Another Successful Year for Kingdom of Heaven Fair
The 2018 edition of Kingdom of Heaven Fair was successfully held last October 21, a Sunday, from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Parish Social Hall. To recall, the Kingdom of Heaven Fair, also known as ‘Holyween’ was first mounted in 2016 as the Catholic foil to the vampires, witches, zombies, monsters, devils, slasher- horror villains, and vampire themes that pervade the ‘traditional’ Halloween celebration. Displaying great collaboration and cooperation, three CTK ministries – the children’s or Mustard Seed Ministry led by Sonny and Mina Mejia, the Youth Ministry headed by Louie and Lei Abando, and the Family & Life Ministry led by Regie and Joanne Polancos, represented by daughter Ryanna and Louie and Jops Padrinao – worked together to stage the latest Kingdom of Heaven Fair.
As before, the Kingdom of Heaven Fair requested the children in the parish to dress up as biblical characters, saintly figures, and consecrated persons. And indeed, 42 children showed up in inspiring and religion-inspired costumes. All in all, 108 children registered for the event. There was a formal parade of costumes to cap the fair, with Family & Life Ministry core team member Louie Padrinao taking on emceeing chores. Easily, the crowd favorites were Sto. Niño toddlers Kelsie Paramio and Ryne Valderama.
The children’s choir officially opened the Kingdom of Heaven Fair program with an opening prayer. In his message to the children and their parents-guardians, Fr. Steve Zabala shared that his favorite saint was St. Lawrence, patron saint of the poor and one of the most venerated Roman martyrs. It is said that Lawrence gave the church’s treasures to the poor and the sick before his arrest. Many conversions to Christianity throughout Rome reportedly followed Lawrence’s death, including those of several senators witnessing his execution. St Lawrence is one of the most beloved saints in the calendar – perhaps owing in some small sense to his humor in the face of adversity, but also because of his love for the poor and the downtrodden of society.
Fr. Jojo Gatdula also graced the event, plus PPC officers Joyce Tañedo and Bing del Rosario. Taking the lead was Youth Ministry couple Louie and Lei Abando, assisted by Sonny and Mina Mejia, Mon and Frances Bernardo, and Kitchie Diaz of the Mustard Seed Ministry; Teenie and Faith de Leon, and Samantha Yap of the Youth Ministry; Regie and Joanne Polancos and Louie and Jops Padrinao of the Family & Life Ministry. Providing the staffing manpower for the different gamebooths were youth volunteers Joshua Kyle and Gabriel Abando, Jeanina and Louisse Padrinao, Sam and Alex Mejia as well as parishioner youth from
St. Paul – Lexie and Chleo Toledo, Keyanna Torres, and Klia Vasquez. Members from Timothy Youth Ministryalso helped with the décor and venue set-up. Registration and game booth manpower staffing was coordinated by Ryanna Polancos while sister Regina took care of photography.
All the children had a chance to parade from the stage down to the red carpet, with their names and the religious character they represented being announced. Later, a quiz show on the lives of saints merited prizes for children who could answer the questions.
There were five game booths, scattered around the social hall, with the children having to complete all seven games so they could get the game stamp on their ‘passports’. There was the ‘Boom’ hoop- through-the-wire maze game, a Pokemon Go game, a hoop toss, and the ever- popular one, ‘Fish Be With You’, where the kids got to fish for live aquarium fishes. Boom and Pokemon Go were new for this year.
Completing their ‘passports’ meant being able to get their loot bag as well as free food giveaways. Loot bag goodies, food, and cash donations were compliments of Diwanihan Kristiyano, David and Fely Ong, Henry and Joyce Tañedo, Dulce Baretto, Maan del Rosario, Jimmy Hernandez, Louie Reyes, Kuyas Reno and Leo, Lito Perona, Albert Cuadrante, Mary Jane Yu, Irene Robles, Aileen Rodas, and Betsy Tenchavez.
Food booths, such as corndogs, Pedrico’s Pizza, siomai, etc. were also invited to sell in the social hall.
