FILIPINOS from all over the region gathered in Tavistock to celebrate the Catholic festival of Santo Niño de Cebu — the first such procession in the South West.

More than 300 people joined in a colourful parade, starting from Bedford Square, which made its way through the town with great noise and celebration — while praying the Rosary. 

The Santo Niño is considered to be the patron saint of Cebu in the Philippines. However, the Santo Niño is a representation of Jesus as a child. The Catholic Church in the Philippines sets the Holy Child as an example of humility, and as a celebration of the incarnation. Many Cebuanos do not consider the Christmas season over until the Feast of the Santo Niño, which is held on the third January of every month.

Filipinos from Tavistock and Callington, were joined by compatriots from Launceston, Plymouth and Torquay.

The procession was a colourful sight as it made its way through the streets on Sunday, January 17. As it neared the church it was greeted with fireworks while the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Budd, along with clergy and servers, waited to welcome its arrival. 

The event was embraced by not just local Catholics but by Churches Together in Tavistock — and the special service at Our Lady of Our Assumption Church in Callington Road was joined by CTT members such as the Rev Michael Brierley, the Church of England priest in charge of Tavistock and Gulworthy and the Rev Jeff Moules from Tavistock Methodist Church.

Cllr Mandy Govier, mayor of Tavistock, said: 'It was really a privilege to be there. It was quite an experience, you could see how much it meant to the Filipinos on their faces and the importance of being able to celebrate a festival from their homeland.'

Father O'Gorman, , parish priest at the Lady of Assumption Church in Tavistock, said: 'The Mass that followed was beautiful and a wonderful introduction to the culture of the Philippines.  At the end of Mass the dancers performed the Sinulog Dance which retells the history of the arrival of Christianity to Cebu. 

'This was followed by the children singing the Jubilee Song, which was composed specially for the visit of Pope John Paul to the Philippines.  Of course, being Filipinos, the whole event finished with a party!'

The idea of the festival started when local Filipinos asked members of the Lady of Assumption Church when the bishop was coming. Bishop Budd was so keen on the efforts to stage the Santo Niño that he insisted it became a diocesan event rather than a parish one.

Father O'Gorman added: 'There is a small Filipino community in Tavistock and Callington, many of whom are Catholics, and as a church we have welcomed and encourage them and, indeed, the Filipinos say they have felt very welcome here in Tavistock.'

One of the organisers Merlyn McGuire, a Filipino married to an Englishman and who works as a care worker at Chy Varhas residential home in Callington, started preparing for the festival back in August.

She said: 'It was a fantastic time and after ten days of snow and bad weather, on the day it was really beautiful and the sun came out.

'This is a very important festival in the Philippines. What was good was that the Santo Nino in Tavistock was embraced by all the community and we had Filipinos, English and Indians, all coming together. Next week is a week of prayer for Christian Unity and this festival was certainly one for all Christians to be united.'

The festival was so successful that it is hoped it will became a regular part of the Christian calendar in Tavistock, although other places in the South West may be keen to share the event.