ANSAN, 11 May 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez and his family joined the Filipino community in celebrating Mother뭩 Day in a special mass officiated by Reverend Fr. Felixberto Perez, Jr. in Ansan City, home to one of the biggest concentrations of Filipino nationals in Korea, on 10 May 2015.

In remarks to 200 people hearing mass at Ansan's Wongok-dong Catholic Church, Ambassador Hernandez congratulated Fr. Perez and the Ansan Filipino Community (AFC) for organizing the Santacruzan sa Ansan street procession, as the Filipino way of giving honor to the Virgin Mary. The event also showed to Korea glimpses of Filipino culture and tradition, he said.

He also paid tribute to all the Filipino mothers living in Korea for all the sacrifices they make and difficult situation they face being away from the family to ensure a better life for their children.

Ambassador Hernandez also enjoined Filipinos to give more for the transformation and development of our motherland, the Philippines, by helping one another, espousing and practicing the values of peace, justice, solidarity and love.

After mass, Fr Perez asked all mothers, including the ambassador's spouse, Mme Ana A. Hernandez, to receive special blessings for the occasion and bouquets of flowers from the male members of AFC.

In keeping with the Filipino festival of Flores de mayo, the AFC organized the Santacruzan, which was participated in by AFC women members, their escorts and their children wearing colorful Philippine traditional costumes. Ms. Ella Karina R. Mitra, the Embassy's Third Secretary and Vice Consul, joined the parade as Reyna Emperatriz.

The Santacruzan is the pageant held on the last day of Flores de Mayo, a monthlong celebration dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and held in honour of Helena of Constantinople (known as Reyna Elena), mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Reyna Emperatriz or Queen Empress is the second most important pageant participant.

Founded in 1991, the Filipino Community in Ansan is guided by the Galilea Migrant Workers' Pastoral Center in its activities with the objective to safeguard the welfare of spouses of any religious denomination regardless of their visa status. Fr Jun runs the Center and serves as adviser of the AFC.

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