WORD ALIVE ON DZMM

Last Sunday, Feast of Christ the King, Rev. Aris Martin, SVD and I, together with veteran Pinoy missionary (to Brazil, Argentina and Angola) Father Manuel Gatchalian, SVD were invited over as guests by Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD in his radio program "Salitang Buhay" (Word Alive) at DZMM.

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Rev. Aris Martin, Fr. Manuel Gatchalian, Miss Ilsa Reyes, Me, Fr. Bel San Luis
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Salitang Buhay is a religious program anchored on God’s Word which applies to various sectors of society: spiritual, moral, economic, and political. It is inspired by Christ’s words: “Everyone who listens to my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7:24).

It was my second time to guest on "Salitang Buhay". I arrived earlier than the call time. I immediately saw "Salitang Buhay" anchors Miss Ilsa Reyes and Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD, and we immediately went inside the studio.

The topic that evening was all about our vocation story.The jokes of Fr. Bel are all new to me and he delivered them on the spot. Ang galing! I enjoyed the evening.

Fr. Manuel Gatchalian, SVD was also a very inspiring guest. I met him before when I was still a college seminarian in Christ the King. I could not forget him because he cried during his homily when he talked about his experience of being with the poor. Even during our interview, I noticed he was teary-eyed while sharing on air his experience with the poor in Angola during the civil war.

Thank you to Father Bel, Father Jerome and Miss Ilsa Reyes!

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Fr. Bel and Fr. Jerome took turns in taking souvenir photos. Hehe.
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As expected, Rev. Aris and me took time to pose at the ABS-CBN lobby after the program.


The beautiful and towering Christmas Tree at the main entrance of DZMM.

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Siyempre, look at the Kapamilya logo at the background...In the service of the Filipino worldwide.

FRIENDSTER IS HACKED???

Last Friday, while checking my multiply account, I received a text message from a high school classmate that her friends in her Friendster account were down to 6, from the original 50+. I only laughed at her because I was thinking that somebody might have hacked her account.

When I logged in on my Friendster account, lo and behold, my 1,088 friends were down to 54! I panicked! According to Friendster, it was just a power failure that caused the errors in their databases. No need to worry about missing friends and access problems because they were doing their part to resolve the issue in the next 24 hours.

However, a lot of Friendster fanatics were already pissed off and disappointed. It has been three days and i still have not recovered my friends. I googled to investigate and I found out that a hacker named h4xOr-nytmare infiltrated their database.

IS THIS TRUE???


For the time being, I do not log in my account. The Friendster team might be recovering the losses that was done.

CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION

Five of us will solemnly embrace the gift of priestly ordination this coming December 6, 2008 at 9 in the morning in Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay. Our ordaining prelate is Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD.

We call our class, Pantas. This is a Tagalog word for "wise man.

If you have time, please do come. Please also include us always in your prayers...


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Rev. Gil Rochar Pancho Dulay, SVD is from Irosin, Sorsogon. He will be assigned to the SVD Philippine Northern Province.

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Rev. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD. I am from Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. I will be assigned to the SVD Philippine Southern Province.

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Rev. Jhonatan Alcantara Letada, SVD is from Claveria, Masbate. He will be assigned to the SVD Philippine Central Province.

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Rev. Aris Pilapil Martin, SVD is from Solsona, Ilocos Norte. He will be assigned to the SVD Philippine Central Province.

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Rev. Jakel Tocmo Solde, SVD is from Clarin, Misamis Oriental. He will be assigned to SVD Argentina East Province.

n.b.

PLEASE COME AT LEAST TWO HOURS BEFORE THE ORDINATION...GOD BLESS!

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AND OH! You might be interested to read my vocation story I blogged last year, you can still view it here:
My Vocation Story

SVD JOKES #20: FR. BEL’S REALIZATION

In the Yapak Magazine, Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD was asked about his most remarkable/unforgettable experience in his seminary years in Christ the King. This is his answer, “It was the realization that the Lord really called me to become an SVD priest despite my weaknesses, naughtiness and clandestine activities which could have cost me my vocation had I been discovered. For instance, my close friend and I would escape at night after our Prefect had finished patrolling our dorms. There were no security guards then manning the gate. We would arrange our beds with mosquito nets down as though we were occupying then and go to Cubao, enjoy a meal or a movie then return home undetected. To cover up, we saw to it that we were in the chapel on time for Morning Prayer! Incidentally, we had to discontinue those late night outs when fierce German Shepherd dogs were let loose at night. (Yapak Magazine, vol. 4, no. 1, 15)

P.S. While reading this one, I could not help but intimately relate myself with Fr. Bel’s story. But during my time, there were no more German Shepherds. Hehe. Good thing I was not caught. Hehe. I remembered one time when I was the class servant of the fourth year college class, Fr. Eli Mata, SVD (our Prefect of Discipline) complained to me with his classic high pitch voice: “Felmar, yong classmate mo, lumabas na di nagpaalam, nakasalubong ko sa Cubao, di man lang nag-good morning!” (“Felmar, your classmate went out without permission. I met him in Cubao and he did not even bother to greet me good morning!”)



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I welcome contributions! Anecdotes must be funny, true stories of SVD missionaries working in the Philippines or Pinoy SVD missionaries working in any part of the globe. Contributions may be forwarded to fielsvd@yahoo.com

SVD JOKES #19: WEIRD EXPERIENCE OF FR. BEL

I am sure many seminarians could relate to the story related by Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD. It was about his “weird” experience when he was still a seminarian in Christ the King. It happened during examination days. He said, “Since, we had curfew in study period at night and I needed more time to cram, I would go to the toilet, lock myself up in a stall and study through the night. When the Prefect of Discipline came around to patrol and knock on the doors, I would flush the water tank, pretending I was answering the call of nature!” (Yapak Magazine, vol. 4, no. 1, 15)

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I welcome contributions! Anecdotes must be funny, true stories of SVD missionaries working in the Philippines or Pinoy SVD missionaries working in any part of the globe. Contributions may be forwarded to fielsvd@yahoo.com

SVD JOKES #18: PICTURE THIS OUT

In 1976, there was only one trip to Barrio Barahan in Mindoro. Being the only trip for the day, the jeepney was understandably filled with passengers up to the top. Fr. Fred Mislang, SVD related that while negotiating a rough stretch, a man with his son in a tow, waived his hands to indicate his intention to ride the already over-loaded vehicle.
The driver obliged but told the man, “Tsong, pwede bang wag nang isama ang bata’t wala ng lugar?” (Sir, could you leave your child behind. There’s no more space). So the man told his son to stay behind, but then the son wanted to come along by all means. When the jeep moved on, the child ran after them. His father kept yelling at him to stay behind, “Maiwan ka na,” but the child kept on running, crying and shouting to us, “Sama ako, itay, sama ako.”
Finally the Father relented. He requested the driver to stop, went down and picked his son up and carried him with one hand while he hung on to the jeepney with the other. (The Word in Other Words 2001, March 8)



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I welcome contributions! Anecdotes must be funny, true stories of SVD missionaries working in the Philippines or Pinoy SVD missionaries working in any part of the globe. Contributions may be forwarded to fielsvd@yahoo.com

SVD JOKES #17: FATHER DEACON

Some people actually do not know the distinction between a priest and a deacon: this is the observation of Rev. Jaekel Solde, my deacon classmate. Diaconate is the last stage for priesthood. A Deacon is called a Reverend, while the priest is called a Father.
In one instance, Rev. Jaekel met this woman who kept on calling him “Father, Father.” He explained to her the difference and insisted that the woman call him “Reverend” instead of “Father.” After a short explanation, the woman exclaimed, “So, deacon pa po pala kayo Father?” (So, you are still a deacon, Father?”)

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I welcome contributions! Anecdotes must be funny, true stories of SVD missionaries working in the Philippines or Pinoy SVD missionaries working in any part of the globe. Contributions may be forwarded to fielsvd@yahoo.com

FROM THE MISSIONS #4: KAMBAL NA KAMALASAN

Pagkatapos ng halos isang buwan sa Bandundu, biahe ulit kami pabalik ng Kinshasa upang dumalo sa taunang "retreat" bilang mga SVDs. Natutulog pa ang buong bayan ng aming lisanin ang bayan ng Bandundu. Maayos naman ang simula ng aming paglalakbay, bagama't umuulan ng panahong iyon nakatawid pa rin kami sa ilog na walang aberya. Subalit pagkatapos ng halos isang oras, biglang umusok ang aming sasakyan, "over-heat," sabi ni Fr. Loie (paring pinoy). Wala rin lang magawa kundi ang maghintay, inaliw na lang namin ang aming mga sarili sa pagkuha ng mga litrato at pakikipag- usap sa mga bata sa katabing komunidad. Ang ibang kasama namin ay naglakad pabalik upang maghanap ng signal at humingi ng tulong sa mga kapatid naming pari sa Bandundu.



Pagkatapos ng limang oras, dumating na rin sa wakas ang toyota na hihila sa aming sasakyan pabalik ng Bandundu. Sa kasamaang palad, masyadong mabilis ang takbo ng sasakyan. Saan ka ba naman nakakita ng sasakyan na may tow pero nag-oovertake sa iba pang mga sasakyan? Hmmnn, dito lang so far. Ayun, sa bilis ng takbo, bigla na lang umekis- ekis ang sasakyan at bumaliktad ang aming mundo.



Mahirap mang isipin, naaksidente na pala kami. Sumadsad ang sasakyan, nagkabasag- basag ang mga salamin, at naghalo ang balat sa tinalupan. Nakapuwesto ako sa gilid kung saan tumagilid ang sasakyan, ayun, ginawa akong airbag ng dalawa ko pang kasama. Hindi agad ako nakalabas, well, dahil pinakiramdaman ko muna kong buo pa ba ang katawan ko.



Pangalawa, hinanap ko pa ang camera ko upang ibigay kay Fr. Noy upang kuhanan kami ng picture kasama ni Fr. Loie na hindi rin agad nakalabas ng sasakyan. Si Fr. Noy kasi ang pinaka-unang lumabas upang "hilahin daw kami palabas at baka sumabog ang sasakyan." Masyadong nagpapanood ng pelikulang pinoy ang klasmeyt ko.hehe.



Awa ng Diyos, wala namang masyadong nasaktan sa amin. Maliban sa ilang pasa, galos at bugbug sa katawan, maayos naman kaming lahat. Pagkatapos ng "initial shock" picturan time na ulit kami ni Fr. Noy. Mga Pinoy talaga, naaksidente na, nakangiti at nagpapapicture pa.



Pero pagkatapos ng ilang oras, dun pa lang nagsimulang sumakit ang aming katawan at maalalang naaksidente pala kami. Hanggang ngayon, kuwentuhang aksidente pa rin kami. Pero iisa ang aming realisasyon, hindi pa namin panahon, marami pang plano ang Diyos para sa aming misyon dito sa Congo.




Fr. Dondion Soriano, SVD is a Filipino SVD assigned in Congo, Africa. He was ordained on February 2007. He is part of the Yobel Class. He is from Mindoro.

FROM THE MISSIONS #3: A MOTHER'S LETTER

Dearest Fr. Judy,

I felt like a proud mother reading her son's letter far away from home when I was reading your blog at Multiply. You have grown. You have spread your wings and you are soaring like an eagle on your new assignment. I cannot help but feel very proud of you.



It was like watching a movie or a documentary reading your wonderful account of your new life in the barrios. I am pleased that you met people who, I believe, will support you and teach you more lessons in your life as a young priest. It is also very heartwarming to note that you have tremendously matured in your priesthood while there. I guess, had you stayed longer here in the Philippines, it would not be the same. Sometimes God puts us in unfamiliar territories with much of the unexpected before us. Sometimes we wonder what is there for us? But in His awesome wisdom, He has planned it all out for the best. And I can see in your struggles coupled with your perseverance and enthusiasm how much the whole experience is molding you into a stronger, more sensitive, compassionate and definitely, a more effective missionary.



Do continue what you are doing. I am really very pleased to hear that you are enjoying the Liturgy of the Hours... Just think that we are doing it together and I am sure it will uplift your heart that I am here doing the same as you are as we say our prayers together. Do continue touching base with the people in your community. When you were telling me about how you cried about how indifferent the people were in your mass, be assured that God has been consoled by your Eucharistic sacrifice. I too cry everyday in my heart when I see people (although there is definitely much more of them, in terms of number as compared to your barrio people there) receiving Our Lord in communion not really knowing it is the Lord coming to them and so they do it out of obligation and sometimes without reverence!



But we have to persevere... We have to go on doing everything for His Greater Glory!... Do continue learning and perfecting the language. It will be your connection with the people... Do continue learning from your American parish priest. I am sure, time and age has given him much wisdom which you can learn from... Do continue experimenting in the kitchen. Winning hearts is really through the stomach most of the time (Hehehe!)... Do continue expressing your feelings through your letters and photos. Even if we do not reply, know that it makes us aware of what is happening to you and it definitely brings you much closer to our hearts....

So much for my homily... Rest assured you are always in my daily prayers...

Mami Lei

Fr. Judy Baňez, SVD is a Filipino SVD assigned in Argentina. He was ordained on February 2007. He is part of the Yobel Class. He is from Butuan City.