Religious parade is a first

DOZENS of Filipinos took one of their traditions on to the streets of Bognor Regis for the first time.

Some 60 Catholic members of the community from the south-east Asian nation joined in the Santacruzan procession. It was believed to be the first on the south coast.

Procession members walked from the High Street entrance of Hotham Park to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Clarence Road.

One of the organisers, Bernard Bautista, said: "We tried this last year but the weather was bad and we only paraded around the outside of the

church. This year, we wanted to hold the procession outside. We spoke to all the authorities and they said it was OK to go ahead."

Parade members ready in the park

The parade was followed by a mass at the church.

Residents of the Philippines have come to the Bognor Regis and Chichester areas to work for several years. But their community was only officially created after their country was hit by typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Their then parish priest, Father Tony Churchill, suggested a mass for the victims.

The growing group has continued to promote their national culture with a monthly Filipino-British mass on the first Saturday monthly. They also hold Christmas and summer parties.

The parade depicts the finding of the cross of Jesus by Queen Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great the powerful emperer who ended the persecution of Christians.

The procession gets underway

Mary Bautista, one of those taking part, said: "It's a tradition of religious devotion to the Virgin Mary. We will be praying the holy rosary while doing the parade."

Three of the adults in the parade each held a cross, a rosary and a Bible. Eight children were angels. They carried a letter each to spell 'Ave Maria'.

Signs celebrating three queens were also carried by some of the participants.

Shane Bautista, nine, was an angel in the parade for the second year.

"It was fun taking part in the parade last year. I liked it. It's more special than a normal mass," she said.