Daven Tamayo

Religious flock to Manila Cathedral for Christmas concert

Article (news)

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

The Manila Cathedral was packed on Christmas Eve as a Yuletide concert brought holiday cheer to attendees.The Manila Cathedral Choir, alongside the Philippine Suzuki Youth Orchestra, performed a mix of Tagalog and foreign Christmas songs.The cathedral&#x27;s two chapels also featured collections of nativity scenes in various sizes.According to Fr. Viel Bautista, vice rector of the Manila Cathedral, this year’s Christmas celebration holds special significance as it marks the beginning of the 2025 Catholic Jubilee Year or Holy Year, declared by Pope Francis.&quot;Not just a holy year per se, but it is specified as a pilgrimage of hope that hopefully this season may at least empower more the gift of hope to each and everyone of us that Christ Himself is the Father&#x27;s gift of hope to all of us and all of us magdiriwang ng Pasko, magbabahagi ng regalo at biyaya ng pag-asa para sa lahat,&quot; Bautista said.Pope Francis will lead the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Christmas Eve, signifying the start of the Jubilee Year.In line with this, the design of this year’s Belen de Manila includes a representation of the Holy Door, underscoring the event’s deeper spiritual meaning.The Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral was set to begin at 8 p.m.

The Manila Cathedral was packed on Christmas Eve as a Yuletide concert brought holiday cheer to attendees.

The Manila Cathedral was packed on Christmas Eve as a Yuletide concert brought holiday cheer to attendees.