Tahanan Family Day 2026
Tahanan Family Day 2026
Capellanía Filipina-Tahanan Madrid Celebrates 40 Years of Journeying Together
Journeying Together: Tahanan Family Day Celebrates 40 Years of Home in Madrid
Forty years ago, a small community of Filipino faithful came together in search of home here in Madrid. This year, that community comes full circle with Tahanan Family Day, a milestone celebration marking four decades of Capellanía Filipina – Tahanan Madrid's journey — and the hundreds of faithfuls who have called it home along the way.
The word “Tahanan” means "home" in Filipino, and this year's anniversary theme, "Journeying Together," captures exactly that spirit: a community bound by four decades of shared faith, culture, and belonging.
The celebration kicked off bright and early at 9:00 AM where the guests were given a pin and colored bracelet marking the year they joined the community — a small but meaningful touch that turned the crowd into a living timeline of the Chaplaincy's 40-year history. From the pioneers of 1984 to the newest members who joined just this year, every color tells a story of when someone found their place in this family.
The Holy Mass celebrated the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz,
the Philippines' first canonized saint and martyr, and a fitting patron for a community whose own story has been one of faith carried across borders and generations. The Mass was presided by Fr. Mark Angelo Martinez Ramos, SVD, who served as Tahanan´s chaplain from 2018 to 2021. Concelebrating was our current chaplain, Fr. Gerry Paat, SVD; Fr. Pedro Sarmiento, CMF, one of the original collaborator priests from 1984; and Fr. Charles Rolón, CMF, Fr. Omar Delgado, SSP, and Rev. Lemuel Tuvilla, CMF, who continue to guide and support the Chaplaincy, and Fr Amedeus Lucero, OAR, a guest priest.
After the Holy Mass, everyone gathered for a group photo to form the number 40, capturing four decades of individuals and dedication—the very foundation that continues to sustain Tahanan—in a single frame.
The program began with a tribute to the founding generation and priest collaborators, highlighting their service to the Chaplaincy. It was a true privilege to celebrate them in person; the people who answered the call and gave their hearts to serving the Filipino faithful in Madrid, giving birth to the community that we now call home.
Born from last year's logo design competition, our 40th-anniversary logo celebrates the creativity of all the participants who were honored during the event. As music and dance are ever-present at any celebration, the program showcased the talent and heritage of the community. Nostalgia filled the air as we listened to the Filipino music medley played by the Tahanan Rondalla and sang by the Tahanan Music Ministry. A surprise song number by the Youth Ministry great way to close the program.
No Filipino celebration is complete without a shared table, everyone gathered for lunch and fellowship, it was a great chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and simply enjoy being together.
The afternoon turned playful with family games and fun activities, bringing out laughter and friendly competition across generations before the day toward its close.
The closing remarks and prayer, led by Fr. Gerry, offered a moment of gratitude and reflection on the journey so far — forty years of milestones, challenges, and blessings.
But the celebration isn't quite finished: the whole community came together one more time for a flash mob initiated by the Youth Ministry, a joyful, unified send-off that captures exactly what forty years of "journeying together" looks like in motion.
We left not just with a bracelet on our wrists, but with a renewed sense of belonging to a community that has spent four decades building a home away from home. An occasion built entirely around one idea: that after forty years, Capellanía Filipina – Tahanan Madrid isn't just a chaplaincy — it's our TAHANAN.
