The 29th of October 2022 will probably go down in the Santo Niño Foundation of Australia, Inc. (SNFAI) history as the day the families and more than a hundred attendees braved through intermittent rain, wore their fantasy costumes, played games, sang and danced at Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick despite the threat of a heavy downpour.
The group, led by seven founding members – Madeleine Hidalgo, Beth Avila, Tulip Ramirez, Lyn Montera, Nelia Ciar, Precy Zhang and Deacon Neil Daculan – prepared for several games, including puzzles, bottle flips, ring toss, basketball, hopscotch, jumping rope and local Pinoy games such as limborak and takyan. Kids enjoyed their games, had lollies for a prize, and set some personal bests in jumping rope, which became the most popular of the games.
Cash prizes were also won for best costume in six categories: for kids (male and female), teenagers (male and female), and adults (male and female). The event was hosted mainly by Myra Gonzales.
In her opening remarks, the President of SNFAI, Madeleine Hidalgo, thanked everyone for coming and reiterated that the main objective of SNFAI is to spearhead the creation of Sto. Niño shrine in Victoria. The organisation is based mainly in the Diocese of Sale. It celebrates the novena of the Virgin Mary every December called the Simbang Gabi and after a two-week break, the succeeding novena for the Holy Child whose feast falls every third Sunday of January. These two novenas were celebrated for the last two years during the COVID-19 lockdown at St. Agatha Parish in Cranbourne and enthusiastically supported by its Parish Priest, Fr. Joseph Abutu, Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Stanly Devasia, and Deacon Neil Daculan.
The Family Day Out event aims to bring together families in southeast Victoria under the blessing of the Holy Child, Sr. Sto. Niño. The event was also graced by Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao, representing the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. The young Cebuano who serves at the consulate was happy to be welcomed by fellow Cebuanos in Melbourne. He reiterated that the Philippine Consulate services are there to help fellow Filipinos, especially in their intention to acquire dual citizenship.
The founding members closed the event with the Sinulog Dance to thank the Holy Child for the many blessings He has bestowed on all Filipino migrants in Victoria.
The Vice-President of SNFAI, Beth Avila, expressed the same gratitude as she thanked everyone again for attending, sharing moments with other families, wearing costumes, and spending three hours with fellow devotees.
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