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Vol. II Number 3 October, November,
December 1997
Siquijor Celebrates Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi in Stockton!
Stockton, California. October 4, 1997. Many Siquijodnons had a chance to meet and party
again. This time to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of
Siquijor, Siquijor, in Stockton, California. Local folks around Stockton and nearby
areas who originally come from the town of Siquijor, and hundreds of guests from the
Island, gathered at the residence of David and Cora Flores Ponce, to celebrate the
Siquijor town fiesta.
The Flores Family of Siquijor, Siquijor, who were the main sponsors of the fiesta
celebration, were very elated to see the many Siquijodnons arriving at their greeting
Guting Street home.
Started six years ago, the tradition has become a much anticipated yearly event by
Siquijodnons and has always brought very many Siquijodnons together. Just as it is
celebrated on the Island, the affair is always reminiscent of the yearly festive that is
uniquely Siquijor. Food, funfare, songs, dance, meeting many friends or just plain getting
together.
The celebration was started at noon with a High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Lito Cortes
and Father Editho Mascardo.
There was never a dull moment during the whole affair. Amidst the abundance of food and
drink, many friends exchanged hellos. Kadtong mga dugay nang wala magkita, hilabihang
talidhay. Dina Gan-hinhin Vidad and her sister Norama, who drove up from Los Angeles
finally met their cousin Leo Mamicpic. Nonoy Flores flew in from West Virginia to help
celebrate with the rest of his family. While brother Cenen was busy serving large rice
bowls, brother Evac was entertaining many long lost (and found) friends. Sisters Neneng
and Daday, with the help of their children were very busy managing the kitchen. Hosts
David and Cora were just as occupied entertaining the guests, serving food making sure
everyone "feasted".
As others grouped for happy reunions and tsismis, many gathered to enjoy some of the
musical ensemble around the karaoke machine and the live entertainment provided by the
Siquijor String Band. Several pairs had already started hitting the dance floor, a
conversion of the garage. Meding Bucol, Norama and many more, started the paki-ay ki-ay.
At the backyard, where most of the Siquijodnon dishes
were prepared, one could savor the aroma of the Siquijodnon menu. Mora gyud ug tu-a sa
Siquijor. Many large pots of humba, a huge dish of papa-et, tanang clase nga cake, torta,
puto, drinks galore ug pito ka tuhog nga lechon! Whew! Puerte gayud!
A good representation of guests from Southern California were there. Alex Yuag, Marlon
Generoso, Pimpim Pakilit, siblings Walter and Precy Dinsay, Manuel Ontal, Jr., Carla
Ligutom, and Inday Pina Generoso and many fellow Siquijodnons from the Los Angeles area.
Just as big a crowd were the guests from the San Francisco Bay area cities of San Jose,
Fremont, San Francisc, Vallejo and north bay cities.
>From nearby areas of Stockton and Sacramento and the greater San Joaquin Valley area
were many guests who stayed most of the long hours into the evening. Dancing, singing and
enjoying more food until early morning hours of the next day. The Pabinguits, Jumawans,
Duhaylungsods, Bonocans, Agans, Bulahans, Gegoncillos, Ladions, Quiansons, Valencias,
Atads Larots, Partosas, Vios's, Ligutoms and many more.
The fiesta lasted well into the night or should we say, hing-kabuntagan gayud. Once again,
same time next year. Well, Saint Francis for sure, will always like that.
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