PUNLÂ Vol. 1, 2nd Issue 2021-2022

FEATURES | PAGE 7

NEWS | PAGE 3

Tatlumpung Taóng Kuwento ngayong Singkuwenta

‘Taste and see!’

PST raises funds through ‘OPastries’

THIS EXHIBIT features the five apostolic groups of the Dominican Studentate in the past 30 years since their establishment, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.

ONE OF THE THRUSTS of the Pagtugon sa Tawag apostolic group is to promote Dominican vocation through the production of quality vocation...

VOLUME I, NO. 2

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DOMINICAN STUDENTATE, SANTO DOMINGO CONVENT, 537 QUEZON AVENUE, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES

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JANUARY-JUNE 2022

DOMINICAN STUDENTATE ON-SITE PASTORAL EXPOSURES AND CONFERENCES RESUME PAGES|2-3

STUDENT-BROTHERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PASTORAL EXPOSURES. Clockwise: 1) Campus Ministry Exposure. A brother facilitates recollection to students and employees of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba; 2) Work Exposure. Brothers gear up as factory workers in Refinette Cosmetic Manufacturing Corporation in Bulacan; 3) Counseling. Brothers simulate a session on how to deal with persons seeking for counselling and spiritual direction; 4) Care of Creation. A brother assists a gardener of Caleruega in Nasugbu, Batangas; 5) Leadership and Administration. Student-Brothers pose for a photo op with Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, OP, the Rector of the University of Santo Tomas; 6) Psycho-spiritual integration. A brother shares his reflection during a 12-day Bartimaeus Program in Guimaras. (PHOTOS: DSPB)

P ( HOTO COURTESY OF UST)

STUDENT-BROTHERS UNDERGO TRAINING PROGRAM TO BOLSTER RETREAT AND RECOLLECTION MINISTRY

PROF. JOVITO V. CARINO, PhD

Dominican Studentate tackles social justice issues in Pulong-Pulutan forum UPON THE INITIATIVE of the Master of Students, KADAUPAN organized “Pulong-Pulutan: A Communal Forum on Church and Politics,” on July 23, 2022 at the Aula San Pio V building.

Prof. Jovito V. Cariño, PhD, former chair of the University of Santo Tomas Department of Philosophy, urged the student-brothers to continue campaigning for the good and work for social justice.

Pulong-Pulutan | PAGE 4

A TEAM OF STUDENT-BROTHERS accomplish a task during the Team Building Activity in Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas. (PHOTO: OFFICE OF THE CHRONICLERS)

THE SECOND SEMESTER became significant for the Dominican Student-Brothers to venture into leadership training and enhance their skills in module-making as facilitators of retreats, recollections, and seminars.

The activity was titled “Dominican Brothers’ Trainer’s Training Program” and was headed by Prof. Evelyn Songco, Ed.D. of the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School to enrich the brothers with the fundamental skills in addressing the needs of audiences that the Retreat and Recollection arm of the Studentate accommodates.

Together with Prof. Songco, Assoc. Prof.

Maria Mercedes Buendia, M.A. helped the brothers be more equipped with the tools they can use for online platforms.

The program which was held via Zoom Meeting was divided into three parts, namely: Servant Leadership (January 29, 2022), Facilitating Transformation (February 19, 2022), and Building a Team (April 9, 2022).

Its fruits were successful and have received many recommendations that the activities be continued in the following years.

Objectives such as competency in writing modules, expression of commitment in

PROF. EVELYN SONGCO, Ed.D.

leadership, and fostering teamwork and camaraderie were achieved.

They were exhibited last April 23 and 24, 2022 in Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas when the Dominican Studentate Pastoral Board and the Dominican Studentate Council teamed up to spearhead the Team Building Activity of the brothers.

At present, the brothers are aware that they need updating regarding their knowledge in preaching. Nonetheless, the modules which they have prepared for their audiences in the near future are feasible and very engaging. BR. VINCE STANLEY IÑIGO, O.P.

NEWS | PAGE 3

FEATURES | PAGE 5

REFLECTIONS | PAGE 6

Legion of Mary spiritual direction continues online

The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Dominican Habit

My Journey as an Altar Server

THE DOMINICAN HABIT is a topic which always interests the participants of our Vocation Promotion Program, both the candidates and even the brothers...

MY JOURNEY started when I was a Grade 3 student at St. Mary’s College Quezon City. During my first communion, I saw young men and women serving at the altar...

2 NEWS Seven brothers undertake Bartimaeus Journey

DSPB organizes five-day Conference on Resource Management for deputed brothers

THIS YEAR, seven Dominican brothers joined the Bartimaeus Program. After our flight in Iloilo, we immediately took a ferry for Guimaras.

This pastoral summer exposure feels different than our former programs. In the past, we do exposures by being on-the-job to improve our skills and to experience the apostolate of the Province. But this time, we are sent not to hone our skills and to serve in our apostolates but to discover more about ourselves by encountering ourselves on a journey to sight.

This Bartimaeus is a program designed to discover and have a “personal encounter with the true self.” There in Guimaras, we met Kuya Audy, ate Klaire and Ate Cherry of the Tagbadbad Foundation. They are our program facilitators who carefully guided us through the psycho-spiritual journey in which we were able to identify and discover ourselves.

They have been in this ministry of helping priests and religious since 2012, and they are trained counselors and psychologists. We also had time to have a spiritual direction and counseling with Rev. Fr. Noel Deslate of the Archdiocese of Jaro, who greatly helped us connect our realizations to our life as future priests. We, Dominican student-brothers, were joined by our brothers in formation from the Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts (OATH) and Secular Male Institute of the Two Hearts (SMITH).

The program was not strict. It was self-paced.

So I was able to adjust at my own pace, and I am glad that the program does not force us beyond what we can in knowing our “unconscious.” But even though it was not strict, the process was still not easy. There, I saw and realized most of my emotional distortions that affect how I see my life as a religious. I was trying to be in denial at first, but then I realized the connections of these distortions to some of my negative behaviors. I also identified the root cause of some of my struggles in my vocation.

The program’s name is indeed very applicable.

We are like Bartimaeus; blind to these weaknesses and we call on the Lord to heal our blindness.

We always end our day with the Holy Hour. This encounter with Christ perfectly helped me realize the connections of the images I encountered in the sessions. It is like Christ removing my blindness and making me see better.

The program was not easy because it showed me my flaws and weaknesses. But the program also made me realize that I cannot ignore those weaknesses. I learned the need to address these things in order to prepare myself to offer my whole life to God and help me become a good priest in the future.

The program is incredibly beneficial to us in formation because as early as now, we were able to see how our attitudes were affected by our unconscious. This two-week program helped me and my brothers realize that it is okay to admit our weaknesses because in those weaknesses, we can see the hand of God guiding us to healing and growth. BR. WILHELM BOÑON, OP

ELEVEN STUDENT-BROTHERS, deputed to different convents of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, participated in an online conference on Resource Management from June 13 to 17, 2022. The participants were Br. John Paul A. Sontillano, OP, Br. Francis M. Borre, OP, Br. Reginald R. Zamora, OP, Br. Ariel T. Adolfo, OP, Br. Rambang Ngawan, OP, Br. Jaymar D. Capalaran, OP, Br. Roberto S. Castellano, Jr, OP, Br. Jerone R. Geronimo, OP, Br. Mervin G. Lomague, OP, Br. John Andrew S. Bautista, OP and Rev. Simon Peter dL Ramos, OP. The Dominican Studentate Pastoral Board (DSPB) organized the five-day conference to foster among the student-brothers an appreciation of the role of a Dominican friar in relation to the temporal administration of various Dominican institutions, such as schools and hospitals, as well as an acquisition of pertinent knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

BROTHERS in the Leadership and Administration Exposure Program with Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, OP, the Pro-Vice Rector of UST-Angelicum College as one of their resource speakers. (PHOTO: DSPB)

STUDENT-BROTHERS UNDERGO PASTORAL EXPOSURE ON LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION SIX STUDENT-BROTHERS, namely Br. Andreas Priyanto, OP, Br. Hendrick M. Albina, OP, Br. John Sealtiel T. Abarquez, OP, Br. John Paul R. Pamintuan, OP, Br. Jonas P. Mediavilla, OP, and Br. Michael Angelo D. Dela Rosa, OP, participated in the Pastoral Conference and Exposure Program on Leadership and Administration from June 13 to 16, 2022.

Organized by Dominican Studentate Pastoral Board (DSPB), the exposure aimed for the participants to understand the role of administrators and lay collaborators in the preaching ministry of the Dominican educational institutions and identify and appreciate the necessary values and dispositions needed to assume such roles.

The four-day conference includes hybrid face-toface and online activities. Esteemed speakers facilitated the conference, which included Br. Herminio V. Dagohoy, OP and Br. John Stephen P. Besa, OP, on the first day. Br. Dagohoy’s talk focused on his experiences as the former rector of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), while Br. Besa shared his experiences in administering the Lyceum of Camiguin (Calayan, Cagayan) and Angelicum School Iloilo (Iloilo City).

On the second day, Br. Honorato C. Castigador, OP’s session dealt with the role of the superior in the community, followed by the talk of Prof. Lilian J. Sison, PhD, the current Director of the Office for International Relations and Programs of UST, who shared

BR. JONAS P. MEDIAVILLA, OP

PARTICIPANTS pose for a virtual photo op with Prof. Kenji Asano Jr., (uppermost left) of Letran Manila (PHOTO: DSPB)

DOMINICAN STUDENT-BROTHERS and other participants from different congregations pose for a group picture with their facilitators as they end their Bartimaeus Program in Guimaras. (PHOTO: DSPB)

BROTHERS EXPERIENCE WORK IN THE FACTORY

AS MOBILITY and travel restrictions ease and more and more people get vaccinated, Br. Salvatore Widaton Purnayama, OP, Br. Glendale P. Ancheta, OP, Br. Ian Joseph G. Melendres, OP and Br. Rae Aaron

behaviors and values for effective lay administrators.

The participants were gladly welcomed by Br. Richard G. Ang, OP, at the Rector’s Office of UST on the third day. The current Rector shared the status of the university, especially on how the administration is coping with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was then ensued by a short trip around the university grounds.

On the last day, Asst. Prof. Diane G. Francisco, MBA, the Director of Planning, Quality, and Accreditation Department of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, gave a talk on the importance and the basics of Strategic Management wherein the participants were able to present their outputs in planning with regard to their apostolic groups.

Indeed, it was a fruitful and learning-filled week for the six student-brothers. Learnings from the said conference can help in their formation especially in preparation for whatever position they will be assigned to in the future.

A. Aguilar, OP, had the fruitful experience of having their first Dominican Studentate Pastoral Exposure on Urban and Rural Poor under the Justice and Peace Apostolate of the Province this year.

Ratio Formationis Particularis (RFP) no. 80 stipulates that student-brothers must have an exposure that would allow them to gain first-hand experience of a regular employee. The exposure widens their horizons and keeps them in touch with life’s realities, along with the socio-political conditions of the people of contemporary society to whom they minister.

Through the help and generosity of Mr. Michael Plana, the said student-brothers worked in his Refinette Cosmetic Manufacturing Corporation in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

During their five days of work, they would leave at 6:00 a.m. and travel from the Dominican Studentate to the factory of Mr. Plana. They would work punctually, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.

They strove to spend every minute of their stay meaningfully and effectively by learning from the workers both about their work and their personal and communal conditions.

Each day of the exposure consists of working in different departments of the factory, from preparing

bottles in the dispensing area to assisting in the production area for opaque and transparent soap and sorting documents in the Human Resource and Purchasing office.

For the student-brothers, each day was a source of valuable experiences and a different taste from their everyday life at the Studentate. Furthermore, they learned from Fray Mike that “the exposure was not about learning to do business or experiencing the life of a laborer but learning to preach better for the salvation of souls.” BR. IAN JOSEPH MELENDRES, OP

BROTHERS pose for a picture with Fray Michael Plana, the owner of the Refinette Cosmetic Mfg. Corp. where they worked for five days as regular employees.

(PHOTO: DSPB)

The DSPB invited four experts to share their experiences and expertise in managing financial, physical, or material resources, document or information resources, and human resources. Br. Roman L. Santos, OP, shared on the first day of the pastoral conference. On the other hand, Assoc. Prof. Kenji M. Asano, Jr. was the sharer for the next two days. Assoc.

Prof. Jinky P. Batiduan and Ms. Pearl M. Domalaon delivered their talks on the fourth and fifth days, respectively.

All speakers possessed a mastery of the topics and a personal touch that comes from a richness of experience.

Each of them is currently working in a Dominican institution, from the setting of UST Hospital to the academic atmosphere of Letran and UST-Angelicum.

The pastoral conference and exposure program has proven itself to be timely and relevant to the participating brothers. The participants are in the last stage of their initial formation, which means they have greater participation in the life and mission of the Order. Noting that it is inevitable for a Dominican friar to act simultaneously as a pastor and manager, they are thus grateful for initiatives such as this but also want more. The limitation due to duration and the lack of more hands-on activities due to pandemic restrictions merit the follow-up sessions, which are more practical than theoretical, at an opportune time. BR. JOHN PAUL SONTILLANO, OP

NEWS

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THE NEW GRADUATES of the Faculty of Sacred Theology (Batch 2022) had their exposure on campus ministry at Letran, Calamba from June 12 to 17, 2022. They stayed in the Convent of St. Albert the Great where they were warmly welcomed by Br. Guiseppe Pietro V. Arsciwals, OP, prior of the convent.

MUKHA AD sends off graduates amid post-pandemic challenges

Sir. Romeo D. Banatlao, the Director of the Campus Ministry Department, prepared the program for the student-brothers during their five-day exposure. On the first day, they had the campus tour. The welcome orientation was given by Br. Arsciwals, who also served as the Vice-President of the REMI Division (Religious Education, Mission and Identity).

In the afternoon, the participants had the community building and first input about campus ministry. Their second day was also a whole day activity wherein they were given the second and third inputs about campus ministry.

Furthermore, on their third day they, had the novena mass in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and witnessed the oath-taking of the officers of REMI Division. This was followed by their exposure to the student services department and exposure in religious education and community extension services department.

Moreover, they had the Tipanan ng Pamayanan or sharing with the Letran Calamba personnel. The brothers divided themselves into two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Finally, for their last day of exposure, they had the sharing of learning and the awarding of the certificates. BR. L. R. MATA, OP

GRADUATION symbolizes the end of a journey and the completion of an objective. Many see graduation as an exciting and important event, but we could not close our eyes to the others’ emotion evoked by this. Graduation is not only about excitement, pride, and anticipation, but also about loss, discouragement, and fear. Feelings of loss would be felt because the graduates now walk on their own.

After the joy of graduation, one will be sad as they will be separated from their batchmate.

Now, after a year journeying together, MUKHA AD held a graduation for Batch 32 on June 26, 2022. The Batch of 32 is unique because they finished their formation program almost entirely online. Despite the online nature of the formation, they still managed to be the same like-minded individual who aim to be the face of Christ in the world.

With lessons learned from more than year of battling against the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s graduation ceremony is still held online.

But the aim of event is always the same which is to recognize the commitment of the graduate despite the difficult situation.

During the event which was held via Zoom, Br. Peter Silerio, OP, the Coordinator General of MUKHA AD, presided the graduation ceremonies of Batch 32. The staff and previous batches also gave their short video message to congratulate the newly graduates. This year, MUKHA AD sent off 8 graduates, namely, Louresamy, Cheska, Francine, Samuel, Gian, Diego, JM, and Denver. Some will remain in MUKHA AD to help in the formation of the new batch, and many will go bringing the spirit instilled in them after one year of formation to be the face of Christ in their communities.

Indeed, even if they are no longer together, they know that they have place to go back to which is the MUKHA AD family. Congratulations to Batch 32! BR. DIEGO HALIM, OP

Letran Calamba hosts campus ministry exposure

REUNIONS AND NEW HORIZONS: DOMINICAN LOCAL MISSION MOST OFTEN, people naturally associate the local mission of the Dominican Province of the Philippines with the mission stations in the Philippines’ northern islands, i.e., Camiguin and Calayan.

However, the local mission, in reality, also includes the nearby San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs Parish at Dagat-dagatan, Navotas. Mission stations are not limited to far-flung areas but to any place where there are poor, the sinners, and those who have not yet heard the gospel, even if it is in a bustling and well-urbanized area like Dagat-dagatan. Furthermore, there can be a mission station wherever there are life realities, ideas, policies, and systems that are a long way from the call of the Gospel truth.

For their 2022 Pastoral Exposure Program to the mission stations, six student-brothers went to the San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs Parish at Dagat-dagatan, Navotas. Two of them had gone to the area before, and it was a sort of homecoming for them. They reunited with their friends who lived around the parish and, at the same time, gained new lessons in life. Regarding the other four who relied most of the time on the stories of other studentbrothers before, it was a breathtaking experience.

During their short five-day stay, they had a glimpse of the socio-political and religious context of the place. They saw, heard, felt, and smelled the life realities of the place. From those, they gained new perspectives on life and acquired an appreciation of the missions of the Dominican Friars in Dagatdagatan.

During their stay, they also shared what they had with the people, especially the lessons acquired and the talents they honed in their respective Dominican Studentate apostolic groups. For example, they facilitated recollections of a nearby school. Furthermore, with the assistance of the lay faithful, they did soup kitchens and storytelling

‘Taste and see!’ PST raises funds through ‘OPastries’ ONE OF THE THRUSTS of the Pagtugon sa Tawag (PST) apostolic group is to promote Dominican vocation through the production of quality vocation promotional materials such as pamphlets, brochures, posters, and the like.

To achieve this objective, PST thought of having a fund-raising program that will help generate funds for the production of promotional materials while at the same time promote Dominican vocation.

Considering that the holidays were drawing near, the idea of “OPastries” thus came up. It includes products such as cookies and cupcakes, perfect for noche buena, media noche, Valentine’s Day, and even for occasional cravings.

The members of the apostolic group who were not able to go for home vacation due to COVID-19 travel restrictions made use of their skills and talents in baking as they started the production of the pastries.

In this way, the brothers exerted effort in showing gratitude to the customers for their patronage and support in the different ministries and apostolates of the Dominican Studentate.

Furthermore, the pastries also served as vocation promotion materials since they were embedded with a Dominican identity. The fundraising program was not primarily concerned with income, but to let more people know about Dominican vocations.

It was not an easy task because there were challenges met by the PST members along the way.

There was a high demand of orders but the quality of the pastries needed to be maintained. The members of the apostolic group therefore helped one another hand in hand, doing everything with joy.

In the end, the fund-raising program was a success. The funds generated were able to help the various apostolates of the Dominican studentbrothers. Thanks to all those who patronized OPastries! BR.JOHN SEALTIEL ABARQUEZ, OP

to little children. They also had an enriching opportunity to talk and listen to people under the care of the mission station. During their encounter with the people, they laughed with them, gained inspiration, and gave inspiration to them. At some point, they even cried upon hearing and seeing the parishioners’ deplorable state.

Moreover, their stay would not be complete without their actual and enriching encounter with the friars assigned to the area. The friars’ stories entertained and inspired them. It also kindled in their hearts and minds a sense of humility so much so that if they are to describe their experience, they will express it as “humbling.” They realized and experienced that missions always evoke that sense of making men out of boys and women out of girls.

The inconveniences and challenges of the mission areas are stepping stones for friars assigned to those places to achieve a sense of growth and maturity.

Furthermore, they have truly understood that mission stations, if one sees beyond the apparent and expands his horizons, are not something that one has to seek far away but can be just nearby and even in one’s backyard. BR. PETER LYNNUS SILERIO, OP

LEGION OF MARY SPIRITUAL DIRECTION CONTINUES ONLINE

THE LEGION OF MARY is a Catholic organization that dedicates itself to the glorification of God through the holiness of its members practiced through prayer and devotion to Mary and apostolic works.

This hundred-year-old organization falls perfectly under the objective of the KAPATID which is the promotion of devotion to Jesus through Mary. Therefore, among the primary activities of the apostolic group, the involvement of the Legion of Mary to which the brothers take charge in giving spiritual direction is included.

The Legion of Mary spiritual direction is one of the brothers’ apostolic engagements that involve the lay affiliates of Sto. Domingo parish.

Once a week, the KAPATID members meet with their assigned praesidium to pray the Tessera prayers, reflect on the gospel, and facilitate the group’s sharing.

These praesidium meetings become an avenue for the brothers to share the fruits of their contemplation through their reflection of the

Gospel and to know and keep in touch with the lives of the people to whom they will preach to.

This makes the activity not only fruitful for the spiritual life of the legion members but for the apostolic life of the brothers as well.

During the surge of the pandemic, when health protocols restricted face-to-face gatherings such as legion meetings, the praesidia opted to continue in a virtual setting. This kept the weekly meetings regular for most praesidia, although some groups became inactive and decreased in members causing it to be merged with other groups. Currently, there are three active praesidia which the brothers of KAPATID attend to, namely, Mirror of Justice, Our Lady of La Naval, and Refugium Peccatorum. BR. RAE AARON AGUILAR, OP

4 NEWS

The most recent KADCaST (KADAUPAN-Catholic Social Teaching) episodes revisited the Church’s teachings and principles on societal issues that involve the faithful’s role in exercising their freedom as citizens of the country.

It emphasized that every individual can contribute to the overall identity of the society in which we live. The three foci that were shared on social media platforms just before the national elections in early May, addressed the following issues: Separation of Church and State, Conscience Voting, and Catholic Vote. These current and relevant topics remind us of our place in society as God’s children, not just as citizens of the country.

In the first episode, Br. Hendrick Albina, OP, highlighted the inviolability of the “Separation of Church and State,” emphasizing that each church belonging to any religion has the right to exercise its own beliefs freely.

Br. Albina also stressed the importance of each Catholic member bearing the identity of the Church as God intended it to be in accordance with universal principles that protect fundamental religious freedom.

“The Church, as we know it today, is not simply about priests and nuns, or religious and pious organizations, but includes every baptized Christian who are called to bear witness to God in their lives,” Br. Albina said.

He added that everyone is encouraged by the Church to participate well in the social concerns of our time under the essentials of what it means to be a Catholic, a Muslim, or to belong to other faiths or belief systems.

Br. Laurence Ryan Mata, OP, talked about “Conscience Voting” which he connected to Aquinas’ teaching about a person’s conscience consisting of three elements: its practical use, the knowledge needed and the actions performed.

Br. Mata said that human conscience matures when it sees the light of truth in all human decisions. Conscience arbitrarily steers the human tendency toward the good; therefore, conscience must be trained in accordance with the good and the truth. As a result, a society formed in good conscience understands the fundamental nature of good and evil.

In the last episode, Br. Johnny Luntungan, OP, tackled the issue on “Catholic Voting,” which asks whether we as Catholics should vote according to our Catholic formation in line with the moral teachings of the Church.

He claims that in this way, we uphold the common good, as opposed to the stigma of allegiance with a specific candidate that may jeopardize the universality of the right to discern and choose a leader.

Br. Luntungan pointed out that one’s criteria for choosing a candidate must be centered on the reality that each one of us has the capacity to choose a leader for the sake of the common good.

Through these latest episodes, the brothers gave a basic reminder that God can be introduced into the sphere of politics where truth and goodness should and will prevail. BR. HENDRICK ALBINA, OP

BR. JOHNNY LUNTUNGAN, OP

Pulong-Pulutan | FROM PAGE 1 Taking inspiration from Gianni Vattimo’s “After Christianity” and Peter Sloterdijk’s “After God” who both expounded Nietzsche’s famous adage “God is dead” in their works, Prof. Cariño explained how their thoughts can be used to read the current socio-political climate in the country.

He said the statement “God is dead” is now concrete in the Philippine context, although it is not to be understood in the atheistic sense that denies God’s existence.

The death of God means that He died in the hands of the people who professed to believe in him, for they claim that God is with them although their actions and behavior show otherwise. This reality is happening in our world today even within the ranks of the Church who claim that God exists but hardly show any evidence of God in their lives.

Cariño described the recent 2022 National Elections in terms of a paradox: “parang may Diyos, pero parang wala,” [as if God exists, but he appears not to].

“You see people using the same name of God against charity, against beauty, against [goodness] and still consider it godly. That’s the death of God. We say that there is a God but what [we] see is an evidence against it,” he added.

Disturb but do not dominate Prof. Cariño stressed that there is a better chance for religion to find its way back to modern society if it is understood not in terms of dominion, but as a kind of interruption or disturbance that provides a better option.

“Let us be frightened if in our study and preaching, we are no longer disturbed. But if we continue to be disturbed, there is still hope that we continue searching for what is better,” he said in Filipino.

He lamented the fact that many citizens no longer consider themselves as active members of society but as mere bystanders, viewing politics and religion as a kind of “spectator sports” without calling for much engagement.

However, Cariño stressed that this can be an opportunity for the Church to define the place of God anew in the public sphere by maximizing its resources to combat evil and the institutionalization of religion and politics in the country.

“What we see is a kind of politics that has lost its moorings. I hope that doesn’t happen to the Church since [if it does], we can no longer contribute to the infusion of life and sense to politics,” he said.

Organized by Katarungan ng Diyos ang Ugat ng Payapang Adhikain (KADAUPAN), the talk was followed by a breakout session and a community dialogue wherein the brethren discussed relevant questions on matters of Church and state.

The brothers were divided into four groups (Francisco de Vitoria, Antonio de Montesinos, Bartolome de las Casas, and Domingo de Salazar) and the following are the results of the communal dialogue.

UPHOLDING TRUTH AMID SECULARIZATION Francisco de Vitoria Group Members: Br. Sandy Alerta, OP, Br. Siddharta Chiong, OP, Br. Nico Paolo Moron, OP, Br. John Sealtiel Abarquez, OP, Br. Marco Miguel Lorenzo, OP Written by: Br. Rae Aaron Aguilar, OP In the contemporary Philippine set-up, instrumentalization is evident even in the Church. She has allowed herself to be associated with different prominent personalities either in politics or society in general.

The group feared that this might have led the people to question her credibility and that the truth that she upholds since time immemorial became questionable and subject to suspicions of bias.

Has the Church really lost her voice or has the people lost its ability to listen and to distinguish right from wrong? As Archbishop Socrates Villegas said, silence in the midst of evil is evil itself. The Church cannot but stand against immorality and injustices. As she associates herself with prominent people as many sees it, the people forgot that the Church has always been both with the rich and the poor.

Truth is not just an epistemological relation to a fact but includes an ethical relation with the fact. Hence, with this crisis of truth, the Church is continually challenged to make itself relevant in the world.

The perversion of truth in modern society discredits the integrity of the Church’s. As it

(PHOTO: OFFICE OF THE CHRONICLERS)

KADCaST features national elections, Church and politics

A STUDENT-BROTHER shares his reflection to his groupmates during the breakout session.

moves on and continues to evangelize the world, the people of God are equally challenged to continue to proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ taught.

This leads to new opportunities to reevaluate and revamp our approach in the Church. We are challenged to think of new ways of witnessing to the truths and principles that are supposed to be public and universal. By focusing on principles and values preached in a mode that touches the Filipino heart and soul, instead of associating with personalities and parties, the Church may eventually regain her place in the Philippine society as a catalyst of interruption and awakening.

WITNESSING IN OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES Antonio de Montesinos Group Members: Br. Jaymar D.Godalle, OP, Br. Ian Joeffrey G. Melendres, OP, Br. Vince Stanley B. Iñigo, OP, Br. John Rheed M. Caturza, OP. Br. Gian Linardo Mari T.Estrella,OP,Br.JohnPaulR.Pamintuan,OP,Br. Denver Max B. Colegado Written by: Br. John Michael M. Veneracion, OP Witnessing to the Gospel has always been very essential to the Church, and this was the overarching idea that the members of our group happened to focus on. The Gospel is not simply preached through words. The more effective way of preaching the Gospel is in the way we Christians live it out in our lives. In other words, witnessing is primarily concerned with the realization of the Gospel in our immediate surroundings and circumstances.

The answer our group presents is not a grand enterprise or a global movement or some revolutionary way of living. Rather, we would like to go back to the very basics: to look into ourselves and revitalize the goodness instilled there by the Gospel we hold so dear.

We do not hold that looking for concrete and practical ways of preaching more effectively is not worth undertaking. But rather, we believe that without this elementary principle of living out our values in our everyday lives and in our immediate surroundings, anything else we can possibly think of will ultimately end up futile and irrelevant, just like how Nietzsche describes the death of God. The answer to how we can bring the Gospel to the social sphere fruitfully lies on how we live our lives and values faithfully. As Pope Paul VI boldly declares, almost in agreement with Nietzsche, “Here lies the test of truth, the touchstone of evangelization: it is unthinkable that a person should accept the Word and give himself to the kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in his turn.”

GOING BACK TO THE BASICS Bartolome De las Casas Group Members: Br. Alexander Constantine N. Seno, OP, Br. Wilhelm B. Bonon, OP, Br. Leonito F. Mateo, OP, Br. Julian Christopher C. Morada, OP, Br. Joenner Paulo L.Enriquez,OP,Br.HendrickM.Albina,OP,Br.Jonas P. Mediavilla, OP Written by: Br. Glendale P. Ancheta, OP In retrospect, the results of the previous 2022 National Elections have been viewed by some as a hard slap in the face of the Church.

Some view that the results clearly manifested that the Church has already lost its sense of moral ascendancy and her grip on her faithful.

To others, it revealed the loss of credibility brought about by the seemingly-elitist leanings of the Church, fueled by the “holier than thou” attitude that enveloped its adherents especially in the choice of their leaders.

Nowadays there has been an ongoing drive to distort what is true and good; an “instrumentality of reason” is at play. A banality of good envelopes the social and political sphere.

The Church is no longer seen as a bastion of truth, but a means for political advancement.

How, then, can the Church make up for its apparent loss? This is where the Church must

put its attention to. The solution can be seen right at the source of its problem–we must go back and root ourselves again to the basics.

Heeding Pope Francis’ call, our Churchmen must exert their earnest effort to sincerely reach out to the flock – “to smell like the sheep.”

However, this will only be realized once we start giving our ears to the plight and cries of the poor, by learning their language and ways, through fostering dialogue and by becoming one with them through empathy. This will eventually become our means in doing good acts that would impel them to look and think of us with a fresher outlook.

Cognizant of this reality, the local Church therefore must focus more on what manner should we, Catholics, participate in the life of the state. Following the thought of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Christian citizenship must not be through direct control or imposition. We can present, teach, and give them the Truth in order for them to have a moral compass towards living a true Christian life in this present society.

CONSECRATED MEN AND WOMEN AS CATALYST FOR CHANGE Domingo de Salazar Group Members: Br. Jeffrey Pagaduan, OP, Br. Mark Christopher Biscocho, OP, Br. Peter Lynnus Silerio, OP, Br. Michael Angelo Dela Rosa, OP, Br. Ian Joseph Melendres, OP, Br. June Eduard Mercede, OP Written by: Br. Marc Adrian H. Dela Peña, OP Consecrated men and women, by their very identity, are catalysts for change. By their profession of evangelical vows for the sake of the Kingdom of God, they are constant reminders to people not to skate over the surface of life but to go deeper and seek that which really matters.

By their faithfulness, they demonstrate that there are better options in life than material goods, and happiness is found not in acquiring proximate and mediocre goods but in the attainment of their final and glorious end.

As catalysts for change, they can help people to put things into proper perspective and decide on matters concerning truth, especially in a world continuously immersed in the boundless space and time of the virtual world; an age wherein people have never been connected as ever before but are often devoid of a real, loving, and honest relationship among persons.

It has opened a new stage where people can now gather to share their thoughts freely without care for the shallowness, falsity, and repercussions of their ideas. Worst, it has become a tool for violence and manipulation.

By promoting critical thinking and empowering people to liberate themselves from the slavery and manipulation of social media platforms in their universities, consecrated men and women are becoming catalysts for change in addressing the pressing issues of the world.

However, consecrated men and women can only be catalysts for change if they are true witnesses. No matter what they say, if they lack witnessing, people will not listen, and they will always be ineffective. No amount of sophistication or resources will be useful without true witnessing. As St. Paul VI says, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”

They have to practice what they preach.

Furthermore, they have to make people feel and see that they are not detached from the sufferings, pains, and problems of the faithful.

They cannot just keep preaching justice and charity without helping the poor to satisfy their hunger.

Finally, in the constant struggle of every religious to live their vows faithfully, they should never forget to look at the perfect model of one living the evangelical vows, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints are there also to show and inspire all consecrated men and women that it is possible to follow Christ Jesus and become a catalyst for change for the betterment of the world.

FEATURES Pananaw fosters preaching through the print media IN THE TRADITION of the Order of Preachers, a Dominican friar must fully embrace the call to preach Jesus Christ in whatever manner that is fitting with the times. As St. Thomas Aquinas would say, “it is better to illumine than merely shine, to share the fruits of contemplation than merely contemplate.”

The Print Department of the Dominican Students’ Media Center (DSMC) is responsible for the production, publication, and layout of gospel reflection materials to help the Dominican student-brothers in their ministry of the Word and spreading the Good News to the faithful.

The Pananaw Weekly Reflection is the official print apostolate of DSMC. Its weekly publication began in the year 1991. It was an effort to share the fruitful reflection of the Dominican Student-Brothers. The daily Pananaw reflections of the Student-Brothers are posted in the community bulletin board, while the Sunday reflection is printed to be given to the faithful attending Mass and visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila.

The original logo of the Pananaw features an image of a silhouette of a friar looking outside a window. It represents a friar looking outside, looking at the world. The cross window represents the perspective of Jesus Christ. A Dominican student-brother must learn to view the world in the perspective of the Lord Jesus Christ. Presently, the logo used in the current publication of the Pananaw takes inspiration from the original version of the logo of the publication.

KAPATID preaches beyond texts through devotion to Mary and the Dominican Saints SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH is known for promoting a wide array of devotions. Being the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Naval, the Church is a bastion of devotion to the Blessed Mother and Dominican Saints.

lessons which are essential and beneficial not only in the life of a student-brother but most of all, in his future ministry as a shepherd of the Lord’s flock.

True enough, this task is so easy to the point that a brother can be in danger of just babbling over the text. It becomes a monotonous activity and begins to be looked upon trivially.

This is where the challenge lies and where we are being honed into.

While our formation follows a certain structure, there is a temptation to do things out of mere compliance.

This poses a challenge to prayerfully transcend the text.

Having this done, it consequently leads to the instilling of devotion that gives meaning beyond the monotony of things leading to the development of the virtues the Blessed Mother and our Saints exemplify which we, as Dominicans, ought to emulate.

Developing virtues thereby leads one to be a preacher with integrity – a preacher who practices what he preaches. True enough, such is the wisdom why these activities are entrusted to us especially to those who just had their First Profession: because this can be a springboard towards becoming a religious with integrity. BR. GLENDALE ANCHETA, OP

“Developing virtues thereby leads one to be a preacher with integrity – a preacher who practices what he preaches.”

However, things drastically changed when the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic gave an adverse impact on peoples’ mobility. Initially, there are Church and parish organizations incharge of leading the novenas in the Shrine.

But with the pandemic hampering the movement of everyone, the task of leading these devotions were entrusted to the Dominican student-brothers through the Marian Devotion Arm of the Dominican Studentate; the KAPATID Apostolic Group.

However easy the task may be, it imparts

DSMC vows to continue live streaming task as endemic nears

SABDANINGRAT, OP

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND THE DOMINICAN HABIT THE DOMINICAN HABIT is a topic which always interests the participants of our Vocation Promotion Program, both the candidates and even the brothers. It is undeniable that the Dominican habit is one of the several reasons why young men get interested to enter the Dominican Order.

The Dominican habit has a pious tradition as its origin. But it is also fascinating because of the vesting prayers of each part of the habit. Among all the vesting prayers of the Dominican Habit, one is closely related to our Holy Father St. Dominic–the vesting prayer of the scapular. This prayer comes from the fourth stanza of the Marian Hymn Ave Maris Stella. The original lyrics is, “Monstra te esse matrem, sumat per te preces qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus.”

THE BLESSED Virgin Mary gives the scapular to Blessed Reginald of Orleans. (PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. LAWRENCE LEW, OP)

PST! The story behind Pagtugon sa Tawag’s name and logo THE ENGAGEMENT of Dominican Students Media Center in the live stream mass was started way before the pandemic, in collaboration with RSL and Radio Veritas. Before, the live stream was limited only to some big events, such as La Naval festivities and Holy Week. The main task of the DSMC members was simply to assist the RSL and Radio Veritas staff. In short, at first, everything was done by the professionals arranged by the parish and the convent.

As the challenge of the pandemic struck and the Studentate was put into lockdown, the need for live stream Mass was in demand. Based on the initiative and help of Br. Wilhelm Bonon OP, in March 2020 the community decided to start the live stream mass from the chapel of Studentate.

As the protocol for the lockdown was relaxed, this practice was then transferred to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Naval. Some additional devotion and prayer were added later on, for instance, Rosary Hour, Liturgy of the Hours, adoration, and. In order to support the quality of the live stream, some additional equipment was purchased funded by the DSPB and the Convent.

In the present day, the DSMC members are still in charge of the live streaming of Masses and prayers in Sto. Domingo Church. The body also accepts some invitations to live stream some Masses upon request from other institutions. They also facilitated a capability-building program for the Studentate so that all brothers could participate in the live stream apostolate. Following the exhortation of the Acts of the Twelfth Provincial Chapter to continue the online streaming of the liturgical celebrations (ACP 2021 Calamba 232), this practice is still faithfully observed, even after the Church was declared open for public, in order to promote our liturgical celebration to the faithful. BR. LUKAS

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A CHILD IS TO BE BORN. While expectant parents are waiting for their child, they usually prepare for two things: the name and the clothes. The name is important as well as the clothes. The name signifies our identity.

People would know us by our name and because of that, parents spend time thinking about what to name their child. It could come from a book of names that lists different names and their meaning. Some would just name their child after a saint or maybe a famous person.

As for the clothes, parents would spend money to make their child look good and presentable. Usually, they would wait for the gender confirmation coming from the obegyne doctor before purchasing these clothes.

Traditionally, blue clothes are for males while pink are for females.

These are some of the preparations when a child is to be expected. But how about an organization such as an apostolic group?

Thirty years ago, the pastoral formation of the Dominican Studentate was established with five “children” or apostolic groups. In this article, we will see how the student brothers prepared for the birth of the vocation discernment group of the Dominican Studentate as they thought the name and the logo.

During that time, the vocation discernment group of the Dominican Studentate planned to conduct a “name search” contest. Student brothers were asked what names would be fitting for the said apostolic group. They posted a blank sheet of paper on the whiteboard wherein the brothers could write their suggested names.

Usually, the format of the name is expressed in an acronym. Because the group is about vocation discernment, suggested names

contain the words “vocation,” “God,” and “calling.” Among the names that were written by the brothers, it was decided that in the future, the vocation discernment group will be named PST or Pagtugon sa Tawag.

PST or Pagtugon sa Tawag is something common to every Filipino since when we would like to call someone, we would produce the sound of “Pst!” instead of calling their names.

What a way to brand the group that caters to the needs of those who are called by God? Pagtugon sa Tawag is a Filipino phrase that is translated as “heeding the call”. Every individual is called by God to a life of holiness.

All we need to do is to answer that call. How? PST helps them in answering God’s call by providing vocation promotion and discernment programs leading to Dominican formation.

As for the logo or the “clothes” of the child, it features an open capiz window. In between those two window panes, one could see a rising sun bearing the black and white color of the Dominicans.

It seems to me that the logo is very symbolic. Why? Two open capiz window panes may represent the opportunities that could come once we answer God’s call. The use of capiz windows could represent the vocations found in the Philippines. The black-white rising Dominican sun may be St. Dominic who is the light of the Church, the founder of the Order, and the exemplar model of a life of holiness and assiduous study. BR. JULIAN CHRISTOPHER MORADA, OP

The early chroniclers of the Order recounted that St. Dominic loved to sing, especially during his journeys. Among the many hymns he sang, Ave Maris Stella is the most loved. This hymn was popular in the Middle Ages because the Marian hymn during vespers was frequently used by travelers to pray for a safe journey. Most probably, St. Dominic adopted this medieval practice as his personal devotion.

What is the necessity of this vesting prayer or hymn when the friars wear the scapular? This hymn does not only invoke one of the oldest Marian titles, it also reminds us that our life is a journey toward the heavenly homeland. As the seaman is guided by the star to see the direction in the ocean, we also need the guidance of Mary, the Star of the Sea, in the journey of life. Furthermore, this hymn recalls Mary as our Mother. We invoke Mary, our Mother, as intercessor to Jesus our Lord because we believe that Jesus will not reject the petition of his Mother.

The friars are constantly reminded that when they wear the scapular, they put themselves under the protection of Mary, our Mother, and guide. It is also an abiding remembrance of the relationship between St. Dominic and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every time the friars wear the scapular, our mind goes back to the journey of St. Dominic remembering that when he preached the Gospel of Truth, he also brought the Blessed Virgin Mary day and night through hymns and prayers. BR. ROBERTUS SILVERIANO RADITYA DEARBANTOLO, OP

“As the seaman is guided by the star to see the direction in the ocean, we also need the guidance of Mary, the Star of the Sea, in the journey of life.”

6 REFLECTIONS From the Master of Students

FOLLOW HIM!

FR. CECILIO VLADIMIR MAGBOO, OP

THIS SECOND EDITION of Punlâ is our way of tracing back our accomplishments in our apostolates in the past months. But it is not just to see how much we have done or the sacrifices and efforts we made. Your reports and reflections help us to see how the grace of God works in us and through us.

Apostolate is our collaboration with the work of Jesus. This is what St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians, we may plant or water “but only God caused the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6).

Seeing thus the truth about our work may make us proud of our accomplishments, but more importantly, it should lead us to praise and thank the Lord. That is why we let others know what we have been doing through this publication. It is our way of letting our friends hear our praises to God.

READING THE WORD IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA

BR. MICHAEL ANGELO DELA ROSA, OP

ART BY BR. PETER LYNNUS C. SILERIO, OP

From the Editor

TOWARDS A BETTER NORMAL IT IS SAID that Heraclitus’ famous adage “no man ever steps in the same river twice” is to be understood not in the sense that all things are changing so that we cannot encounter them twice, but rather, that some things stay the same only by changing.

Just the thought of how we’ve managed (and continue) to face the pandemic in the past two and a half years still strikes many of us in disbelief. We still look back in the past, but not with the same naiveté of longing to retrieve them in the present, for we know that things will never go back to the way they were.

Instead, we have learned to look forward, because even if brighter days are still far from the horizon, a beacon of hope still shines in our hearts. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,

MERISSA TUNGOL KADAUPAN Lay Affiliate

With the COVID-19 pandemic, everything changed! Lockdowns, confinement, isolation, and social distancing have become the norm.

I spent those days mostly crying, anxious and worried of the future. My family and relatives are in the province. I was totally shaken especially when my niece tested positive. We could only communicate and see each other virtually. Much as we want to hug and kiss, the situation and the distance prevented us.

These were the times I got to appreciate the different social media platforms. We were able to continuously attend online masses, rosary, novenas, and the Angelus. How I missed going to church serving either as lector or commentator! Yet, with all the difficulties and bad news, the little acts of kindness by ordinary people were inspiring. Indeed, seeing a spark of Jesus’ self-giving in the faces of the frontliners inspired me to do also my share of assisting, in my own little way, other people: sharing the “ayuda” received from the barangay to neighbors, to garbage collectors and even to street vendors. Or checking on them through calling and messaging apps. My prayers became longer to include even those whom I do not even know and meet.

Now as I reflect on the years that passed, I am flooded with mixed emotions. I am relieved because we are now allowed to go out of our houses and start living the life that we used to live before the pandemic. At the same time, I am still anxious because the virus is still very much around and mutating every now and then; and yet, I’m still hopeful for from this pandemic we learned to be more prepared and cautious.

Yet more importantly, we learned to help our neighbors through “bayanihan” and exerted effort to look out for one another. Indeed, there is still goodness in each one of us!

Finally, I do believe it was our faith which kept us going! Undoubtedly, life will never be the same after this pandemic, but I’m hopeful that we would value what we have and whom we have and continually desire to be innately good and caring to all creation.

MY MUKHA AD JOURNEY

YEDDA CHIARINA P. SALVANIA

FOR ALMOST two years, MUKHA AD has been my second family. I found purpose, peace and comfort in this apostolic ministry. My goal to strengthen my faith in God has been achieved in a short span of time. I grew in terms of knowledge about the Bible, the Church and other Catholic teachings.

I am still continuously at this time being formed to be a face of Jesus Christ to my fellow youth. I have learned to get along with different people with different backgrounds and age groups. My spiritual life became stronger because of this organization. MUKHA AD is my answered prayer.

I can still remember that I wanted to join MUKHA AD because I wanted to bring back the broken pieces of my life together and to find answers to my “whys” in life. Life has been really hard and challenging for me and my faith has been tested a lot. I joined just to try if I can fit in a church organization because I have never tried to join one before. To my surprise, I learned to love this ministry because it helped me grow spiritually.

MUKHA AD sessions every Sunday have been part of my routine and also a way for me to connect with other people during pandemic

everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17).

In the aftermath of this pestilence, as things gradually turn for the better, we may well ask ourselves if we have become better in turn.

The different ways in which we adapted our apostolates and activities to the circumstances of our times not only changed how we do things, it also broke our old frameworks and opened new possibilities for us to preach the Gospel.

This second issue of Punlâ is our way of capturing what remains constant in this rapidly changing and uncertain word: “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8). We were only able to change for the better and reach for a better normal only because of God’s abiding love and your unfailing generosity. And the only fitting response to such abounding graciousness is our sincere and heartfelt gratitude.

when everyone is struggling to cope up to connect with people virtually. Every talk of the speakers somehow is like speaking to me and answering my questions in life one by one. I made it a point to reflect in my journal all the learnings and takeaways I have every session. I felt that it was Divine Providence that led me to this organization.

I also learned to get along with different kinds of people. I learned to open myself and my life to people I have met in this ministry.

Both the brothers and lay people have helped me to be formed into a better version of myself.

Little by little, I have been able to bring back the pieces of myself together because I felt the sense of belongingness and acceptance in this environment. Most especially, the learnings and guidance I have achieved through the exposures in different people were what made me a better person and a better child of God. I can still remember that one batchmate of mine told me that in MUKHA AD, I don’t need to pretend to be someone I am not. He told me that in this ministry, I am accepted for who I am and no one will judge me for the things I did not become.

I also remember that some friends I gained here told me that they are always there for me and that from now on, I will never be alone. Another lay person told me that “papunta ka pa lang, nandoon pa rin ako”. It may seem funny but what she was trying to imply was she does not want me to make the same mistakes and go through the pains she had. Those were the things that helped me to be formed into a MUKHA ADer that I am now.

To conclude on this, everyone is struggling to be holy but it is the willingness of the person to be formed and to form others that really makes a young person a MUKHA ADer. It is not how long you live but how well you live. It does not matter whether you show in social media how you serve the Church or how active you are in different church organizations or how you show to others how a good Christian you are. What truly matters is what you are when others are not around, when others are not looking and when you are in your own personal comfort zone. It is your spiritual side within and the willingness to be a face of Christ that truly makes you a real MUKHA ADer.

NO OTHER WOMAN influenced the world more than her. She is venerated by the people from all walks of life, from different places all around the world. She is of many splendid titles acquired not because of any academic or corporate achievements, but because of her life of sanctity, obedience, and humility.

She is the only mother chosen by the Creator to bear in her womb the Savior of mankind, the only woman hand-picked by God to be the woman of impact not only for her time, but also for ages to come, until eternity—she is none other than the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Since the dawn of time, the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been an example for everyone to imitate. Her life has been her only preaching, but it still echoes even up to our present days.

Even if told that she has to bear all the sufferings prophesied by Simeon at the scene of the presentation of Christ at the temple, she still continued and followed the path prepared for her; a concrete sign of her obedience to the will of the Father; her participation and share for the salvation of all mankind.

Her life is not about her but about her only beloved son, Jesus Christ. At the scene of Christ’s miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave us her last reminder and the only perfect way to be with her in heaven: “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5).

This is the same reminder she is telling us even up to this present time. Even in the midst of all the noise and distractions, with all the sufferings, challenges and difficulties, we will still be with the Blessed Virgin Mary to follow whatever her son tells us to do.

Becoming an altar server MY JOURNEY started when I was a Grade 3 student at St. Mary’s College Quezon City.

During my first communion, I saw young men and women serving in the altar and noticed the white vestments they were wearing. I was struck and found what they were doing interesting. After some time, I finally decided to join the “Knights of the Altar” club when I was in the fifth grade. I served during our school’s institutional Masses. I was also given the chance to be assigned to the different roles in altar serving.

When I was about to finish elementary, I wanted to continue my journey of serving the Lord but I found it difficult to select a parish.

One time, I remembered Sto. Domingo Church to which my first visit was when I was still a young boy. My first besamanto to Our Lady one ordinary Sunday made me fell in love with the place, where I have always felt the presence of the Lord. Hence, I joined the Acolytes of Sto. Domingo Church in 2018 and underwent the diocesan formation for altar servers After which, we were also trained to serve during regular Sunday Masses. When my vestition was announced, I felt so excited. I could not even sleep at night thinking that I would soon be vested on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in 2018.

After being vested, I felt that something is still lacking and I still have to learn a lot during our Sunday Schools. I also needed to grow maturely as an acolyte. Now, as I celebrate my fifth year in the ministry, I did not only grow taller. I am also sure that I have grown wiser and more intelligent. What made me stay is the friendship and brotherhood that me and my fellow acolytes have built over the years. So, to all those who have helped me get where I am today, “Thank you”. But more importantly, what keeps the fire burning in me is the opportunity to serve the Lord in His altar. ATHAN CALUAG

FR. LAURO G. DE DIOS, OP BR. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, OP BR. MARC ADRIAN H. DE LA PEÑA, OP BR. GIAN LINARDO MARI T. ESTRELLA, OP BR. DOMINICO XAVERIO BUDOYO SETIAWAN, OP

SECTION EDITORS: Br. Lukas Sabdaningrat, OP (DSMC) Br. Peter Lynnus C. Silerio, OP (MUKHA AD) Editor in Chief Br. Eugene Dominic V. Aboy, OP (KADAUPAN) Associate Editor Br. Dominico Xaverio Budoyo Setiawan, OP (PST) Managing Editor Br. Michael Angelo D. Dela Rosa, OP (KAPATID) Asst. Managing Editor Br. Marc Adrian H. de la Peña, OP (Parish Acolytes ASD)

BR. VINCE STANLEY B. IÑIGO, OP BR. MICHAEL ANGELO D. DELA ROSA, OP

News Editor Reflections Editor

BR. JEFFREY M. PAGADUAN, OP

Layout Artist

BR. PETER LYNNUS C. SILERIO, OP

Art Director

Publications Adviser

CONTRIBUTORS Br. Sandy C. Alerta, OP; Br. Ian Joeffrey G. Melendres, OP; Br. Laurence Ryan V. Mata, OP; Br. Leonito F. Mateo, OP; Br. Julian Christopher C. Morada, OP; Br. John Rheed M. Caturza, OP; Br. Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez, OP; Br. Mark Lawrence S. Gianan, OP; Br. Fergie Joshua A. Lasugas, OP; Br. Marco Miguel C. Lorenzo, OP; Br. Bernard L. Opinaldo, OP; Br. Glendale P. Ancheta, OP, Maria Luisa G. Peñas, Escolastico Pellazar Gallero, Sheila Mae Labor.

PUNLÂ is the Pastoral Newsletter of the Dominican Studentate which features events and activities related to the ministry of the brothers and their apostolic groups.

It aims to promote awareness about the missionary endeavors of the brothers and their lay collaborators who tirelessly contribute to the propagation of the Gospel in their ministries. It also serves as a means to express the brothers’ gratitude to their benefactors and partners for their invaluable help in responding to the needs of the Church and society.

The Filipino term “punlâ” not only signifies the seed, but more importantly connotes the act of sowing. This expresses the dynamism of the brothers’ apostolic ministry, rooted as it is in their life of contemplation as students committed to the sowing of the seed that is the ever-fruitful Word: “So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me empty but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:11).

8 FEATURES

DSMC

DOMINICAN STUDENTS’ MEDIA CENTER The social communications apostolate of the Studentate

UK RADIO. The very first episode of the segment Usapang Kristiyano Usapang Katoliko was taken in Feb. 19, 2013, which makes it one of the longest running projects of DSMC.

CMMA BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM. The commitment and creativity of people in conveying the good news through social media also proved to be fruitful. In 2019, in line with the celebration of the Year of the youth, the Dominican Students’ Media Center in partnership with KAPATID (Si Kristo ang Patutunguhan sa Tulong ng Ina ng Diyos) presents “Peregrino”, the DSMC AWARDS 2019 Film Fest Winner. This short-film has successfully won the Best Student Short Film special citation from the 41st Catholic Mass Media Award.

DSMC AWARDS. Each apostolic group is required to develop a concept, write scripts, select collaborators, shoot a film and produce a short-movie worthy of publishing.

FEATURES

9

MUKHA AD

MASIGLANG UGNAYAN NG MGA KABATAANG HINUHUBOG SA ANYO NG ANAK NG DIYOS The youth co-formation apostolate of the Studentate

THE PIONEER BATCH

ALIW BATA. During Christmas Season, MUKHA AD organizes a gift-giving activity for the children.

TEAM BUILDING & SPORTS FESTIVAL

MUKHA AD ANNUAL GRAND OPENING (2018) REGULAR SUNDAY SESSIONS

Sunday People Raponcel Abueg

If I were to tell all the stories I have kept for years, A day would not be enough to express them all, If I were to complain about all the hardships and pains, A bucket of tears would not be enough to hold them all, Through sunrise and sunsets, Through climbing mountains and sometimes slipping down the slope, Of having to do it all over again, With desperation and loathe.

But when a sudden twist of fate disclosed to me this journey where I am in, My realization then begins, The darkness though it may seem to be unending, Is but a phase to sharpen my vision, That in the haze and chaos, there is order…

There is calm.

At times we speak of never-ending sadness and disappointments, As if these will never be over, I remind you, my friend, just as the Gospel says, That we are not Good Friday people, Indeed it may be Friday so it seems, but Sunday’s a coming, There is hope.

10 FEATURES

KADAUPAN

KATARUNGAN NG DIYOS ANG UGAT NG PAYAPANG ADHIKAIN The justice, peace, and care of creation arm of the Studentate

KADAUPAN AT MT. PINATUBO

THE PIONEER BATCH

FEATURES

11

PST

PAGTUGON SA TAWAG The vocation promotion apostolate of the Studentate

PHOTOSHOOT FOR VOCATION PROMOTION MATERIALS

VOCATION PROMOTION

MISSION EXPOSURES

PREACHING TO THE YOUTH THROUGH MUSIC

WELCOMING OF NEW CANDIDATES

12 FEATURES

KAPATID

SI KRISTO ANG PATUTUNGUHAN SA TULONG NG INA NG DIYOS The Marian devotion promotion arm of the Studentate

LEGION OF MARY MEETING

BESA MANTO DURING THE LA NAVAL FESTIVITIES

HELP US SUSTAIN OUR MINISTRIES! GCash Account Name: GIAN E. Account Number: 0921-2626116

Bank of Commerce Peso Account Account Name: Dominican Studentate Pastoral Formation Account Number: 094-00-000321-7 E-mail: dspb.official@gmail.com | Contact Number: 0921-2626116