Divine Word Seminary

Arnoldus Library announces call for entries for its Second ALAP Award

2012-02-03T16:18:00.001+08:00

THE SECOND ALAP AWARD

The Arnoldus Library is giving out its second Arnoldus Library Academic Paper Award (ALAP Award). The ALAP Award comprises a plaque of recognition from Divine Word Seminary and a cash honorarium of P5,000.00 courtesy of the Fr. Dominador Flores, SVD Fund.

The award will be presented at the Graduation Ceremonies on March 31, 2012 to the student who has written the best academic paper (term paper or synthesis paper) for the school year 2011-2012 as determined by an Award Committee chaired by Fr. Randolf Flores, SVD.

The aim of the award is both to reward excellence and to encourage students to write academic papers with high quality.

Who is eligible?
• A bona-fide student of Divine Word Seminary who has submitted his or her academic paper on time to the Dean’s Office and whose grade given by the moderator is not lower than 95%.
o The M.A. thesis is not covered by the ALAP Award.
o Academic paper means the annual term paper or the synthesis paper only.

Procedure:
• The chairperson of the Award Committee will check over the academic papers submitted at the Dean’s Office. He will then select three potential winners from which the Award Committee will choose the best. The criteria of the short list would be:
o (1) the paper’s final grade
o (2) the form and style
 footnotes, bibliography, English, and the like
 based on Turabian, 7th edition
o (3) content
 the novelty of the study
 the use of sources
 the flow of the arguments
o (4) effective conclusion
 not just a simple summary
 but an articulation of what the readers can learn from the paper.

Due Date
• Deadline for the short list: March 9, 2012 before 5:00 p.m.
• Place of submission: Dean’s Office

For more information: See Fr. R. Flores or write to rrandy33@yahoo.com
For the winner of First ALAP AWARD, click here.

Megatrends and Mission: Symposium on the Theology of Mission

2012-01-31T09:21:00.000+08:00

Speaker: Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD
Former missionary to Samoa and Fiji
SThD - Gregorian University
Faculty: DWST, UST, ICST-Vigan, and ICLA
Student Reactors : Mark Mojica, Luca Vinati, and Mark Ramos

Place: Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Date: February 23, 2012
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Registration: Free
Contact: dwstagaytay@yahoo.com.ph

Talk on Second Corinthians by Prof. Raimund Bieringer

2011-12-28T09:40:00.000+08:00

Simbang Gabi 2011: Homilies

2011-12-07T00:03:00.001+08:00

This year's Simbang Gabi homilies (2011) are coming from SVD Philippine Northern Province. Thanks to the SVD-PHN missionaries who contributed and to Fr. Robert Ibay, SVD who collected them. Please click on the link Simbang Gabi 2011 Homilies.

Ukay-Ukay sa SVD Tagaytay part 2 (U2.2) - Garage Sale

2011-10-31T22:52:00.000+08:00

‎"One person's junk is another's treasure." - Early Xmas Ukay-Ukay (garage sale) sa SVD-Tagaytay on Nov 5-6, 2011 (Sat & Sun) - for the benefit of SVD-ALS program. Come,buy and/or share. By (buy) sharing what you no longer need, you help save the environment; you help your neighbor; and you help our SVD-ALS (out-of-school) learners.

Mass with Archbishop-elect Chito Tagle, SVD-ASPAC formators, and SVD-ALS

2011-10-17T11:06:00.003+08:00

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City (Cavite), Oct 17, 2011--This morning, the newly appointed Archbishop of Manila, Chito Tagle, presided at a mass with around 200 postulants (candidates for admission to religious congregations) who are ending their modular classes. Bishop Chito has been, for many years, the rector of the major seminary of the Diocese of Imus (Cavite)--Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol (TMP) and thus a resident of TMP. He preferred to stay in this seminary whose seminarians study at Divine Word Seminary. Since he became the rector, Since 1982 till the first semester of this school year, the Bishop has also been teaching theology here (Systematic and Theology of the Priesthood).

Here's today's editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that attempts to analyze the appointments of new archbishops and its implications on the Catholic Church and on the Philippines. Please click on this link.

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The SVD formators (rectors, prefects and novice masters) of the Asia-Pacific Region (ASPAC) are also around for a one-week meeting (17-20 Oct). Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD Superior General will give the keynote address. Of the four zones of the SVD (Africa, Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific), ASPAC has the biggest number of seminarians and brothers in the novitiate and in temporary vows (1,208 in the SVD Catalogus 2011).

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Some former CTS students of DWST are coming up again with another garage sale (Ukay-Ukay). The proceeds will go the SVD-ALS program. This program has benefited more than 200 out-of-school youth in and around Tagaytay. The learners attend daily modular sessions in the SVD-ALS center inside DWST's compound to prepare them for the accreditation and equivalency tests. For this year's tests, the date is set on October 23 (this Sunday) in Trece Martires City. If you are interested to help in the garage sale, please text this number: 09176284849.

Today's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer carries a news on the ALS programs being supervised by the Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation. Please click on this link.

Prayer-rally against RH bill set on Friday in Tagaytay

2011-09-14T19:18:00.000+08:00

Prayer-rally against RH bill set on Friday in Tagaytay

Church groups set anti-RH bill rally on Sept.16 in Tagaytay

2011-09-11T08:57:00.003+08:00

TRA members at the prayer rally for Cory Aquino
before she passed away

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) will hold a prayer rally on Friday, September 16, in Tagaytay City in protest against the passage of the controversial reproductive (RH) bill.

TRA, an association of more than 70 seminaries, religious houses, retreat centers, schools and monasteries located in Tagaytay and its environs, said the prayer rally will be held from 2:00 - 5:00 pm starting with rosary processions from various locations in the city. The processions will lead to the Lourdes Church where a talk on the RH bill will be delivered to be followed by a mass with Bishop Chito Tagle, the bishop of the Diocese of Imus.

"This event is a collaborative expression of our collective stand against the passage of the RH Bill now debated in the Senate," TRA chairperson Fr. Sam Agcaracar, SVD, main organizer, said in his letter to the members of the association. "Since Tagaytay City is often dubbed as the Vatican City of the Philippines because of its exceptionally big number of religious houses; and also, since it is used to be called a 'character city' by the local government, it is just right to express our sentiments against the bill that many Catholics now perceived as immoral," said former TRA chairperson, Fr. Randy Flores, SVD.

The event with the theme, Lakad-Dalangin para sa Pagpapahalaga ng Buhay, will proceed as follows:2:00 PM - start of the rosary procession” to Lourdes parish (note: Clusters 1,2 and 3 will assemble near Ina ng Laging Saklolo Parish; Cluster 4 at the SVD Road corner; Clusters 5 and 6 at the Magallanes Drive; Half of the Lourdes parishioners will join clusters 5and 6 and others will wait at the Rotonda area. Please coordinate with your respective barangay captains and officials for the traffic).

3:00 PM - short talk on the RH Bill at Lourdes Parish.

4:00 PM - Holy Eucharistic Celebration

The organizers also announced that "every community and cluster is encouraged to provide a streamer to highlight the theme during the rosary procession," and that each house is asked to encourage also their lay workers and collaborators to participate.

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In relation to the opposition to the RH bill, here's a write-up from the CBCP Online on Wikileaks and US policy on Philippines' population control program:

Washington has been behind a population-control drive in the Philippines for the past 40 years, a leaked State Department cable from whistleblower website Wikileaks revealed.

The leaked cable, authored by former US ambassador Kristie Kenney, offers direct proof for the first time of Washington’s long-armed, behind-the-scenes intervention to force developing countries like the Philippines to limit their populations.Kenney’s July 31, 2008 cable welcomed draft legislation promoting artificial contraceptives, referring to the “reproductive health” (RH) bill, as well as Congress’ decision to allocate $3.38 million and $27 million in 2007 and 2008 for “contraceptive supplies” in the wake of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) decision to “phase down support for condoms, pills, injectable contraceptives and intra-uterine devices.”

“Landmark appropriations and draft legislation reflect increasing commitment within the Philippine Government to further expand and sustain programs started forty years ago with U.S. Government’s assistance through USAID,” Kenney said.

“The U.S. Government continues to be the largest donor in the Philippine population sector supporting efforts to improve local government service delivery and increase private sector contributions to family health outcomes,” she added.

Kenney noted that USAID’s funding for “population and family planning” in the Philippines had gone up to $15 million annually. “The U.S. Government continues to be a leader in population assistance to the Philippines,” she said.

USAID was also helping manufacturers lower the prices of contraceptives, she said.“In parallel, within the private sector, USAID technical assistance enables pharmaceutical companies to launch lower-priced contraceptive products, and to expand choices among consumers with more brands on the market,” Kenney said.

Echoing Henry Kissinger’s infamous National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 200, Kenney’s cable noted that the Philippines is already the twelfth most populous country in the world, and is “expected to double its population size by 2044.”

NSSM 200 or the so-called “Kissinger Report” – the declassified document that uncovered Washington’s coercive population control policies – identified the Philippines among several high-population-growth countries that should be subjected to depopulation to protect US commercial interests.

Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State, had warned that population growth in less-developed countries could hamper US access to natural resources.

NSSM 200 recommended a) the legalization of abortion; b) financial incentives for countries to increase their abortion, sterilization and contraception-use rates; c) indoctrination of children; and d) mandatory population control, and coercion of other forms, such as withholding disaster and food aid unless a less-developed country implements population control programs.

During Monday’s Senate debate on the RH bill pro-RH Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago admitted that the RH bill still needs to be cleaned up of all references to population control.

Acknowledging the existence of the “Kissinger Report,” Santiago said a United States-dictated policy on population control was “anathema” to herself and the other RH bill sponsor, Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Kenney has drawn the ire of the Aquino administration for another cable in which she described the late president Corazon Aquino as a “tarnished” and “weak” icon of democracy. In response, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Kenney, who is now assigned to Bangkok, was a “dismal failure” in the Philippines. (Dominic Francisco).

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The so-called Kissinger Report or National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 200Authored by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the secret US government document has been Washington’s blueprint for depopulation to ensure unhampered access to the natural resources of developing countries.

The declassified NSSM 200 states that poor countries should limit their populations to prevent anti-imperialist youth from harming US commercial interests.

The Kissinger report recommends:
1) the legalization of abortion;
2) financial incentives for countries to increase their abortion, sterilization and contraception-use rates;
3) indoctrination of children; and
4) mandatory population control, and coercion of other forms, such as withholding disaster and food aid unless a less-developed country implements population control programs.

Thesis on Prophetic Dialogue defended

2011-08-28T18:31:00.004+08:00

Fr. Abs Borja reading his thesis abstract

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines, August 26, 2011---Fr. Abraham Borja, SVD (DWST alumnus 2011) successfully defended his M.A thesis entitled: "An Asian Perspective of the Prophetic Dialogue of the Society of the Divine Word." He earned the mark, Magna cum Laude. The thesis committee was headed by Dr. Crescencia Gabihan, PhD; Fr. Alexander Muana, SVD (STL Gregorian University and the Dean of Studies); and Fr. Samuel Agcaracar, SVD (STL Gregorian University) served as members of the examination panel; thesis moderator Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD (STD Gregorian University). Borja will leave the country at the end of this month for his work as SVD missionary inTaiwan.

Toast to a successful thesis defense!
From right: Tess (CTS alumna), Fr. Alex (Dean), Fr. Abs
Fr. Sam, Dr. Gabijan, Fr. Lex. Fr. Raul, Fr. Randy, and Bing (CTS coordinator)

Students' Day celebrated

2011-08-28T17:24:00.001+08:00

The invincible palosebo
at the DWSTSA games

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines-- "Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries," this was the theme of the this year's students' day (see the explanation of the theme below). On August 18-19 the Divine Word School of Theology Students Association (DWSTSA) closed their theology books for the time being and went down to the gym in colorful outfits to play in the different sports games--tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, sepka takraw, and more including indigenous games (palosebo, greased bamboo climbing) and intellectual games like debates and essay writing contest. Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body). See below for the result of the games.

******

News report from Mark Ramos, SVD:

Theology II students (Hasidim class) headed by their class senior, Roxie Roflo, CRSP landed as the general champion for this year’s DWSTSA days held last August 18-19 at Divine Word School of Theology with the theme: “Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries.”

DWSTSA days is an avenue for us students of DWST to rest for a while in theological studies and celebrate friendship and solidarity in the spirit of sports. The first day begins with the enthronement of the Word of God. Rev. Fr. Alex Muana, SVD, the Dean of Studies formally opened this year’s DWSTSA days followed by the presentation of class mascot and cheers which portrays the class identity. The first day highlights the different native sports such as “batohang bola, basagang palayok, patintero and a group palosebo.” The native sports was followed by the elimination game for basketball, volleyball, lawn tennis, badminton, sepak takraw and table tennis. The day ended with the first DWST Video Fest held at Aula Magna.

The second day of the celebration started with the solemn celebration of the Eucharist with Fr Ricardo Germanetto, CRS, rector of the Clerics Regular of Somasca as the main celebrant and homilist. After the Holy mass was the academic competition composed of essay writing, extemporaneous speech, debate, and quiz bee held at the Aula Magna. Simultaneously with the indoor games such as chess, dama, scrabble, word factory and game of the general was the championship game for basketball grabbed by the Pistoi class, volleyball, lawn tennis, badminton and sepak takraw all grabbed by the Hasidim class.

The culmination of the DWSTSA days highlights the agape – a physical manifestation of sharing and friendship among different houses of formation. Likewise, the night highlights Neo-ethic dance competition and the battle of the band grabbed by the Maskilim and Hasidim class respectively. The event was graced by the rectors of different congregations as well as a good number of priest and visitors. The Maskilim (T3) and Pistoi (T4) class landed as second place and Sondergut class (T1) got the third place of this year’s DWSTSA days. This year’s DWSTSA days was made possible through the leadership of the DWSTSA president Dexter Priete, MSP together with his council.

Some members of the Fourth Year Theology class

Some members of the Second Year Theology Class
(this year's champion class)

At the of the opening of the games

Basketball

Breaking the pot

Photo credits (facebook downloads):
Li Qi, SVD
R. Valmores
R. Roflo
Hasidim

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THE THEME: “Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries.”

In a multi-cultural institution such as Divine Word School of Theology (DWST) “crossing boundaries” is the key to understanding other culture and people. It indicates an open rather than exclusivist stance other people who are different from us. It is an opening to share with that fire in our heart to proclaim the faith and intention to learn from one another and enriched by it. After all, as the psalmist writes, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” (Ps 126:2-3)
The Psalm suggests the right attitude that every student of DWST should possess. It is our appreciation with the great things in us and in others that all will live in unity in the midst of diversity for “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”(Ps 133:1) Crossing boundaries represents a mainly suitable means of supporting a better mutual understanding.

We are in an environment with diverse cultural orientation. Philippines alone is divided with so many a culture. Crossing over to these probes the richness and vitality of one’s own tradition. We try to see with their eyes and feel with their heart. For understanding is more than intellectual apprehension. It involves our sensitivity to the fears and hopes of the other. When one speaks of being sensitive and understanding others, it means that it is allowing the other to define themselves in their terms rather than ours, and certainly not in terms of our inherited stereotypes.

But crossing over does not only apply of being with the “other”, crossing over can also happened to ourselves in a manner of cross-examination of our fidelity to our vocation. With all the controversies that the church is facing at the moment, we are called now to likewise do mission to ourselves and to cross from the “other-centered” mindset, be back to ourselves and reflect in order to be in a better disposition to serve God and his people with a renewed burning zeal of service and mission. We are also called to be missionaries to our own selves so as be renewed with our commitment to follow radically Jesus the Christ, the Divine Word.

We do these by igniting the fire that is already in us. We remember that “Christ sent the Holy Spirit from the Father to exercise inwardly His saving influence and to promote the spread of the Church” (AG No. 4). This is a call of awakening the spirit that Jesus once gave us, to strengthen and guide us in our missionary activities. It is a call to become passionate individual intensified with the ideals and sublime example of the first disciples as they walked along the Roman roads to spread the Gospel of Christ full with vigor and spirit. It is a call for missionary fever that we may be essentially bound up with the Creator Spiritus who continuously creating and recreating the Church. Lastly, it is a call for that full and active response to the Spirit’s initiative as Paul and Barnabas did when the Spirit told them to set apart for the work to which he have called them (Act. 13:2).

In this regards we have “CROSS FIRE” as a theme of our DWSTSA Days for this school year. To remind us that the mission today is identified with the burning spirit of crossing boundaries in order to understand deeper the love of God manifested to others who are different from us; that we may experience the God in them with the God in us; and that we may learn from Jesus. We see that when Jesus crossed over the boundary of what was conventional in his own time, he was lifted up on the cross. His cross is of influential significance not because it shaped our salvation but because it was the fulfillment of his life’s mission. From north to south and from east to west a perfect crossing was made – a trail, where everybody from all the corners of the world can walk towards the center, Christ—that from him everyone is equipped to walk and proclaim the same Jesus throughout the world.
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RIP Fr. Redentor Corpuz (1946-2011)

2011-08-05T09:01:00.001+08:00

DWST mourns the death of Fr. Redentor Corpuz of the Diocese of Imus. Fr. Corpuz, 65, suffered a cardiac yesterday and passed away at 2:00 this morning, Friday, Aug 5, 2011. At the time of his death, Fr. Corpuz was the Superintendent and Director of Catholic Schools in Cavite.

In memoriam. Please listen here to Kahanga-Hanga (How Wonderful [is your name]). Lyrics was written by Fr. Corpuz (music by Fr. Hontiveros, SJ).
Wake is at the Bishop's House, Casas Hall, Imus, Cavite.

RIP Fr. Adonis Narcelles, SVD (1971-2011)

2011-07-30T21:46:00.006+08:00

From www.divinewordseminary.com

Father Adonis Narcelles Jr, SVD, DWST alumnus and missionary in Berlin, succumbed to cancer on July 29, 2011 in Berlin. He was 40 years old.

From FB post of Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD:

Adonis Llamas Narcelles Jr. SVD was born in Pangasinan. He is the fourth child among seven children of Adonis Narcelles Sr. and Lily Llamas Narcelles. He grew up and went to school in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. In 1988, he entered the Divine Word Formation Center-Urdaneta, as a seminarian of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Two years later, he went to Christ the King Mission Seminary where he finished his bachelor's degree in philosophy.

He entered the Holy Spirit Novitiate in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro in 1994 and then pursued his theological studies at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City.

In 1998, he went to the St. Augustine Mission Seminary in Sankt Augustin, Germany to continue his studies and finished his degree in Theology. After his Diaconate year in the Parish of St. Alexander and Theodor in Ottobeuren (Bayern) he was ordained priest on June 1, 2003. On April 4, 2004, he arrived at his first "mission assignment" in Berlin, as Chaplain of the Filipinos in the Archdiocese of Berlin.

From the FB post of Fr. Martin Ueffing in Germany:

Adonis wrote on June 30, 2011:
"it’s more than a month now
since this inner battle –
many things, events, signs of hope
have happened since then..
the pale complexion at the beginning
the lost of appetite and weigh
were only symptoms of a sickness
which developed within…
the visit to the hospital
and the series of examinations
in blood, bodily organs
soon revealed a sad discovery…
it was the growth of a rare tumor
near the gall bladder area
at the bile duct near the pancreas
this was the mail culprit…
then, we startet our common prayer
to ask God for healing, for recovery
for deeper faith to accept His will
and many people have responded to our call…
but an operation is necessary
to chick the tumor and its development
on june 6, two days after my 40th birthday
I had the major operation…
it was a successful one
the healing was fast
thanks for your constant prayers
after 12 days I was home again…
four days thereafter
an internal bleeding was diagnosed
but was immediately stopped
thank god…
being in the hospital
was again an opportunity to prepare
for the necessary chemotheraphy
to curb the growth or kill the tumor.
on june 25
Istarted the first chemo session
without much dramatic side effects
again, our prayers were heard by God…
on June 29, the feast of sts. peter and paul
I was home again to regain strength
to take good rest, te eat normal food
and to feel the joy of living…
life goes on after all these events…
this painful journey and battle
again this tumor, these cancer cells
have led me to many realizations in life
and inspired me to write many poems…
there is always life and an hope amidst all these…
I do believe that God is on our side
He alone can kill the tumor an
can restore back my health
as long as we continue to pray…
yes, we don’t give up praying to God
we continue believing in His mighty
and miraculous power to heal me
and all the sick people…
for only God makes all things possible."
...
God called him... they say, he died with the words "thank you" on his lips... i am sad... and grateful for his inspiring presence... (m.ü.)

Ordination of Sundeep Kumar Pulidindi, PIME

2011-07-29T22:55:00.001+08:00

Congratulations to Fr. Sundeep Kumar Pulidindi, PIME, DWST alumnus 2011 who will be ordained to the priesthood on August 6, 2011 in India.

DWST hosts theological symposium on Verbum Domini

2011-07-25T21:28:00.008+08:00

Tagaytay City—July 22, 2011—Last Friday marked the theological symposium entitled: “Verbum Domini: The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church,” hosted by the Divine Word Seminary—School of Theology (DWST) in cooperation with the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) and Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA). Around 300 participants came to listen to the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo who served as the keynote speaker of the said symposium.

The talk is basically an exposition of the latest Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini (VD) signed by Pope Benedict XVI on September 30, 2010 and made pubic only on November 11, 2011. Bishop Pabillo made his presentation simple yet substantial to guide us in reading the document.

From the start, he made it clear that the purpose of the document is “to renew the Church’s faith in the word of God (VD 27).” With this, he indicated that the focus of the document is not only the biblical text but the Word of God in general. He started with the theological point of view of the Word of God, with emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit from the process of inspiration to interpretation. Then he went on with the discussion on the relationship of the Word of God and the Church. He stresses that there is no dichotomy between the Church and the Word of God for the Church and her activities are deeply rooted in the Word of God. Special attention was given to liturgy and part of it is on the homily. Liturgy and the Word are related to each other in a way that it is in the liturgy that the Word becomes alive. In the same manner, it is in the homily that the ancient text is being actualized in the present. Lastly, he talked about the Word of God in the mission of the Church. The Church is called to spread the word of God to all humanity. This is founded in her nature as missionary – evangelizers of the world. And part of our evangelization are the elements of justice, care for the earth, involvement with our time and importance of culture. Bishop Pabillo ended his talk with the message of Pope Benedict XVI for the World Youth day in Madrid.

The event started with an opening liturgy followed by the welcome address of Fr. Alex Muana, SVD, Dean of Studies of DWST. Fr. Wilfredo Saniel, SVD, Rector of Divine Word Seminary concluded the symposium with his closing remarks.

Mark Ramos, SVD

Graduations 2011 and Start of School Year 2011-2012 at DWST

2011-07-22T00:27:00.002+08:00

"Beware of the Ides of March!" warns the soothsayer to Julius Caesar. In the seminary, the Ides of March (March 15) is always welcomed with both anxiety and excitement. Thus begin the final exams, comprehensive exams, submission of papers, revalida, graduations and, of course, the long summer vacation.

Academic Degrees

Last graduation day on March 26, 2011, the main celebrant at the baccalaureate mass was Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, an alumnus of DWST, and recently appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Legaspi. The keynote speaker was Ambassador Henrietta de Villa. The formal graduation ceremonies followed after the mass. The administration's representatives, Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD, Rector of DWST, and Fr. Alex Muana, SVD, the Dean of Studies, together with the main guest, Mrs. Tita de Villa, handed out the diplomas and awards to the graduating students.

Fourth Year Graduating Class

Mrs. Tita de Villa delivers her keynote address

Bishop Baylon at the Baccalaureate Mass

The were 22 graduates of the Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS); 39 of the Four-Year Ecclesiastical Course (18 obtained an STB diploma from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and 19 were awarded an MA in Theology in the non-thesis program). For the Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Theology, there were 52 graduates--meaning these students have completed the first two years of Ecclesiastical Course which the government recognizes as an AB civil degree.

Some CTS Graduating Students

Honors

For this academic year, there was no summa cum laude honor student for the Ecclesiastical Course (that means a student who has no academic marks lower than 90 and whose average grade is from 95 to 100), usually the most prestigious of the awards. Omi Intia from the Oblates of St. Joseph, however, was awarded the summa cum laude distinction for his M.A. in Theology Major in Pastoral Ministry (non-thesis).

Omi Intia, OSJ delivers the Valedictory Speech

ALAP Award

The Arnoldus Library Academic Paper (ALAP) Award, the very first one, was won by Mark Angelo Ramos, a SVD scholastic and first year theology student. His term paper was on “Recovering the Spirituality of the Pharisees of the First Century C.E.," a study of the beliefs and practices of practices of the Pharisees that reflect their relationship with God using not only the canonical Gospels but also Josephus, and the Mishnah. Its aim was to present the Pharisees in a wider historical context besides the often negative portrait of the evangelists and draw out the elements of their spirituality by which Christian theology and spirituality might be enriched.

ALAP Awardee Mark Ramos with Fr. Antolin Uy (most senior of the faculty)
Ms. Nica Lepalam (Chief Librarian);
at the back: Tita de Villa and Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD (Rector)

SVD-ALS Graduation

On March 25, 2011, the SVD-ALS also had its second graduation ceremonies at the Arnoldus Hall of Divine Word Seminary. There are around 40 learners who attended the daily modular sessions; 12 passed the Accreditation and Equivalency tests of the Department of Education. The "baccalaureate" mass was presided by no less than Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD, Provincial Superior; Ms. Ilsa Reyes of DZMM's Salitang Buhay was the keynote speaker. For more information about SVD-ALS, please click here.

SVD-ALS Graduation with Fr. Randy Flores, SVD

Start of Academic Year 2011-2012
DWST began the Academic Year on June 6, 2011. The traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on June 14 to open the school year was presided by Fr. Michael Sandalo, CRSP, Rector of St. Paul's Scholasticate (Barnabites). The academic convocation was held on June 27 with Fr. Stephen Gonzales, OSJ, who teaches Christology here, delivering this year's theological course--"Towards a Filipino Contextual Image of Christ." For the opening ceremonies of the CTS, please click here.

Fr. Mike at the Mass of the Holy Spirit

Fr. Stephen's theological discourse in powerpoint

SVD Diaconate Ordination
Eight SVD scholastics were ordained as deacons last June 25 at the Sacred Heart Hear Parish in Kamuning Quezon City. Ordaining prelate was Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao. The eight will be ordained priests on Dec 3, 2011.

New SVD Deacons
From left: John Mark Veloso, Sedfrey Nebres, Gilbert Razon; Reniel Nachimma
Bishop Ongtioco (ordaining prelate); John Paul Marquez, Peter Tran Vu, Louie Cris Gregorio,
and Sherwin Aromin

Numbers
There are 248 enrolled students of DWST--194 regular students; 54 CTS students. The total number of faculty members, both resident and non-resident, is 32.

At the liturgy to open the Certificate in Theological Studies SY 2011-2012

2011-06-11T23:30:00.004+08:00

Sharing of Ms. Bambi L. Gamban (CTS graduate 2011)

Sharing of Sister Teresa Valdez, RVM (CTS Graduate 2011)

Ukay-Ukay sa Tagaytay a Success

2011-05-23T08:30:00.000+08:00

Summer Garage Sale - Ukay Ukay sa Tagaytay

2011-05-07T07:20:00.001+08:00

A garage sale, Ukay Ukay sa Tagaytay, will be held on May 21-22, 2011 (Sat-Sun) at the Divine Word Seminary here in Tagaytay City for the benefit of the SVD-Alternative Learning System (ALS).

May 22 will be also the occasion for the SVD Perpetual Vows 2011.

By donating your used (but in good condition) items like shoes, bags, toys, home items, etc. you will help send out-of-school youth to the Alternative Learning System.

Drop off point is at the SVD. Just inform the guard it is for Ukay-Ukay ALS c/o Fr. Randy Flores, SVD.

For more info, please contact 0917-6284849.

To know more about the SVD-ALS, please click here.

RIP - Fr. Hermie Bacareza, SVD and Fr. Erasio Flores, SVD

2011-04-29T09:08:00.002+08:00

We mourn the death of Fr. Hermie Bacareza, SVD, 80 (d. April 23, 2011) and Fr. Erasio Flores, SVD, 78 (d. April 28, 2011). They were classmates in the seminary and even in death--God called them back almost at the same time. "The Lord has given; the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (from the prologue of the Book of Job).

Last 2009, with the other two former classmates--Fr. Dom Flores, SVD and Fr. Victor Bunanig, SVD--they celebrated together their golden jubilee in the priesthood with a mass at the place where they were ordained--Sacred Heart Parish in Kamuning Quezon City. Here's the homily of Fr. Dom Flores, SVD at that Eucharistic celebration.

Golden Jubilee Celebration Sermon

FRIENDS:

My classmates have unanimously designated me to give the sermon today in the name of us all. But don’t you worry; you’ll also have a chance to listen to each one of them later on at the end of the Mass.

Background of the Celebration
We would like to put in wider picture our celebration today, in the context of the SVD Centennial Celebration. Exactly one hundred years ago this year (1909-2009), the first two German Divine Word missionaries arrived in the Philippines to start a new mission in the Province of Abra. Throughout this year (2009), especially in the month of August, special celebrations took place in various parts of the country, especially in the Province of Abra, where the SVD was born, to commemorate the ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SVD PRESENCE in the Philippines.

Golden Jubilee Celebration
It is in this wider perspective that we would like to celebrate our Golden Jubilee today. Fifty years ago to this day, 18th October, also Mission Sunday then, four young men were ordained priests in this same church of the Sacred Heart parish, Kamuning. It was still a “baby” church then; but now this parish church like us has grown in age by fifty years, but has also grown in wisdom and grace. The ordaining prelate was the late Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Siino. I remember, being an Italian he spoke very fast. (In some parts only the angels could understand him). But he made us priests forever!

SVD Ordination 1959: from left - Erasio Flores, Dom Flores, Vic Bunanig, Hermie Bacareza

My brothers and sisters, these four young men are here now with us - all present and accounted for, but only because of the grace of God! Like soldiers coming home from battle, we may have been wounded or bruised, but we are still much alive; we may look tired but we are not yet retired; we may have been outnumbered by other ordination classes (only four), but we were never out-fought. We were young once and good looking once upon a time; but, well, see for your selves, we’re now looking good.

Mission Sunday
Since we were ordained on a Mission Sunday like today, we heard, loud and clear, the same challenging message of Christ addressing the four of us then in a very personal way: “Go and make disciples of all nations... Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...Teach them all that I told you... I’ll be with you always.” (Gospel)

Notice all the action verbs: “Go, make disciples, baptize, teach...” Christ urged us to go and do what we have to do. And so we went willingly and joyfully to all four corners of the globe

Golden jubilee mass, Oct 18, 2009, Sacred Heart Church, Kamuning, Quezon City

The first: Fr. Gene Bacareza: He was assigned to Germany. And so he went to his first love, the German people, with whom he ministered for 11 years. Later on he returned to the home mission where continued writing lot of books and earning academic degrees. To me he is THE PROFESSOR-SCHOLAR of our class.

The second is Fr. Vic Bunanig: He applied and was appointed to Indonesia, where he went soon after ordination. He’s still there ministering to the present time. The Indonesians are his first and last love. I asked him whether he is already thinking of coming home for good. He said that he has no plans. It’s because the Indonesians are his first and last love. To me he is THE MISSIONARY PAR EXCELLENCE of our class.

Our third is Fr. Erasio Flores. We are not related at all except in Christ. He first worked in San Jose, Mindoro after ordination. But soon the Superiors and confreres spotted him as good export material for Rome, Italy. They got him there and eventually he became one of the Councilors at our SVD Generalate. Later he also has had missionary stint in Spain and Germany. To me, Fr. Erasio is THE SERVANT-LEADER of our class.

The fourth is Fr. Dom Flores, that’s gracious me! I was ministering unobtrusively in the Philippines for my first 25 years as home missionary. Then suddenly, my superiors remembered me after my Silver Jubilee. The SVD Generalate of which Fr. Erasio was then a member, sent me to the South Pacific – to American Samoa. I was missionary there for ten years.

When our mission there was accomplished they transferred me to Australia. At first I didn’t want to go to Australia, but I finally accepted for three reasons: Australia is a multicultural country; a secular society; and fewer vocations (priests and religious). So, I’d like to call myself THE MISSIONARY DOWN UNDER of our class.

The Challenge of Mission Sunday to us all:
1. To the Youth who are here today and are listening: If you are looking for true happiness, don’t hesitate to follow Jesus. Join His missionary work! Follow your heart and don’t stifle his voice when you hear Him calling you today. He may not invite you again... Decide to follow Him now!
2. To Parents: Allow your sons or daughters to follow Jesus if they feel Jesus is calling them. Join the many parents who have offered children to God;
3. To EVERYONE: Be a missionary at home by studying what is Christ’s mission; Support the home or overseas mission with your material help. Above all, be in solidarity with the missionaries by praying for them.

Finally, we’d like to adopt the theme of the SVD Centennial Celebration as our very own: “WE REMEMBER, WE REJOICE, WE RENEW!” So as Ordination Class 1959, we shall always REMEMBER God’s goodness to us as His missionaries. We REJOICE in His faithfulness, though at times we may have been unfaithful. And we RENEW today our undying commitment to Him for the rest of our lives.

(Personal testimony): Recently I was asked by a group of young SVDs: “If you were given a choice today, would you still choose to become a priest? I said: “Yes, I would.” They repeated the question a second and a third time. And looking at their eyes, I said with all sincerity: “I would and I would still become a priest.” I’m sure the same holds true with my classmates today. So today we commit ourselves once again to Christ the King as His missionary priests for ever and ever.

Amen.

Arnoldus Library Academic Paper Award (ALAP Award)

2011-03-04T15:29:00.000+08:00

The Arnoldus Library is giving an award, the Arnoldus Library Academic Paper Award (ALAP Award). The ALAP Award comprises a plaque of recognition from Divine Word Seminary and a cash honorarium of P5,000.00 from an anonymous donor coursed through Fr. Dominador Flores, our SVD missionary in Australia.

The award will be presented at the Graduation Ceremonies on March 26, 2011 to the student who has written the best academic paper (term paper or synthesis paper) for the school year 2010-2011 as determined by an Award Committee chaired by Fr. Randolf Flores, SVD.

The aim of the award is both to reward excellence and to encourage students to write academic papers with high quality.

Who is eligible?
• A bona-fide student of Divine Word Seminary who has submitted his or her academic paper on time to the Dean’s Office and whose grade given by the moderator is not lower than 95%.
o The M.A. thesis is not covered by the ALAP Award.
o Academic paper means the annual term paper or the synthesis paper only.

Procedure:
• The chairperson of the board of judges will check over the academic papers submitted at the Dean’s Office. He will then select three potential winners from which the Award Committee will choose the best. The criteria of the short list would be:
o (1) the moderator’s grade
o (2) the form and style
             footnotes, bibliography, English, and the like
o (3) content
             the novelty of the study
             the use of sources
             the flow of the arguments
o (4) effective Conclusion
             not just a simple summary
             but an articulation of what the readers can learn from the paper.

What must the student do?
• To see to it that at the Dean’s Office his or her academic paper has been given a grade by the moderator.
• Deadline for the short list: March 21, 2011 before 5:00 p.m.

SVD-ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Test Passers for 2010

2011-02-18T11:39:00.004+08:00

SVD-ALS' visit of Jose Rizal's ancestral house

The result of the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Tests of the Department of Education is now released online. The tests were conducted last October 2010. We are happy to announce our SVD-ALS learners who passed the tests:

Elementary Level:
1. Aguilar, Liezel
2. Atlas, Liezel
3. Delos Santos, Vicky
4. Serwelas, Merry Grace

Secondary Level:
1. Aguilar, Lara Jean
2. Cerezo, Jhon Carl
3. Daguil, Charlene
4. Gornez, Jude Marcus
5. Improgo, Raiza Jhoana Pauline
6. Isla, Jan Carlo
7. Martinez, Miguelito
8. Sabidolas, Sheralyn

As in the past year, we have a 100% passing rate for the elementary level (4 out of 4). For the high school this year, out of the 22 learners who took the tests, 8 passed (8 out of 22 or 36.36%). For this year then, there are 12 passers or 46.15%. Last year, there were 9 passers out of 46 takers or 19.56%. We did a lot better this time, on its second year of SVD-ALS. We hope to raise the passing rate to 50% next examination in October 2011.

Out of the 9 learners who passed last year’s tests, 7 are now in college as scholars of the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation through the initiative of Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD. We hope to send all of this year’s 8 high school level passers to college. The Pepsi Cola Plant in Muntinlupa, through its HR manager, Atty Allan Montealegre (former SVD novice), is also offering a work and study program for our ALS passers.

For the rest of the learners—there are 129 registered, around 40 of them attend the daily modules—we shall continue to prepare them for the tests and at the same time assist them in livelihood training programs. With financial assistance of the Pondo ng Pinoy foundation, SVD-ALS has a basic computer literacy program; and with the invitation of the Ming Ramos Foundation, some learners attend massage therapy trainings at the DAP-Tagaytay.

The graduation ceremony will be held on March 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Arnoldus Hall, Divine Word Seminary.

At this point, we would like to thank our generous benefactors and supporters for a successful ALS year:

1. Divine Word Seminary, through its Rector, Fr. Fred Saniel SVD, for lending the former Arnodus Dispensary building as the SVD-ALS center;

2. Philippinische Gottesdienst Gemeinde in Vienna, Austria through the initiative of Fr. Rosendo Sandoval, SVD whose donation paid the salaries and benefits (SSS) of the three teachers for this year;

3. Pondo ng Pinoy Foundation with the support of Bishop Chito Tagle and the Diocese of Imus for the Basic Computer Literacy Program;

4. Saint Jude Catholic School for their outreach youth training programs and school supplies;

5. Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation, through its head, Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD for the supervision and partnership;

6. Miss Bambi Gamban, a CTS student, for the handling the Basic Computer Literacy program, computer units, and guitars;

7. Mr. and Mrs. Jess Cue for supporting the bookmark project;
8. Miss Cristina Pahilan for assisting in the beekeeping project;

9. Mr. Paul and Mrs. Thelma Mauricio for the financial assistance, computer units and computer chairs;

10. Ms. Heddy Lee for the Christmas gatherings;

11. The SVD Sunday Group and Fr. Raul Caga, SVD for sponsoring the educational trip;

12. Mr. Byron and Mrs. Nini Carbon; Ms. Seni Basilio for the guitars;

13. Saint Jude Parish for school supplies;

14. Aida and Joanna Lou Velarde for school supplies;

15. Atty Yolly Doblon for financial assistance;

16. CTS alumni through Dr. Marita Guevarra for financial assistance;

17. SVD scholastics for the spiritual and moral support;

18. Divine Word School of Theology Students’Association (DWSTSA) for livelihood project;

19. Sandiwaan Center through Fr. Ben Beltran, SVD for the computer units;

20. Fr. Ed Fugoso, SVD for financial assistance.

There are more unnamed supporters of SVD-ALS, may God doubly bless them.

May God be blessed trough the SVD-ALS and may he reward your generosity (2 Cor 9:7).

With the SVD-ALS learners,

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD – Site coordinator
Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD – Treasurer
Ms. Olive Tolentino – Instructional Manager (IM)
Ms. Perla Costa – IM Aide
Ms. Ritchelle Razon – IM Aide

Please click here to know more about SVD-ALS

If you want to join the SVD-ALS support group, please write to Fr. Randy Flores, SVD email addresss: rrandy33@yahoo.com

Canon Law Forum for the Laity

2011-01-16T15:32:00.003+08:00

The graduates of Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS), the Saturday program for the lay at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City will conduct a Forum on Canon Law entitled “Batas ng Simbahan Para sa mga Layko” (Canon Law for the Laity).

The aim of the said forum is to offer to the laity the opportunity to know the canonical-pastoral issues facing the contemporary Church i.e., marriage; their rights and obligations; and their role in the Church.

Two of the leading Canon lawyers in the country have earlier agreed to be the resource speakers for the Forum: (1) Father Adolfo Dacanay, SJ, professor of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University, a judge in the ecclesiastical tribunals of Manila and Lucena, and author of Canon Law and Marriage (Ateneo de Manila Press, 2000) and Sacraments of Initiation (Anvil, 2006); and (2) Father Jerome Marquez, SVD, professor of Canon Law at the Divine Word Seminary and San Carlos Seminary, defender of the Bond at the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of CBCP and director at Saint Jude Catholic School in Manila.

The Forum will be held on 22 January 2011 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the chapel of Divine Word Seminary. There will be a minimal registration fee of only One Hundred Pesos (PHP100.00).

For more information, please send a text message to mobile number 09182977004 or please call (046) 4716951.

For the Certificate in Theological Studies program of Divine Word Seminary, please click visit www.ctstagaytay.blogspot.com

Doctor Marita Panganiban-Guevarra, M.D. is the over-all coordinator of the Forum; Father Randy Flores, SVD acts as the adviser.

Fiesta of Hesus Nazareno Parish, Dasmarinas, Cavite

2011-01-10T16:00:00.001+08:00

TV5 News clip of the Procession - January 9, 2011

For this year's fiesta, which was on a Sunday, the 6:30am mass was celebrated by Bishop Chito Tagle; the 8:30am mass became the fiesta mass with the SVDs--Fr. Nielo Cantilado was the main celebrant and Fr. Lino Nicasio preached the homily.Concelebrating were Frs. Jerome Marquez and Randy Flores who were the pioneers of Hesus Nazareno-Dasma; two Chinese students Frs. Wang and Wang; Fr. Kit Ramirez, the assistant parish priest, and Fr. Manny Mijares, one of the newly ordained SVDs who helps in the parish during week-ends.

Homily of Fr. Linus Nicasio, SVD


Bisperas, the night before the Fiesta. Dasmarinas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga gives her inspiration speech at the Dance Contest for youth sponsored by the ALS under Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation dubbed as ALSayawan

Miss Laila "Chikadora", special guest, with SVD-ALS learners


Before the Fiesta Mass. Mrs. Teresita "Inday Jaca" (front left), one of the first contacts of the SVDs with Fr. Linus and lectors , Baby and Mila. At the back, Fr. Jerome, Fr. Nielo and Fr. Ed (parish priest)


At the Our Father. The church has a 2,000 seating capacity


The image of the Black Nazarene

At the procession

The following is an article on the history of the parish written last year for the SVD Centennial Book

The Mission History of Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno
in Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan, Cavite
Fr. Randolf C. Flores, SVD
21 April 2009

Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno (Church of Jesus, the Nazarene) is, at present, the only SVD parish in the Diocese of Imus (Cavite). It began as a pastoral center on Holy Week of 2001 under the care of the Parish of the Risen Christ in Bulihan (Silang, Cavite)—at that time still administered by the SVD but was turned over to the Diocese in 2003. Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and Fr. Randolf “Randy” Flores, SVD, who were teaching Canon Law and Bible respectively at Divine Word Seminary, volunteered to run the pastoral center which, after three years (9 January 2004), became a quasi-parish with the former as the first parish priest (until 2005).

The Beginnings

The establishment of the Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno, although a result of careful planning and the effort of people of goodwill, was also providential—as one that was “guided by the Spirit” (cf. Gal 5:25). Since the SVD Philippine Central Province was turning over the parish in Bulihan, a former resettlement area, to the diocesan clergy, there was a suggestion from the Vicariate of Immaculate Conception, one of the five vicariates of the Diocese to which Bulihan belonged, for the SVDs to do community organizing in another resettlement area, the Bautista Property located at Barangay Sampaloc IV, in Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan (DBB, Cavite). In the mid-80s, informal settlers from Metro Manila including those from NAIA, Legarda, and MIA Road were relocated to Bautista Property. Statistics showed that there were close to 40,000 relocatees, 60% of whom were children in this 33 hectare relocation area. The diocesan clergy had noticed the growing number of the population, the increasing demands for sacramental services of a priest, the worsening situation of peace and order, the illegal drug problem, and the poverty of the place—the main source of livelihood was doormat making.

Negotiations began towards the end of the year 2000—between the late Fr. Joel Maribao, SVD, then the provincial and Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas, then the bishop of Imus; between Fr. Restituto “Resty” Lumanlan, SVD, then the parish priest of Bulihan and Mr. Ed Pamintuan, former general manager of the government’s National Housing Authority (NHA). The government through the NHA owned the 7,512 sq. m. and the abandoned garment factory located at Barangay Luzviminda Dos which Fr. Resty had judged as the best site for a church building, a convent, an SVD mission center, and a school in the future.

In the meantime, Fathers Jerome and Randy, with two SVD scholastics—Alan Leus and Bernard Sabijon— started to live in a rented house in a nearby subdivision, Bahay Pangarap, in March 2001 in time for the Holy Week preparations. They were assisted by Mrs. Teresita “Inday” Jaca, the lay leader of that place, and Miss Ivy Jaca, her daughter—they were the first contacts of the SVDs.

The pioneer group was supported by Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City headed by Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD, then the rector. The support ranged from providing household needs like cabinets and beds to the use of vehicles. Likewise, Miss May Cristobal of Pasay, a friend of the group, gave the initial fund to pay the rent and food for the first two months while the SVD District of Manila provided the monthly missionary allowance.

After the summer break of 2001, the group decided to move to Bautista Property, to live closer to the relocatees. With Mrs. Ana Tapanan and Arjay Venus—a working student then and now an SVD scholastic—as house helpers, they rented a house in Zone which served both as a residence and a pastoral center and named it, "Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Center." Masses, baptisms, weddings, formation talks, and meetings were conducted at the center. It became a "house church" (cf. Acts 1: 13).

In 11 August 2001, the first Basic Bible Seminar was held in the small chapel of City Homes Subdivision. Fathers Randy and Jerome were assisted in facilitating the seminar by SVD scholastics who were doing their week-end apostolate in Bautista. Three of them are now ordained missionaries of the SVD—Fr. Ferdinand “Ferds” Resuena (now in East Timor), Fr. Ruel “Dudz” Lero and Fr. Alvin Jayma, both are working in the SVD Philippine Southern Province. The SVD scholastics also began to form a youth group, a youth choir, and helped in organizing the BECs which was headed then by Mrs. Gemma Patricio.

Also around this month, the Caburlotto Sisters near Tagaytay City, through the initiative of their superior Sr. Idangela del Ben, sent Sr. Leah Salaga nd Sr. Shirley Vidal to the center to assist the volunteer catechists and eventually to run the catechetical program of the center which their sisters still do until now. The first group of catechists consisted of the two sisters, Mrs. Marina Lopez, Mrs. Erly Navera, and Soledad Brimbuela; and Fathers Jerome and Randy who taught elementary pupils at the public school of Bautista and at the City Homes Academy respectively.

In the same month (13 August 2001), Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation, Inc. was created to assist the operation of the Center, especially the acquisition of the land and the support of the livelihood programs. Led by Ms. Victoria Amalingan of the SC Vizcarra company and with the valuable assistance of two sisters who are SVD friends—Ms. May Cristobal and Ms. Fe Cristobal—the Foundation was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 7 Nov. 2001.

The following year, the Center, through the financial support of Mr. Edwin Ty, opened its doors to the out-of-school children and youth and non-literate adults. Sagip Dunong (“Save Knowledge”), a non-formal education or Alternative Learning System duly accredited by the Department of Education was established.

Communities of the SVD Pastoral Center

Apart from Bautista Property and Bahay Pangarap, two more subdivisions were under the SVD pastoral center—City Homes and University Hills. Later on, Saulog, Sitio Talisayan and the whole territory of Barangays Luzviminda Dos and Sampaloc IV were included. Then parish priests of these areas—Fr. Ted Villanueva of the Sacred Heart Parish in Area C where Bautista Property belonged and Fr. Fr. Sharkey Brown of the Mabuting Pastol Parish in Pala-Pala where the rest belonged— willingly allowed the SVDs to do community organizing through basic ecclesial communities (BEC), conduct liturgical services, Bible seminars and Bible sharings.

Since there was no church building yet, liturgical celebrations were done in different places—in the basketball court and club house of Bahay Pangarap, in the small chapels of City Homes and University Hill, in the nursery centers and streets of Bautista, and most of the time under a borrowed tent (cf. Exodus 40:2) in front of the abandoned garment factory being negotiated with the government to turn it to a multipurpose center which would house the church and the convent. In fact, it was under this tent that the first mass was celebrated in 9 January 2002 by the just installed bishop of Imus, Bishop Chito Tagle—it was the feast of Poong Hesus Nazareno (Jesus, the Nazarene). When Bishop Tagle would raise the pastoral center to a quasi-parish in 2004, the community decided to name the new parish, Simbahang Hesus Nazareno (and in that church and in that same year, the same bishop would ordain to the priesthood four SVD deacons).

Mrs. Yolly Cayabyab, Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Cora Garcia, Mrs. Gemma Patricio from Bautista Property; Mrs. Inday Jaca and Miss Lita Uko from Bahay Pangarap; Mrs. Nida Serdeña, Mrs. Bella Angeles, and Mr. Ceferino “Fering” Lopez from City Homes; Mrs. Erly Navera from University Hills; and Mrs. Salvacion “Ning” Engojo from Saulog, were the early contacts and lay leaders of the communities belonging to the SVD pastoral center.

From Garments Factory to Church Building

The meetings between the representatives of the SVD and NHA bore fruit. The latter allowed the use of the land and of one of the abandoned garments factories (called “MODAS”) in Luzviminda Dos which Fr. Resty, the main negotiator from the SVD side, saw it as a “very strategic site” (it sits today near a major road where jeepneys ply from Brgy Paliparan to the town of Dasmariñas passing through De La Salle University, the biggest academic institution in the province of Cavite).

A problem, however, arose. Former members of the labor union who had worked in the old factory claimed ownership of the scrap inside the building as their union’s share when the factory closed down in 1994. Representatives of both side sat down to solve the matter---Miss Lita Ukol, Fathers Jerome and Randy, Mr. Fering Lopez, and Mrs. Yolly Cayabyab from the church’s side; Mr. Dominador “Doming” Aganan (labor union leader) and Mr. Ronnie Abayon (barangay chairman of Luzviminda Dos) from the labor union’s side. Negotiations and meetings were mediated and facilitated by Mayor Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga, then the Dasmariñas mayor (now congressman) and Mr. Romeo Joson (barangay chairman of Sampaloc IV). The final deal was for the pastoral center to pay P60,000 in cash to the union members which was the value of the metal scrap inside the building. That deal was signed by both parties inside the mayor’s office. The community then conducted fund-raising activities especially asking the families to give monetary donations in the masses for their dead on All Saints Day. The Pink Sisters of Tagaytay, through their superior Sr. Josanne Bautista, donated 50% of the amount. Thus, on 7 March 2002, after blessings and prayers were said, future members of the Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno, entered triumphantly the old factory—the new “God’s house.”

The Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno Today
Today, the parish runs the following ministries:
• Liturgical Committee (Lay Ministers; Lectors and Commentators; Ushers; Altar Boys; Choirs; Liturgical Arts; Apostleship of Prayer; and Maintenance)
• B.E.C. Organizing
• Basic Bible Seminars
• Livelihood Program (Microfinance System)
• Family Life Ministry under the Family Renewal Movement and El-Shaddai
• Youth Ministry
• Catechism for Children c/o Caburlotto Sisters and Volunteer Catechists
• Formation
• Health
• Environmental Concerns

The second and the present parish priest is Fr. Edilberto Orpilla, SVD (2005- ) whose assistant was Fr. Jose “Joey” Guinto, SVD (2005-2008) and now Fr. Christopher “Kit” Ramirez, SVD (2008-).

Only eight years old but the Simbahan ng Hesus Nazareno has touched many lives. Indeed, it is trying to live the SVD “Prophetic Dialogue” as it fulfills the vision of the Diocese of Imus—“A community that is God-oriented and therefore oriented to neighbor, life, society and creation.”

Simbang Gabi 2010: Homilies from Divine Word Seminary

2010-12-11T19:56:00.004+08:00

photo credit: Ms. Cris Pahilan

Here is the link to the homilies which you may use for preaching and meditation for Simbang Gabi 2010. This is a yearly service, free of charge, from Divine Word School of Theology (Tagaytay City). Most of the writers for this year's collection are students of the course on Wisdom Literature under Fr. Randy Flores, SVD (third year Theology students). We thank Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD for pushing this project to come out every year, even if it is only an online service. (but downloadable in pdf format).

Click on Simbang Gabi 2010 Homilies

Click on Simbang Gabi Homilies Collection (past years).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Fr. Randy Flores, SVD

8:00 in the evening --
Schedule of Simbang Gabi Masses at the Chapel of Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City.

SVD Location Map

046-4131253 for more info.

SVD Philippines - Ordination 2010

2010-12-04T21:56:00.001+08:00

This morning even if windy and damp in Tagaytay City we witnessed the ordination to the priesthood of five young SVD missionaries: (1) Fr. Joey Ruega who was born in the province of Abra; Fr. Tups Marqueses from Legaspi City; Fr. Manny Mijares, first SVD from Masbate; Fr. Garry Bacol from Bohol province and John Wang (Wang Peng Fei) from Mainland, China. Two of them received a foreign mission assignment--Fr. Bacol to Argentina and Father Wang to Kenya.

Around 60 priests, 100 SVD seminarians and brothers, and 400 visitors prayed in the chapel of Divine Word Seminary with Bishop Ben Famadico of the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon province, the ordaining prelate. The bishop is an alumnus of the seminary and in his homily he spoke about his own trial in the seminary--the death of his father followed by a thought of leaving the seminary to help his family. It was the late Fr. Franz Josef Fetzer, SVD then the parish priest of Roxas, Occidental Mindoro, the Bishop's birthplace, who encouraged him to remain in the seminary by narrating to him a personal story of his vocation. The bishop remembered very well the last words of Fr. Fetzer which the former also left as words of encouragement to the young men about to be ordained: "Ben, God will not abandon you. God will always provide."

The happy event, however, was marked with a sad news-- the death of Mr. Emmanuel Venus, the father of Frt. Arjay Venus, one of our SVD scholastics. Frater Arjay (from Bautista in Dasmarinas, Cavite) was the ordination's food coordinator and thus was doing his task as his father lay dying in hospital.

R.I.P. Father Wilhelm van Kuijk, SVD (1911-2010)

2010-12-03T15:18:00.002+08:00

Father van Kuijk, SVD succumbed to pneumonia yesterday at around 2:00 pm. He was 99 years old. He will be buried at Christ the King Seminary Cemetery on December 6, 2010 preceded by a mass at 3:00 pm.

Father van Kuijk was one of the recipients of the first SVD Mission Awards held last January at Saint Jude Catholic School. Click on the image for the citation.

Benedict XVI, Light of the World

2010-11-26T11:08:00.001+08:00

We have now the electronic copy of the just-off-the press book (interview) of Benedict XVI wherein his remarks on condom and resignation are generating discussions. On Nov. 30 from 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm at the Arnoldus Hall (Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City), there will a be forum on RH Bill with Dr. Ligaya Acosta with reaction from Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (Moral Theology, Alfonsianum). The organizer is Tagaytay Religious Association.

Randy Flores, SVD
TRA Chairperson

Forum on Human Life vs. RH Bill

2010-11-20T11:14:00.000+08:00

Forum on Discipleship and Friendship in the Gospel of John

2010-11-05T09:25:00.000+08:00

Forum on "Discipleship and Friendship in the Gospel of John" is being organized by the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines and the Diocese of Imus. It will be held at Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City on November 13, 2010. Please click on the image for the invitation.

For further details, contact Father Gilbert Urubio, email:
likasbebet@yahoo.com

or Miner Generalao of the Philippine Daily Inquirer - email:
may_neer@yahoo.com

Concert missionary, Fr. Raul Caga, SVD, featured in Philippine Daily Inquirer

2010-10-29T21:56:00.000+08:00

RIP Father Steve Baumbusch, rector of PIME Tagaytay

2010-10-29T21:16:00.004+08:00

We received the sad news this morning that PIME's rector Father Steve Baumbusch drowned in the sea of Lubang Island (Occidental Mindoro). Requiescat in pace; our condolences to his family and to the PIME community.

The edited video is part of the homily of the late Fr. Steve to the academic community of Divine Word Seminary at the opening mass for this school year (date June 16, 2010.

PIME stands for Pontificio Istituto Missione Estere (Italian: Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) and their seminarians study at Divine Word Seminary (Tagaytay).

Profile of Father Baumbusch from the PIME website:

Fr. Steve Baumbusch was born in Columbus, Ohio. He is a graduate of the former PIME Saints Peter and Paul High School Seminary in Newark, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Detroit, and studied theology at the ...Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Following his ordination in 1983, he spent six years as a teacher and dean at Sts. Peter and Paul High School Seminary. In 1989, he began a six-year stint as PIME US Regional Superior at the regional headquarters in Detroit. During his tenure as Regional Superior, he initiated the formation of the PIME mission in Cuanacaxtitlan, Mexico, among the native Mixtec Indians, PIME's first mission in Mexico. From 1995-1998, he served as Formation Director for PIME's college seminarians in Detroit. In August 1998, Father Steve left the United States and was assigned to the Philippines (Columbio, Sultan Kudarat).

Inspired by the Gospel of Luke: The Socio-Political Condition of Tagaytay City

2010-10-04T00:32:00.000+08:00

"Action in behalf of justice is to be pursued as a sign of Christian witnessing to Christ and His teachings." - PCP II.

Just sharing to you what we are doing at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City (Philippines) when we study the Synoptic Gospels, especially Luke, this liturgical year's Gospel.

Please find time to click on all the links contained in the link below.

Inspired by the Gospel of Luke: The Socio-Political Condition of Tagaytay City

Thanks to Sister Teresita, FMM who provided these and other clippings

Divine Word Seminary at the "We Renew" Recollection

2010-09-10T21:47:00.000+08:00

Taken at the end of the Holy Hour with the community of Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City singing a hymn to the Blessed Mother. Occasion is the recollection with the theme "We Renew"' - to solemnly conclude the Phil SVD centennial celebration. Holy Hour "reflectionist" is Fr. Ronnie Crisostomo, SVD who ended his sharing with a paraphrase from Lao Tzu "From wonder into wonder our mission begins." (original quote: "From wonder into wonder existence opens").

9:00 AM - New Schedule of Sunday Mass at Divine Word Seminary

2010-09-03T10:34:00.001+08:00

Beginning on Sunday, September 5, 2010, mass/Eucharist at Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City will start at 9:00 am instead of 8:00 am to accommodate more week-enders coming from outside Tagaytay.

Tagaytay Religious Association's open letter to former President Fidel V. Ramos

2010-08-20T18:14:00.001+08:00

Here's my letter to former president Fidel V. Ramos as a public reply to his series of articles on the socio-political and environmental condition of Tagaytay City. Please click here to read online or scroll down.

On Sunday (22 August 2010), the Tagaytay Religious Association will have an assembly to discuss the matter. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Tagaytay Religious Association

(Founded in 1971; in partnership with Tagaytay Ministerial Fellowship

and other Christian Churches in Tagaytay since 2010)

Office Address:
Divine Word Seminary,
SVD Road,
4120 Tagaytay City
Tel no. 046-413125
Fax no. 046-4131251

August 20, 2010

Dear Former President Fidel V. Ramos,

Shalom!

When I read your and Miss Jullie Yap Daza’s articles on Tagaytay City in the Manila Bulletin, I blessed the Lord for, at last, the socio-political and environmental condition of our city was brought into public eye—by no less than two respected figures of our country—a former president, one of the best we ever had; and a well-known journalist and award-winning television talk show host.

Tagaytay indeed is an “incomparable God-given asset” as you said. Even more so because, in this small city, it is home to a hundred religious houses (Catholic) and Christian churches. If it is not for our conscience and Christian calling, we can choose to live comfortably inside the walls of our convents and churches and just close our eyes to what we ourselves also witness as “Tagaytay’s deterioration” and numb our ears to the silent cries and hushed laments of the people around us. But we cannot. The proclamation of the Word of God to which we committed ourselves includes, to quote a document of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), “the condemnation of injustice and of those elements in a society which are against the will of God."

“What are you, religious and Christian churches, doing in Tagaytay?” This is the kind of question that we usually receive from visitors who frequent Tagaytay and observe its “deterioration.” A month before the last elections, the Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) consisting of 70 Catholic religious houses and the Tagaytay Ministerial Fellowship (TMF) with 26 Christian churches had worked together to host a candidates forum aimed to discuss in a civilized way the condition of our city [www.tagaytayforum.blogspot.com]. The incumbent mayor who was then running for re-election chose to absent himself from the forum and, in a letter he distributed to each religious house, accused me, its head organizer, of being “an ardent supporter and campaigner of the Opposition in Tagaytay City as early as 2004 [sic] and a constant detractor of the Tolentino Administration even in his church homilies” (please see the attached file for a copy of his letter).

“Sustainable development and continuous good governance,” as you wrote, “are the responsibility of government.” But you have also pointed out that “the leaders of the business sector, the religious, academics, and the marginalized should be encouraged/included as stakeholders in actualizing above goals without fear of being branded as ‘enemies’”. It is so encouraging to ‘hear’ from you that “whenever there are differences in opinion—if people’s interests are met—ordinary Filipinos should speak out freely in the spirit of community-building without fear of reprisals” [emphases mine]

Thank you, FVR!

Sincerely,

Fr. Randolf C. Flores, SVD
President of the Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA)
Divine Word Seminary, 4120 Tagaytay City
E-mail address: rrandy33@yahoo.com

Blogs:
Divine Word Seminary - www.divineworseminary.blogspot.com
Tagaytay Candidates Forum www.tagaytayforum.blogspot.com

Attached files:
List of members of Tagaytay Religious Association and Tagaytay Ministerial Fellowship
Letter of Mayor Abraham Tolentino

Legend of FT

2010-08-17T01:07:00.003+08:00

Medium Rare
Legend of FT
By JULLIE Y. DAZA
August 9, 2010, 4:46pm

KUDOS! Hurray! Cheers! Salamat!

Former President FVR has spoken up, asking P’Noy to “do something to reverse Tagaytay’s deterioration.”

As one who grew up loving Tagaytay for its garden-like weather and springtime air, I am outraged that the good people of that once many-splendored place kissed by the mist and beloved of the moon have not expressed their outrage over the promotion of their ex-mayor to MMDA chairman. Was it coincidence that during the nine years that Francis Tolentino was mayor, the city’s charm faded, allowing a honky-tonk to squat across a convent and a Palace in the Sky to be turned into a dump?

According to an urban legend of the time, the First Lady was so incensed when she noticed that the initials FT were emblazoned in metal and other materials everywhere on public property. Angered by the ubiquitous display of one man’s vanity, arrogance and abuse of authority, she summoned the mayor to explain.

“What are your initials doing all over Tagaytay, FT?” she demanded to know.

“Oh,” FT replied, “but those are not my initials.”

“No? So what do they mean?”

FT replied, “Forward, Tagaytay!”

Two Tagaytay mayors and their cohorts

2010-08-16T20:26:00.000+08:00

Two Tagaytay mayors and their cohorts
By Former President Fidel V. Ramos
Last of Two Parts
Manila Bulletin
August 14, 2010, 8:02pm

The more one delves into the present condition of Tagaytay – our God-given eco-tourism crown jewel – the more is unearthed about its continuing environmental degradation, abuse of peoples’ rights by City Hall, and overall decline – all under the continuous administration of brother-Mayors Francis Tolentino (1995-2004) and Abraham Tolentino (2004 to date).

The above-mentioned observations of eminent journalist Jullie Yap Daza cannot be ignored as these come from one who knows and is deeply concerned about our future. Probably not known, however, to accountable Cabinet members, much less President Benigno Simeon Aquino III himself, is that Tagaytay – the only world-class tourist destination within easy driving distance from Metro Manila and Calabarzon – has deteriorated into an ecological fiasco and center of unbridled dynastism.

The DENR, DILG, DoT, DPWH, DoST and DepEd secretaries, and Chief PNP, among other government agency heads, should now take a good look at Tagaytay – beyond the usual elite tourist spots, classy golf courses, and fine-dining restaurants – and do a quick visit of the public places that common people frequent.

To discover the reality, one should also check out the commercial-educational areas around the Ninoy Aquino rotonda, Picnic Grove, Mahogany Public Market, People’s Park in the Sky (PPIS), garbage dumpsites along the slopes down to Taal Lake, squatter colonies, etc.

Tagaytay 2004 Letter of Undertaking

In January, 2004, the top Tagaytay elected officials – Mayor Francis Tolentino, Vice Mayor Virgilio Ambion (City Council Presiding Officer), and First Councilor (now Mayor) Abraham Tolentino – committed to the people of Tagaytay to undertake and guarantee its sustainable development/enhancement in accordance with United Nations standards.

These undertakings are embodied in their Letter of Undertaking based on various international covenants, Philippine laws (specifically RA 7623 – July 1992, and RA 8425 – June 1998), Executive Orders (EO 84, s–93; EO 296, s–96; and EO 412, s–97), and Presidential Proclamations (PP 740, s-96 and PP 906, s–96). The LOU resulted from dialogues/consultations at that time with civil society leaders, environmentalists, and sectoral representatives.

Anchored on and within these parameters, said LOU committed the City of Tagaytay, being signatory to the “UN Earth Charter” and the “Local Government Declaration at the World Summit on Sustainable Development” in Johannesburg, to:

* Continuously sustain the environment... through sound policies, to pursue economic growth without sacrificing its ecological environment.

* Practice good governance... to reduce poverty in all forms. The “Tagaytay City Action Plan on Poverty Reduction through Good Governance” addresses the economic/social/environmental/political dimensions of poverty, based on the “Minimum Basic Needs Approach” of the “Social Reform Agenda” (RA 8425), and the guidance of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

* Capitalize on its tourism potential... with private sector-led initiatives to ensure growth thru Eco-Tourism. Accordingly, its officials should make sure Tagaytay does not stumble into the pitfall of promoting tourism while, in the process, neglecting its ecological quality and imposing heavy tolls on the environment.

* Strictly adhere to Proclamation No. 740 (s–1996)... to preserve the ecological balance within the one-kilometer-radius area around the People’s Park in the Sky.

Philippine cities, as a whole, have been in the forefront of above refocusing of development strategies. For one, Tagaytay City has numerous partnerships with international organizations intended to spur growth/ progress within the bounds of sustainability. Principal among these are: World Bank’s “Up-Scaling Poverty-Focused City Development Strategies,” “UN Habitat and Cities Alliance,” and UNEP’s Management Systems.

Contrary actions to Promises/Covenants Galore

So far, in spite of such an array of covenants, LOUs, and promises undertaken by two Tolentino administrations, only contrary, self-serving actions have taken place in Tagaytay. All its “City Development” undertakings, which are both processes and products, are supposed to engage its officials and stakeholders in a long-term vision of sustainably clean and attractive habitats/workplaces/destinations.

These are all presumed to maximize the comparative advantages of Tagaytay's future livability, competitiveness, and bankability.

The “Good Urban Governance Campaign,” on the other hand, is designed to operate within the universally accepted norms of good urban governance, namely: Efficiency, Security, Equity, Transparency, Accountability, Civic Engagement, Citizenship, Decentralization, and Subsidiarity.

Under the “Clean Cities Center Project,” where Tagaytay officials promised to focus on hotels, restaurants, and other tourism destinations, key agencies/staff of Tagaytay City were to be trained to apply waste minimization and cleaner pollution prevention techniques – not only among its commercial and religious institutions but within City Hall itself.

Contrariwise, what has happened in the past 12 years was the creeping but steady forcing out of dedicated officials and law-abiding investors – to the political/economic advantage of the ruling family dynasty.

More unfulfilled undertakings

Other promises of the Tolentino administrations which have not been fulfilled are:

* Strengthen the City Development Council... as a vehicle for multi-partnership to strictly implement Land Use and Zoning Ordinances. The CDC helps ensure that poverty reduction programs, projects, and activities are integrated in local development/investment plans.

* Reactivate the Tagaytay City Advisory Council... as civil society multi-sectoral component to the CDC to actualize people’s participation/empowerment thru public service cooperation.

* Improve recycling, composting, and other waste minimization programs... in accordance with existing laws/regulations, to include mandates in UNEP programs and “Clean Cities Waste Minimization Strategies.”

* Recognize the existing water resource policies of the Tagaytay City Water District... to continue existing programs adopted by the TCWD Board, vis-a-vis the need for incumbent TCWD officials to be given sufficient time to implement necessary programs, thereby ensuring continuity/sustainability.

What the record of the unbroken years under two Tolentino brother-mayors reveals is the imposition of a culture of impunity – reminiscent of the PGMA era in the ARMM.

Again, we say: Take a hard look at the track records of these two dynastic families (Tolentino-Ampatuan) and see their similarities/ parallelisms.

Binges of self-aggrandizement; another Maguindanao?

Instead of implementing the glowing promises cited above, the Tagaytay government engaged in binges of self-aggrandizement, denudation of forests and hill slopes to give way to property acquisitions, depletion of water resources, and abusive local governance.

Is Tagaytay (and its environs) destined to become another Maguindanao? Are the Tolentinos the Cavite twins of the Ampatuans?

As a frequent visitor-regular taxpayer of Tagaytay, FVR has this to say:

(1) Paramount above all in the strategic development of the entire Tagaytay-Taal area was, and continues to be, the preservation/ enhancement of its unique environment/eco-system – an incomparable combination of land, sea, and sky that is easily within reach to all of us – Filipinos and foreigners, the youth and elderly, the rich and poor alike.

No similar natural God-given cluster of beautiful landscapes exists on earth – except perhaps Mt. Everest in the Himalayas – which according to our First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition, we know to be inaccessible.

(2) At the very top of the whole breathtaking Tagaytay-Taal area is the ‘People’s Park in the Sky’ from where one can see four large bodies of water and the majestic presence of Mts. Makiling and Banahaw. For ordinary Filipinos who cannot afford an exclusive vantage point like the SM Highlands – particularly provincianos from Mindanao, the Visayas, Bicol region, and Northern Luzon – a visit to PPIS is a memorable once-in-a-lifetime treat.

It is, in one package, a place for enjoyment, reflection, thanksgiving, renewal, bonding, and inhaling fresh air.

(3) Only token adherence has taken place the Letter of Undertaking in the City Government’s public pronouncements, media releases, executive orders, and legislative ordinances/resolutions. Certain actions for public consumption are made for purposes of just paying lip service to these commitments. Such attitudes by Tagaytay’s officials are not acceptable because they amount to criminal negligence.

(4) Sustainable development and continuous good governance are the responsibility of government. But, since government cannot do these vital goals by itself, the leaders of the private business sector, the religious, academics, and the marginalized should be encouraged/included as stakeholders in actualizing above goals without fear of being branded as “enemies.” Whenever there are differences in opinion – if people’s interests are not met – ordinary Filipinos should speak out freely in the spirit of community-building without fear of reprisals.

Time again for a presidential commission

To save Tagaytay-Taal, it is time again for a Presidential Inter-Agency Task Force/Commission to:

(1) Facilitate investigation of the official complaints and prosecution of those who deserve to be prosecuted according to law.

(2) Restore and guarantee Tagaytay-Taal’s sustainable development.

Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org.

Can’t P-Noy do something to reverse Tagaytay’s deterioration?

2010-08-09T05:42:00.000+08:00

by Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos
Manila Bulletin
First of Two Parts
August 7, 2010, 7:32pm

President Aquino III’s appointment of former Tagaytay Mayor Francis Tolentino as MMDA Chairman has created waves of protests from responsible Tagaytayans – concerned residents, taxpayers, voters, and tourists/visitors. Complaints against Chairman Tolentino and family have been exposed in various broadsheets: “Mismanagement, Corruption, and Election Fraud in Tagaytay” by Buddy Cunanan (The Manila Times, Aug. 3, 2010) and “New MMDA Chief Faces Plunder, Graft, and Other Charges” by Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star, Aug. 4, 2010).

Protect P-Noy’s integrity

While these stories appear to come from one source, Reverend/Pastor Ronald Tan, former executive assistant of then Mayor Tolentino (1995-2004), Rev. Tan formalized his charges in a complaint filed with the Ombudsman last July 21. This is only one of several cases filed against Mayor Francis and/or incumbent Mayor Abraham Tolentino with the Ombudsman, DILG, and Comelec.

Quoting Tan, The Philippine Star reported that the two Tolentino brothers... “amassed some R500 million in ill-gotten wealth by way of unabated graft and corruption, abuse of power, and authority in the form of real estate properties, businesses, vehicles, and bank deposits, which in no way can be justified as having been acquired legally through their earnings as public officials or even their private business ventures.”

Comes now Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda with an unjustified dismissal of these serious charges as “simple harassment” with this statement:

“Tolentino is aware that graft charges would be filed (against him). The President is also aware of the graft cases filed before the Ombudsman, Lacierda told reporters. The President and other sectors view the charges against Francis Tolentino as ‘simple harassment,’ he added.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Aug. 4, 2010).

Criminal neglect by two mayor-brothers

These complaints need to be looked into immediately by Malacañang and not taken lightly – if only to protect the integrity of President Aquino III, whose basis for appointing Francis Tolentino as MMDA Chair was reportedly that he and the latter were Ateneo classmates.

Without getting into above-mentioned criminal, electoral, and administrative cases which will take time to unravel and decide upon, this writer now focuses on the People’s Park in the Sky (PPIS), which was Tagaytay’s major attraction in 1998 for thousands of domestic tourists, foreign visitors, religious faithful, and local residents.

Tragically (and wastefully), however, in the past 12 years, this prize destination has deteriorated into a dirty, smelly, and ugly kind of place. As early as July 12, 2006, FVR wrote a detailed report to PGMA on “the deplorable ecological-environmental state today of Tagaytay, in particular, its centerpiece attraction called the PPIS.”

“With this letter are photographs of the PPIS taken on April 14, 2006 (Good Friday) and the old Tagaytay-Talisay road taken on July 8, 2006. The first set of photos shows the massive deterioration that the PPIS, an unequaled eco-tourism asset, has suffered. It used to be one of Tagaytay’s prime attractions and favorite weekend-holiday destination of thousands of common folks who cannot afford to enjoy the breathtaking view from expensive, high-end vantage points in the Taal-Tagaytay area. Clearly, its facilities and surroundings are in a state of unmitigated disrepair, possibly the result of the criminal neglect of local officials who are responsible for its upkeep.

“The second set of photos shows the continued dumping of garbage along the old national road that extends from the Aguinaldo Highway rotonda at Tagaytay down to Talisay, Batangas. These pictures reveal the need to completely pave and widen the same, which is still a dirt road except for patches of concrete on the Tagaytay side. The Batangas portion is already concreted, widened and apparently well-maintained.

“Let me also submit a CD video of a joint investigation conducted by DENR’s Solid Waste Commission Team headed by Raul Jardin and ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan on May 6, 2004. Said video shows one of the open garbage dumps in Tagaytay located on a creek flowing towards Taal Lake, and records the total unconcern/inefficiency of responsible LGU managers.”

This has created a stinking, disgraceful eyesore polluting the immediate environment and downstream areas below Tagaytay.

Environmental sustainability

Continues FVR’s report to PGMA: “A Presidential Commission on Tagaytay-Taal (PCTT) was created on April 24, 1993. Under the PCTT, the 10-year (for municipalities) and 20-year (for the whole Tagaytay-Taal area) strategic plans were adopted on November 28, 1995 to promote/insure their sustainable development with these long-term objectives:

* Preserve the natural beauty of the environment.
* Develop the area as an eco-tourism zone.
* Put in place support infrastructures and programs to generate local economic and livelihood development for the people.

“Conscious of the ecosystem’s criticality as the basis for development planning, PCTT’s Chairmanship was transferred from DoT to DENR as the Office of Primary Responsibility on May 6, 1997 per EO 412, s-1997.

“In the run-up years to the Centennial of Philippine Independence (mid-1995 to mid-1998), the PPIS was substantially enhanced as part of the ‘Freedom Trail’ in Cavite Province – identified by the National Centennial Commission chaired by former Vice President Salvador Laurel.

“During those years, various improvements were added to the PPIS to maximize people’s appreciation of this historical-recreational center, notably the Centennial Heroes’ Hall, Presidential Room, Library/Reading Center, Viewing Decks, Outdoor Bandstand, Religious Statue/Worship Place, Picnic Huts, Children’s Playground, Souvenir Shops, and necessary amenities of clean toilets, running water, and safe passageways.

“The main structure, which was and continues to be a DoTC antenna facility, was likewise cleaned up and integrated as part of a wholesome, friendly and presentable complex for people’s enjoyment.

Abolition by Pres. Estrada; inaction by Pres. Arroyo

“Unfortunately and inexplicably, former President Joseph Estrada abolished the PCTT – in one swoop on December 9, 2000 without any provisions for the orderly transfer of its national functions, property/assets and civil service-eligible personnel – per EO 327, s-2000.

“Upon the petition of the unpaid staff, the implementation of said Estrada EO was mercifully deferred for a brief period thru EO 65, s-2001. Then DENR Secretary Heherzon Alvarez, to his credit, took care of the interim residual problems by placing PCTT’s functions, personnel, and assets under DENR’s Taal Volcano Protected Area Management Board in August, 2001, in line with Republic Act 7586. Thereafter, primary responsibility for the implementation of the 10- and 20-year master plans was devolved to the municipalities concerned and Tagaytay City, respectively.

“Last January 3, 2004, on the request of several concerned residents of Tagaytay, then Mayor Francis Tolentino signed a ‘Letter of Undertaking’ committing, among others, to sustain the local environment. While the Tagaytay LGU adopted some of the PCTT master plan’s features, the actual implementation has been characterized by ‘tokenism’ amounting to neglect and unsustainable development, exemplified by:

* “Heavy commercialization;
* “Increase in squatter colonies; and
* “Poor waste disposal systems.”

“The substantial repair and rehabilitation of the PPIS building and its facilities/surroundings will surely expand eco-tourism and other beneficial activities. With the help, support and cooperation of civil society leaders as already manifested in their past dialogues/consultations, and positive action-teamwork on the part of national and LGU officials, Tagaytay – including the PPIS – could be restored to its pristine beauty and made a self-sustaining, revenue-producing, and livelihood-generating educational center; religious retreat/worship place; economic zone for SMEs; and healthcare/retirement community, without becoming overburdened with crass commercialization and squatting.

“It will, however, take consistently good local governance – in which public officials/concerned residents/private entities must join effectively as partners and stakeholders – to make the above happen. Not just goodwill but, more importantly, political will should be exerted constantly to secure/perpetuate this incomparable God-given asset for posterity.

“At this point in time, years after the National Government’s initial enhancements, it is essential to revisit the strategic development plans for Tagaytay as a city for all Filipinos to be proud of, and restore the quality of the PPIS. The primary focus should be on the entire Tagaytay-Taal ecosystem’s sustainability so that it can remain among the nation’s ‘crown jewels’ for the enduring benefit of our people.”

Appeal to P-Noy

Can’t P-Noy do something quickly to reverse Tagaytay’s deterioration? It deserves more than just nonchalance from Malacañang. Just visit the PPIS which has been wiped out from Tagaytay’s official 2010 website – because it is now a sorry mess.

Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles plus photos are available at www.rpdev.org.

God sees the truth but waits

2010-08-03T08:30:00.005+08:00

Click here to watch video

MMDA chairman commits ‘boo boo’ with reporter

New MMDA chair gets flak from TV reporter, evades media in office

Pananakot

New MMDA chief sworn in

By Cathy C. Yamsuan, Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:41:00 08/04/2010

Filed Under: Government, Graft & Corruption

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday swore in Francis Tolentino as chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, dismissing as “simple harassment” accusations that the appointee and his brother had amassed some P500 million in ill-gotten wealth.

Tolentino was among 42 officials who took their oaths under the new administration in simple ceremonies at the Palace.

Among those sworn in were Cayetano Paderanga as director general of the National Economic Development Authority; Angelito Banayo as head of the National Food Authority, and Macra Cruz, officer-in-charge of the beleaguered Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda downplayed the graft charges lodged against Tolentino in a news conference.

“Before (Tolentino) was appointed, he and the President had a talk. (Tolentino is) aware that graft charges would be filed (against him). The President is also aware of the graft cases filed before the Ombudsman,” Lacierda told reporters.

“The President and as well as other sectors view the graft charges against Francis Tolentino as simple harassment,” he added in Filipino.

Lacierda noted that the cases recently filed against Tolentino were made “by those candidates against (a) brother” who won in the last elections.

Tolentino himself is a former mayor of Tagaytay City.

Defeated vice mayoralty candidate in Tagaytay City Ronald Tan had accused Tolentino and his brother Abraham, who is Tagaytay City mayor, of plunder and graft.

Tan, who used to be Tolentino’s executive assistant, said the brothers’ illicit riches came in the form of real estate properties, businesses, vehicles and local and foreign bank deposits, which they could not have amassed through their earnings as public officials or even as businessmen.

Tan claimed that Tolentino had approved blatant land-grabbing activities and questionable auctions of prime lands in the city. He added that Tolentino’s brother Abraham later continued the practice.

He said the auctions were staged, with real estate taxes increased along with zonal values. The time period for auctioning the properties was also shortened to three years from 10 years, he added, leaving land owners with arrears in real estate taxes suddenly without properties to their name. The parcels of land later came under ownership of the Tolentinos’ favored winner or relative, he further said.

“Complainant knows for a fact that all 7-11 franchises in the city are owned by the respondents who likewise own several hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations, buildings, large tracts of land, houses and lots, luxury cars and other wealth which technically and logically cannot be acquired by a city mayor with a salary grade of 30 unless said wealth was amassed through ill-gotten means and unabated graft,” he said.

Episode of Kapuso Mo with SVD-ALS

2010-06-13T10:08:00.001+08:00

Click here please.

GMA 7 Kapuso with Ms. Jessica Soho features SVD-ALS Tagaytay City

2010-06-11T17:30:00.004+08:00

Jessica Soho's toprated show "Kapuso"will feature this coming Saturday (Independence Day 12th of June), 9:00 pm at Channel 7 SVD-ALS, Divine Word Seminary's out-of-school youth non-formal education program. It will follow the story of Nanay Remedios Pascual who is one of our basic education learners (grade school level), and the oldest ALS learner in the country. She is 80 years old.

WE are also featured on July 18 on the frontpage of Philippine Daily Inquirer. Click here.

The SVD-ALS Site Coordinator is Fr. Randy Flores, SVD assisted by Fr. Flavie Villanueva SVD. We have three ur instructional managers (teachers) --Ms. Olive Tolentino, Ms. Richelle Razon and Ms. Perla Acosta. Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation supervises SVD-ALS and is headed by Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD, also the current director of St. Jude Catholic School (Manila). Click here for more info on SVD-ALS.

GMA 7 Crew with Nanay Remedios, 80 years old

Teacher Olive and GMA 7 production team coach Nanay Remedios.

She was told to recite the alphabet - and says she knows only up to letter ""G".

Teacher Olive Tolentino being interviewed

by GMA7 Kapuso Production Team

SVD-ALS center was formerly a clinic called Arnoldus Dispensary

some of our learners (current enrollment = 117)

we have also a library (kahit papano)

Our building needs repair badly

inside our small library. to solve our problem with our leaking roofs,

we waterproof our ceiling with plastic trash bags

SVD-ALS Vegetable Garden

SVD-ALS Herbal Garden

Firetree on fire with flowers hovers SVD-ALS Center

SVD Bridge

Road to the Divine Word Seminary

Arnoldus Library

2010-06-07T05:06:00.000+08:00

Please visit: www.arnolduslibrary.blogspot.com or click on this to go to the website/blog of Arnoldus Library
for Online Public Access Catalog - visit www.arnolduslibrary.com

Incoming Theology 1 SVD Scholastics for SY 2010-2011

2010-06-02T14:37:00.002+08:00

2010-05-12T17:10:00.000+08:00

2010-05-12T17:05:00.000+08:00

Images from Divine Word Seminary

2010-05-12T16:43:00.001+08:00

2010-05-12T16:29:00.002+08:00

2010-05-12T16:26:00.000+08:00

RIP Bishop Miguel Cinches, SVD (1932-2010)

2010-04-12T18:42:00.002+08:00

Bishop Miguel Cinches, SVD, after a lingering illness, passed away this this afternoon (April 12) at 2:55 pm in a hospital in Manila. He was 78 years old. He was bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Surigao.

He was born in Dauis, Bohol on February 7, 1932 and ordained priest in 1961. He taught philosophy from 1968-1973 here at Divine Word Seminary where he served as rector from 1970 until his election in 1973 as the bishop of the Diocese of Surigao by Pope Paul VI. He served this diocese in Mindanao for 28 years.

A prolific composer of liturgical music, Bishop Cinches was one of the few outstanding musicians of the Philippine SVD. During his seminary years as student and professor, he handled the seminary choir and led it in concert performances both inside and outside the seminary.

Last year, senior SVD members of Divine Word Seminary, under the direction of Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (himself from Surigao) recorded a CD Album as a tribute to him on the occassion of the 100 years of Philippine SVD. The album entitle, Complines and Vespers is a testimony of his many beautiful words and of his spirituality. These songs can still be heard today in the Tagaytay seminary when the SVD community gathers for its Saturday prayers (complines) and Sunday vespers.

Below is a cut from the album which you can order by sending email to rrandy33@yahoo.com.

The song is the so-called Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon in the Gospel of Luke. At Jesus' presentation, Simeon, a devout and righteous man, was promised that he would not see death before he had see the Lord's Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he took him in his arms and praised God: "Master, now you let your servant go in peace, according to your word" (Luke 2:29) -- wonderful words for Bishop Cinchess who had composed a song out of Simeon's prayer.
[from the album's write-up]

Now Lord you let your servant go in peace (Nunc dimittis) | Upload Music

Antiphon: Lord, save us while we are awake,
protect us while we sleep;
and Christ with whom we keep our watch,
will guard our souls in peace.

At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant to go in peace,
according to your promise.

For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations

The light you enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israe your people

Glory be to the Father....

Holy Week in Tagaytay City - Schedule of Liturgical Activities at Divine Word Seminary Chapel

2010-03-26T05:33:00.001+08:00

TRA and TMF at ABS-CBN's DZMM on Sunday March 14

2010-03-09T17:25:00.002+08:00

Tune in to Radio DZMM 630 Khz or Cable Channel 65 (in Tagaytay and Amadeo) on March 14, Sunday at 8:30pm to 10:30 pm - Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) and the Tagaytay Ministerial Fellowship (TMF) will be guests at Salitang Buhay and discuss the churchers in Tagaytay and their ecumenical partnership in the March 28 Tagaytay Candidates Forum and in the May Elections.

Fundamentals of church-state relations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

2010-03-08T06:07:00.000+08:00

Fundamentals of church-state relations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Tagaytay Candidates Forum

2010-02-21T22:05:00.001+08:00

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) is organizing a Candidates Forum for those running for local positions in Tagaytay City. Date: March 28, 2010, 1:00 PM at the SVD Chapel.
For more information, go to
http://www.tagaytayforum.blogspot.com/

Announcement:
Feb 22 (Monday) at 2:30 PM - Talk on PPCRV and Automated Election sponsored by SVD Manila District. Venue: SVD Retreat House

Feb 25 (Thursday) at 3:00 PM - Talk the socio-political condition of the country by Professor Randy David, sponsored by Divine Word School of Theology.

SVD Mission Awards and Other News

2010-02-21T22:00:00.004+08:00

The SVD Mission Awardees
with Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio

For those who missed the SVD Ordination last Dec, 5, 2009, you can watch the video of the photos uploaded by "Digna" here. Six SVD deacons were ordained by Bishop Chito Tagle -- new SVD Fathers Benedicto Awitin, Ferdinand Bajao, Dante Barril, Severo Biton, Abraham Borja and Crisostomo Salar. Another classmate was ordained in his home country, Papua New Guinea, Fr. Michael Namba, SVD.

A number of us joined the 2nd National Clergy Congress last January 25-29, 2010. 87 SVDs out of more than 5,500 priests were at the Congress/Retreat presided by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, preacher to the Papal Household.

Some alumni of Divine Word Seminary who were at the Congress

In the afternoon of January 29, the Feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz, we held the much-awaited SVD Mission Awards at St. Jude Catholic School in Manila. Here's a "summary" from the Provincialate notes:

On January 29, 2010, feast day of St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first SVD Mission Awards were handed out in a formal but uplifting awards presentation ceremony held at the Fr. Peter Yang Auditorium of Saint Jude Catholic School Manila. The affair was graced by the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams. The following awards were given out: The Saint Arnold Janssen Mission Award to Fr. Leo Schmitt SVD; The Communio Mission Award to St. Martin Mission Hospital of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro;The Divine Word Mission Award to Mrs. Beatriz Buenavista Evangelista; The Vivat Cor Iesu Mission Award to Samahang Bagong Buhay Foundation, Incorporated; The Father Peter Yang SVD Mission Award to the St. Jude National Shrine Manila; The Centennial Mission Award to Fr. William Van Kuijk SVD; The Abra Mission Award to the Catechists of Abra; The Saint Joseph Freinademetz Mission Award to Fr. Ewald Dinter SVD; and a Special Recognition to the CICM for helping the SVD in its early years of mission in the Philippines. Each awardee received 50,000 pesos and a gold-plated medallion with the face of the Founder on one side and his favorite prayer in Latin on the other (His life is our life and His mission, our mission). Our special thanks to Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and the administration of St. Jude Catholic School; and the SVD Mission Awards Committee under whose watch the search for SVD Mission Awardees was undertaken.

The SVD Mission Awards Committee members were: Fr. Joey Sepe, SVD (head); Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD; Fr. Randy Flores, SVD; Fr. Aris Martin, SVD, Fr. Bobby Ebisa, SVD. They were assisted by Bro. John Xue (Claretian seminarian), Ms. Ka Ling Yiu, Mr. Camilo Gelido, Frt. Sedfrey Nebres, SVD, Frt. John Paul Marquez, SVD, Mr. Tristan Ferrera, and Mr. Mark Nillo.

Before the end of the ceremonies, the SVD Centennial Book, Witness to the Word: Society of the Divine Word Philippines 1909-2009 (Logos Publications, 2009) with the speech of the SVD historian, Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD, the main editor.

Emcees: Fr. Aris Martin, SVD and Ms. Mariz Umali of GMA 7

Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD delivering his speech at the SVD Centennial book launching

The Abra Catechists

Awards main director, Fr. Joey Sepe, SVD (5th from left)

From left: Fr. Vic Rayco, SVD (St. Jude); Fr. Aris,

Fr. Lino Nicasio, SVD (St. Jude), Ms. Mariz Umali,

Ms. Nita Trofeo, and GMA 7 newscaster Raffy Tima

CTS students with awardee Fr. van Kuijk, SVD

Click here for more pictures

Simbang Gabi Homilies 2009

2009-12-15T12:14:00.001+08:00

Please click here. Merry Xmas to all!

TRA supports the call of Bishop Ambo David for GMA NOT to Run for Congress

2009-12-01T08:24:00.008+08:00

The talk of Bishop Ambo David at the TRA meeting last night was well appreciated by its members. Bishop Ambo explained, in the light of his experience at Synod of Bishops on the Bible, how the Sacred Scripture finds its home in the Church and how Church life is permeated by the Word of God. He argued that after the destruction of Temple of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E, the Synagogue became the new home of the Torah. For the followers of Jesus later on, the home became the new house of the Word--the home becoming the first place of the Church. Today , he says, the Church is the open house for the Word and the world.

This "house" is supported by four pillars -- teaching of the apostles; koinonia or fellowship; breaking of the bread; and the prayers.

He ended his talk narrating how the Church in Pampanga (Diocese of San Fernando) tries to become the real home of the Word, revealing that 500 hectares of church land have already been given up by the Diocese for land reform.

While waiting for his turn to talk, we had an a chance to ask Bishop Ambo some questions on the politics of Pampanga. He confirmed that the GMA is running for Congress; his older brother Prof. Randy David has ditched his plan to run against the President for obvious reasons; and that by running, GMA is going against basic Christian principles of power and decency. He is therefore urging the President not to run for Congress. His prayer: "God save Pampanga!"

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA)--an organization of nuns, lay people, priests, and brothers belonging to 100 religious houses, seminaries, houses of formation, retreat houses, convents, secular institutes, and monasteries in Tagaytay and its environs--supports the call of Bishop Pablo Virgilio David for GMA NOT to run for Congress.

Seminarian-members of TRA at a prayer rally (file photo)

Talk of Bishop Ambo David - The Church: The House of the Word

2009-11-26T23:05:00.003+08:00

Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA)
Divine Word Seminary
SVD Road
4120 Tagaytay City

Dear fellow TRA members:

Shalom!

In behalf of TRA Council of Officers, I would like to invite you to an afternoon gathering on Nov 30, 2009 (Bonifacio Day - Mon) from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Aula Magna of Divine Word Seminary. Our constitution states that one of the objectives of TRA is to “provide opportunities for spiritual, educational, apostolic, economic, and formational enrichment of all TRA members of the affiliated communities” (Article II, Section 2).

The main talk of the gathering is on “The Church: The House of the Word” by Bishop Pablo “Ambo” David (auxiliary of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga). Bishop Ambo, an Old Testament expert, obtained his doctorate in Biblical Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain and did courses at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem (Israel). Member of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (2008), he is also the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP). He teaches at major seminaries and religious formation centers (like Loyola School of Theology and Our Lady of Angels Seminary); serves as the parish priest of the biggest parish in Pampanga (Angeles City); and is the newly appointed chairperson of the Episcopal Commission for Biblical Apostolates (ECBA) [and the younger brother of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s columnist, Prof. Randy David].

Here is the order of the afternoon:
1. 2:00 pm – Registration and Welcome
2. 2:30 – 4:00 – General Meeting of TRA
3. Break
4. 4:20 – 6:00 – Talk of Bishop Ambo

and the agenda of the TRA meeting:
1. TRA activities for honest, peaceful and orderly election in Tagaytay.
2. Socio-political and economic condition of the city.
3. TRA and future relief and rehabilitation operations during and after calamities.
4. Re-creation of retreat teams for the retreat apostolate of TRA.
5. CLAIM’s activities

Each community shall bring own “baon” for the afternoon snacks (KKB). Hot coffee (Barako) will be served. Please be there. Blest be the Lord.

Sincerely,
Fr. Randy Flores, SVD
TRA Chairperson
Email: rrandy33@yahoo.com; Text: 0927-390-9863

45 SVD-ALS take A&E Test

2009-10-26T15:10:00.011+08:00

Photo taken as our SVD-ALS test-takers are about to enter
Dasmarinas National High School (Oct 25, 2009, around 6:00 am)

Around 4:00 am yesterday (25 Oct 09, Sunday), I brought our 45 SVD-ALS learners to Dasmarinas National High School to take the Accreditation and Equivalency test (A&E test) being conducted by the Department of Education. The SVD-ALS learners were part of the 4,324 test-takers from the whole province of Cavite, 330 of these were under the 8 learning centers supervised by Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation led by Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD of St. Jude Catholic School.

Their instructional managers (teachers) and I expect a high passing rate for the SVD-ALS. Our students were well-prepared and said that the test was "madali" (easy).

The A&E test" is designed to measure competencies of those who have not finished either the formal elementary or secondary education." Those who registered for the test consisted of unemployed/underemployed out-of-school youth and adults;formal schools leavers/drop-outs; persons with physical disabilities; inmates, rebel/soldier integrees; members of cultural minorities; indigenous peoples;Industry-based workers,housewives, helpers, factory, workers, drivers.

The afternoon batch of ALS A&E test-takers

Most of our 45 SVD-ALS learners are formal school leavers (drop-outs) from Tagaytay City, Amadeo and Silang; 2 workers of Divine Word Seminary, 1 housewife; 2 workers of the FMM; and 2 workers of the Dominican Sisters.

With the SVD-ALS inside our compound and being supported by DWST, our seminary does its part in what we SVDs call "prophetic dialogue" with the poor and marginalized.

SVD-ALS during President's Cory's Funeral

What does one benefit after passing the ALS A&E Test? The following came from DepEd's website:

• Enroll as High School Freshman for elementary level passers;
• Enroll in post-secondary courses (tech/voc, two/three/four/five-year course of the
CHED and PASUC member institutions);
• Access to Meralco Foundation, Inc. and TESDA skills training programs; and
• Opportunity to acquire eligibility to government employment positions under CSC
Resolution No. 499.

The ALS, if I may add, is not only about passing the A&E test but, in the modules, there are a lot sessions about good values and moral conduct, becoming good citizens, and the awareness of the issues of justice, peace and integrity of creation (e.g. preserving the environment).

SVD-ALS learners with Father Superior General
(Philippine SVD Centennial at DWST)

In behalf of the 126 SVD-ALS learners (45 of whom were qualified to take the test) let me express my personal gratitude and deep appreciation to the following who lent a hand to make the first batch of SVD-ALS a success:

Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD, our rector and the rest of the Divine Word Seminary community for the all-out support including the use of the Dispensary building, free use of water and electricity, and basketball gym.
Ma'am Olive Tolentino - our head instructional manager; Perla B. Costa and Ritchelle Q. Razon, our instructional managers. They did an admirable job (in spite of meager remuneration).
Ma'am Gemma Patricio, ALS Supervisor of Arnold Janssen learning centers
Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and the Board of Trustees of the Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation.
Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD and the provincialate of Philippine Central Province for the significant financial assistance.
Revs. Jong Biton, Ferds Bajao, and Dante Barril - SVD deacons who assisted in the administration.
Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD and his friends. Fr. Flavie is tasked to conceptualize the livelihood skill program for "graduates" of SVD-ALS.
Atty Yolly Doblon; Ms. Nini Carbon, and Ms. Seni Basilio, Ms. Tess Tatlonghari (soup kitchen), Ms. Truly Griffiths (Hongkong), and last but not the least, the CTS 2009-2010 students.

From left: Rev. Dante, Rev. Jong, Ma'am Che,
Rev. Ferdie, Ma'am Perla, and Ma'am Olive.
Our SVD deacons will be ordained on Dec. 5, 2009

Our three SVD-ALS instructional managers (teachers)

From: Fr. Randy Flores, SVD - SVD-ALS Site Coordinator.

Seminarians join relief operation for the victims of Ka Ondoy

2009-09-30T13:34:00.008+08:00

Members of Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay Students' Association (DWSTSA)--composed mostly of seminarians in theology have joined the Task Force Ondoy of Ateneo which includes the seminarians' network and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB). Fr. Alex Muana, SVD (the dean of studies) and Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (the vice-rector) also are with the group in the clearing operations, loading and unloading of relief cargo, and distributing emergency relief goods for the victims of the flood in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Southern Luzon.

Last night (close to midnight actually), I went to check on a family who live in Jesus de la Pena in Marikina, just a kilometer or two from Provident Village. It took me an hour and a half from Ateneo to Marikina due to the clearing operation going on, the road is now passable although a lot of work will still have to be done. At least relief goods can now be brought easily to the affected families, including potable water.

Along the A. Bonifacio road, I saw this solitary car parked and clearly a victim of Ka Ondoy and with the SVD centennial plate in it, maybe owned by a former SVD seminarian (?). I thought of asking - what could be God's message for us (SVDs and XVDs) that on the 100 years of Philippine SVD such tragedy has come upon us?

Abra violence, Balweg and SVD

2009-09-30T13:17:00.005+08:00

A Group of SVD missionaries in the late 70s

Standing from right: Bishop Vic Manuel (+); Conrado Balweg (+)
Fr. Dom Flores (working in Australia); Fr. V. Bartolome (working in US)
Photo taken in front of Arnoldus Library (from the file of Fr. Randy Flores, SVD)

The article is written by Vincent Cabreza and appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 02:08:00 09/30/2009

TO SOME Filipinos, Abra will always be associated with two extremes: Stories of unending political violence and of slain rebel priest Conrado Balweg, a man of the cloth who returned to the path of peace and facilitated the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

To 6,131 priests and brothers today, however, this landlocked province is the gateway to the Catholic Society of the Divine Word (SVD or Societas Verbi Divini), 100 years ago.

That gate has never closed, said Father Jerome Adriatico, SVD North Luzon provincial superior.

“Politics, the kind that promotes greed, must be reinvented here in Abra,” Adriatico said, quoting discussions among fellow SVD priests as to how the congregation hoped to end the province’s notoriety.

Adriatico helped lead the Centennial Mass at the Cathedral of St. James the Elder in Bangued, Abra, last month.

Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian said the Mass celebrated the first SVD mission station in Cagutungan, a community that evolved into today’s San Isidro town, which was established by Father John Scheiermann and Father Louis Beckert, a five-year veteran of the SVD missions in China.

Adriatico said it was the SVD’s “purposeful mission of creating a community among the Tingguians,” which remains its most powerful legacy.

“[Violence] is the nature of politics [in Abra and parts of Ilocos], but it was not like this [during the] early 20th century. SVD wants to bring back the sense of caring, the sense of unity [we helped develop with] the Tingguians,” he said.(photo file: R. Flores, SVD)

First SVD mission

The first SVD mission in the Philippines tailed by two years the 1907 Philippine mission of the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary or CICM), said Adriatico.

But like the Belgian-led CICM, the SVD and other European Catholic congregations began sending missionaries to the Philippines in response to a plea made by local parishes that were confronting the end of the Spanish colonial period.

They were meant to serve northern Luzon parishes that were abandoned by friars who began to withdraw to the cities when Filipino priests under their supervision were recruited by the Aglipayan Movement (Philippine Independent Church), Adriatico said.

Abra has always presented itself as a historical case study of how colonial governments tried to pacify the Igorot people in order to get at the fabled gold in their mountains, said history professor Raymundo Rovillos, dean of the College of Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Baguio.

Religion and the mission stations played a strong part in these efforts, he said.

Abra was visited by Augustinian missionaries as early as 1650, but it was in the last part of the 19th century when Spanish pacification efforts “became intense,” Rovillos said in his essay, “Technologies for Disciplining Bodies and Spaces in Abra,” in the Cordillera Review.

“Because it was the takeoff point for the official Spanish war against the Igorots, Abra became militarily and politically strategic,” he said.

(photo file: R. Flores, SVD)

Tingguian alienation

Adriatico said what SVD intended to do when they took over the Spanish parishes was to remove the alienation of the Tingguian.

Balweg, despite his credentials as leading figure of the communist rebellion in Abra, had always been an important chapter of the SVD story because of his Tingguian roots, Adriatico said.

Balweg was one of the first two Tingguian priests to join the fold, and the SVD, according to American historian Gerard Finin, author of the book, “The Making of the Igorot.”

Finin, deputy-director of the Hawaii-based East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program, said: “Although the SVD order could claim significant achievements in working with Abra’s ‘non-Christians,’ not a single highlander during the first 40 years of missionary work was accepted for theological studies leading to ordination as an SVD priest until Balweg and fellow Tingguian Tito Belisario in the 1960s.”

Adriatico said the rebel priest broke ties with SVD but had maintained a “deep understanding of community” because Balweg eventually fought for the so-called Igorot nation.

Metro Manila Flood photos from Time Magazine

2009-09-29T06:46:00.005+08:00

For more images, click on Time Magazine Photo Essay

SVD-initiated distribution center for the victims of Ondoy

2009-09-28T20:32:00.006+08:00

The SVD Philippine Central Province is now coordinating help for the worst hit of the SVD parishes in Metro Manila: Smokey Mountain (Balut, Tondo), Dampalit (Malabon), and St. Arnold Janssen Parish (Cainta).
The churches and convents in those places are relatively unscathed but their parishioners could use some help (food, clothes, etc)); this also includes our own employees, some of whom live in the affected areas.

Relief efforts for flood victims are being organized by the SVD Philippine Central Province through the Secretariat of the Characteristic Dimensions (Ben Beltran, Raul Caga, Ring Malbog, and John Regalado). Donations in kind ( used clothes, canned goods, etc) are welcome. You may send them at the Provincialate (Catholic Trade) Manila) or care of the above mentioned office or individuals. Cash donations may also be sent to the following bank account at Allied Banking Corporation: Account name - Divine Word Biblical Center; account number - 0280046648.

You can also course your donation through Divine Word Seminary, SVD Road, 4120 Tagaytay City - Tel. 046-4131253; fax 0464131251; or write: rrandy33@yahoo.com

Note from the SVD Provincialate

All Praise to Thee

2009-09-12T07:46:00.005+08:00

Night Prayer: All praise to thee my God this night. For all the blessings of the Light. O keep me keep me king of kings, beneath thine almighty wings. Forgive me Lord through Christ thy Son, the ill that I this day have done, that with the world, myself and thee before I sleep at peace may be.

On the Birth of Mary, Birth of SVD, and Family Feast

2009-09-08T07:48:00.006+08:00

Family Feast 1999 (Tagaytay City)

Today (9/8/2009) is of the birthday of Mary and the Birthday of the SVD (9/8/1875). At Divine Word Seminary, to celebrate this day, we usually hold a Family Feast – a sort of intramural games. We, including our employees, are divided into different “families” and compete in three levels: physical (sports), intellectual (quiz bees, essays, poetry); and cultural (drama, song composition). Everything ends in the beach—where the four families, with good food, become one family again.

Such tradition goes back to Arnold Janssen, the Founder.
This year, however, the Family Feast is cancelled—because we have a bigger family feast – the centennial of the Philippine SVD. Last month, the whole “family” went to Abra to join the celebration there.

In 2003, I was invited to preach at the mass in Christ the King Seminary on the occasion of their Family Feast. For those who might want to reflect with the SVD on this day, here’s an excerpt of that:

The Family Feast is an emblematic celebration of two humble birth-events: the birth of Mary and the birth of the SVD.

The birth of heroes and special persons are always surrounded by legends and miraculous stories. Remember the interesting birth narratives in the bible, that of Moses (Exod 2:1-10); Samuel (1 Sam 1:1-28); John the Baptist (Lk 1:5:25); and Jesus (Lk 1:26-38). When the legendary Ilocos hero Lam-ang was born, he could immediately talk and climb tree (was it a guava?); so with the Ilonggo epic hero, Labaw Donggon who was told to be already a mature person (datung tawu) when he was born (cf. E. Damiana, The Filipino Epics, 2001).

The birth of Mary is not found in the Bible but in apocryphal gospels, particularly in the Protoevangelium of James (Proto-Gospel of James), a pseudoepigraphical writing composed in the late second century A.D – more than 150 years after the death of Jesus.

As the story goes, Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary, were getting old and could not bear a child. Anna was barren. In that culture, that situation is shameful. . But one day, an angel appeared to Anna in the garden at the same time as an angel also appeared to Joachim while pasturing the flock, announcing that Anna shall conceive a child. And so Mary was born and after six months Mary was said to be already walking on her feet. The story is inspired obviously by that of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18.

What is historical though is the fact that the birth of a baby girl is not worth rejoicing in a male-oriented culture, the condition where Mary was born. In the ancient Mediterranean culture, the birth of a son is announced loudly and joyfully by the father (in Hebrew): hinne ben nolad! (“Behold, a son is born!” cf. Rut 4:17; 1 Kgs 13:2; 1 Chron 22:9; Isa 9:5[6]; Jer 20:15; Job 3:3; John 16:21). The birth of a girl did not create such excitement.

In the Protoevangelium of James we have a different story. Anna, upon giving birth, asked her midwife: "What have I brought forth?" The woman said: "A girl." Anna then exclaimed: "My soul has been magnified this day" (similar words of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1).

In any case, this “humbled” birth of Mary could be reflected in her longest recorded words found in the Gospel of Luke, the Magnificat (1:46-56). In that song, she indirectly spoke of her situation “the humiliation of the maidservant” (cf. v. 48.52).

The birth of the SVD as well was set in a “humiliating” and hostile situation. Nineteenth Century Germany was anti-Catholic (cf. J. Alt, XIV). Thus, this first Catholic German missionary society had to begin outside Germany, in Holland (Steyl). The birth of the SVD in a foreign) was foreshadowing the unique international character of this Society.

It was an irony that when Nineteenth Century Germany was becoming ethnocentric in the movement that was called Kulturkampf, the spirit of the Founder was one of openness and generosity. While the German government was confiscating and secularizing Catholic churches’ properties and expelling foreigners (Alt, XIV), Arnold Janssen was envisioning to send German missionaries to foreign lands.

On the positive side, the Nineteenth Century Europe witnessed the progress of sciences. Arnold Janssen, before he commenced his theological studies, trained himself in philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences and taught them after ordination (e.g. physics, mineralogy, zoology and botany, cf. Alt, 16-20; 24-30). Later, he would send his men to study natural sciences, chemistry and geology. One of them went on to study linguistics and became an excellent ethnologist known all over the world for his novel studies on “primitive cultures”—Fr. Wilhelm Schmidt, SVD (1868-1954) the founder of Anthropos Institute and Anthropos, a seminal journal on Cultural Anthropology (cf. E. Brandewie, When Giants Walked the Earth: The Life and Times of Wilhelm Schmidt, SVD (Studia Instituti Anthropos 44; Fribourg, 1990).

Together with the advance of sciences was the flowering of biblical studies especially Protestant Germany in the Nineteenth Century. The works of Julius Wellhausen, Hermann Gunkel, the biblical scholars from the University of Tübingen revolutionized and influenced modern biblical scholarship up to the present time. The historical-critical study of the bible had drawn out both controversies and renewed interests in the Sacred Scripture. The bible as never before was now studied in an objective and scientific manner. Even Arnold Janssen, as attested in his academic records, had taken courses in Biblical Greek and Hebrew (cf. Alt, 14;21), two subjects which most seminarians avoid today. This humble but fervent quest for the explanation and understanding of the Sacred Text in the late Nineteenth Century would have been also a key factor for Arnold Janssen to name his newly born mission congregation, Societas Verbi Divini (“Society of the Divine Word”).

The Philippine SVD in the Philippine Panorama

2009-09-06T10:30:00.005+08:00

This Sunday's issue of the Panoroma, Manila Bulletin's weekly magazine, has its cover and editorial the Philippine SVD. Please click on the pictures above or on Panorama's website here.

Updated (further) information: For the year 2009, there are 6,131 listed members.
Note that the Editorial mentions the Alternative Learning System (non-formal education) as part of the mission of prophetic dialogue by the Philippine SVD. Please click here for more info on SVD-ALS.

On January 29, feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz, the SVD will confer the SVD Mission Awards. For nominations, please click here.

The State of the Websites of Philippine SVD

2009-08-30T23:25:00.005+08:00

"There's nothing new under the sun" (Qoheleth 1:9).

Philippine Central Province

Philippine Northern Province

Philippine Southern Province

Fr. Ramon Velasco, SVD (1959-2009)

2009-08-30T13:17:00.004+08:00

Fr. Ramon "Mon" Velasco, SVD, an extern priest in residence at St. Alphonsus Church, Seattle, died of cerebral hemorrhage on Augusts 24, 2009. He was found unconscious, lying on the floor of his own room (St. Alphonsus Parish Convent, NW Seattle) around 8pm that day. He was no longer brought to the hospital. Mon turned 50 years old last April.

Fr. Mon was an alumnus of Divine Word Seminary (Philosophy-1986; Theology-1991) and was ordained priest in 1990.

Here's a report of the Memorial Mass from Fr. Julius Lopez, SVD.
Click here for pictures of the Mass courtesy of Fr. Lopez.
----------------------

"mga 'tol, tuloy pa rin ang pagdadalamhati natin para kay Mon pero sa kabila ng lahat masaya kong ibabalita sa inyo na napakaganda ang naging Memorial Services na inalay para sa kanya kahapon at ngayon (Aug. 27-28) ng dati niyang parokya ng Holy Family Catholic Church, Seattle. very moving and very touching is all i can say.

nagsimula ang Rosary kagabi ng 6:30 at nagulat na lang kami ni teody ng dumating kami sa dami ng sasakyang nakaparada sa simbahan. sa katunayan nahirapan nga kaming mag park. pagpasok namin sa simbahan nabigla din kami sa nakita naming dami ng taong nakiramay. ika nga "from all walks of life" - lay and religious. also of all races: may mga blacks, latino, asians of course and caucasians. dalawa pa nga ang rosaries inoffer sa kanya, one in english and one in spanish dahil din sa magandang ministry nya sa mga hispanics.

for the 10am mass the following day mas lalong dumami ang tao, siguro palagay ko easily over a thousand ang nag attend. presider was Archbishop Alexander Brunett ng Archdiocese of Seattle and together with him were his two auxiliary bishops and about 30-40 priest concelebrants. preacher was fr. phil bloom na dating kasama ni mon sa holy family parish for 7 years. napakaganda ang homily nya which i hope to share with you later (i am awaiting his email for a copy of his homily). nagconcelebrate kami ni teody. kasama rin namin ang 12 paring pinoy ng seattle. pinoy choir ang kumanta at 95% ay tagalog songs at nakakabagbag damdamin talaga. pagkatapos ng communion nagsalita din si Archbishop Brunette - a eulogy for mon. both homily and eulogy expressed the fact that mon has been well loved and appreciated by the faithful of seattle. he touched so many people in so many ways through his simple and cheerful spirit. he simply had a beautiful heart. talagang spirit-filled ang community sa kanya, ika nga.

eto pa magandang nangyari: nilibre ang casket and all funeral services para kay mon courtesy of the funeral home mon has always helped by saying funeral masses, etc. pati mga embalmers mahal na mahal si mon!

in his eulogy for mon, the Archbishop mentioned the SVDs. he read (in toto) a letter of thanks from the provincial of the SVD california province, Fr. Briccio Tamoro, also a pinoy. in the letter Fr. Tamoro thanked the Archbishop and the faithful of Seattle for their warm welcome of Mon and for arranging the beautiful memorial services. Arcbishope Brunett mentioned that technically Mon still belongs to the SVD Central Province as his incardination to the archdiocese was not officially completed. he also acknowledged the presence of Mon's confreres, though not by name (dalawa kami ni teody). umabot ng isa't kalahating oras ang mass.

after the mass, mon's remains were transported back to the funeral home for the meantime that arrangements have been made to fly him back home! yes, mon is coming home to manila na buong buo, not cremated!!! teody and i were so happy to know that the family finally decided against cremation. so, humanda kayo - Mon will take manila by storm again! nilalakad na ang mga papeles. they projected mon will be in Manila the first weekend of September. he will be buried with his mom and dad sa may laloma catholic cemetery. (sana mag offer ang svd central na sa christ the king din sya ilibing...ehemm. .. after all svd pa rin naman sya... but well... please don't quote me ha... hehe...)

anyways, despite our heartbreaks we are consoled by the fact that everything turned out beautiful for mon. though short, mon's journey was absolutely unique yet beautiful!

PAALAM S'YO MON! MAHAL KA NAMIN. MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT SA LAHAT! HANGGANG SA MULI... "

Alumni/Alumnae who came up to Tagaytay - 20 August 2009

2009-08-28T00:14:00.000+08:00

From left: Atty Rolly Arellano; Prof. Cadz Malbarosa;

Dr. Max Felicilda and wife Angie;
Atty Nova (guest); Fr. Randy Flores, SVD;
Atty Allan Montealegre; Mr. Glen Catubig

Thank you for coming.

Click here for more photos

Fr. Antonio del Mar Pernia, SVD - Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2009

2009-08-25T20:36:00.012+08:00

Fr. Antonio del Mar Pernia, SVD
Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2009
Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City (Philippines)

The academic community of Divine Word Seminary— faculty and students, led by the Rector, Fr. Fred Saniel, has conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award on the occasion of the 100 years of Philippine SVD. The award, given for the first time, went to no other than Fr. Antonio del Mar Pernia, SVD Superior General who was DWST's special guest during the SVD Tagaytay Centennial Celebration and Alumni/Alumnae Homecoming last August 20. 2009.

The citation for the awardee was read by the most senior of the faculty – Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD. The plaque was presented by the Rector, Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD assisted by Fr. Alex Muana, SVD, the Dean of the school of theology.

Then the alumnus pin was placed on the awardee by Dr. Marita Gueverra, MD, to represent the Certificate in Theological Studies, the Saturday theology program for the lay and religious which began two years ago. [The proceeds of the alumnus pin went to the SVD-Alternative Learning System, an education program for the out-of-school youth hosted by Divine Word Seminary].

Then the latest book on Filipino theology written by Bishop Francisco F. Claver, SJ, The Making of a Local Church, a theme dear to the awardee who himself is a Filipino theologian, was presented by SVD scholastic Eric Lacandula, head of the Divine Word Seminary Students' Association.
Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD Provincial of the Philippine Central Province also presented the awardee a copy of the latest CD album produced by Divine Word Seminary, the “Complines and Vespers” composed by Bishop Mike Cinches, SVD one time professor and rector of the seminary and Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, former bible professor. The prayers in the album were chanted by senior members of the SVD community led by Moral theology professor Fr. Raul Caga, SVD and arranged by a former SVD novice, Mr. Nez Marcelo. The proceeds of the sale of the album will support the alma mater — Divine Word Seminary.

After these, the awardee delivered his keynote speech before the academic community, alumni/alumnae and guests.

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD, who wrote the citation, hosted the awarding ceremony.
Links:
For citation for the awardee - please click here.
For the keynote of speech of the awardee Fr. Pernia, SVD please click here.

*Portrait of the awardee is done by Ms. Christine Verzosa, a young artist from Tayum, Abra (place of the first residence of the SVD Community).

Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD (rector); Dr. Guevarra, M.D. (CTS student);
Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD (provincial); Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD (church historian);
Frt. Eric Lacandula, SVD (Students' Association)

Terry Briones, XVD; Fr. Mollaneda (alumnus); Fr. Villegas, SVD (NT professor)

Bob Fisher, SVD (former Liturgy professor)

with Bishop Bastes, SVD

Fr. Schenk, SVD (German missionary- Mindoro
and in charge of German correspondence for the seminary;
Bro Ric Atencio, SVD (College of the Holy Spirit dean of nursing)

Fr. William Lepatan, SVD (Tacloban);
Fr. Ed Guarin, SVD (Kamuning)

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD (host) with the Rector

100 years of SVD - Back in Abra - link to pictures here

2009-08-24T08:28:00.007+08:00

Concert on August 13, 2001 - more pictures, click here.

Mass with the Superior General in San, Isidro - Philippine SVD birthplace
Click here for more pictures.

Mass with the Papal Nuncio in Bangued, Abra.

Click here for more pictures

Classmates in the Tagaytay Alumni Homecoming: Frs. Sebio, Mat, Ed, and Nico

For more pictures of the even, click here

The Day in Tagaytay's Divine Word Seminary

2009-08-21T02:56:00.004+08:00

Fr. Fred (rector); Fr. Tony (superior general);
Ate Cory (who does not know her? ); Fr. Pio; and Fr. Magboo (?)

I'm posting here my letter to Ms. Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Philippine actress, environmentalist, and Time Magazine's 2003 Asian Hero. Chin-Chin is close to the SVD and consider's Divine Word Seminary as her second "home."

Dear Chin,
Thanks for your email. Indeed your father looks like Fr. Tony (Superior General) and how about Fr. Fred Saniel (Rector)? He looks like Arnold Janssen!

It's 3:03 am here and at 4:30, 49 of us here in Tagaytay Seminary will leave for Christ the King Seminary where our we get our chartered bus, one of the three buses hired, to bring us to Abra.

The scholastics and the seniors here deserved that "break" -- we had been working hard, very hard to make our Centennial celebration and alumni/alumnae homecoming in Tagaytay a success, and indeed it was.

Yesterday (August 20) was a big day for Divine Word Seminary, and will be remembered so for years to come.

It began with a good weather that we had been praying for. And so the 300 visitors who came up to Tagaytay beheld the beauty of the seminary--flowers all over, buildings repainted (thanks to many good benefactors), main gate refurbished, manicured lawns and well-trimmed plants. The Clean and Green seminary stood out. For pictures, you can click here-- this is the Facebook of Fr. Gil Alejandria, SVD and you might need to sign up to view them.

Few minutes before 9:00 am, the Superior General blessed the two huge statues of Saints Arnold and Joseph placed infront of the chapel and donated by former SVDs (who call themselves, "Manus Dei"). Then we moved to the Mission Museum for the blessing and opening. This Museum contains many interesting interesting items on the beginning of the seminary and of course on the mission of the SVD--thanks to the initiative and effort of Fr. Alex Muana, our dean.

Just before 10:00 am, we went to the conference hall to confer the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" to none other than Fr. Tony. It's the first time the seminary gives such award. The citation was read by the most senior of the faculty, Fr. Antolin Uy; the plaque was presented by the Rector, Fr. Fred; the alumnus pin was placed on the awardee by Dr. Marita Guevarra, M.D. who represented the Certificate in Theological Studies, the Saturday theology program for the lay born two years ago; the latest book on Filipino theology (F. Claver, S.J., The Making of Local Church, 2009) was presented, the awardee being a theologian himself, by Eric Lacandula the head of the student body; and the latest album "Complines and Vespers" sung /chanted prayers of Divine Word Seminary was also given to him by Fr. Nielo Cantilado, our provincial who is one of the signers and soloists.

After these, Fr. Tony gave his address to assembly. It was an inspiring and theologically stimulating talk where he outlined the role of Divine Word Seminary in the coming years, especially becoming a center of missiological studies in Asia-Pacific region. I will post the text of his talk when I come back from Abra. After Fr. Pernia's talk, the provinicial officially anounced the approval of our affiliation with UST of the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)--Missiology.

The Mass was held around 11:30 am presided by Bishop Artemio Rillera, SVD of San Fernando, La Union who is an alumnus and Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD also an alumnus preached the homily where he narrated stories of the beginning of the seminary being one of its first graduates.

In the afternoon, Bishop Chito Tagle (Imus) gave a talk to the alumni/alumanae on the importance of theological studies in one's life and ministry. Bishop Chito, who is a professor here, and member of the Vatican initiated Theological Commission, shared some interesting points on the value of theology--each one is graced with "faith" that should constantly be nourished; most especially for pastors to whom a faith-community is entrusted.

As the sun was setting, we gathered in the chapel for our evening prayer -- a sung vespers which is found in the CD Album "Complines and Vespers." It was a great moment to thank God for The Day.

After dinner, Fr. Raul Caga, SVD and his Arnoldus Company (composed of 6 scholastics) staged a concert. The songs and performance was wonderful and really something to be proud of. We were awed. They did very well.

And thus The Day ended, very well.

click here for more pictures of the event.
God be praised!

Alumni/Alumnae Homecoming and Centennial Celebration in Tagaytay City

2009-08-16T15:20:00.010+08:00

The "refurbished" DWS Gate:
"Raised your head, O Gate; Let your alumni/ae of glory come!

Divine Word Seminary will have its turn to host on August 20 (Thursday) an SVD Centennial Celebration and also a big day for its Alumni and Alumnae.

Who is a Divine Word Seminary alumnus or alumna?

The rule of the thumb is anyone who had stayed, studied, taught and worked here: former SVD novices, former postulants, former DWS students including the new graduates of CTS (Certificate in Theological Studies), former teachers and professors, former formators and rectors. Anyone left out?

It means when you come up, you're an alumnus or alumna.

"Alumnus" in Latin means simply "foster child," or "pupil," or "'someone who has been nourished by an institution." So you're on it.

Here's the "order" of The Day:
AM which is Morning
7:00 - Registration, with Barako Coffee (halina't mangape, just like the old days)
8:45 - Blessing of the Statues of Arnold and Joseph F. (donated by Manus Dei)
9:30 - Video Presentation on Divine Word Seminary: "before, during, and after."
10:00 - Special Snacks (heavy if you wish)
10:15 - Distinguished Alumnus Award and Address of the Awardee - Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD (Superior General)
11:15 - Holy Mass - Bishop Artemio Rillera, SVD (San Fernando, La Union) as presider and Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD (Sorsogon) as homilist.
LUNCH -

PM which is Afternoon
2:00 - Talk of Bishop Chito Tagle (TMP rector and Bishop of Imus) on the " Relevance of Theological Studies to One’s Life and Ministry"
4:00 - Snacks and Free Time /Ball Games
6:00 - Sung Vespers (Guitar version) see the just-released Album.
7:00 - Dinner
8:00 - Concert of Arnoldus Company
9:00 - Subdued - "light" moments
As you see, "the day" is loaded. After this day, you'll be home renewed, enriched, inspired, and more "holy."

What to see when you're here:

The Mission Museum - collection include artifacts brought home by missionaries; chalices used by the first SVD missionaries; images of local gods and goddesses. The director is Fr. Alex Muana, SVD who is a licensed missiologist and the dean of the school of theology.Arnoldus Library - with its new extension (old Arnoldus Hall), the library boasts of excellent collection in theological literature including recently published books from reputable local and international publishers. It is one of the better theological libraries in the country. A visit of this place is a must if one wants to have a "quick" and "inexpensive" updating in theology.The Miraculous Grotto - it's also called the Grotto of the Virgin of the Poor or Our Lady of Banneux. After a some of years of neglect, the grotto (the biggest image of the virgin in the seminary) is now a better and more environmental friendly place to pray to the Blessed Mother and also to meditate. That it has become such a lovely grotto is miracle itself. In the last nursing board exams, students were seen streaming to the grotto. The SVD community gathers at the grotto every first Saturday for its morning mass . Our own SVD-ALS (out-of-school youth) frequent also the place do some cleaning and pray for a better future. The Lady, indeed, is the Virgin of the Poor.Click here for more pics of the grotto

The SVD-ALS - this is the SVD-Alternative Learning System located at the former Arnoldus Dispensary Building (at the main gate). This is a program for the out-of-school youth, mostly from Tagaytay. On its first year, the program is now serving 124 learners who are being prepared to take the Department of Education's e Accreditation and Equivalency tests. The site coordinator is Fr. Randy Flores, SVD, working with 3 SVD deacons and 3 teachers. Click also here.

And of course, to buy the album - SVD Complines and Vespers (centennial edition) - limited copies so make it sure you buy you have your own personal copy before you leave. The sung prayers are not only nostalgic but also are useful prayers for people on the go - you can listen and prayer in your car, in your mp3s, and wherever you are--so you won't miss your evening prayers.

This album "SVD Complines and Vespers"--prayers sung during Saturday nights and Sunday evenings at Divine Word Seminary chapel (composed by Bishop Cinches and Bishop Bastes) is now out in the market. You can now buy your copies of the centennial limited edition (with Jubilate) at Christ the King Seminary Store, Catholic Trade Manila, Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay; or you can write an email to me rrandy33@yahoo.com or text Fr. Raul Caga 09282756270. Price per album with musical notes (Jubilate)= P500.00.

Tomorrow (17 August, Monday) is also the start of the sports, academic, and cultural fest of the DWS students' association or DWSTSA (Divine Word School of Theology Students' Association) which will have its culmination on the Alumni/Alumnae Homecoming on Aug 20.

SVD Abra Mission a gift to the Philippines: Father General at Mass in Christ the King Seminary

2009-08-14T22:52:00.011+08:00

4:00 PM, August 14, 2009
Quezon City, Philippines

"The SVD Abra Mission was the Founder's gift to the Philippines." This was how the ninth superior general of the SVD, Fr. Antonio Pernia, understands the special "love" of St. Arnold Janssen to the Philippine mission. In his homily at the mass which he presided at the chapel of Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City, Fr. Pernia, revealed that the Founder and the first superior general "fought hard for it against his council which was intent on sending missionaries only to non-Christian countries." Please scroll down to read the rest of the homily of the Father Pernia.

Former SVDs Ed de la Torre and Jun Falafox

The Superior General and actress
and SVD friend Chin Chin Gutierrez (who sang the Magnificat at the mass)

Seen at the concelebration were bishops--Arturo Bastes, SVD; Deogracias Iniguez; Isao Kikuchi, SVD (Japan); provincials--Jerome Adriatico (SVD Northern Province), Jojo Magadia (Jesuit provincial), Sebio Manangbao (SVD Kenya), and Nielo Cantilado (SVD Central Province).

Fr. Sebio Manangbao-SVD provincial of Kenya; SVD friend Dhel Ngo, and Fr. Nico Espinosa, SVD (Colombia)

This mass was part of the series of celebrations and gatherings for the 100 years of the SVD presence in the Philippines (1909-2009) which began last night with a prayer concert called "Experience 100" at the San Juan Arena attended by Father Pernia himself and more than 3000 people composed mostly of students and parishioners under the care of the SVDs in Manila and Cavite (Manila District).

Other activities related to the centennial of the SVD will be done in the following places:
August 15, 2009 – Grand Alumni Homecoming, Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City organized by XVDs.
August 16, 2009 – Celebrations at Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, BoholAugust 18-19,
2009 – Celebrations in Cebu City.
August 18-19, 2009 – Celebrations in Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City organized by the Divine Word Seminary Students’ Association.
August 20, 2009 - SVD Homecoming in Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay City.

August 21-23, 2009 - Celebrations in Abra

Aug 21, 7 PM - Welcome program in Penarubbia
Aug 22, 8 AM - Motorcade around Bangued 9 AM - Mass led by Nuncio at Bangued Cathedral12 noon - Lunch 7 PM - Cultural show at DWCB
Aug 23, 9 AM - Mass at San Isidro with Fr. General, followed by lunch; departure afterwards

November 13, 2009 SVD Mission Awards at St. Jude Catholic School. please click here for more info.
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In the Heart of Arnold Janssen:
Homily of Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD Superior General at the Mass in Christ the King Seminary

My dear Confreres and Friends,
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

The gospel reading today paints a picture of Mary travelling in haste to the hill country, to a town in Judah, to visit her cousin Elizabeth and share with her the good news of the marvelous things God had done for her. Mary experienced the hospitality of Elizabeth's home and she stayed with her about three months.

Today we gather to remember the first two SVD missionaries, travelling in haste, like Mary, over the seas of the Indian ocean, moved by the call to share with the Filipino people the good news of the marvelous things God had done for humanity. Fr. Luis Beckert came from China, where he had been a missionary for six years. Fr. Juan Scheiermann came from Europe, where he had just been ordained a priest. The two met in Hongkong and travelled together by a steamer to the Philippines, arriving in Manila, a hundred years ago, on August 15, 1909.

What they found when they arrived was probably not exactly what Mary found in the house of Elizabeth. Everything must have been strange, for they knew no one personally. They were met at the pier by a CICM father, Fr. Moral, who took them to the residence of the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Agius, with whom they lodged. Four days afterwards, they resumed their journey to Vigan, and from Vigan to Abra, on two bamboo rafts. In Abra, from Bangued to Pilar, which is now San Isidro, on horseback, arriving at noon on August 23, 1909, exactly eight days after they set foot on Philippine soil. The history books describe that memorable day in the following words:

Accompanied by Bishop Carroll and dean Bartolome Espiritu, the two newcomers, Fr. Beckert and Fr. Scheiermann, rode into the hinterland along, narrow paths. Toward noon they entered Pilar ... the Capitan and some people had put in their appearance to welcome them. After a short rest, Bishop Carroll took his leave at three in the afternoon. Now the two missionaries were all alone among strangers in a rented bamboo house. The church was in a lamentable condition, nothing but a wretched shed with a grass roof. No doubt it was a rough and hard beginning.

Perhaps not much of a hospitality as Mary found in Elizabeth's house — although, in the course of time, that hospitality became an everyday reality as the two missionaries, and the later generations of missionaries, learned the language and culture of the people and became one with them. Thus began what was known at that time as the "SVD Abra Mission".
But perhaps the real beginning is to be found in the heart of the Founder, St. Arnold Janssen, a few years earlier — in May 1904, when the idea of an SVD mission in the Philippines was first brought to his attention, or in September 1907 when he and the general council finally decided to send missionaries to Abra. This was a mission the Founder loved. He fought for it against his council which was intent on sending missionaries only to non-Christian countries. He carefully organized the sending of the first missionaries. He handpicked the first two missionaries for this new mission. Unfortunately, the fragility of his health overtook the departure of the first missionaries to the Philippines. The Founder died in Steyl exactly seven months before the first two missionaries, different from the ones he had chosen, arrived in Manila.

The "SVD Abra Mission" was the Founder's gift to the Philippines. It had a small and humble beginning. Two missionaries to start with and a few more in the following years. But over the last one hundred years, the Abra Mission has grown into what we now call the "Philippine SVD", consisting of three provinces with some 460 members, engaged in a variety of apostolates and ministries — parishes and missions, schools and universities, formation houses and retreat centers, the biblical and communication apostolates; ministry with indigenous peoples, street children, trafficked women, the poor and marginalized, and the Filipino-Chinese community. Today we count some 530 Filipino Divine Word missionaries, the fourth largest national group in the whole Society of the Divine Word. About a 160 of them (or close to a third) work as missionaries in other lands, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with people of other nations, cultures, and languages.

If the "SVD Abra Mission" was the Founder's gift to the Philippines, the "Philippine SVD" is the Philippines gift back to the Founder. It is said that when the Founder celebrated his 70th birthday on November 5, 1907, one of the well-wishers was dressed up as a Filipino and was made to deliver a speech to the Founder, welcoming the first two missionaries who had already been appointed for the Philippines. Perhaps the Founder never imagined that that boy was but a prelude to the many Filipino SVD missionaries who now share his vision and follow his charism. Neither did the Founder ever imagine that, a hundred years later, his ninth successor as superior general would be a Filipino. In 1907, the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Agius told Fr. Eberhard Limbrock, the SVD Prefect Apostolic of Papua New Guinea, who was on a visit to the country: "I feel that God wants you here. Your mission in the Philippines will be a success and will call down many blessings on your Society".

This exchange of gifts between Arnold Janssen and the Philippines is like the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth in the gospel reading today. Mary visits Elizabeth, and Elizabeth hails Mary as the mother of the Lord. And blessings come upon both, and they erupt in praise of the Lord, for the favor they had found with God. In a similar way, Arnold Janssen sends missionaries to Abra, and the Filipinos give back to the SVD missionaries a hundredfold. And God's blessings come upon both, the SVD and the Philippines. And together, today, we erupt in praise of the Lord.

Our soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; And our spirit rejoices in God our savior. For he has looked upon us, his lowly servants, and has done great things for us and through us. Holy is his name.

Dear confreres and friends, everything is grace. Today, as we look over the hundred years of SVD presence in the country, we do see the great work and self-sacrificing efforts of our pioneer missionaries, on the one hand, and the generous response and ready collaboration of the people, on the other. But always at the horizon was God's grace, making fruitful what sometimes were failed efforts of the missionaries and making joyful what often was a timid response of the people. Today, then, we celebrate not just the self-sacrificing efforts of our pioneer missionaries, not just the generous response of the people, but above all, God's abundant grace and abiding love.

Dear confreres in the SVD, if Fr. Beckert and our pioneer missionaries survived the difficult first years in Abra, it was not only because of their selfless dedication and commitment, but also because of their reliance on the generosity of the people and, above all, their faith in God's unfailing grace and love. These are three attitudes which we need to renew in ourselves today — selfless dedication to mission, reliance on the generosity of the people, and abiding faith in God. And we, who are heirs of the missionary project begun by our pioneer missionaries a hundred years ago, can hope to bring it forward and make it bear even more abundant fruit only if we can match their missionary zeal and spirit.

And so, today, as we gather in thanksgiving to remember and rejoice, let us renew our missionary vocation, our commitment to follow the Divine Word,

to be disciples — chaste, poor, obedient, immersed in the life of the Trinity;
called, like Saint Arnold, to imitate the Word made flesh in self-emptying,
to follow Jesus Christ through cross and resurrection, in suffering and joy.

Only then can we truly make "His life our life and His mission our mission". And only then can we pay true tribute to Arnold Janssen and our pioneer missionaries. Only then can our celebration of the Philippine SVD Centennial find true meaning.

Dear confreres and friends, the Philippine SVD Centennial is an event not just of the SVD Philippine Provinces but of the entire Society of the Divine Word. Today, I stand here to represent not just the SVD general council in Rome, but indeed the whole SVD all over the world. My presence here today is meant to give expression to what the entire family of the Society of the Divine Word wishes to say to you today: "We rejoice with you. We celebrate with you. We give thanks to God with you". Congratulations, and may God bless us all!
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On personal note, I'd like to thank those whom I met at the reception who told me they follow this blog and miss it when not updated. Those remarks keep this little service going.

Incidentally, the album "SVD Complines and Vespers"--prayers sung during Saturday nights and Sunday evenings at Divine Word Seminary chapel (composed by Bishop Cinches and Bishop Bastes) is now out in the market. You can now buy your copies of the centennial limited edition (with Jubilate) at Christ the King Seminary Store, Catholic Trade Manila, Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay; or you can write an email to me rrandy33@yahoo.com or text Fr. Raul Caga 09282756270. Price per album with musical notes (Jubilate)= P500.00.

For sample tracks, click here.

Two SVD Scholastics Renew Vows

2009-08-07T04:26:00.007+08:00

Here's the homily of Fr. Jerome Marquez, vice-provincial of SVD Philippine Central Province and director of St. Jude Catholic School. The occasion is the renewal of SVD vows of two chinese seminarians (names and pictures withheld) on the Feast of Transfiguration (6 August 2009).

The homily reinterprets the initial difficulties of foreign student-seminarians as a commitment to the Cross (and "rose" to use Cory's word) in the life of a religious-missionary. Such life demands living the vows in the social context of the country in which one is called to live.

Feast of Transfiguration (Mk 9: 2-10)
Renewal of Vows Homily: Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD

Cory Aquino: Truly Catholic, Truly Filipino

Yesterday’s event was another defining moment for the late President Cory Aquino and the Filipino people. I was at DZMM Teleradyo for the 9-11AM broadcast of the funeral mass at the Cathedral. I joined the broadcast because it was my little way of thanking Tita Cory. I also wanted our young people to see a model of leadership that can truly be emulated. I believe Cory’s life is a testimony of how one can truly be Catholic and truly be Filipino. Indeed, she made me feel proud again being a Catholic Filipino.

When the mass ended, I rushed my way to the route of the procession and so I went to Osmena hiway in Manila. We parked along the road near a community of informal settlers hidden by the MMDA’s Metro Gwapo. I became one with the multitude of urban settlers, those coming out from their narrow shacks and alleys, enjoyed the downpour of rain and confetti, manifested Laban signs and chanted for the last time the name of our icon…Cory, Cory, Cory! To most of us, we came out beyond curiosity. It was our last glimpse to the woman we all want to pay our respect. But deeply, I was moved by the jubilant spirit of the crowd. I saw and was part of how truly the Filipino people can love and say its “salamat and paalam”.

Yes today, we have renewal of religious vows of two confreres from China. The timing merges with this special historical moment when we are defining what Cory stood for and how this country can move further after being touched by Cory’s magic. And maybe we, as SVD religious and communities, begin to reflect more profoundly - what renewal is needed as a missionary and religious institution in the Philippines, after remembering and rejoicing this gift of 100 years.

Renewal of our Radical Following of Jesus

Virgil Howard and David Peabody, both scriptural scholars, find several traits in the gospel story that are drawn from the Old Testament: six days and the high mountain from Exodus, the dazzling garments from book of Daniel, the figures of Elijah and Moses, and mention of tents as in “booths” in Leviticus. However, through all these images and details, the gospel leads us to its main point: Jesus himself and the revelation of him as God’s Son. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him”. This message is given secretly to the inner core disciples of Jesus. It is a knowledge that is supposed to define their understanding of Jesus the Messiah who will later meet his passion, death and resurrection.

Profession of Vows as Second "Baptism"
As Jesus is the central image on this transfiguration story, he is the same central person in consecrated life. The very foundation of this calling and this free and total self-donation to God is to seek a closer following and imitation of the chaste, poor, and obedient Christ. Profession of vows is seen therefore like a second baptism. We are more profoundly incorporated into Christ and into the life of the Church. In this renewal of vows, we re-commit to insert ourselves into the paschal mystery of Christ that life of suffering, death, and resurrection. Following the spirit of the 16th General Chapter, “Jesus is our model par excellence of prophetic dialogue”. Thus our SVD identity grows more from this relationship and from the example of the incarnate Divine Word. His identity and mission are discovered in dialogue with the Father; in dialogue with the people he lived with, and in dialogue with the socio-political reality of the people of Galilee (see In Dialogue with the Word No. 7-September 2007, pp 22-23).

To be an SVD implies making incarnate this same practice of Jesus in our religious and evangelizing communities. Far from being absorbed by our theological studies, weekly apostolate and community living, we need to cultivate more the centrality of this dialogue with God in our daily living. It may be one of the good reasons why our Pink Sisters have been attracting local tourists to visit their cloistered chapels. They are branded as a praying community. It is their best witness to the world – their dialogue with God. The same Jesus in dialogue leads us to see the need for real respect on the experiences of people we serve. Such is the attitude of an SVD in true dialogue, which is not just another pastoral activity but an “attitude of solidarity, respect and love” (Gaudium et Spes 3).

One of the things I asked from Saint Jude Catholic School as a Director is to lead students and teachers into a life in solidarity with people. Yes, the school gives donations every year. But more than the power of our purse, I also felt a more transforming need on the power of our students to be in solidarity with the poor. So the Chinese Filipinos will also be less afraid that they are “kidnappable” and to erase a notion that the poor are only interested on what they can get from them materially. So our students and personnel started to share where they are best at: to educate. They started visiting alternative learning system communities in Dasmarinas, Bacoor, and Palawan. They started offering for our weekly Saturday masses only school supplies. They started tutoring out-of-school learners into what they truly have and can truly share: their competence in Math, Science and English. They started exchanging stories, texts, and life. Indeed, education is not just within the corners of the classroom. Education means transforming one’s attitude towards humanity.

This renewal of vows means a lot to us. It demands our re-commitment to Christ himself and our renewal to the commitments of Christ. In a special way, we SVDs commit ourselves to our preferred dialogue partners: the poor and marginalized those from other faiths and faith seekers, other religions and ideologies, and those from other cultures. Most of the time, I, too, ask myself, “Have I truly loved and followed you, Lord, through the SVD way?” And my most honest response is: NOT AT ALL TIMES, LORD. But, please, still give me a chance to love and follow you in the SVD preferred way. And that is why I emulate Cory. For her life of selflessness and sacrifice are all rooted on God who is her bedrock. In his homily yesterday for the funeral, Fr. Catalino Arevalo says, “Cory’s greatest strength is her faith”. To me, such is an act of true consecration. Total abandonment of one’s life and one’s will to God. Such is the also core of a life of a missionary. When we allow God to lead us to whom we are called to serve, especially to commit our life to whom the SVDs prefer to serve.
Renewal of our Commitment to the Cross
I remember last year, there were discussions on the difficulties of Chinese seminarians here in Tagaytay. Some former OTPers from Taiwan, specifically Fathers Roland Aquino and Ricardo Miranda, had to sit down with the Chinese seminarians on the status of their academic studies and cultural integration into DWST and the Philippines. I remember our SVD-St. Jude community even inviting these young seminarians to dine with us. We went to an excellent Chinese restaurant along Roxas Boulevard and offered them to eat whatever they like, whatever you missed back home. Well, they ordered noodles. They also ordered Mantou. I saw how you relished the Chinese food as we all enjoyed that supper with you. But for us from Saint Jude community, that invitation simply means -we want you to persevere. We want to send the message that we know you are struggling. We cannot take away the struggles from you, but you have fellow SVDs who journey and pray with you.

We know English language is a struggle, even theology students of San Carlos seminary and UST struggle with it; we know learning the Filipino culture is a struggle, even Malacanang had to argue why they chose Carlo Caparas as a national artist. We know your theological studies in Tagaytay is a struggle, well if you do not struggle with your scripture professors (like Father Randy Flores), then I doubt if they truly loved you at all.

The point here is that suffering is integral in following Christ and in doing his mission. If I will say there is no cross, then it will a big lie. Because for sure, not everything will be okay in living and doing mission. For us, the cross is a reality in community living and mission life. Be patient. I think we can learn much from Tita Cory about her attitude on suffering. Fr. Arevalo mentioned that Cory gave her a painting of crosses and roses. Around the 7 crosses, which refer to the 7 months and 7 weeks of Ninoy in incarceration and the 7 coup attempts against her presidency, she also painted many roses around it. For Cory, crosses and roses make her life more meaningful. So she said, ”I can’t complain”.

But by the fruits of your patience, the good signs are coming. I heard the Chinese seminarians talking with more confidence in English. You are smiling more and joking more. You are becoming more involved in apostolate and spending more time being with people. Moreover, your professors passed you from their subjects, not by an act of charity and mercy but by the merits of your performance which makes it just and fair to all. Yes suffering for us mean, just being patient on what God wants us in life. It is not magical. Just take it and trust that God will accompany us.

I wish to end by quoting Canon 607 which tells us about the nature and end of religious life: “As a consecration of the whole person, religious life manifests in the Church a wonderful marriage brought about by God, a sign of the future age. Thus the religious brings to perfection a total self-giving as a sacrifice offered to God, through which his or her whole existence becomes a continuous worship of God in charity.”
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Year for Priests Launched

Earlier (3:00 pm), the Year for Priests was launched in the Diocese of Imus was inauguirated with the mass at the Lourdes Church presided by Bishop Chito Tagle attended by the Imus clergy, members of the Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA), and representatives of the different parishes nearby.
In his homily, Bishop Chito encouraged the priests, in the presence of a huge congregation, to "listen to him" (Jesus), same words used in the today's Gospel (Transiguration): "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" (Mark 9:7).

SVD-ALS bid "Salamat at Paalam Tita Cory"

2009-08-05T17:32:00.019+08:00

It's 9:00 pm, Wednesday of August 5, 2009. The whole nation has just witnessed the burial of Cory Aquino--wife of Ninoy, restorer of freedom, and woman of "unwavering faith" (words from Pope Benedict XVI). It was a touching moment, after 8 hours of slow and emotion-filled procession from the Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park (in Sucat, Paranaque). The Funeral Mass earlier was equally moving, especially with the homily of Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ ("dean" of Filipino theologians, and Cory's spiritual adviser). Without her undeserved sufferings ("crosses and roses" as Cory had called them), "the essential Cory," Fr. Arevalo said, "is not revealed." Indeed, "many are sorrows of the just" (Psalm 34:20). For the video of the homily of Fr. Arevalo, click here.

We were also there, under the rain and more rain-- SVD-ALS were there at Roxas Blvd to say thank you and goodbye to this most beautiful Filipina, beautiful even in death.

The SVD-ALS stands for the Alternative Learning System for 124 out-of-school youth hosted by Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay (started last March 2009).

The ALS is a non-formal education program of the Philippine Government’s Department of Education. It prepares, among others, out-of-school youths or drop-outs/leavers to take the Accreditation and Equivalency test by undergoing the Learning Support Delivery System (LSDS), a learning intervention designed to equip the prospective test takers with the necessary competencies to prepare them for the test. Successful test takers receive certification of learning achievements at two learning levels – Elementary and Secondary – that is comparable to the formal school system.

SVD-ALS is located at the Arnoldus Dispensary building. It is run by one full-time teacher—Ms. Olive Tolentino and two volunteers—Ms. Ritchelle Razon and Ms. Perla Costa. The site coordinator is Fr. Randolf C. Flores, SVD and is assisted by three SVD deacons—Severo Biton, Jr., Dante Barril, and Ferdinand Bajao. SVD-ALS is supervised by Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation (SEC Registration no. A200116743 approved on 07 Nov. 2001) which runs 7 LSDS centers in the country.

"The Aquino government after the People Power Revolution, enacted Executive Order No. 117 in 1987 to create the Bureau of Nonformal Education. Article 14, section 2(4) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution stated: 'The state shall encourage nonformal, formal, indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent and out-of-school study programs, particularly those that respond to community needs; and provide adult citizens, the disabled and out-of school youth training in civics, vocational efficiency and other skills.'"

It is for this reason that I brought our our-of-school youth to Roxas Blvd to thank the Lord for President Cory Aquino, the "bearer of freedom" (including freedom from "kamangmangan").

Click here for more pictures

Mass and Rosary for Cory Aquino in Tagaytay City

2009-07-29T08:36:00.004+08:00

From: Fr. Randy Flores, SVD (TRA Chairperson)
What: Thursday Mass and Rosary for President Cory in Tagaytay
Mass Presider: Bishop Chito Tagle

To: Members of the Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) and Consecrated Life Association in Imus (CLAIM); rectors and mother superiors of seminaries and convents in Tagaytay and its environs; seminarians, brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Tagaytay Religious Association and the Divine Word School of Theology Students’ Association (DWSTSA) are organizing a mass and rosary for our beloved Madame Cory Aquino, former President of the Philippines and wife of Ninoy. This mass with rosary is offered to thank God for the gift of Cory, the freedom she helped brought back to our country, and the witness of a Christian life. We also hope that our gathering would remind our leaders—in Tagaytay City—their duty of selfless and honest service to the people, to the poor most especially; and at the same time inspire the youth to emulate Cory’s examples of courage, fear of God, and simplicity.

The details of the day are as follows:
Date: July 30, 2009 – Thursday
Place: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Silang Crossing, Tagaytay City (for the Mass) and Ninoy Aquino Statue at Rotunda (for the Rosary)
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm.
Mass Celebrant: Bishop Chito Tagle
What to bring: rosary, umbrella, and candle
After the mass, we shall have a procession to the Ninoy Aquino statue at the Rotunda then pray the rosary there. The gathering ends with Salve Regina and blessing.

This is our collective way to thank Cory and the pray for her at the most critical moment of her life. So, please come. Thank you for your presence.

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD - TRA Chairperson

Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines Holds Annual Convention with Leading Biblical Scholar

2009-07-15T21:00:00.014+08:00

The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) will hold its 9th annual convention at PHINMA Convention Center, Tagaytay City from July 17-19 2009. The convention gathers together around 60 biblical scholars, professors, and observers from all over the country.

CBAP is also celebrating its 10th year foundation anniversary and thus chose the theme for this convention: "Return with tenfold zeal" (Baruch 4:28).

The keynote speakers are Prof. James H. Charlesworth of Princeton Theological Seminary and Sr. Miriam Alendrino, OSB, Dean of Studies of the Redemptorist Seminary in Davao City and invited professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay City.

Prof. Charlesworth will deliver a paper with the title: "Did the Serpent Deceive Eve?" The Princeton scholar has just published The Good and Evil Serpent: How a Universal Symbol Became Christianized (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, 2009). Charlesworth is, of course, the famous editor of the the two-volume Old Testmanent Pseudepigrapha and an authority of the Dead Sea Scrolls. For further information on him, please click here.

Sr. Miriam's paper is on the Prologue of the Gospel of John. She holds a licentiate in Sacred Scripture (SSL) from the Biblicum in Rome and doctorate (on the Book of Judges) from the Gregorian University (Rome). Besides teaching, she is also very much involved in the biblical apostolate and much sought-after speaker on biblical themes.

The workshop speakers are (1) Pastor Noli Mendoza, faculty member of Asian Theological Seminary, who will talk on the Prophet Jeremiah; (2) Fr. Freddie Billanes (SSL Rome) of St. Pius X Seminary (Capiz) -- on the penitent criminal in Luke; and (3) Mr. Mike Lapid, a banker from Pampanga and graduate student of Divine Word Seminary (Tagaytay)--on Paul's Letter to the Philippians.

At the opening mass, Ms. Chin Chin Gutierrez (actress) will sing "Whispers of the New World" composed by Fr. Nicolas Sengson, SVD and lyrics written by well-loved former member of CBAP, the late Fr. Anthony Ceresko, OSFS.

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, will be the main celebrant and homilist at the concluding mass on Sunday (19 July) at 11:00 am.

CBAP executive director is Fr. Herb Schneider, SJ; head of organizing committee is Fr. Leander Barrot, OAR; and the current president is Fr. Randy Flores, SVD.

SVD MISSION AWARDS PRESS STATEMENT

2009-07-13T00:37:00.001+08:00

SVD MISSION AWARDS PRESS STATEMENT
JULY 13, 2009
Launching of the
Nationwide SEARCH FOR SVD MISSION AWARDEES

As a part of the SVD Philippines’ 100 year celebration this year, a number of Centennial Awards called the “SVD MISSIONS AWARD” will be given. The SVD Philippine Central Province and St. Jude Catholic School are currently working on a “nationwide search” giving special awards the SVD Mission Awards, to individuals, groups or institutions who have shared our SVD mission in the country in the last 100 years, directly or indirectly.

These awards are meant to recognize, honor and thank those who, over the past century, have most embodied the tremendous spirit of the "Christian Mission Commitment" to what the SVDs call "prophetic dialogue" spelled out as: "dialogue with the poor and marginalized, faith seekers or no faith community, other religious traditions or secular ideologies, and local culture." The SVD MISSION AWARDS was created to highlight and perpetuate shining examples of exceptional commitment, dedication and contributed extraordinary living witness to the Divine Word of God.

The Awardees will be honored in St. Jude Catholic School with a banquet on Wednesday Nov 13, 2009 and be presented with a framed certificate of recognition, an SVD Missions Awards Plaque, and a P50,00.00 cash reward.
SVD Mission Awards are given in six categories:

1. The Divine Word Award is presented to an individual who has made an exemplary mission contribution.
2. The Communio Award is presented to a group, institution or community which made an outstanding mission contribution.
3. The Abra Mission Award is presented to an individual, group or institution that made a significant contribution for the Province of Abra where the SVD began its mission 100 years ago.
4. The Father Peter Yang Award is presented to an individual, group or institution that has significantly contributed to the mission for the Chinese community in the Philippines.
5. The Vivat Cor Iesu Award is presented to an SVD-initiated, led or administered group, community or institution that has made a significant contribution for mission.
6. The Saint Arnold Janssen Award is presented to an SVD missionary priest or brother who has made a significant contribution for mission.

For a copy of the Nomination Form and more information on the Nomination Process, please visit www.svd-awards.org

Submission Deadline of SVD MISSION AWARDS Nomination is on August 30, 2009.

SVD Mission Awards

2009-07-12T04:47:00.006+08:00

Former classmates in the SVD, Fathers Jerome Marquez and Joey Sepe; SVD confreres Fathers Bobby Ebisa and Aris Martin; and I (Fr. Randy Flores, SVD) are currently working on giving special awards--the SVD Mission Awards--to individuals, groups or institutions who have shared our SVD mission in the country in the last 100 years, directly or indirectly. In the name of the SVD Philippine Central Province and St. Jude Catholic School (near Malacanang), we would like to thank these people or groups who have shown exemplary "mission commitment" to what we call "prophetic dialogue" spelled out as: "dialogue with the poor and marginalized, faith seekers or no faith community, other religious traditions or secular ideologies, and local culture."

The awardees will be honored in St. Jude Catholic School with a banquet on Nov 13, 2009 and be presented with a framed certificate of recognition, an SVD Missions Awards Plaque, and a P50,00.00 cash reward.

SVD Mission Awards Categories are the following:

The Divine Word Award is presented to an individual who has made an exemplary mission contribution.
The Communio Award is presented to a group, institution or community which made an outstanding mission contribution.
The Abra Mission Award is presented to an individual, group or institution that made a significant contribution for the Province of Abra where SVD began its misson 100 years ago.
The Father Peter Yang Award is presented to an individual, group or institution that has significantly contributed to the mission for the Chinese in the Philippines.
The Vivat Cor Iesu Award is presented to an SVD-initiated, led or administered group, community or institution that has made a significant contribution for mission.
The Saint Arnold Janssen Award is presented to an SVD missionary priest or brother who has made a significant contribution for mission.

You can download here the nomination form. Deadline of submission is on August 30, 2009.
For more information on the nomination process. please visit www,svd-awards.org

CD Album - SVD Night Prayers and Vespers

2009-07-08T02:20:00.001+08:00

Soon to come out from Divine Word Seminary, - on the occasion of the 100 years of SVD Philippines. Limited copies, please place your order to Fr. Raul 09282756270 / raulsvd@yahoo.com. The following are sample tracks:
Track 04 - Day is Done
Track 09 - Nunc Dimittis
Track 12 - Hail, Holy Queen
Track 37 - O Loving Mother
Track 40 - Blest be the Lord
Choir includes the Provincial (Fr. Nielo), the Rector of DWST (Fr. Fred), and other SVDs. Recorded at ARCOM Tagaytay, executive producer--Fr. Raul under Logos Publications, musical director--Nez Marcelo.
Click here SVD Night Prayers and Vespers

Professor James H. Charlesworth lectures at Divine Word Seminary

2009-07-08T01:46:00.003+08:00

Should the Gospel of John be used in Reconstructing Jesus’ Life and Thought?
A Theological Symposium with Professor James H. Charlesworth

Venue: Divine Word Seminary
SVD Road, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Date: July 17, 2009 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Tel. no: 046-4131253 // Text: 09273909863
Email: rrandy33@yahoo.com

Professor James H. Charlesworth is Princeton Theological Seminary’s George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and director and editor of the Seminary’s Dead Sea Scrolls Project. He holds a B.D. from Duke Divinity School, a Ph.D. from Duke University Graduate School, and an E.T. (Elève Titulaire) from the Ecole Biblique de Jerusalem. He is a Fellow of the Norwegian Royal Academy. An ordained Methodist minister, Charlesworth is active in the United Methodist Church Greek Orthodox and Methodist Symposia and directs the Syrus Sinaiticus Project at St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai. His academic interests include the Dead Sea Scrolls, apocryphal works, the historical Jesus, the Gospel of John, and the Revelation of John. He teaches courses on the relationship between the Jesus traditions in the gospels and the theologies of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the life and thought of Jesus of Nazareth, the Old Testament in the New, the Gospel and Epistles of John, and the Hebrew and Theology of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Major Publications

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, 2 vols. (1984–1985)
Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Doubleday, 1992, 1995)
The Beloved Disciple (Trinity Press International, 1995)
The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls, 3 vols. (Baylor University Press, 2006)
The Serpent: A Symbol of Life or Death? (Anchor Bible Reference Library, 2006)
The Historical Jesus (Abingdon Press Essential Guides, 2008)
The Good and Evil Serpent: How a Universal Symbol Became Christianized (Yale University, 2009)

The symposium is hosted by Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay City in honor of the 100 years of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in the Philippines and sponsored by the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) which is celebrating its 10th foundation anniversary.

Fr. Randolf C. Flores, SVD
President, Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines

CD Album - SVD Night Prayers and Vespers

2009-06-07T19:42:00.002+08:00