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Full house of Filipinos living in New York celebrating traditional Simbang Gabi. You can almost feel the spirit of Christmas here in New York. Complete with Tagalog songs, Christmas carol and Pinoy kakanin (delicacies) waiting outside the church. I am just hoping next year San Sebastian Church will invite Filipino priest(s) to preside the mass in Tagalog.
Night Mass or commonly called Simbáng Gabi in the Philippines was originated in the early days of Spanish rule as a practical compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the fields. Priests began to say Mass in the early mornings instead of the evening novenas more common in the rest of the Hispanic world. This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature of Philippine culture and became a symbol of sharing.
During the Spanish Era and early American Period, the parishioners would mostly have nothing to offer during Mass except sacks of rice, fruits and vegetables and fresh eggs. These were graciously accepted by the priests, who besides keeping a portion for themselves, would share the produce with the rest of the parishioners after the service.
Today in the Philippines, local delicacies are readily available in the church's premises for the parishioners. The iconic puto bumbóng, bibingka, suman and other rice pastries are cooked on the spot. Latík and yema are sweets sold to children, while biscuits like uraró (arrowroot), barquillos, lengua de gato and otap (ladyfingers) are also available. Kape Barako, a very strong coffee grown in the province of Batangas), hot tsokolate, or salabat (an infusion of ginger) are the main drinks, while soups such as arróz caldo (rice and chicken porridge) and papait (goat bile stew from the Ilocos region) are also found.
The rice-based foods were traditionally served to fill the stomachs of the farmers, since rice is a cheap and primary staple. The pastries were full of carbohydrates needed by colonial Filipinos for the back-breaking work they were subjected to in the rice paddies and sugar mills.
While here in Woodside New York, you will sometime see Kababayans selling our favorite kakanin right in front of the church main entrance despite this cold winter. But it is more convenient to eat this food in several Filipino Restaurants steps away from San Sebastian Church.
Since President Barack Obama issued his recent executive orders on immigration, Philippine consulates all over the United States have been reaching out to Filipinos who may be eligible for the much awaited relief through workshops.
Three components of Obama’s executive action apply widely to undocumented Filipinos, Consul Khrys Corpuz said at a workshop held Sunday.
They are the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA version 2.0, the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability or DAPA and the expansion of provisional waiver for three- or ten-year bar.
“They do not confer lawful status upon an undocumented immigrant, so you do not have status. They do not constitute an amnesty, and they do not constitute the much anticipated immigration reform law. They do not offer a path to U.S. citizenship,” said Corpuz.
DACA is a temporary immigration benefit for people who arrived in the U.S. before his or her 16th birthday and before January 1, 2010, regardless of their age today.
Modeled after the DACA program, DAPA provides deportation relief and work permits to the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents that have continuously resided in the U.S. since before January 1, 2010.
Their children must have been born on or before November 20, 2014 and must be physically present and out of status on November 20, 2014, as well.
The third category of relief is the provisional waiver which now allows spouses and children of green card holders and adult children of U.S. citizens to apply for unlawful presence waivers from within the U.S.
Previously, provisional waivers were available only to the spouse, parents, or minor children of us citizens.
Qualified DACA 2.0 and DAPA applicants may receive temporary relief from deportation and may be granted three-year renewable work permits if they pass criminal and national security background checks, pay taxes and filing fees and show proof of identity such as a Philippine passport.
“We know it takes a little while for the Philippine passport to be here. In other words, personalization process takes six to eight weeks so they better do it now,” said Consul General Mario de Leon.
Immigration attorney Chris Hugo said that now is the right time to get started with their applications by getting paper works such as proof of identification and past immigration records ready.
“It’s important because sometimes we are not aware that we have a pending file or application to the USCIS. It may affect the process. We should save our money for lawyers and filing fees,” said Hugo.
The USCIS may start accepting DACA applications as early as February 2015 and around May 2015 for DAPA qualified applicants.
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