Pinoy community in Japan holds Simbang Gabi for disaster victims back home

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino community in Japan held a nine-day Simbang Gabi at the Meguro (St. Anselm) Catholic Church in Tokyo dedicated to the victims of calamities in the Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez, along with Meguro Church Pastor Fr. Leo Schumacher S.S.C., the Meguro Parish, the Catholic Tokyo International Center and the Philippine Assistance Group joined Filipinos in the Kanto region to organize the Simbang Gabi for the victim of the earthquake and super typhoon in Visayas.

Filipino priests from around the region – Fr. Jay Madrona, Fr. Chito Lorenzo, Fr. Jun Peralta, Fr. Jack Serate, Fr. Philip Bonifacio, Fr. Nelson Cabasisi and Fr. Roed Desamparado – celebrated the first eight Simbang Gabi masses while Fr. Leo celebrated the mass on the final day.

Around 100 to 350 attended each mass, and collections amounted to JPY 472,336 (around P200,000) to be donated next month to the disaster victims.

Filipino groups and private companies in support of the Filipino community were served traditional Filipino fare such as arroz caldo, suman, pan de sal, queso de bola, hamon, coffee and salabat after each mass.