By Armando Machado | Correspondent

Though it was a cloudy Saturday afternoon May 21, spirits remained high among the people who gathered in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, for the Flores de Mayo/Santacruzan, a traditional celebration that’s observed by the Filipino community and focuses on the Blessed Mother Mary and the Holy Cross of Jesus.

"This is my first time at this celebration," Jocelyn Jalijali,a member of St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, said of the event that included a Mass and procession around the parish grounds.

“It was very beautiful. It makes me happy,” Jalijali said, then told of how it reminded of her childhood. She was born and raised in the Philippines, but it was more than 40 years ago when she was 22 years-old, she came to live in the U.S.

The Flores de Mayo/Santacruzan is sponsored each year by the Filipino community in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish. The sagalas (angels) who participated included Adrienne Rose Rejano, who was designated Reyna Elena, Ynashey Quelly Dela Rosa, who was designated Reyna de las Flores, and Aleah Codilla, who was Junior Sagala. In addition, there were children “angels” who assisted in the flowery ceremony.

The fifth annual gathering concluded with a dinner dance in the parish center with proceeds benefiting projects and needs of the Filipino community, the parish and the poor and street children and victims of calamities in the Philippines. A portion of the proceeds are also directed toward the annual celebration in Hamilton.

More than 100 people, many of whom were colorfully clad in native Filipino dress, attended the trilingual Mass that was celebrated in English, Tagalog and Spanish. Father Gene Daguplo, parochial vicar in St. Raphael-Holy Angels, was principal celebrant of the Mass. Father John Chang, pastor, and Father Leandro Dela Cruz, parochial vicar of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, concelebrated.

"Filipinos have a high devotion to the Virgin Mary; it is good that we keep this tradition," Father Daguplo said in his homily. He noted that the celebration occurs in the Philippines, the United States and other parts of the world. He said salvation should always be about keeping Jesus in our lives, but that we also ask Mother Mary "to pray for us, to assist us."

Father Daguplo stressed the importance of Filipino youths and young adults carrying the faith-based, cultural traditions into the next generation.

Lida Villarin, a member of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, said attending the Mass “means a lot to me, as a Catholic from the Philippines...”

“We are a deeply religious people; we always honor the Blessed Virgin Mary every time there is a special occasion for her -- and this is one of them; the Santacruzan is the highlight of the Flores de Mayo. It is a special devotion to Mary. It brings the community together -- we help the Filipinos back home, and we also help the parish here...Our faith makes us strong as a family. We maintain spirituality; we remain close to God," she said.

The gathering was a culmination of a month-long celebration of Flores de Mayo/Flowers of May. In addition to honoring Mary, the event also has historic significance. Introduced to the Philippines by Spaniards, it commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Queen Helena and her son, Constantine the Great.

Jay and Rachael Janolo were among the lead organizers. “Heartfelt gratitude is extended to the many parishioners, volunteers, donors, guests, friends and family for their valuable and varied contributions to this joyous weekend celebration,” Jay Janolo said.