Parish celebrates Fiesta of St. Fabian

San Fabian - 20 January. A procession in honor of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, started the day's fiesta celebration of the patron saint of the parish and of the town. After the 6 o'clock AM mass, the parishioners gathered at the Church patio for the procession. The different barangays participated in the procession. They brought along with them the images of their patron saint which were all decorated with flowers and put on beautiful carriages, while others were put on tricycles but still beautifully decorated for the procession.

The procession was led by the members of the Ministry of Altar Servers. The Archdiocesan School of San Fabian Drum and Lyre Band provided the band music accompanying the parishioners during the procession. The procession passed through Block 4, Sagud Bahley, before turning left to the main highway and finally entering at the main gate of the patio of the Parish Church. The members of the Knights of Columbus accompanied the statue of St. Fabian during the procession.

Msgr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr, Vicar General and former parish priest of San Fabian presided over the mass at 8 o'clock AM. The native priest-sons of San Fabian concebrated in the mass. They were: Rev. Fr. Abraham Equig, Rev. Fr. Francisco Ungria, Jr. and Rev. Fr. Alfred Viernes. Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, joined them in the mass.

Fr. Frank Ungria, Jr. is incardinated in the Archdiocese of Manila and is presently the parish priest of St. John the Baptist Parish, San Juan, MM. He is the son of Atty. and Mrs. Francisco Ungria, Jr. Fr. Alfred Viernes is incardinated in the Diocese of Alaminos. He is presently the parish priest of Sto. Nino Parish, Mabini, Pangasinan. Fr. Alfred is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ildefonso Viernes. Fr. Abe Esquig is now retired in the active ministry but he is still helping in the parish of St. Fabian. He celebrates regularly the 8 o'clock AM mass every Sunday. He now lives in Brgy. Bolasi.

Msgr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr. in his homily spoke about the value and meaning of peace. He reminded the parishioners about the story of the dove perching on St. Fabian which became the acknowledged sign that he was chosen by the Holy Spirit to become the next pope after Pope Anterus died. The dove is a symbol of peace. Msgr. Magno encouraged everybody to work for peace.

Rev. Fr. Joel F. Ynzon, the Vicar Forane, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation after the mass.

To see more fiesta pictures, please click here.

Parishioners attending a Sunday regular mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Abraham Esquig, a native son of San Fabian.

Town Fiesta 2009 Parade!

San Fabian - 19 January 2009. On the eve of the fiesta of San Fabian, a morning parade featuring the 2009 Miss and Mrs. San Fabian Queens and Princesses was held. They rode on individual floats with their Prince consorts. The 2009 Miss San Fabian is Ms. Michaela Andrada Albay, a 17 year old daughter of Mr. and Mr. Michael Albay. The 2009 Mrs. San Fabian is Mrs. Angelita de Vera Sison who is presently residing in Ontario, Canada. She is married to Mr. Robert Zarate Sison.

The other 2009 Queens and Princesses are: Mrs. Virginia Lomandas Gacula (Mrs. San Fabian 1st Princess), Mrs. Alejandra Narvas Priest (Mrs. San Fabian 2nd Princess), Miss Floriliza Jane Abaoag (Miss San Fabian 1st Princess), Miss Aileen Halog Disu (Miss San Fabian 2nd Princess).

The parade was participated in by the different government agencies, NGOs, Academe and local organizations.

To see more of the Town's Fiesta parade pictures, please click here.

Fiesta Schedule 2009

The following is the schedule of the fiesta celebration of San Fabian, Pope and Martyr, patron of the parish:

19 January 2009, Monday

• Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism at 9:00 AM
• Last day of the Novena to San Fabian, 4:30 PM

20 January 2009, Tuesday

• 6:00 AM Mass
• 7:00 AM Procession in honor of St. Fabian, with the different images of the Barangay Patron saints
• 8:00 AM Patronal Feast Mass by Msgr. Rafael S. Magno, Sr., Vicar General
• 9:00 AM Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

Handog, a Parish Choir, Wins in the Fiesta Contest

One of the four parish choirs, Handog, won in the 2nd Choral Competition sponsored by the local government of San Fabian as part of the celebration of the Fiesta of San Fabian. The singing contest was open to all public and private schools and choirs of the town. The contest was held last 16 January 2009. It was held at the San Fabian Public Auditorium.

Handog, a contraction of "Hand of God", has for its members young people who also are members of the Parish Youth Apostolate Committee, the youth organization of the parish. They have been singing in the Sunday afternoon mass for several years. The Sunday 4,30PM mass is also the youth mass of the parish.

Handog is led and trained by Bro. Xavier Narvas. Right now there are two Handog choirs. They won first place in the free piece category by singing the piece "Hawak Kamay" and second place in the "Kansyon na San Fabian" piece category.

The members of the "HANDOG". Soprano: Agnes Abrigo, Hazel Apellido, Jiesel Lobo, Katherine Quinto, Katrina Narvas, Katrina Petilla, Lelet Gatchalian. Alto: Divina Biason, Girlie Hortaleza, Guenever Winona Marmolejo, Jacquelyn Roces, Ma. Josah Orpilla, Liezl Bucao, Lyra Mae Nabua, Odessa Cerezo, Racy Raguindin, Valerie Bautista. Tenor: Alejo Gabriel, Arjay Gali, John Paul Catalan, Joseph Calicdan, Pedel Pedral, Rodrigo Puzon, Ryan Gonzalo. Bass: Arnel Caguya, Felipe Basilio Ramos, Jayfer Balecha, Jordan Nabua, Mach Junemel Vidal, Noel Ganacias, Ronel Clores, Ryan Galacha, Samuel Narvarte. Accompanist: Frederick Narvas.

Novena to San Fabian (11-19 January 2009)

The novena to St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, started last January 11. The nine day prayer will end on the 19th of January, the eve of the feast of the patron saint of the parish and the town. A novena is a nine-day period of private or public prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors to make special petitions. Novena is derived from the Latin word "novem" meanaing "nine".

The novena is prayed every afternoon at 4:30. A mass immediately follows after the novena prayers. The different parish religious organizations and movements are in-charge of the novena. Each day a different parish organization leads the recitation and the praying of the novena in honor of St. Fabian. The different BEC barangay communities actively take part in the novena.

The novena prayer in Pangasinan was composed by Rev. Fr. Abraham Esquig, a native son of San Fabian and a former parish priest (1981-1987).