Protect The Light: The Hijos Kababaihan Team Building 2023

Mar. 05, 2023 10:07 AM

A group of Hijos Kababaihan dancing during their two-day teambuilding activity on Ternate, Cavite (Photo by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Breaking from the ordinary routine to serve at the Quiapo Church, the Hijos Kababaihan goes to Ternate Beach Resort in Ternate, Cavite, for Team Building on February 7 & 8, 2023. There are separate groups of women called the Hijos Kababaihan. They help the Hijos del Nazareno, which is made up of men, spread their devotion to the Black Nazarene by volunteering.

Except for the Hijos-Central, which is devoid of any female members, the Hijos Kababaihan comprises the five different female organizations that fall under the purview of the Hijos del Nazareno, namely:

1. 1. 1. 1. Angels of the Black Nazarene-NPJN.
        
        Handmaids of the Black Nazarene-MBBN.
        
        Ladies Servants of the Black Nazarene-Anpon.
        
        Ladies Auxiliary-Basilica.
        
        Lingkod Kababaihan ng Poong Jesus Nazareno-Bukluran

Like the strong men of the Hijos del Nazareno, these groups of women do not only function when there are processions of the image of the Black Nazarene. Every Friday and Sunday, they also help direct thousands of churchgoers who come to the Quiapo church to attend mass and express their devotion to the Black Nazarene.

The team building activity’s climax, dubbed “Protect the Light,” challenges participants to move from one end to the other while defending the lit candle from competing groups who would try to put it out. The exercise aims to foster teamwork and unity among the Hijos Kababaihan members to overcome one another’s limitations while remaining one despite their differences and uniqueness.

The event must strengthen each devotee’s light of faith to lead others toward the Black Nazarene. In this way, the motivating message given by Rev. Fr. Hans Magdurulang, the priest-in-charge of the Formation Ministry, is anchored by the acronym “TEAM,” which stands for Together Everybody Achieves More. Therefore, serving the church is not so much about what we can do as how much we can give individually, but more about what we can do together in God’s grace and genuine goodness in each person willing to participate in Christ’s mission as the very face of our devotion.

-Alfrein Quirionez | EIAM & ADRM