Issuu

Metro

CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly DE ORO

Volume 8 | No. 31 | Cagayan de Oro City | March 8-14, 2021

Remembering Guana

Juan Y. Sia’s Legacy of Integrity in Life and Public Service

ebruary 9, 2021 was a sad day for most Kagay-anons when they found out one of the city’s most beloved civil servants had passed away peacefully in his sleep early that morning. However, though many know him personally, not many Kagay-anons know that the late Juan Yap Sia was born in Amoy, China (now known as Xiamen City) on July 7, 1934 to Sia Ponso and Leah Yap. He has six siblings: Jose, married to Cecila Ching; Esteban, married to Joy Angbetic of Cebu; Emelio, a doctor, married to Cherisa Cañete of Liloan, Cebu, (also a doctor) both retired in Seattle, USA; Richard, a dentist, married to a dentist from Ozamiz,

Norma Tan ; Alfonso Jr., married to Lilian Chan of Basilan; and the youngest and only girl, Ramona, who opted to remain single, and has since retired from banking. Guana, as he is fondly known to his family and friends, migrated with his family from China to Camiguin, where his uncle Sia Mayong had a store in Mambajao during the 1920s to the 1950s. According to his wife Adelfa, he had a near-death experience when he was bitten by a

snake commonly known as udto-udto (you will be dead by noontime if one bites you) in Camiguin Plaza and was unconscious for three days until he was treated by an arbolario with tobacco and oracion. Due to the severity of the bite, it might actually not have been an udto-udto (a.k.a. as paradise flying snake or paradise tree snake which are rear-fanged and mildly venomous, but their bite is generally not considered to pose a threat to humans) but the very similar-looking but far deadlier barred coral snakes (Hemibungarus calligaster, a genus of venomous elapid snakes). In 1946, Alfonso Sr. moved his family to Cagayan de Misamis

Silver Wedding Anniversaary of Alfonso Sr and Leah Sia 1957. Guana is to the right.

when he was hired by Proctor & Gamble to manage a copra buying station there. Guana studied at Nazareth Public School (now South City Central School) where he learned to speak Bisaya, and later to Ateneo de Cagayan (now Xavier University) where he polished his English language skills. “My brother belonged to this class. He was the youngest - was only 13 and turned 14 by the time he graduated. His classmates and batchmates were 2-3 years older than him,” recalls Gwendolyn Ramos-Garcia, whose late mother Pureza Neri Ramos, and late brother Honorio Boy Ramos, Jr. were colleagues of the late Guana in the city

council during his tenure as city councilor. At Kong Hua Senior High School Guana became one of its most outstanding students, winning an impromptu speech contest, awarded best in Chinese Calligraphy, and directed Chinese stage dramas. He graduated High School from XU (Filipino curriculum) and Kong Hua (Chinese curriculum) in 1956, and Bachelor of Science in Commerce (BSC) Major in Accountancy from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in 1962. He applied and was granted Filipino Citizenship and married Adelfa Lui, whom he met during their high school days at Kong Hua, and continued courting her when both were studying at Xavier University. The couple was blessed with five children: Renato, married to Pennapa Chantarasatit from Bangkok, Thailand, with two kids, Pete and Wena; David, married to Germyline Dizon, has two girls, Danica, a marketing graduate from XU, and Natasha,

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

now a 3rd year Nursing student at Cebu Doctors; Catherine, married to Roland Teves from Davao, who migrated to the US and have 3 boys: Raymond, a professional nurse; and Ryan and Richard, who are still studying; Ben Hur, married Mary Lao from Tabaco, Albay, have two girls, Cara and Paige studying at Kong Hua school; and Marylou, married Patrick Tan, a Kagay-anon, and now lives in Manila with 3 kids: Kirk, Maegan, and Audrey. The family now has a total of twelve grandchildren. In between his high school and college, he first worked as a cigarette salesman for Golden Key. Then, after his college graduation, he worked for Ramona Unchuan Agustines as an Esso kerosene salesman. “For two consecutive years he won a black and white TV set as incentive,” recalls Adelfa. “At the time, Cagayan still had no TV station. The first one we gave to Ramona and the second we kept as a souvenir.” LEGACY/PAGE 4

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021

Sports Tourism

By CHARLES LIM

Following the Euro Football Leagues

VERY football fan must look at least one of Europe's top domestic leagues with great intensity to enjoy the football culture that is lacking in this Asian countr y. Football is, and no question about that, the number one sport in the entire world. Our American influence has made us basketball radicals; there is nothing wrong with that. Loving a sport is always admirable. We worship the NBA stars and support our favorite local team. Compare this with a local Filipino football fan: He or she gets hooked on not one or two, but several European leagues all at once – English Premier League (England), Bundesliga (Germany), Serie A (Italy), Ligie 1

(France) and La Liga (Spain). Apart from this, there is the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League for the top clubs in Europe. Throughout my years of attending football tournaments and festivals for kids of all ages, I see they emulate their idols Messi, Reynaldo, Kane, Beckham, Rooney, Selah, Sandro, Ramos and Neymar. The kids know more about the status of their favorite clubs, week by week, game by game. From my days of schooling in Europe and embroiled in fanatical football campaigns in Asia, I can be considered a football zombie on weekends, but I flip channels occasionally on match days to watch the F1, tennis, rugby and even

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

CAGAYAN TIMES/Sudaria Group of Companies Publisher MIKE BAÑOS Editor-in-Chief SUSAN P. DENNIS GEAN T. CESAR RANDY FAMACION MAI MAI SISON KLAUS DORING ANNIE GORRA RAGO WENDY RAMOS-GARCIA Contributing Editors CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Layout Artist PINKY DOMINGO Marketing KHRISTHA RIVA FELICILDA Advertising ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel The Metro CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691. TIN No. 311-982-549-000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayandeorotimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)

facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES

cricket. We are at two thirds gone in the English Premier League and if you recognize these clubs in the present top of the table Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester, West Ham (surprise! surprise!) and Chelsea, you are a regular. You may have to look further down if your favorite club happens to be Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham. One can safely conclude that 2019/2020 champions, Liverpool may not be in a position to defend its title with a huge deficit of points to the current leaders, Manchester City. Unless there is a drastic and unimaginable loss of form, which I do not predict, City will comfortably clinch the EPL title which they lost to Liverpool last

season. Running a far second at the moment is their neighbor and perennial rival, Manchester United. Notably important to obser ve in the EPL is they allow as many as 17 foreign players in their club roster of 25. Of course, Manchester City is notoriously famous with its Emirati owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan pouring in millions and millions of sterling pounds each season to have the best players in the world. They have won the title twice in the last three seasons since 2017 and could make it three out of four if they win this year. In spite of all this glor y, I have yet to know of one true blooded English City fan who could match the club character, passion and culture of a fan from say, Liverpool. Chelsea,

Arsenal or, of course, Manchester United. There is simply no comparison. In terms of managers, the EPL has the most colorful and iconic names in the game from all over the world, especially from Europe. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Jose Mourinho (Spurs), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United), Carlo Ancelotti (Everton) All have played in the major leagues in Europe won dozens of league titles all around the

continent and have ventured into the EPL as a crowning glor y for their achievements. Without a stint in the EPL, their careers would not be complete, putting it mildly. Some have come back more than once like in the case of Jose Mourinho who was ver y successful as manager of Chelsea FC, not so successful in Manchester United, and currently at Tottenham Hotspurs. Watch out for two managers - fairly newcomers to the EPL this season who have already made a difference to their clubs. Tomas Tuchei replaced Frank Lampard at Chelsea at a ver y crucial stage last year and has stabilized the club at fifth place today without a single loss. Argentinian manager, Marcelo Bielsa brought old time great, Leeds United from the Championship tier to the Premier League and has so far maintained a credible spot at 11, far from the relegation zone. However, the excitement is, without doubt, in the Spanish La Liga at this time. Any of the top three teams - Atletico Madrid, Barcelona or Real Madrid - can emerge as Champions. More on the La Liga next. Charles Lim is the founder and chairman of the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. He has been an advocate of sports tourism since 2004 with the inception of the Sports Tourism Forum - a popular seminar workshop for those in the sports and the hospitality industr y - which is presently still ongoing. He can be reached at charles.selrahco@ gmail.com.

Metro

ARTS & CULTURE | HEALTH | EVENTS | TRAVEL & TOURISM | PEOPLE

CAGAYANTIMES Feature DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021 Page 3

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS

By Klaus Döring

Chapter VII: A Series of Transitions

Y BUDDY and best friend Jürgen invited me to dinner. We were at our favorite Italian restaurant in the elegant part of Berlin Zehlendorf. We talked about times gone by. Yes - gone by. Well, I agreed and tried to explain that I really underwent a series of transitions. “And what are we doing together again?” Jürgen asked. I shrugged my shoulders. As I mentioned earlier: 1980 - the year of great upheavals? Up and downs? Oh yes. My job as Editorial Assistant for law magazines made me a lot of inner reassurance. After one year, my then publisher told me, “Well, I told you learning my doing”. For this job, you don’t need to study law!” Another project was on my desk. JURA law, or legal education, a magazine for law students. By editing all posts and articles, I found myself back in a real law study. I was obsessed with doing a

and actresses as well as performers from classics until pop - even German rock legend Udo Lindenberg in Hamburg or the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with star conductor Herbert von Karajan. And, my music library kept up growing. On the other (sad) side: my list of friends got small and smaller and smaller. My buddy Jürgen and I spent our last trip together in the Holy Land - in Israel. A sad good bye to each other. Jürgen planned to get married in South Korea. Another one of my relationships had broken up. My mother got cancer. My father left us because of another woman. I went to the nearest travel office planning to book a flight - taking

very good job. “My” authors belonged to the elite of German lawyers: attorneys, judges and politicians. One of the latter was the then German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, who would sign my appointment as German Honorary Consul for the island of Mindanao many, many years later. My job was totally fulfilling. Ludwig van Beethoven was with me day and night. Some palm trees were still a long way off. I became a member of the Berlin Theatre Club. My publisher’s wife Blandine Ebinger recommended me to become a member. “Some things can only be said softly, some things can only be done secretly”. Friedrich Hollaender had written this, Hollaender, the one with The Blue Angel. For Blandine did he write this because she was his muse. And his former wife. Ebinger became acquainted with Friedrich Hollaender in

1919, and with him she became heavily invested as a performer, writer, and composer in the Berlin cabaret scene in the 1920s, beginning in the cabaret Schall und Rauch and the Café des Westens. She recorded many of her husband’s, Friedrich Hollaender, cabaret songs, including the set of songs entitled Lieder eines armen Mädchens (Songs of a poor girl). Ebinger emigrated to the United States in 1937, returning to Berlin in 1947. She moved to Munich, where she met her second husband, the publisher Helwig Hassepflug, in 1961. They eventually settled back in Berlin, where she continued her career in the theater and as an actress on television productions. Helwig Hassenpflug, my then publisher, became my mentor and my father figure. I would work for him and his company till 1999. As a Berlin Theatre Club member, I met a lot of TV and movie actors

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

me as far away as possible. The sales lady asked me, “Sir, I think you love Asia. How about the Philippines?” I agreed. Berlin - Frankfurt - Bangkok - Manila. And since I got three Filipina pen friends during that time, the Philippine round trip ticket Manila-Davao City-Zamboanga CityManila was added.

(To be continued)

‘Klaus Doring was born in Spenge, a little village near Bielefeld in North Rhine-Westphalia, former West Germany. A publishing house manager and journalist by profession, i.e. managing editor for law magazines in Berlin, New York and Amsterdam, radio and TV host.’

Remembering Guana Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021

Legacy... from page 1

Reminisces Guana’s brother Esteban, better known to friends as Steve: “I am the third in line in a family of 6 brothers and a sister. Guana to us was more like a father than an eldest brother. He was our tutor during our growing up years, always guiding us to be good in everything that we were doing.” “Our parents were engaged full time in the family businesses - Sia Enterprises (soft drinks distributorship and copra trading) and & De Oro Pawnshop, managed by Mama Leah in the ground floor of our house since early 1960s. The pawnshop was closed when Mama passed away in 1975.” “Hence, Guana was there for us in my earliest remembering, even as he started his own career as a cigarette company salesman. Guana later took over the family concerns which evolved into the well-known Juan Sia Enterprises.” “When I was getting married, I was so thankful that Guana and his kind wife, my Ah-so Delfa, made sure

Juan Y. Sia the Councilor photo courtesy of kakak yap

Guana was a pioneer and board member of Bell Church Cagayan de Oro Chapter. Taken 2016 during the celebration of the 1st CDO Chinese New Year Festival. (RMB)

time customers, Zony Uraya.” Amadeo V. Neri, his neighbor from way back recalls, “Guana never left this neighborhood though many of us have, including his own brothers who moved to Juan Y. Sia’s picture from the XU Crusader Yearbook 1962 other parts, locally and (courtesy of Irene Grace Alba Gitarte & XU Alumni Office Staff) abroad.” that I had a traditional an intimate goodbye. “So I reminisce. In Chinese wedding.” I keep in my heart his this neighborhood, “After the wedding, words in Chinese: I will Guana sold the first we tried doing business wait for you! I am back LPG tank in the entire in Cagayan de Oro. to retire here, and I now city, he also had the Guana was again there realize that Guana made only shop that customto provide guidance. true his promise - he built bakery ovens and Eventually, when I was waiting for me in other appliances. Was it decided to migrate my last visit.” Shellane?” to the US, Guana Guana started “On the same block expressed fatherly his own business in but along A. Velez, concern about my 1964 with Namarco Guana opened the first situation in a far-away Groceries, which grocery store which land. After each of my later became Juan Sia became the model for balikbayan visits, he Enterprises. In 1966, he the others to follow, like would always walk me became the first LPG Ororama, Gaisano, etc. to the gate to bid me dealer in Cagayan de It was bannered as Juan Oro with Mobilflame, Sia Enterprises.” and later StarGas, “And clearly this was Petronas and Pryce Gas not enough for him, as well. He wasn’t afraid because he also lived a of getting his hands full life in local politics dirty, and repaired the for decades. And what a gas stoves he sold with sterling and admirable the LPG tanks himself. contribution and “Mr. Juan Sia was legacy he left behind! a respectable person, Especially when it came very accommodating, to the ideals of public he inspects and fixes my service that he showed stove almost every year. so liberally. Truly So sad will miss him. the epitome of public May he rest in peace,” service!” said one of his long Guana entered politics when his neighbors in Barangay 4 elected him as their chairman in 1970, a post he would be reelected to for the next 19 years. In 1989 he served in the Cagayan

4-B HIgh School Class 1956 picture of Ateneo de Cagayan. Guana is sitting to the left of Fr. Rohr. (courtesy of Irene Grace Alba Guitarte & XU Alumni Office Staff)

de Oro City Council representing the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) as its chairman. “He was the only councilor who visited far-flung barangays unpassable by any transpo (at that time). An epitome of public service indeed!” noted Marilyn Rago-Mabellin. “I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that Councilor Juan Sia was the most well liked politician in the city,” says Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, currently Majority Floor Leader of the City Council. “His ability to connect and reach out to fellow man beyond the call of duty was extraordinary. He served with dignity and gave more preferential attention to the lowly and the margins, instead of his peers in the higher echelons of society. He listened to the concerns of the public during public hearings even beyond 5pm. He was never absent for meetings and never upsets his friends. He’s one of a kind comrade in the public service. He was a dear friend and a loyal one.” Veteran broadcaster Joe del Puerto Felicilda recalls how Guana’s generosity and kindness to members of the press who were covering City

Guana had a soft spot in his hear and always saw to it the members of the press were looked after. (RMB)

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

Hall. “He was very hospitable, normally di siya mo-entertain nimo sa iyang house or office, but in his resto. He addresses whoever he talks with as Sir or Ma’am. Very hospitable to media, he was also a duly licensed broadcast technician and renewed his license with the NTC every year.” “In fact, when he was still a serving, after every session he would invite all media covering the council for lunch sa iya eatery beside his residence at corner Velez-Hayes. Murag pista! His introduction as a guest speaker during an alumni homecoming at Kong Hua sums up his brand of public service: “He is one of those very few politicians who has no mark of dirty politics at all. He served his constituents with deep sincerity, honesty, and integrity, he advocated effective public information and livelihood options in the rural areas, and promoted many selfsustaining economic activities.” “His dedicated and honest service have been seen and felt by many, so much so that he was voted as the No. 1 City Councilor during his last term in office; given the ‘Par Excellence service award’ as the most distinguished City Councilor and Public Servant of the Year in 2002; given an exemplary public service award by the media office for being one of the most outstanding City Councilors in the Philippines; given the name ‘Man for Others’ by the Rotary East where he served as an Outstanding President LEGACY/PAGE 5

Feature

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021

Juan Y. Sia’s Legacy of Integrity in Life and Public Service

The old neighborhood where Guana spent most of his adult life. (courtesy of Amadeo V. Neri)

Legacy... from page 4

in 1987, and given a Distinguished Service Award by the Oro Chamber in 1987.” Indeed, as if his responsibilities to the family business and to the city council were not burden enough, Guana was also active as a prominent member and leader of various socio-civic and religious organizations, among them, the Rotary Club of East Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (MOFCCCII), Cagayan

de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber), Cagayan Fil-Am Amity Club, Bell Church Cagayan de Oro Chapter, and the San Lorenzo Filipino-Chinese Parish Community. “Juan is very generous, I remember he often gave soft drinks when we have special events in Kong Hua school,” recalls Dr. Benjamin Sia. According to his wife Adelfa, he had lately sponsored a series of lectures on Taoist philosophy online via zoom. Tao (/daʊ/, /taʊ/) or

Dao (/daʊ/ DOW; from Chinese: 道; pinyin: Dào [tâu] is a Chinese word signifying the way, path, route, road or sometimes more loosely doctrine, principle or holistic beliefs. In the context of East Asian philosophy and East Asian religions, Tao is the natural order of the universe whose character one’s human intuition must discern in order to realize the potential for individual wisdom. This intuitive knowing of life cannot be grasped as a concept; it is known through actual living experience of one’s everyday being. Laozi in the Tao Te

Ching explains that the Tao is not a name for a thing but the underlying natural order of the Universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe due to it being non-conceptual yet evident in one’s being of aliveness. The Tao is eternally nameless (Tao Te Ching-32. Laozi) and to be distinguished from the countless named things which are considered to be its manifestations, the reality of life before its descriptions of it. “Guana had such noteworthy personal impact on and positive influences with many individuals, still it is nice to read their testimonials. Testimonies that tell us that Guana above everything else possessed a good conscience. For the test of a good life is the testimony of a good conscience,” Mr. Neri noted. “Guana had done more than his share of life! Iyo Fonso would be proud, if he is not already,” he added. Recalls his sisterin-law Joy AngbeticSia, wife of Esteban (Steve): “Guana and Ah-so Adelfa Lui-Sia welcomed me very warmly into their family when I stayed in their home soon after we got married.” “I admired Guana for being a kindhearted man, and a wellrespected community leader who was articulate in English, Chinese and Bisaya.” “People from all walks of life readily approached him for

Family Picture from the XU Golden Jubilee HS ‘56 souvenir program in 2006. (courtesy of Irene Grace Alba Guitarte & XU Alumni Office Staff)

help or advice. No wonder he was a wellloved kagawad during his public service stint. He was also an active Rotarian, a past president! A no mean feat for anyone, certainly not someone from a pure Chinese background.” “Guana was a man for all seasons: a true friend and a caring patriarch to the Sia family who all of us looked up to and truly loved. Rest well, my dear brother in law! You will always stay in our hearts.” Adds another neighbor Melanie Beatrix Reyes Calomarde: “A very honorable, wonderful and respected man. We stayed for about 15 years right across the back, big gate of Juan Sia’s Enterprises and all I

Alfonso Yap Sr Family Reunion last year when Emelio and Estaban came home to Cagayan de Oro. It was the first time in many years the seven brothers and their only sister were complete. Leftmost is Efren and Cecilia Uy. Cecilia’s maternal Grandfather (Sia Mayong) is the Brother of Guana’s Father ( Alfonso Sia Sr.)

Senior High at Kong Hua School. Guana is the third from right in the back row. Sia Family Album

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

can say palangga mi nya tanan mga bata diha sa likod, and so with Nang Delfa. Thank you for the good memories.” -30 The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following who were instrumental in making this remembrance possible: Mrs. Adelfa Sia, Mr. Renato Sia, Mr. Steve Sia, Mrs. Joy Angbetic-Sia, Ms. Mayen Angbetic-Tan, Mr. Amadeo V. Neri, Kag. Ian Mark Nacaya, Mr. Jose Felicilda, Ms. Irene Grace Alba-Guitarte and the XU Alumni Office staff, Mrs. Pennapa Chantarasatit-Sia, Rep. Rufus B . Rodriguez, Mr. Jeric Chan, Mr. Amiel Ranalan, and Mr. Efren & Mrs. Cecilia Uy. Daghan kaayog Salamat!

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

March 8-14, 2021

LENTEN MESSAGE 2021

Year of Mission Renewal is God’s precious gift This pilgrimage entails a renewal of our lives, a deepening of our commitment more and more to the God of History as we celebrate 500 Years of Christian faith full of gratitude and love. Renewal is intimately woven in our jubilee celebration. All of us in the archdiocese should humbly beg God the grace Archbishop Jose Cabantan, D.D. Archdiocese of conversion of Cagayan de Oro by opening our hearts to Him. Dear Brothers and remain steadfast Renewal is truly a with our faith Sisters in Christ, gift from God. in God. Let The call to live Ash Wednesday us continually out our baptismal observe the marks the vows health protocols beginning of our The CBCP’s in our liturgical observance of Lenten message celebrations, Lent. Once again the especially during calls us to live out our baptismal Holy Week. Church invites vows. They call Lent indeed is us to a sincere a season of grace, us to witness to examination of God’s charity, our life, our works a season of joy. to live out and It is a precious in the light of spread God’s gift of God, a Faith. faithful love. journey of the Jesus spent Alay-Kapwa Lord’s Easter. It forty days and forty nights in the is an intense time or serving our full of meaning in neighbors is a desert in prayer and fasting before the journey of the fruit of a genuine concern and Church. he embarked on love of God and Our life’s a mission. Let neighbor. It can journey is also this season of be done by the Lent be moments a pilgrimage one who has been sharing the of profound deeply touched by passion, death reflection and God’s loving and and resurrection renewal of our compassionate interior life too as of Christ. This heart. coming Easter we continue the Again this Sunday we mission God has needs a constant rejoice with the entrusted to us. Risen Lord as we conversion to The pandemic commemorate the the God of love is still with us to fulfill this. Let first Mass in the calling us to country 500 years us also continue intensify more praying for one ago. our prayers and

another especially those who suffer the most due to this pandemic. Let us not lose hope amidst all these trials as we journey towards the resurrection. Finally, our world, our archdiocese needs God’s forgiveness, realizing that desecration of one’s dignity and degradation of our environment continues to happen. Let us beg for God’s mercy and Love that He will continually purify our hearts from self-serving desires. Let us pray that our hearts will be set free from all that enslave us; resentments, anger, hatred, and all that dehumanizes us. We pray that by opening ourselves to God and neighbor will bear fruit in solidarity, harmony and peace. May the God of Life, Love and Peace be always our refuge and strength in our journey with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph’s intercession. A BLESSED LENTEN JOURNEY TO ALL!!

Archbishop Jose A. Cabantan, D.D