Available online @ www.camilliansphil.org
am busy.” “I am buried.” “I am behind.” I heard these several times from people and myself as we travel on this life’s journey in the ministry. Aside from these, we also say… “I feel broke.” “I feel blocked.” “I feel bugged.” “I feel bummed.” Indeed, we are living in the “B-zone.” Restless in his life as a soldier, Camillus fell into this B-zone. He traveled mountains and countries to seek the treasure of his life. Camillus traveled long, arduous years, filled with both dangerous and enthralling adventures, never being sure if that which was sought will be found. Until such time, he came to a stop, finally coming to the place where the treasure was. It has been there all along. The B-zone leads full circle back to the home of one’s own heart; the journey contains the necessary teachings for growth and change. Each person, experience, and place along life’s path is a step that offers meaning and direction, bringing us into ourselves where dwells the finest treasure---GOD.
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Each of us is a traveler of the heart. Each stride of the way holds another opportunity for knowing ourselves and be aware that God is always traveling with us. The B-zone reminds us that “We are BLESSED.”
By Rev. Dan Vicente Cancino Jr., MI
shepherd’s care
Provincial’s Corner
By Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI
Our presence, His presence
When we experience God’s presence, we become more vibrant and enthusiastic in every task or ministry entrusted to us. We find joy and meaning in whatever we are doing. For they are no longer just work for us but an expression of our gratitude to God
he constant longing of the human heart is happiness. Many have tried to find it in riches, power, material things, pleasures, etc., but they failed to have it. For true and lasting happiness could only be found in God. As St. Augustine said, “I will remain restless, unless I remain in Thee.” Yes, it is only when we allow God to be always present at the very core of our being that we could experience lasting peace and happiness. For God is everything! Thus, the experience of God’s presence is what will enable us to live life to the fullest. It is when we have that full awareness of God’s presence in our life that we can be truly and fully alive persons. Our encounter with Him brings out the best in us. We then become generous in sharing with other people the blessings we received and learn to be more appreciative of others’ giftedness and uniqueness. Others become always important to us. Furthermore, when we experience God’s presence, we become more vibrant and enthusiastic in every task or ministry entrusted to us. We find joy and meaning in whatever we are doing. For they are no longer just work for us but an expression of our gratitude to God who is always so good, loving, and forgiving to us. And this is for me, the realization of what Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Hence, the awareness of God’s presence gives us power to love the way Jesus loved us. And that presence of God in our life enables us to understand deeply the meaning of the Mystery of Incarnation. As the scripture passage says, “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son to be our Savior.” (John 3:16) We continue then the mission of sharing God’s love that heals and liberates. Let us continue praying, for it is in prayer that God continuously reveals His constant presence among us. And let our presence in our community and in our different areas of apostolate becomes God’s presence. For where there is love like that of Jesus, His presence abides. God bless us all.
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team taiwan
CHEERS TO THE FATHERS The fathers in Shunan Catholic Church were honored during the Father’s Day celebration last August 6, 2011. Our Provincial Superior, Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI, (second from left, top right) visited us last August 8-15, 2011. By Fr. Giuseppe Didoné, MI
echoes from the mountain
Love encounter By Sch. Bon L. Arimbuyutan, MI by this writer; and Responsibility, Freedom, and Chastity by Sch. John Paul B. Alvarado, MI. Despite the fact that crickets and frogs were the only ones awake outside the parish church during the overnight gathering, the youth nonetheless displayed their enthusiasm the entire night by asking questions and participating in the action songs, acting feats, and in the non-stop “debate” on love. As manifested in the event, love and relationships seem to be the fairest concern of today’s youth. Thanks to the Youth Encounter for it somehow enriched them on the topic. “I learned a lot especially on how to relate with people using a Christian view,” one participant said. The “dusk till dawn” encounter was culminated with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by their ever younglooking parish priest, Fr. Charly T. Ricafort, MI.
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Between 10-27 years old young people in the parish of BosoBoso unleashed their youthfulness during the Youth Encounter held inside the church of Nuestra Señora dela Annunciata Parish, Boso-Boso, San Jose, Antipolo City last August 13-14, 2011. Scheduled from 7 PM to 6 AM, the overnight activity designed by the Parish Youth Ministry was sparked by exciting talks along with singing, dancing, and acting activities. Eighty-seven participants from Boso-Boso and the nearby chapels of Kaysakat, Calumpang, and Greenview graced the gathering with the theme focused on Creative Love. As the youth chose it themselves, it was no wonder why they were so interested in the get-together. The “meat” of the event was the inputs on Relationship and Love delivered by Afizah Pardo and Noli dela Cruz, both active youth leaders in the parish; Courtship and Going Steady
aids does matter
another training
Not just
By Sch. John Jay C. Magpusao, MI
any of them were frank enough in saying that they were, initially, not really that eager in attending the training. Considering the demands of the workloads they had in their academic institutions, “I thought it will just be another training where we will listen to inputs and participate in the discussions,” said Ma. Elena M. Estares of Adamson University. “But I’m glad I came. It’s worth it,” she continued. College, San Beda College-Manila, San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation, Sta. Isabel College, and University of Santo Tomas. Another set of 9 schools from NCR composed the second batch. They were: College of the Holy SpiritManila, Don Bosco Technical College-Mandaluyong, Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Quezon City, La Consolacion College-Manila, La Consolacion CollegeValenzuela, San Beda College-Rizal, St. Mary’s AcademyPasay, St. Paul University-Quezon City, and St. Scholasctica’s College-Manila. Their training was conducted on August 17-19, 2011 at the same venue. To strengthen the participants’ knowledge on gender, sex, and sexuality that is needed to understand HIV and AIDS and its related issues was the training workshop’s primary objective. Likewise, it aimed to deepen their understanding on the Catholic responses to HIV and AIDS.
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Allan A. Basas of the University of Santo Tomas can relate to the feeling. "This is one of the best trainings I have attended,” he said. The two Catholic educators were referring to the Pastoral Training on HIV and AIDS facilitated by the Camillians, as member of the Philippine Catholic HIV and AIDS Network (PhilCHAN), for the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP)-member schools at the Meralco Management and Leadership Development Center (MMLDC) in Antipolo City on August 10-12, 2011. Ms. Estares and Mr. Basas were among the representatives sent by their respective schools to participate in the first batch of teachers, guidance counselors, and policymakers to undergo the said trainers’ training. The first batch was composed of 9 universities and colleges from the National Capital Region (NCR), namely: Adamson University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Concordia College, De La Salle University-Manila, Miriam
A fulfilling day By Maria Agnes A. Mendoza, MD Woodwater Center for Healing Volunteer
As pilot schools recipient of the training funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the participating schools were envisioned to eventually form the CEAP-NCR’s HIV and AIDS Educators’ Team who will replicate the training program to other CEAP-member schools in the region. It was hoped that they will be able to integrate life skills education for the youth in their curricula, with special emphasis on HIV prevention. This need stemmed from the fact that HIV is now “fast-and-furiously” infecting the Philippines with the youth serving as one of the most at-risk populations. Persons infected with HIV are currently getting younger and younger here in the country, in other words. And they could be in these educators’ very own schools. After learning the facts and figures of HIV and AIDS, both globally and locally, they were asked, “Are you now ready to journey with people living with HIV and AIDS?” Apprehensions then filled the air. “I’m afraid I cannot answer that, because, first of all, I don’t know them. I don’t even know how they look like, and what
are they going through,” expressed one teacher. But after the psycho-emotional process which challenged them with questions like, “How would you feel if somebody you love is infected with HIV?” and “How would you feel if you are infected with HIV?” their apprehensions turned into conviction, most especially when they realized that two persons living with HIV were actually with them since the start of the training. Everyone agreed that meeting in person people living with HIV, and hearing their stories firsthand, was truly a moving experience. As one participant said, “I did not have a clue that they were infected because they look like anyone of us. Lesson learned, they should not be judged because of their HIV status.” In the end, all the participants of batches 1 and 2 had a consensus in saying that, “We have the social and moral responsibility to bring the realities of the virus to our students because they could be the unsuspecting individuals to be infected with it.”
“I thought it will just be another training where we will listen to inputs and participate in the discussions. But I’m glad I came. It’s worth it.”
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The Woodwater Center for Healing staff and volunteers conducted HIV and AIDS Awareness last August 13, 2011 at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Montalban, Rizal. This was through the initiative of the parish members who attended the Pastoral Training on HIV and AIDS several months ago in the diocese of Antipolo. Initially, I thought that there would only be a handful of participants. To my surprise, aside from a number of members coming from various organizations in the parish, about 140 students were mobilized to attend the activity since HIV and AIDS was tackled in one of their subjects. They were education students at the local college. To facilitate the discussions and interactions well, we divided the group into two for the first topics and convened them together for the plenary session on the magnitude and biomedical facts on HIV and AIDS, the HIV antibody testing, and the Church responses to HIV and AIDS. They were subdivided again into four separate groups for a simulation activity where they tried to enter into the realities of the people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. In the final plenary, they once again formed into one big group where they were able to validate the different feelings they had during the psycho-emotional exercise through the testimonies coming from a family affected by HIV and from a person living with HIV. The first guest disclosed her pain of having a sibling infected with HIV and for being the only person in the family who knew her sibling’s status. One can feel the burden she was carrying trying to protect her family from the frightening social stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS. Various emotions were further elicited from the participants when the other guest shared about his very own painful experiences of stigma and discrimination when he became HIV-positive. We ended the day with a short candlelight memorial and prayer for the people who died of AIDS. It was quite a tiring day but very fulfilling.
road to la paz
CHV-Makati revived
By Sch. Henry B. Angupa II, MI
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aithful to its Camillian identity, the Our Lady of La Paz Parish in La Paz, Makati City, revived its own group of Camillian Healthcare Volunteers (CHV). Through a medical mission, organized by the group itself, last August 20, 2011 at the parish patio, the CHVs formally launched their role in the promotion of basic healthcare in the community. Around 350 individuals availed the free medical consultations, laboratory tests, and medicines in the half-day event inspired and guided by the theme: “Reaching the poor-sick with hearts in our hands!” Talks on the prevention and treatment of common diseases and of the life of St. Camillus de Lellis were also given to the patients while waiting for their turn to be served. Fr. Gabriel V. Garcia, MI, parish priest, was happy in commending the new CHVs, and all the collaborators—like the volunteer doctors, nurses, medical technologists, parish youth and staff, Camillian scholastics and adult formands, and all the benefactors—for their heart for the sick and for putting “hearts in their hands,” making the medical mission a huge success.
Scholastics’ Home
sa balay ni isko
KKK in WYD By Sch. Jose Leonardo L. Degillo, MI A special event to nurture the seed of faith of the Filipino youth, the “World Youth Day (WYD) 2011: From Madrid to Manila” was held last August 20-21, 2011 at the Ateneo de Manila University grounds in Quezon City. An overnight youth vigil, the occasion was bannered with the theme, “Kabataang Pilipino, Nakaugat Kay Kristo”—a variation of the WYD 2011 in Madrid, Spain’s “Planted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith.” Filled with the Filipino youth’s intention and aspiration for a Christ-centered life, the Manila-version WYD featured KKK: kasiyahan (entertainment), katekismo (cathechism), and kalusugan (nourishment in the Eucharist). Pope Benedict XVI’s message to the youth, telecasted live from Madrid, this year’s WYD host, highlighted the vigil. Though the rain was unrelenting when the activity started in the afternoon, the youth still came full of enthusiasm and demonstrated their youthful spirits as they sang and danced
in the gathering organized by the Campus Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao, the Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., the Episcopal Commission on Youth-Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and Tanging Yaman Foundation. Students from Centro Escolar University led the praise songs and dances while some young celebrities shared their faithexperiences. Likewise, some church leaders gave the catechetical talks while some priests made themselves available for confession and counseling. The Camillian scholastics grouped with the delegation from the Nuestra Señora dela Annunciata Parish in Boso-Boso, San Jose, Antipolo City in joining with the 10,000 estimated participants coming from the different schools, parishes and dioceses in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cebu, Isabela, and other provinces in the faith and spirituality-centered celebration.
Divine Healer Chaplaincy Southern Philippines Medical Center
healer’s voice
CDH celebrates 14th foundation day By Helen Marie P. Mendoza ters, Divine Healer Choir, some religious organizations, and committed generous individuals, the 14 years existence of CDH turned to be a lively community in mission. A lunch prepared at the chaplaincy office was shared by some guests and hospital personnel after the Mass. Happy 14th Foundation Day! Praise God!
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The 14th Foundation Day of the Chapel of the Divine Healer (CDH) of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City was celebrated last August 8, 2011. Since it was the chapel’s anniversary, the Monday morning Mass for hospital personnel was celebrated at the chapel presided over by Fr. Gilbert S. Nasataya, DCC, Pre-Theology (PTY) formator of the city’s St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary. The Eucharist was sponsored by the Hospital Week 2011 Steering Committee and was animated by members of the Divine Healer Choir and some hospital personnel. Fr. Nasataya expressed his gratitude for the big help of the chaplaincy and the hospital in the formation process of the diocesan seminarians. Fr. Domingo S. Barawid, MI, presided over the 12:15 PM Eucharist where he stressed that the chapel has become a living witness where the sick take refuge. As prayers for them were always included in every Mass, “May we continue this mission every day, expressing God’s presence in the midst of His suffering people,” he said. It was during the National Hospital Week in 1997 that the first concelebrated Mass was held in this chapel. With the presence now of the Camillian Religious, the Eucharistic Lay Minis-
Status: Blessed By Nov. Anthony A. Ongcal
Welcome to “Number Forty”—the St. Camillus Novitiate Community’s new column! And, of course, as expected, you would ask why the number forty? Or what’s in number forty? Okay, here we go… In the bible, this 2-digit number is usually associated with various significant accounts. Say, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and Jesus was seen 40 days after His crucifixion. Or, in the Old Testament: it rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over; Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Ark; Moses had a retreat for 40 days on Mount Sinai where Yahweh made a covenant with him; and many more. But, hey, check this out… Did you know that our novitiate house is located on No. 40, Road 1, Quezon Hill, Baguio City? Mere coincidence, eh? You may say so, but for us this is a blessing. Canonically built as a place of intense prayer and initiation to the Camillian religious life, we consider this place as our own Mount Sinai where we make and deepen our covenant with the Lord to serve Him through serving His
people, most especially the sick. And since we will live here for more than forty days and forty nights, for our novitiate is a one-whole-year program, we really felt how blessed we are for being here at “Number Forty!” Since we started our novitiate journey here last May, blessings kept pouring down on us. From June up to this month, we participated in several activities and celebrations which nurtured our relationship with one another and with the people surrounding us. To know more about our blessings in the coming months just check out our “status” here at “Number Forty!”
You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle. ~ Paulo Coelho ~
milestones
August
BIRTHDAYS 01, 1974 - Rev. Mushtaq Anjum 04, 1984 - Sch. John Paul Alvarado 04, 1948 - Fr. Remegio Jamorabon 13, 1988 - Sch. Jose Leonardo Degillo 14, 1947 - Fr. Ivo Anselmi 16, 1944 - Fr. David Lee 30, 1980 - Sch. Eusebio Cabonegro Jr. 30, 1967 - Fr. Robert Chua Jr. PERPETUAL PROFESSIONS 14, 1999 - Fr. Ruben Mandin 14, 1999 - Fr. Charly Ricafort 20, 2000 - Bro. Paul Han PRESBYTERATE ORDINATIONS 10, 1991 - Fr. Manuel Tamayo 17, 1980 - Fr. Raimondo Yang
September
BIRTHDAYS 03, 1967 - Fr. Aristelo Miranda 05, 1950 - Fr. Amelio Troietto 11, 1978 - Fr. Avensius Harung 15, 1974 - Rev. Rodolfo Cancino Jr. 15, 1978 - Fr. Bienvenido Jonson Jr. 16, 1968 - Fr. Marcelo Pamintuan Jr. 19, 1965 - Fr. Wilfredo Penoliar 28, 1965 - Fr. Diosdado Haber PRESBYTERATE ORDINATIONS 04, 2006 - Fr. Jacob Wong 28, 1996 - Fr. David Lee
PUBLISHER St. Camillus Provincialate 18 Nicanor Reyes St., Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City, Philippines
EDITORIAL STAFF Sch. John Jay C. Magpusao, MI Sch. John Paul B. Alvarado, MI Ms. Veronica Villegas Mr. Hubert Castro Telephone: +63 (2) 929-6213/926-3506/ 920-7621 Fax: +63 (2) 929-6215 E-mail: provhousephi@gmail.com Website: www.camilliansphil.org
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number forty