RecreatiNG THE SPIRIT OF BETHLEHEM IN OVER 800 SCENES

One who has gazed upon a creche, belen or nativity scene, and has taken the time to reflect upon it cannot leave without feeling a sense of consolation and joy. This is a story about a special soul who has taken her love for the belen much further.

- MISSY SANARES-REYES

Her eyes twinkle as she recalls those days at Maryknoll where she went to school. The nuns had a beautiful tradition of recreating a living nativity scene at Christmastime. This was a practice passed down by St. Francis of Assisi who was the first to re-enact what happened on that most Holy Night in Bethlehem.

She recounts, "Some students were chosen to play the parts of the Holy Family, the shepherds, the wise men. And we were encouraged to go up to the nativity scene and present our gifts to the Baby Jesus."

This tradition so moved the young Gigi Abaya-Carlos that she bought her first belen set at the nearby Catholic Trade store. She was a young girl of 14 at the time. Today, she is a grandmother whose collection has now grown to over 800 nativity scenes.

Even as a grown-up, the childlike wonder she has for the belen remains.

She would continue to collect nativity scenes, and friends and family who knew of her passion would also gift her with these as well. She remembers when her husband Doding once patiently hand-carried a huge box from one of their trips abroad as he feared the delicate belen of Lladro porcelain might break in the cargo section. What dedication and love!