Every year on September 7, vesper day of the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, the Padul-ong Festival is celebrated by Boronganons to pay homage the patroness. A series of festival dance performances take place in the city plaza, where spectators endure the scorching heat to witness the grand competition.
This year, Sister Elizabeth Mbuli, a missionary from Africa, also came to witness the glorious spectacle. She has been staying in Eastern Samar for over a year and three months now, which allowed her to join the festivities twice. “The festival is very beautiful to see and also very colorful. You don’t see anything like it back in my hometown,” she stated.
The chants, songs, and dances represent the beauty and diversity embedded in the community. It also reflects the religious traditions practiced for generations as Boronganons celebrate the festival annually.
Despite being accustomed to her own culture and beliefs, Sr. Elizabeth found it easy to adjust to the norms in the country since, according to her, the residents are hospitable and respectful. “The people here are very warm, welcoming and truly generous,” she added. Her profound admiration for the Filipinos is a significant reflection of the hospitality shown to her. After all, being hospitable is one of the markers of Filipino identity.
Sr. Elizabeth expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Filipino community. She also says she would be delighted to come back to the Philippines after taking her final vows back in her own country.
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭-𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 2023 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘚𝘚𝘜 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵, 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺’𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
