruby Morallos, SW Area Chairperson, Chat Agbayani, Social Activities Director and Director Special Projects, and Boots Mercado, Auditor.

Living Rosary:

Our President Helen Alonso followed by our Treasurer Sol Sollarano and Debbie Gonzales, Advisor and B. Delfin, Asst Secretary and Web Administrator led the initial part of the rosary.

Evelyn Ruiz, Religious Enrichment Director recited the Litany of Mary

Each Chapter Director and Board Secretary and corresponding members of their particular chapter have participated reciting the Holy Rosary . Below are some pictures reciting the Living Rosary and led by Walter Bayubay, Second VP of FFRGOC. Walter did an incredible job leading and adding tips to make the event smoother.

Two choirs were singing in between the prayers of the five decades of the Holy Rosary.

Procession:

Our Parochial Vicar, Reverend Joseph Squillacioti, S.T.I. of Holy Spirit Church gave a very meaningful difference between procession and parade. Procession is having a goal which for us is to celebrate the Holy Mass after the procession and the meaningful words that our Spiritual Advisor, Father Caboboy said which I commonly use "To Jesus through Mary:" and that is our goal for the procession as opposed to a parade where people or objects are showcased for the appreciation of the public which is ok.

Leading the procession with the carosa

The Knights of Columbus

Participants of the offerors of flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Hemana Mayor are shown below:

Our Hermana Mayor, Celia Terrible and South Area Chapter Director. Amie Ursubia

Participants of the Flower Offering

Participants of the Flower Offering

Holy Mass:

Pictures below show the more significant parts of the Holy Mass and the participants in action before and during the Holy Mass.

The Carosa with Altar Servers with some of our Attendees ready to go inside the church

Our Celebrant, Father Caboboy, always willing and helpful to all, waiting in the beautiful altar of St. Martin de Porres Church

The Crowing of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Hermana Mayor, Celia Terrible assisted by Frank Betts, husband of Lorraine Betts, Secretary an Walter Bayubay, Second VP.

With FFRGOC Choir who sang beautiful songs during the mass

Attendees wearing colorful Filipino attires

Husband and wife, the Lowry's from Area 7, Northeast chapter with E. Ruiz as their chapter director, wearing unique and matching beautiful barongs

Our efficient and effective leaders for this event President Helen Alonso and Religious Enrichment Director Evelyn Ruiz presenting the host and wine to the altar

After Holy Mass Including Lunch:

Pictures make us remember the joy and how we felt during the event seeing old friends and getting updates on everyone's busy lives and having beautiful pictures to remember and look at as we get older.

Below are some pictures taken and worth sharing to everyone:

Our Hermana Mayor, Celia Terrible with her family and President Helen Alonso

Our famous choir dressed up in so colorful Filipino attires and picture was taken at the beautiful altar with Larry Orque, Choir Director and Glenn Puzon, Choir President

The hard working Board of Directors with the Hermana Mayor and Spiritual Director

A very good representation of Filipino Attires worn at its best by seasoned professionals from all walks of life i.e. engineering, accounting, music, technology and design.

Such a beautiful altar with our advisor, Debbie Gonzales and first time attendee of our events, Donna Delfin Nguyen and will treasure this picture

Our VIP table - President Helen Alonso, Eli and Evelyn Ruiz husband and wife team, Father Caboboy and advisor Debbie Gonzales with her husband Ely and the Hermana Mayor Celia Terrible ready for lunch with other attendees in the background

Our Social Director, Chat Agbayani and Wally Claudio, Charity Director, with his wife Fely,

Mary Ann Puzon, First VP , President Helen and Dina Tenant a great supporter of FFRGOC

Members from our own parish, Holy Spirit Church - Cora Cuevas and Marissa Lau and a friend attended also our event

After lunch and attending Joseph Arevalo's (our deceased past president) 50th wedding anniversary and birthday celebrations for Joe and his very loving wife, Violy:

Board of Directors and some of Arevalo's friends were invited on this very important occasion and despite Joe's absence who contributed a lot to FFRGOC as two time past president for his time, efforts and support we honored him by being with his family.

Special blessing of the pastor to the Arevalo family at St. Polycarp Church, Stanton, CA

The church where Joe also worked hard to help the parish has the right message which is: Joy and Peace to Joe!

FFRGOC Board of Directors and friends after the mass

Personal friends of Joe and Vicky Arevalo at the daughter's house for dinner

We ended the day with good feeling of happiness and peace and hope you will join us again on our next event and this time the once a year fund raising event the Mardi Gras on August 17, 2024 . Please contact us through website or board of directors/ chapter directors or our Social Director, Chat Agbayani.