Pinoys, Vietnamese hold Santacruzan in Vietnam

Filipinos and Vietnamese wore traditional Philippine costumes as they joined a "Santacruzan," a religious festival, in Hanoi in Vietnam, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA said the Santacruzan and the book exhibit in Ho Chi Minh City highlighted the 35th anniversary of ties between the Philippines and Vietnam. According to the DFA, the two events "were a testimony to the close ties between the Filipino community and their families, Vietnamese friends and community officials and the diplomatic community in celebrating a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries." "It was a fiesta-like atmosphere, complete with Santacruzan regalia and paraphernalia, such as arkos, skillfully constructed by members of the Filipino community," the DFA said in a news release. The Santacruzan is a festival that became popular during the Spanish period in the Philippines. It recounts the legend of searching for the cross of Jesus Christ. According to popular legend, 300 years after the death of Jesus Christ, Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, started searching for the cross on which Jesus was hanged. Book exhibit Meanwhile, a book exhibit was held from July 8 to 17 with the theme "Celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam." "The Embassy lent 35 titles to the library to add to its Philippine collection for this particular exhibit. The new titles were donated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)," the DFA said. On July 8, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) organized a program and a reception for Filipinos and Vietnamese. "A presentation of Philippine and Vietnamese songs and dances by combined members of the Filipino community in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese performers followed the speeches of Ambassador Santos and the HUFO President (Le Hung Quoc)," the DFA said. Philippine Ambassador Jerril Santos urged Filipinos to be ambassadors of goodwill as he lauded the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), which hosted the event, and the Filipino community for ensuring the event's success. Santos and VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong recounted cooperation on various fields, gaining "new heights to reach the aspirations and interests of the two countries' people." - VVP, GMA News