Pentecost, CTS, Diwa, New Dean, Library, Perpetual Vows, Summer, etc

Followers of this blog have been prodding me to update it. I didn't know blogging is no luxury. I can imagine the difficulty of Luke who "blogged" the missionary journeys of Paul in the second half of the first century A.D. Without it, we would not have the Acts of the Apostles, the only narrative account of the life of the early Church which we read in the mass during Easter Season. Here's a short write-up on Acts especially 2:1-11, the reading for this coming Sunday's Pentecost feast. Click on this.

CTS Students with German theologian, Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD

Certificate in Theological Studies
Enrollment is now going on for those interested to join the Certificate in Theological Studies program. Classes are held during Saturdays here at the Divine Word Seminary following the official schedule of the academic year. This is a two-year (or four semester) program of studying in depth the Bible, Theology, and Spirituality. For more information, click on this.

Diwa 33 (2007)

The latest issue of Diwa, the academic journal of Divine Word Seminary (Theology) and Christ the King Seminary (Philosophy) is off the press soon (after much delay!). Please place your order to: ctstagaytay@yahoo.com. Here's the table of contents:

New Dean of Divine Word Seminary
We just elected Fr. Alexander Muaña, SVD as our new Dean of Studies (2008-2011). Fr. Alex holds a licentiate in Missiology from the Gregorian University in Rome (2006) and teaches mission theology here. He replaces Fr. Michael Layugan, SVD who has been accepted in the doctoral program at the Catholic University of Louvain. Fr. Laguyan will specialize in the area of church history.

Dean Alex M. (4th from left)
with long time rector of DWS, Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD

New Librarians
Yours truly has been appointed as a librarian of the Arnoldus Library. Expect then that once in a while in this blog I will write on some recent books on theology and exegesis. Ms. Joyce Pascua, a young licensed librarian will join us at the end of the month. We are also putting up a homiletic collection where students and preachers can have access to excellent and recent literature on how to preach well. The room is called Nicasio Preacher's Collection since most books and materials come from the personal collection of our homiletics professor, Fr. Linus Nicasio, SVD. With all these and other improvements done last year, Arnoldus Library is an exciting place to visit.

The artistic building of the Arnoldus Library

Perpetual Vows
Five in-coming 4th year theology students will profess their perpetual vows to the Society of the Divine Word on May 25 at 9:00 am at the Chapel of Divine Seminary here in Tagaytay: Gil Rochar Dulay, Felmar Fiel, Jonathan Letada, Aris Martin, and Jaekel Solde. This means that after a month or so, months they will be ordained as deacons then few months later, as priests.

Summer Out There
I spent a short yet unique vacation sometime last week in Labangan, a village in the island of Iling which belongs to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. I was here as a regent in the early 90's. A number of SVDs has also spent summer camps here like Fr. Raymun Festin and Fr. Raul Caga whose names are "written" in the names of some teen-agers here. People here are very warm; despite the poverty in the place, you'll find so many good souls here. I thank the Fabular family, esp. kagawad Lorie Fabular-Dugenia, for their warm hospitality.

This was my "hotel" for a week; thanks to Ate Tina and Kuya Gaspar

our shower place and everything


In the passenger boat: drink "Ursos," the best way to face big waves

this is at the next island, Ambulong


Menu for Lunch: Fresh Sea Urchins
and six-kilo Talakitok

That's Bulaklak, our tourist guide after she brought us up the summit of the island.


She also brought us to one of the caves;
Old friends from the Labangan: Kgd Lorie and Vicky;
Vicky is vacationing with her
husband from the US.