DATELINE UBAS: Bgy Capt Vic Bernardo Delivers His First SOBA

Last Saturday, March 29, 2014, amid the sweltering summer heat and the warm reception from Bgy. Culiat residents and representatives from various socio-civic, political and religious organizations and the churches, the 2014 State of the Barangay Address (SOBA) went underway at about 9:30am at the Culiat High School grounds.

Present during the occasion were members of the Bgy Development Council, the newly elected Kagawads, Purok Leaders, various homeowners associations and citizens of of Culiat. A number of greetings and well wishes from political friends and allies including a number of incumbent councillors from District 6 (Bobby Castelo, Candy Medina, Marivic Co-Pilar, Roger Juan and Donny Matias) preceded the SOBA.

After all the preliminary speeches,  the emcee introduced the newly elected Bgy Captain Vic Bernardo. He entered the staged accompanied by young school children. He then proceeded to greet the audience and wished them well. 

He then introduced his Barangay Council which included Kgds Jerrylin Balonzo, Cristina Bernardino, Conchita Santos, Corazon Zipagan, Ameerah Ibrahim, Jose Pael and Marichu Montehermoso.

After the introductions, he delivered his first SOBA. The highlights of his SOBA include the following:

1

)          1)  Approved 2014 Budget of  P 33,518,788.59

2    2)    2014 Development Projects

3    3)    2014 Accomplishments during the first 3 months in office.

All in all he was able to convey his vision and plans for Culiat, especially his target of having all children get an education, reducing the drug menace and expanding the reaches of government services to the far areas of the barangay.

2014 Approved Budget 

For more details on the SOBA (budget, development plans and accomplishments), follow the link DATELINE UBAS: Barangay Culiat Updates on this website. 

Lenten Recollection 2014

Austerity and simplicity characterized this year’s thematic celebration of the Lent. This is a clear break from the dramatic and pageant-like interpretation of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ of the past.

Last March 28, 2014, Rev. Fr. Noel Azupardo, the recollection speaker, impressed in his talk the new direction of the Diocese where participation of the faithful, rather than just being observers, in the Lenten activities should be the norm. He continued to explain the different activities and rituals in the observance of Lent, from the imposition of the ashes on Ash Wednesday to the blessings of the palms on Palm Sunday to the washing of the feet, the veneration of the Cross and Great Easter Vigil of the Paschal Triduum.

According to Fr. Noel, when we have the ashes imposed on us, we commit ourselves to follow Christ through his suffering, death and eventual resurrection. When we have our palms blessed and enter the church on Palm Sunday, we make a solemn commitment that we shall be with Christ every step of the way. That is the reason why the new emphasis is on participation where we sacrifice with him through the heat of summer as we recall his great love for us.

In closing, he said that the Lenten celebrations must be rooted in the truthful adherence to the liturgical teachings sans drama and pageantry.

Year of the Laity Launched in SLRP

Last Sunday, March 23, 2014, the parish formally launched the Year of the Laity (YOL) during the 10:00AM mass by Father JB Abellana together with the PPC EXECOM. FJB read the Bishop’s promulgation after which the PPC Chaircouple, Kuya Tony and Ate Lina Feliciano, unveiled the YOL banner in front of the congregation. PPC Asst Chaircouple Kuya Peter and Ate Lina Tamayo then read the explanation of the YOL.

FJB, in his homily, exhorted the laity on their role as active participants in the spiritual life of the parish and that without them, no matter how good the parish priest may be, the parish will not thrive. He emphasized that it is the active and communal participation of the laity that will make the parish a vibrant community serving and building one another as it journeys towards building God’s kingdom.

After the homily, FJB then proceeded to install the PPC EXECOM, the Heads of the different Commissions and the  Ministry Heads. They then professed their commitment to serve the parish in their capacity as lay leaders and promote Gospel evangelization throughout the parish. After Communion, Kuya Tony Feliciano led the Litany of Gratitude while Ate Lina Feliciano delivered their message for the occasion. A simple meal at the St. Joseph Hall followed. 

Visita Iglesia 2014

This year’s Visita Iglesia took SLRP parioshioners to a spiritual journey through Pampanga’s old and historic churches. It was on March 22, 2014 that two buses of pilgrims took on this spiritual journey in preparation for Lent and a meaningful reflection of Christ’s passion and death.

There were six churches ( San Guillermo in Bacolor, Santiago Apostol in Betis, Sta Lucia in Sasmuan, San Agustin in Lubao, San Fernando Metropolitan Cathedral in San Fernando and Holy Rosary in Angeles) and a chapel (Chapel of Poor Clares in Betis) that made up this 2014 pilgrimage. Each church had its own history and appeal to the participants.

San Guillermo’s massive structure was half-covered with lahar during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the 1990s. As one enters (the main entrance which was once the choir loft on the second floor), he is at once brought into nature’s awesome power. As our guide told us, the church was buried in 6 meters (or almost 19 feet) of lahar. And yet, through the sheer perseverance and faith of the people, they were able to restore the church and continue to provide for the spiritual needs of its parishioners.

The next church was Santiago Apostol in Betis which has been compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome because of its wall-to-ceiling-to-wall murals and paintings providing a rich tableau of biblical events. Its wooden floor also gave that special atmosphere of being ancient yet homey feeling for prayer and meditation. A church representative also provided some highlights into the church’s colorful past.

The Chapel of Poor Clares, home of the reclusive nuns of St. Clare, provides a quiet, serene yet richly spiritual atmosphere away from the noise of main street. It’s well maintained gardens also provided a nice meditative atmosphere. It was at this chapel that prayer intentions were given by the participants to the nuns for intercession through a special room where one can drop them into a slot in the wall without direct contact with the nuns.

Then we proceeded to Sta Lucia church in Sasmuan where the church was the beautiful juxtapositioning of the old and modern in architecture construction for all to marvel at. It was here where a miraculous relic of the saint is kept and where, on her feast day in December, masses are said almost on a 24-hour basis starting on the eve of the feast due to large number of devotees.

A short hop and we were at the cavernous San Agustin church in Lubao. It was here where the pilgrims broke for lunch. After a hearty meal, prayers were said inside the church and many went to pay reverence to the relics of St. Augustine of Hippo  and that of his mother, St. Monica, located in a special sanctuary.

The next stop was  the Metropolitan Cathedral in San Fernando which  is the bishopric seat of the Diocese of San Fernando. The cathedral had just finished its renovation of its main altar. A deacon was gracious enough to give the pilgrims a brief overview of the cathedral and the activities of the diocese. 

The last stop on this pilgrimage was the Holy Rosary church in Angeles City. With its iconic twin spires, the church showcases its Gothic influence in this part of the country. Its interior is of a rich historical and cultural mix of tableaus and ornate design.

Each church provide the pilgrims with its own unique experience, rich in history, culture and spirituality that shows one the grandeur of God’s magnificence and splendor.

It was unfortunate that Fr. JB, our parish priest, was not able to join as he was indisposed. However, through God’s benevolence, a priest by the same name,Fr. John Bosco, who comes from China, and joined the pilgrimage, was there to say mass and give his blessings to all after prayers in each church.

SLRP has visited most of the churches in the provinces around Metro Manila. Where then will it be next year……Bohol, any one?

Guess Who Came To Dinner

It was last March 10, 2014, a quiet Monday evening in the parish when a few parishioners gathered at the Formation Center for a simple dinner.  Preparations were underway a little before 7PM when chairs and tables in the FC were being arranged for special visitor.

As we were walking towards the FC by the side of the Pangilinan’s store, we heard voices coming from the darkened church moving towards us in the unlit church driveway. We saw a black car parked in front of the adoration chapel but we could not see if there were passengers inside. We slowed a bit and then there he was with a companion coming out of the darkness and walking towards us. After a few seconds of eye contact, we both realized it was our guest for dinner. With jovial ‘How are you?’ and hugs, the reminiscing began. Together, we then  proceeded to the FC where our other parish friends were starting to gather in preparation for dinner.

Soon as we reached the FC, those gathered immediately recognized him. Everyone was elated that he had arrived and once again set foot on SLRP grounds, the grounds he would regularly walk on back in the 1990s when he was a guest priest working for his Master’s degree at the Ateneo. Flashbacks and stories of years past came hurtling out of everyone’s mouth. Everyone had a personal story to share of their encounter with the guest.

With a simple potluck dinner of pancit, fried rice, lumpia, kakanin and cake, there was enough for all who came. Together with the food, the stories were overflowing, the picture taking was overflowing but most especially the good feeling of just being together and recalling those earlier years of parish building will definitely remain in the hearts and minds of those who came.

As with all good things, it had to end. After about 2 hours, our guest and dear friend of SLRP, Rev. Fr. Paul Karedan, had to bid farewell. There was of course the group photo (my how every one has aged beautifully!). Before he left he gave each of us a rosary and a 3D picture of Pope Francis. In return, SLRP presented him with the 25^th Anniversary coffeebook of the parish to remember us by.  

Our heartfelt thanks to Ate Alma Pederes for coordinating this memorable affair.

SLRP Holds its Second PREX General Assembly

Last Saturday, March 8, 2014, the SLRP community gathered at the Formation Center for its 2^nd PREX General Assembly with its theme “Higit Na Pag-alabin Natin ang PREX”. This is a festive occasion of songs, kumustahan games and bonding of PREX graduates and is usually done after so many PREX seminars. It is also a chance for former graduates to be updated on the activities of PREX in general. Kuya Boy and Ate Heidi, chaircouple of PREX, welcomed everyone to the affair.

Guest speaker for this event was Rev. Fr. Noel Azupardo, the current parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish here in Philand Drive, who expounded on the gospel passage from St. Mark on the healing of the paralytic who was let down from the roof. According to Fr. Noel, this gospel passage speaks of the communal spirit, the faith of his four friends who believed in Jesus that helped bring healing to the crippled man. According to St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons towards the end of the 2^nd century says “man fully alive is the glory of God”. The crippled man was in a position of death, and through the help of his friends, he was brought to Jesus, and was made whole again, a man fully alive.

This, Fr. Noel says, should be the same communal spirit that must burn in the hearts of all PREX graduates, a heart willing to give all in the service of his fellowmen. For it is through serving one another, especially the needy, that God’s glory is revealed to us, especially in a community that is alive.

After his talk, the congregation surprised him by singing and greeting him on his birthday. A personalized cake was given to him as a gift. 

Merienda cena then followed after which there were some lively participative games which strengthened the bonds of the PREX alumni. All had fun. All had enjoyed.

Ate Josie gamely emceed the event with Fr. JB  giving the closing prayer and his blessing.