San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish at Pleasant Hill Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Bulacan 3023 PH

Sambuklod Honors San Lorenzo Ruiz
by Emily Galang-Sequeira
September 21, 2009

Sambuklod is an acronym which stands for “Sambayanang Buhay at Umuunlad Kasama si Lorenzong Dakila.” (A Community that is Alive and Growing along with the Companionship of the Venerable Lorenzo).

“Buklod”, a Tagalog word which means “unite” is what the festival hopes and wants to achieve - UNITY amidst DIVERSITY as a new parish and as a new and emerging community with residents coming from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

The annual festivity is held at San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish in San Jose del Monte, the First City of the Province of Bulacan under the guidance of its parish priest, Rev. Fr. Mario Jose C. Ladra (editor of the prayer book, “Straight From the Heart: A Prayer Companion,” a national bestseller). It starts with a Novenario (9 days Novena to San Lorenzo Ruiz). The days that follow are filled with activities like variety shows, singing contests, “Palarong Pinoy”, fireworks display, processions and a Grand Healing Mass. The festival culminates on the 4^th Sunday of September with a concelebrated Mass and thereafter, a grand Parade and a Street Dancing Competition.

In celebration of the 8^th Sambuklod Festival this year, mural paintings in the church interior will be blessed by the Most Rev. Jose Oliveros Jr., D.D., Bishop of Malolos on Sunday, September 27, 2009, the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz. Thousands of devotees, participants, sponsors and donors, and fun-loving fiesta goers are invited and expected by the parishioners and residents alike.

From the birth and conception of Sambuklod in 2001 and how the festival evolved and was celebrated with a different theme each year, this is a showcase and highlight of the community’s joyful and colorful thanksgiving for the many blessings received through the intercessions of San Lorenzo, the first Filipino Saint; the saint who had been willing “to live and give a thousand lives for God.” And as many Filipino believers and devotees had put it in their own words, “Si San Lorenzo ang Santong Madaling Lapitan, Huwaran ng Mga Pinoy Kahit Saanman.”

Sambuklod Festival now on flickr! Join the group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sambuklod/

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San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish at Pleasant Hill Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Bulacan 3023 PH - Sambuklod Honors San Lorenzo Ruiz