Saturday, July 30, 2011

Mang Inasal opens store in Calbayog

Mang Inasal opened its Calbayog branch last Thursday.

I got an invitation to the affair, sadly they misspelled my name . . .

. . . smile! it's a weekend!

Oliver and Janice

Oliver Abrigo and Janice Obong got married today. Msgr. Francisco Cinco III presided over their wedding mass at the St. James the Greater Parish Church in Sta. Margarita. Reception was held at the Sta. Margarita Covered Court.

Monday, July 25, 2011

in memoriam Bishop Miguel Acebedo

(photo courtesy of the Diocese of Calbayog)

Today we commemorate the 42nd Death Anniversary of

the 3rd Bishop of Calbayog

a priest for 32.3 years
a bishop for 20.3 years


Born: September 29, 1901 Palo
Ordained Priest: March 20, 1926
Appointed: December 16, 1937 Bishop of Calbayog,
Ordained Bishop: March 25, 1938 Bishop of Calbayog
Died: July 25, 1958 Bishop of Calbayog

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Saturday, July 16, 2011

images from my old hometown

Let me give you something to smile about this weekend. It's a picture I took more than a year ago. It's that of a group of ladies on the sidewalk near a local drugstore and doing something which looks like panhinguto. Smile! It's a weekend.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Mayor Aquino's speech during the Anniversary of St. Camillus Hospital

(Mayor Onald Aquino was invited to deliver a message during the Anniversary Celebration of St. Camillus Hospital. A meeting with the DILG Secretary and with the LCP prevented him from being present in the said event. I was instructed to read this message on his behalf)

I am pleased to be part of the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the St. Camillus Hospital. The people of Calbayog are one thanking the Almighty for this grace that He has bestowed upon all of us.

If my memory serves me right, I was the officer-in-charge when the hospital was inaugurated. Mrs. Imelda Marcos was among the VIPs present. Weeks after the inauguration, I welcomed the Ambassador and Fr. Galvani at the Mayor’s Office. And I don’t know how accurate this story is: that the hospital came to be because of a bottle of wine.

Word has it that then Bishop Maximiano Cruz was trying to get some info on what wine to serve to the Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni who was slated to visit the Diocese of Calbayog. Enter Fr. Luigi Galvani, add in the late Msgr. Basilio Rosales, and we had the Camillians to Calbayog and then, this hospital.

Certainly, that search for the correct wine has come a long way in serving the people of Calbayog and the people of Samar.

Tonight’s anniversary celebration is but proper. It’s time to pause and thank the Almighty. In our case, we thank Him for this “gift of the Camillian community in Calbayog”. It’s time for you to look at how much good you have offered to the people in the community you are in. And as you do that, do ponder upon the long road ahead, that road characterized by more service to the people. And yes, for you, the St. Camillus Hospital to have existed this long, you must be certainly doing something good.

But more than the stories and the socials and trivia attached with the history of the hospital, there is one important aspect that one has to look into – that through the years St. Camillus Hospital has cared for the poor-sick of Calbayog “the way a mother cares for her only sick child”. The Local Government Unit of Calbayog can attest to that. The hospital has become one of our partners - a patient partner - if I may add, (patient nga pasensyoso, dire pasyente) in our effort to answer the health needs of the less-fortunate Calbayognons.

As we salute you on your anniversary, we look forward to more years of fruitful partnerships with St. Camillus Hospital and the Camillian community.

Again, on behalf of the City of Calbayog, I extend my Congratulations and wish for a meaningful anniversary celebration.

Salamat ug maupay nga gab-i sa atun ngatanan!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

St. Camillus Hospital is 15 years old

St. Camillus Hospital is 15 years old. Today's celebration will be highlighted by a Thanksgiving Mass to be presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez.

A photo of Fr. James Roa (the Medical Director) with the St. Camillus Hospital staff. (photo taken from the St. Camillus Hospital website)

A copy of tonight's anniversary program

Friday, July 08, 2011

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Gov. Tan confident there will be no recall election in Samar

(This news report appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Tacloban City - Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed her confidence that there will be no recall election in the province.

Tan said that she is banking on the assurance of her lawyers who told her that with the long process for a recall petition to succeed, deadline will catch those who are pushing for the recall election. (read more . . . )

Sunday, July 03, 2011

A Bishop's message

Here's the complete text of the message delivered by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez during the fraternal agape held after the installation ceremony for Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm as the 3rd President of Christ the King College

==========================

Rev. Fr. Roberto M. Bayaras, OFM Custos, Custody of St. Anthony of Padua, Rev. Fr. Marcelo Oliveros Tubac, OFM 3rd President of Christ the King College, Honorable Mayor Ronald Aquino together with his Vice Mayor Rey James Uy, Brother-Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Dr. Florita Calesa, Vice President for Academic Affairs, CKC Faculty Members, Guests, Brothers and Sisters in Christ the King.

It is on solemn occasions such as this one that one can feel the throbbing life of an institution. The solemn conferment of an authority is nothing less than a passage from life to life, or a shift of a burden from one pair of shoulders to another. Change always involves risk but it is also a sure sign of stability, for no one can indeed shape reality with the hammer of change but only if it is set upon the solid lap of an anvil.

I congratulate Fr. Marcelo Oliveros Tubac, OFM on his election to the Presidency of Christ the King College. I congratulate the outgoing administration as well, for preserving the stability that makes this transition possible. Above all, I congratulate the men and women who make up the Christ the King College – keepers of the standard of excellence that this great institution has always symbolized.

At this juncture, may I invite you to reflect on Knowledge and Virtue, Faith and Reason. Education cannot be the mere accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge must the directed towards formation in virtues, just as virtue must dispose the seekers to the acquisition of more knowledge.

In this modern day and age, there has been an ever – widening dichotomy between knowledge and virtue. The age of information has led to progress in communications technology. Yet, while distance and time have become foreshortened to turn the world into global village, the village has fallen short of becoming a true Christian community. Instead of greater understanding between and among peoples, there is now an increased sense of insecurity and animosity.

Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived. Knowledge without virtue is mere technique and information. We do not need to attend college to learn technique and get information. We can learn technique from manuals. Television can give us the information we need. Unless an institution of learning, like Christ the King College, can show its ability to form its students in virtue, it is nothing but a diploma mill. If all a college does is cram its students full of knowledge- no matter how to up-to-date – without forming them in virtue, it is only producing mindless and artless citizens- persons capable of counting but not valuing, of comprehending but not understanding, of communicating but not engaging in dialogue.

This, then, is my challenge for you today as leading institution of learning in the Diocese of Calbayog. “Duc in Altum” meaning “Put out into the deep”. Turn this college into not just an institution of learning but also into venue of information.

I challenge you then, who are working in this venerable institution: be witness of the Christ the King. Let His kingship reign in your hearts and families, let His kingship reign in your classrooms and offices, les His kingship reign in this community and campus and let His kingship reign in our City, Province and Diocese.

As you begin again another school year, may I invite you to examine your Catholic faith. Do not rely more on reason, faith and reason are not contrary faculties. Faith and reason are the two wings that enable the mind to soar towards the truth. It is characteristic of young people to search for meaning. It is the duty of a Catholic College to provide such meaning without making it less of a discovery for the young. Religious is being taught in this catholic College as one of the courses a student is required to take. Faith however, cannot be given or taken as a course answering to a number of credits or units. It can only be transmitted. Take care therefore that religion is taught only by men and women of genuine faith. If you cannot find enough people to qualify, do it yourselves. And, if perchance you do not find enough faith in yourselves, let your students teach you, for I know that in the rough-and-trouble of the classrooms, there are young men and women whose faith needs only the proper and encouragement. Pay attention therefore - pay much attention - to your campus ministry, for what cannot be taught in the classroom may be experienced outside of it.

I therefore ask Fr. Mar and the other OFM Fathers to make the education given here a real synthesis between faith and reason, between knowledge and virtue, and between industry and service.

During our Ad Limina visit to Rome, I visited several decasteries and Pontifical Commissions. One of the decasteries that we, Bishops, had visited was the Congregation for Catholic Education. During our meeting with the Cardinal Prefect of this particular decastery, the Cardinal told us, “provide and maintain the Catholic identity of our Catholic Schools, Colleges and Universities”. Then nagpapadayon siya pagsering, “if in the name of academic freedom, some professors may teach teachings that are not in conformity with our Catholic faith then do something for it is also our right to maintain the catholic identity of our schools”.

Fr. Mar, bring out the Catholic character of this college, because I firmly believe that the Church has so much to offer society. While the Church has often been painted by its critics as the enemy of knowledge, a sober assessment of its legacy will bear out the inestimable contribution of the Church to the progress of civilization and culture.

Fr. Mar this is your task and this, too, is your challenge. And once you accept it with faith, you will be able to lift and even carry it. The yoke of Christ the King will not crush you. It will carry you. The light of Christ the King will not blind you. It will make your vision definitely clear.

May God guide and accompany you always fr. Mar. And may Christ the Lord of lords and the King of kings, through the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the powerful intercession of st. Francis of Asissi bless us all and intercede for us always.

Michael Jackson once said, "the journey has just begun". Yes fr. Mar, the journey as the 3rd President of Christ the King College has just begun. Have a meaningful journey, good luck, god bless and congratulations!

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Mommy Sabel laid to rest today

Mrs. Isabel Gomez - Hernandez was laid to rest today. Rev. Fr. Julio Gaddi presided over the funeral mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Concelebrating with him were Monsignor Paulino Singzon and Rev. Fr. Iluminado Paulino.

Family members and two former students of Mommy Sabel delivered the eulogies after the funeral mass.

Here are some pictures I managed to take during the mass.

Fr. Julio Gaddi with Fr. Don-Don Paulino and Msgr. Nonoi Singzon.

Lynn Hernandez - Priestly leading her family in the sprinkling of holy water.

Ernest Priestly as he did the readings.

Francine Hernandez speaking on behalf of the great-grandchildren.

Abbie Hernandez delivering his speech on behalf of the grandchildren.

Atty. Eddie Gomez speaking on behalf of the "Saringsing san Gomez"

Two former students at Samar College. Atty. Nilda Torrevillas (pix above) and retired Supreme Court Justice Eduardo Nachura (pix below)

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