Filipino-Chinese Community Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

Next to the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the most celebrated feast among the Chinese. Popularly known as the Mooncake Festival, the Filipino-Chinese Community celebrated the feast beginning with a thanksgiving mass on Sunday, September 11 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Obrero where there is a high population of Chinese parishioners.

This year’s celebration was even more special since the celebrant himself is Chinese in the person of Bishop Alberto “Abet” Uy, D.D., Bishop of Tagbilaran. In his homily, he began by asking the people, “are you happy today?” He himself was very happy to have been invited to preside the mass for the celebration. For him it is a privilege to be with the Filipino-Chinese community during the Mooncake Festival. Just as the mooncake is round, the bread of the Eucharist also having the same shape for him symbolizes completeness and togetherness which is better seen in family gatherings.

The holy mass was indeed attended by families who were mostly wearing red garments symbolizing the festive atmosphere. Not only the attendees were seen wearing red but also the Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth Choir along with the Davao Sacred Heart Ladies Circle.

After the holy mass, there was a short program held at the Parish Hall where the community gathered to play dice games before eating their sumptuous lunch. The invited bishop and our own Archbishop of Davao who concelebrated in the mass, joined them in the festivities. (Photos: Christine Mae Camus | DCH)