From the Editor
January-March 2024 Volume 52 Number l
The Salesian Bulletin Philippines
We release this issue ofthe St. John Bosco Today, our first for 2024, on the Feast ofSt. Francis de Sales, January 24
Highlights Message
Features
Don Bosco's Communication Years Before His Death -Salesian Bulletin Online
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Commentary on The Dream at 9
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-Fr. Francis Gustilo, SOB
What Dreams Can Become -Fr. Stephen Piacente, SOB Understanding AI in the Light of our Time
-Robert "Bob" Reyes
DBEC's The Bosconian Quill Marks Its First Page this New Year 2024 -Amiel M. Yacon, PhD St. Francis de Sales and Communicating with Love - Julia St. Clair Nurturing Dreams and Transforming Lives
-Fr. Fidel Ma. D. Orendain, SOB
Don Bosco, the Young Adult Dreamer: A Re-visioning by the FIN CDB -Fr. Eligio Cruz, SOB Obituary
+Lolita Gatus-Geronimo +Fr. Felice Furlan, SOB
Last year, after a one-year hiatus, we revived SJBT on the same date which is providential.
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Rector Major H. E. Angel Cardinal Fernandez, SOB
St. Francis de Sales, a 16th-century Bishop and Doctor of the Church, is known for his gentleness as well as his profound insights on communication and spirituality. His timeless teachings emphasized the importance ofkindness, and active listening in fostering effective communication.
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In this issue, we 'import' an article from SUE Province (Canada & Eastern USA) titled "St. Francis de Sales and Communicating with Love." Likewise, in anticipation of the 2024 World Communication Sunday Message of the Holy Father, with the theme "Artificial intelligence and wisdom of the heart:for afully human communication," which will be released today, we bring you the article "Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Light of Our Faith" by a member of the FIN Commission on Social Communication, Mr. Bob Reyes.
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This SJBT issue, which breaks open the year 2024, we also share some articles to deepen our appreciation and reflection on the 2024 Strenna, "The Dream that Makes Us Dream." Hence, we chose the award-winning Strenna poster from the Philippines, conjured by a student ofDon Bosco School ofTheology, Reg Silva. Fr. Fidel Orendain, SDB ofthe FIS Province, and Sr. Teresita Padron, FMA of the FIL-PNG Province, offer their reflection on the Strenna. Fr. Stephen Piacente, SDB, our in-house Scriptures scholar, anchors the Dream at 9 from the Good Book, while Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB, a Salesianity expert, shares his reflection on the Dream, culled from many years ofexperience and encounter.
Editorial Team Director-in-Chief H. E. Angel Cardinal Fernandez, SOB Editor-in-Chief Fr. Donnie Duchin Duya, SOB Creative Direction & Lay-out Studio Next24 Managing Editor Ms. Susan Liwanag Copy Editor Fr. Richie Santos, SOB Circulation Ms. Ma. Nicole Espanillo
We trust that this issue will help us gear up for the Feast ofSt. John Bosco that will take place in a week's time--and beyond.
To subscribe, please contact Salesians of Don Bosco FIN Commission on Social Communication (CSCom) 3/F Don Bosco Provincial Office, Don Bosco Compound, C. Roces Ave. cor. A. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City, the Philippines Tel (02) 8893-8227 loc. 114
About the Cover The artist, Ms. Reg Silva, wanted to portray Jesus and Mary as protective, guiding figures for the 9-year-old Johnny Bosco. Just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is cradling a lamb in His arms, so is Johnny Bosco-a prophetic mirror of his future ministry in being a good shepherd himself, educating and forming young people with Mary's guidance and protection.
Please help us continue this mission of evangelization through your donation. Send your comments and suggestions to cscom@one-bosco.org facebook.com/salesian.bulletin Copyright© 2024 by Salesians ofDon Bosco FIN All rights reserved. No part ofthis magazine may be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.
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heart that lrani,;forms 'wokcs' into 'lambs.'
Read more about the cover and the artist behind it. Visit htt]2s:Us,ibt.sdb.org.,_]2.h/reg or scan the QR code:
news
"The actors embodied their roles very well, the musical arrangement was top-notch, and I enjoyed the comedic timing in the dialogues," Jan Rina Ravago, a 20-something English teacher says ofZephyrin, the Musical. It was only her third time to go to a theater play. She says Zephyrin "did not disappoint." Disappointment is the polar opposite of the exhilaration that theatergoers -young people, students, young professionals, families, even toddlers, members of the Salesian Family (SalFam), including the delegates at the East Asia Oceania (EAO) Youth Ministry Delegates Meeting and the Salesian Family Encounter felt as they filed out of the theater, wishing there was more of the show to enjoy.
ZEPHYRIN THE MUSICAL IN CEBU Jingjing Marino-Farrarons
Marianne Diolingo, one of the organizers of the EAO events, shares that attendance at the show was, for many delegates, the high point of the conferences. The delegates joined audiences for the mid-day outing on the second day run. Fr. Will Matthews, SDB, Provincial of Australia and the Pacific puts it succinctly, " A breathtaking and flawless musical marrying God's providence to Filipino culture with a twist oflove story. Well-played, and captured the audience's attention throughout their magical performance. Amazing!" Produced by the Don Bosco Technical College - Cebu, Inc. (DBTC), "Zephyrin: The Musical" is a three-hour masterpiece of compelling conversations, vibrant choreography, uplifting rhythm and heartwarming lyrics. It is a poignant retelling of the inspiring journey of Ceferino Namuncura, son of the leader of the fierce Araucano tribe of Argentina, from being his father's heir apparent into becoming a model student of the Salesians of Don Bosco desiring to become a religious priest; a story of kindness, forgiveness and leadership. The once fierce young man is now Bl. Ceferino Namuncura, a cult figure in Argentina, beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on November 11, 2007. The musical, conceptualized by SDB-Philippines South Province Provincial Superior Fr. Fidel Orendain and co-written by Cebuano playwright and songwriter Jude Gitamondoc, was staged on November 10-12, 2023 at the Centerstage of SM Seaside City in Cebu, the Philippines. The cast of So and crew of 20, with the nurturing support of DBTC President Fr. Randy Figuracion and the staff, braved months of workshops, trainings and practices to present the excellent show that wowed audiences of all ages and persuasions. The actors themselves were witness to the transformative power ofZephyrin. Dustin Tagalog, who singlehandedly played the main character, explains, " The experience I've been through, the lessonsI learned and the momentsI've shared throughout the production will forever be etched in my heart which will then guide me as I live my daily life outside ofZephyrin's shoes." Dustin declares that his love for theater was awakened when he watched the first run ofZephyrin: The Musical as an eight-year old. "I can't wait to enjoy another run ofZephyrin: The Musical in the future, for young boys to learn that goodness does not exempt us from pain, suffering, evil, or even death. Real goodness is being good despite and in spite of it all."•
ZEPHYRIN I E M'-'S CAL
NOVEMBER 10, 11, 12, 2D23 CENTERSTAGE, SM SEASIDE CITY CEBU 9 00 AM, 3 OOPM & 7 OOPM