1DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan

YEAR IV NO. 7 JULY 2008OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPAYEAR IV NO. 12 DECEMBER 2008OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPA

PAPAL INTENTIONSFOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY -- BenedictXVI is praying this month forthe expansion of the cultureof life.

The Apostleship of Prayerannounced the general inten-tion chosen by the Pope:"That, faced by the growingexpansion of the culture of vio-lence and death, the Churchmay courageously promotethe culture of life through allher apostolic and missionaryactivities."

The Holy Father alsochooses an apostolic inten-tion for each month. In Decem-ber, he will pray that espe-cially in mission countries,Christians may show throughgestures of brotherliness thatthe Child born in the grotto inBethlehem is the luminousHope of the world." #UB

Culture of Life

Ika-56 at ika-57 Parokya sa Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa . . .

2 pang Parokya, Itinatag ngayong Disyembre!Bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng

Taon ni Maria, Esposa ngEspiritu Santo, angpaglalagak ng dalawa pangmga parokya, pawang sakanyang pamamatnubayipina-ilalim – ang Parokyang Nuestra Señora de laSoledad sa Darasa,Tanauan City, at angParokya ng Divina Pastorasa Tambo, Lipa City. Angmga ito ang ika-56 at ika-57 sa hanay ng mgakasalukuyang parokya saArsidiyosesis ng Lipa!

2 PANG PAROKYA... P. 2

Sa Misa Konselebradangpinangunahan ni Msgr. AlfredoA. Madlangbayan, BikaryoHeneral, binigyan diin niya angpagtutulungan ng mgaparokyano at ang kanilang pakiki-isa sa lingkod –paring itinalaga ngAma ng Arsidiyosesis. Ayon sakanya, ang simbahang gusali aytanda ng pananampalataya ngmga parokyano. “Sa pamamagitanng pagkakaiisa at pakikipbahagisa proyektong ito, maipakikita atmaipadarama ang lubos at tunay

Ground-breaking para sa Bagong Simbahan, Ginanap(Alitagtag, Batangas) - Bilang matibay na patunay na handa ang

mga parokyano ng bayang ito, ang makasaysayang “ground-breaking” para sa magiging bagong Simbahan ng Parokya ngInvencion dela Cruz ay ginanap noong ika-29 ng Nobyembre taonkasalukuyan. Ayon kay Rdo. P. Chito Andal at mga kasamahan nito saConstruction Committee, inaasahan nila na ang simula ng paggawaay sa ikalwang linggo ng Enero 2009.

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Si Msgr. Madlangbayan kasama sinaFr. Chito Andal at mga kasamahangpari sa paglalagay ng panulukangbato sa gagawing bagong simbahanng Alitagtag.na pananalig at pananampalatayabilang mga anak ng Diyos,” ani

GROUND BREAKING... P. 3

Survey ng Ulat Batangan...

Simbang Gabi saArsidiyosesis, Dumami

SIMBANG GABI... P. 3

Isang Misa pasasalamat angisinagawa noong Disyembre 4,2008 sa kapilya ng Divino Maestro,Daughters of St. Paul, Lipa Citykaugnay ng ika-70 taon ngpagkakatatag ng lokal nakomunidad ng Daughters of St.Paul na naglilingkod dito saArsidiyosesis ng Lipa at iba pangdiyosesis sa Timog Katagalugan..Ang nasabing Misa aypinangunahan ng LubhangKgg. Arsobispo Ramon C.Arguelles, kasama sina Msgr.Ruben Dimaculangan, Fr. NonieDolor at Fr. Joaf Africa, kura parokong Parokya ni San Pablo sa IslaVerde, kaisa-isang parokya sa lokalna simbahang nakatalaga kay SanPablo.

FSP, ika-70 taonna sa Arsidiyosesis

FSP... P. 8

Congratulationsto the winners of

Haranasa Panginoon ‘08

OUR LADY OF PEACECHILDRENS CHOIR

Lodlod, Lipa CityOverall Champion

What’s InsidePapal Message

for World Peace DayTinig Pastol

Sabi ni MonsiCCD Golden Jubilarian

Syanga NamanMedia Connection

LACMMi Report

Mabiyayang Pasko at Mapayapang Bagong Taon!

Hindi lamang nadagdaganang bilang ng mga simbanggabi sa maraming mgaparokya sa Arsidiyosesis ngLipa, dumarami din ang mgabilang ng mga panauhing pari,mula sa labas ngArsidiyosesis, at lalo pa ringdumarami ang mga kahilinganng mga mananampalatayapara sila ay mgkaroon din ngsiyam na araw na paghahanda- Simbang Gabi man o MisaAguinaldo – tanda ngpaglalim ng pananam-palataya. Ito ang napag-alaman sa isang impormal nasurvey na isinagawa ng UlatBatangan.

Kung ang Misa ay sa gabiginawa, ito ang SimbangGabi. Ayon sa isang pari,nagsisimula sila ng ika-5 nghapon, tapos susundan ito ngika-7 ng gabi, at angpantatlong Misa ng isang pariay sa ika-9 ng gabi. Ang Misade Gallo naman ayisinasagawa sa ika-4 o ika-4:30 ng madaling araw.Marami sa mga simbahangpamparokya, tulad ng sa SanIsidro Labrador, San Isidro,Batangas City, InmakuladaKonsepsyon sa BatangasCity, Katedral ni SanSebastian, Lipa City, San

2 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan NEWS & EVENTS

Disyembre 10, ganap na ika-9:30 ng umaga nang magsimulaang payak nguni’t solemnengseremonya ng canonicalerection ng ika-56 na parokya,naka-talaga sa pangangalaga ngNuestra Señora de la Soledad.Ito’y matatagpuan sa tabi ngdating highway sa Darasa,Tanauan City sa lupaing pag-aari

ni G. Danilo L. Dolor. Bagama’t dipa hustong tapos angpagpapagawa, na sinimulannoon pang Abril 2005, minarapatnang isagawa ang canonicalerection bilang angkop na bahaging pagdiriwang ng Taon ni Maria,Esposa ng Espiritu Santo, bahaging tatlong taong paghahandapara sa ika-100 taon ng Lipabilang lokal na simbahan.

“Napatigil pa nga angpaggawa ng simbahan ng maywalong buwan,” sabi ni Rdo. P.Crispin de Guzman, angit inalagang unang paring-lingkod sa nasabing parokya.“At wala pang kumbento, kayapansamantala akong titigil saisang bahay sa malapit dito,”dugtong pa niya.

Binasa ni Rdo. P. JonasPalmares, Kansilyer ngArsidiyosesis ng Lipa, angdekretong naghihiwalay sabagong parokya sa inang-parokya nito, ang Parokya ni SanJuan Evangelista. Nakasaad sanasabing dekreto ang mganasasakupang barangay ngNuestra Señora de la Soledad.Ito ay ang mga barangay BanjoEast, Banjo West, at Darasa.

Isinagawa rin ang installationni P. Cris bilang kauna-unahangkura paroko ng bagongsambayanan. Binigkas niya angProfession of Faith at sinariwaang mga pangako sa pagkapari saharapan ng Lubhang Kgg.Arsobispo Ramon C. Arguelles,Arsobispo ng Lipa. Mataposmabati ng Arsobispo si P. Cris,nagbigay pugay at paggalangang mga parokyano sapamamagitan ng pagmamano sa

kamay, isang matandangkaugaliang Batangueno.

Sa kanyang homiliya, sinabini Arsobispo Arguelles na talaganaming dapat mauna angpagtatayo ng parokya kaysa sagusaling simbahan. “Angparokya ay binubuo ng mga tao;ito ang simbahang-tao.Kinakailangan ang mga ito angdapat unahing hubugin, bago paang simbahang-bato,”pagbibigay paliwanag niya kungbakit sa kabila ng hindi kumpleto

ang gusali ay itinalaga na angparokya. Ayon sa kanya, angpagtatayo ng simbahang-gusaliay tanda lamang ngpananampalataya ng isangsambayanan o parokya.

“Akin ding nakikita-kita na angsimbahang ito ay dudumugintuwing Biyernes Santo, lalo na ngmga ina at mga kababaihangnaghahanap ng kahulugan ngkanilang mga tiisin sa buhay. AngMahal na Birhen ng Soledad, na angibig sabihin ay tahimik na pakikiisasa kalooban ng Diyos, tulad nghjalimbawa ni Maria, ang magigingpatrona nila.”

Bukod kay G. Danilo Dolor,dumalo din sa makasaysayangokasyon ang mga pinuno ngTanauan City sa pangunguna niMayor Sonia Torres at ViceMayor Julius Platon at mgakasapi ng Sangguniang Pang-lungsod, pati na rin ang mgapinunong barangay ng mganasasakupan ng bagongparokya. Naroon din sinaNational TelecommunicationsCommission (NTC)Commissioner Roel Canobas,Mayor Cristeta Reyes ng Malvarat pangulo ng Liga ng mgaPunong Bayan ng lalawigan, G.Saturnino Belen ng FAITH, G.Toti Torres ng Yazaki Torres, atiba pang mga benefactors atsponsors. Hiniling sa kanila ni P.Cris na patuloy sana siyangtulungan, sapagkat malaki pa angkanilang ipagagawa.

Ang mga pinuno at kasapi ngmga samahang pang-simbahan aypinangunahan naman ni Sis. LindaMagnaye, pangulo ng ParishPastoral Council (PPC) at mga

kasama, at ni Bro. Mar Valencia,pangulo ng Parish ChurchConstruction Committee.

Ang mga kaparian naman aypinagunahan nina Rdo. P. RaulMartinez, kura paroko ng Sta.Clara, Sto. Tomas at BikaryoPoranyo ng Bikariya VI, kungsaan kabilang ang bagongparokya, at ni Rdo. P. ConradoCastillo, kura-paroko ng inang-parokya, San Juan Evangelista,kasama ang kanyang mgakasamang pari – Rdo. P. NepoFruto at Rdo. P. Riyyan Mendoza.Si Msgr. Alberto Boongaling,P.C., kura paroko ng San Martinng Tours sa Taal, ang siyangnaging master of ceremonies.Dumalo ring ang mga pari sabikariya at mga kaibigan atpanauhing pari.

Ayon kay P. Cris de Guzman,inaasahan nila at magigingpuspusan ang kanilang gagawinupang ang solemnengpagbabasbas at dedication ngnasabing simbahan ay maisagawanila sa buwan ng Pebrero sapapasok na taong 2009.

Parokya ng Divina Pastora

Lahat naman ay tumungo saTambo, Lipa City noong ika-12 ngDisyembre hindi lamang upangmakiisa sa pagdiriwang ni Rdo. P.Bon Cumagon ng kanyang ika-44na kaarawan, kundi ito rin angpetsa ng pagtatalaga sa kanyabilang unang kura paroko ng ika-57 parokya sa Arsidiyosesis ngLipa. Sa kabila ng pag-ulan noonghapong iyon, di napigilan angpagdagsa ng mgamananampalataya upang saksihanang canonical erection atdedication ng pamparokyangsimbahang ipina-ilalim sapamamatnubay ng Divina Pastora.

Nagsimula ang solemneng ritusa pintuan ng bagong simbahan.Binasbasan ang marker atmatapos buksan ang pintuan,pinangunahan ng Lubhang Kgg.Arsobispo Ramon C. Arguellesang prusisyon patungo sadambana, kasunod ang mga pariat saka ang mga layko. Binasa niRdo. P. Jonas Palmares, kansilyerng Arsidiyosesis, ang dekreto ngpagtatatag ng bagong parokya.Ayon sa nasabing dekreto, angParokya ng Divina Pastora aysumasakop sa mga barangay ngTambo, Sico, San Salvador at 12subdivisions.

Nanatiling walang ilaw angbuong simbahan sa yugtong iyon.Nagbasabas ng holy water angArsobispo na siya naming ginamitupang basbasan ang mga tao saloob ng simbahan, katulong sinaRdo. P. Joseph Mendoza, BikaryoPoranyo ng Bikariya V at Rdo. P.Ernesto Mandanas, Jr., kuraparoko ng inang –parokya,Parokya ni San Sebastian.

Matapos awitin ang Papuri sapangunguna ng korong binubuong magkasanib na tinig ng Voicesng De La Salle Lipa at ng DivinaPastora Choir, ipinahayag angSalita ng Diyos at sa kanyanghomiliya, ipinaliwanag ngArsobispo ang kahalagahan ngnasabing okasyon. Binanggit uliniya ang kaugnayan ng gawaingito sa pagdiriwang ng Taon niMaria.

“Malaking biyaya ito dahilipinamamalas natin ang

pananampalataya nating angDiyos ay tunay na sumasa-atin,”paliwanag niya. “Ang simbahanay larawan ng kaisahan ng mgasumasampalataya kay Kristo natinitipon ng Mahal na Ina, angDivina Pastora. Hinahayaannating akayin niya tayo; mapapa-alaga tayo sa kanya at tayo namanay tunay na inaalagaan niya.”

Matapos ang panalangin samga banal at ang panalangin sapagtatalaga, binuhusan ngArsobispo ng banal na langis angaltar, kaalinsabay naman ngpagpapahid din ng banal na langisng mga pari sa mga haligi atdingding ng bagong simbahan.Inensensuhan ang altar at angmga tao pagkatapos ay umakyatna ang mga sponsors upanglagyan ang altar ng kanyang altarlinen. Matapos sindihan ngArsobispo ang isang malakingkandila, sagisag ni KristongLiwanag ng Mundo, ipinasa niyaito kay P. Bon Cumagon. Maypitong mga kandila, dala dala ngmga lay ministers ng bagongparokya, ang sinindihan mula sahawak ni P. Bon na malakingkandila at ang mga ito ay inilagaksa kanilang puwang sa altar. Ditosinindihan ang mga ilaw sa loobng simbahan sa gitna ngpagbubunyi ng mga dumalo. AngMisa ay nagpatuloy sa karaniwannitong daloy.

Kabilang sa sumaksi samakabuluhang okasyon ay angmga paring Capuchino, na matagalring nagsilbi sa nasabing lugal.Naroon din ang mga paringRedentorista at ang mga Brothersng De La Salle Lipa. Binanggit ngArsobispo na mapalad angparokya sapagkat sakop nila angpinakamalaking institusyon napang-edukasyon, na inaasahanniyang magiging katuwang ngparokya sa pagpapalalim ngpananampalataya ng mga

parokyano. Sumang-ayon namansina Br. Manuel Pajarillo, FSC,pangulo ng De La Salle Lipa, at Br.Leonilo Estrellas, Jr, FSC, superiorng Brothers’ Community, nananguna sa buong AdministrativeStaff ng nasabing paaralan nanagpakita ng kanilang pakikiisa sanasabing okasyon.

Sa panig naman ng mgalaykong taga-pagtaguyod, naroonsina Vice-Governor Mark Levisteat ang kanyang pamilya, Vice-Mayor Lydio Lopez, Gng. NildaGozos, kumatawan sa kanyangasawa, Mayor Oscar Gozos, at angmga pinunong barangay ng mganasasakupan. Naroon din angmga tagapagmana at kamag-anakng mga nagbigay ng lupa.

Napag-alaman ng UlatBatangan na ang mga taga-pagmana nina Gavina Guevara,Simeon at Luisa Paran, Mariano atBelen Guevara at Pedro Zara aynagkaloob ng lupang may sukat na2,296 metro kwadrado. Angnalalabing 742 metro kwadrado aybinili na sa mga karatig upangpagtayuan ng simbahan at ngkumbento.

Mula sa isang maliit na tuklong,gumawa ang mga taga-Tambo ngisang kapilya sa may matandangriles. Nang maipasyang gawingparokya ang nasabing lugal,lumipat nga sila sa donasyonglupa.

Ang mga paring SeminaryoMinor ang matagal na naglingkodsa mga taga-Tambo. Sa katunayan,malaki ang pasasalamat nila kayRdo. P. Benny Aguila na noon ayrektor ng seminaryo menor sakanyang mga ginawangpaghahanda sa mga tao atpangunguna sa paglilikom ngpondo. Ang kanyang sinimulanay ipinagpatuloy naman ni P. Bon,na noon ay nakatalaga sa Katedral.At ang sumunod ay kasaysayanna! #UB

2 PANG PAROKYA... P. 1

Parokya ng NuestraSeñora de la Soledad

Si Mayor Sonia Torres habang nakikipagkamay kay P. Dado Castillo, Parokong Tanauan. Makikita rin sa larawan sina G. Danilo L. Dolor, G. Toti Torres.

PHOTO BY: FR. NONIE D.

PHOTO BY: FR. NONIE D.

Si P. Crispin de Guzman itinalaga bilang kauna-unahang Kura Paroko ngbagong Parokya ng Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad.

PHOTO BY: FR. NONIE D.

Kabilang si Vice Governor Mark Leviste at kanyang pamilya sa mga layko nadumalo at sumaksi sa makasaysayang pagtatalaga ng simbahan ng bagongParokya ng Divina Pastora, Tambo, Lipa City.

PHOTO BY: FR. NONIE D.

Matapos ang pagpapahid ng banal na langis, inensensuhan ng Kgg. ArsobispoRamon Arguelles ang altar.

3DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatanganNEWS & EVENTSMsgr. Fred, na kumatawan saArsobispo.

Dumalo rin at naki-isa sa pagmi-Misa sina Rdo. P. Gamelin Balita,Bikaryo Poranyo ng Bikariya 2;Rdo. P. Jonas Palmares, Kansiler;Rdo. P. Abet Boongaling, kura ngTaal; Rdo. P. Ading Adan, anak ngparokya ng Alitagtag; Rdo. P. JunQuiambao, katulong na pari sa LipaKatedral; Rdo. P. Oscar Andal,Vice-Rector at Principal ng St.Francis de Sales Minor Seminary,at Rdo. P. Manny Lucero, Chaplainng De La Salle Lipa.

Matapos ang Banal na Misa,isinagawa ang ground-breakingrites sa panulukan ng pagtatayuan

ng bagong simbahan. Ditoinihulog ang isang steel capsulenina Msgr. Madlangbayan, P. ChitoAndal, sa pagsaksi ng mgakaparian, mga principal sponsorssa pangunguna ni Dr. Rufino H.Cadano at kanyang pamilya, mgapinuno at kaanib ng ParishPastoral Council at ng ChurchConstruction Committee. Naroondin ang mga pinuno at kasapi ngiba’t ibang samahang pang-simbahan, kasama rin ang mgapinuno ng lokal na pamahalaan, sapangunguna ni Mayor Guillermo

Reyes, PNP Chief VirgilioManimtim at mga tauhan, mgapunong barangay ng Alitagtag,BLC, Super Lolas. Dumalo rin sanasabing makasaysayang okasyonsina G. Rudy at CongresswomanVicky Reyes, Mayor Tita Reyes ngMalvar, Architect at Gng. GervacioAmistoso, Engr. At Gng. RoldanLopez, at marami pang ibang mgakilalang tao.

Namahala sa ground-breakingang dalawang pangunahingsamahan ng Simbahan: ang ParishPastoral Council at ang ChurchConstruction Committee. Ang unaay pinangungunahan ni Bro.Eusebio Magundayao – Pangulo;Sis. Medy Ilagan – Kalihim; Sis.

Lyn Castillo – Ingat Yaman; Sis.Charity Renegado – Taga-suri.Ang CCC naman ay binubuo ninaBro. Pablito Sandoval – chairman;Sis. Grace Coronel Valmorida –Kalihim; Sis. Lyn Castillo – Ingatyaman; Bro. Aristeo Castillo –Finance Officer; Bro. BenMagundayao – Vice Chairman;Sis. Nona Cruzat – Taga-suri;Judge Danilo Sandoval – paga-payong legal; at Rdo. P. AmbrocitoAndal – spiritual director at over-all Chairman. #UB (mula sa ulatni Bro. Ben Magundayao)

GROUND BREAKING... P. 1

Ang mga pinuno ng pamahalaan at iba’t ibang samahang pansimbahan habangnakamasid sa ginanap na Ground Breaking.

Vicente, Banaybanay, Lipa City, atmaraming iba pa ay sa madalingaraw ang Misa.

Ang Parokya ng InmakuladaKonsepsyon sa Balayan,Batangas ay mayroongkabuuang 48 Misa sa isang gabi(kasama ang sa madaling araw).Ayon kay Msgr. Boy Oriondo,kura paroko, mayroon silangnaimbitahang 14 na paring SVDmula sa kalapit na Tagaytay City.Ganito rin ang kaso sa Parokyani San Juan Evangelista saTanauan City.

“Wala na sa amin ang bagongparokya sa Darasa, pero mayroonpa rin kaming 30 Misa tuwinggabi sa iba’t ibang barangay nasakop namin,” paglalahad ni Rdo.P. Conrado Castillo, kura paroko.Mayroon siyang naimbitahang 8pari bukod sa dalawa pa niyangmga kasamang pari sa parokya.

Ayon naman kay Rdo. P.George Chavez, OSJ, kura parokong Parokya ni Santiago sa Ibaan,sila ay mayroong mga 30 misa sakanilang nasasakupan. 22 Misanaman sa Rosario, ayon kay Rdo.P. Norman Banzuela, OSJ. “Hindikabilang dyan ang 7 barangay nakung saan ang mga Instituted LayMinisters ang nagsasagawa ngLiturgy of the Word. Marami ringSimbang Gabi sa Parokya ni SanJuan Nepomuceno, ayon kay Rdo.

P. Randy Marquez, OSJ, paroko atBikaryo Poranyo ng Bikariya IV.

Malaking tulong din angnagagawa ng mga Instituted LayMinisters upang mapagbigyan angkahilingan ng mga tao namakapaghanda sila para sakapistahan ng Pasko ng Pagsilang.Ayon kay Rdo. P. EddPagcaliuangan, dating direktor ngILM at ngayo’y paroko ng Parokyani Sta. Maria Euphrasia saKumintang Ilaya, Batangas City, dilamang tumutulong ang mga layministers sa mga pari sa misa. Silama’y nangunguna sa Liturgy of theWord sa mga kapilyang di namapagbigyan dahil nga sakakulangan ng mga pari. Ito’y sakabila na siya ay may 7 panauhingpari na kanyang katulong sa mgaSimbang Gabi.

Ang Parokya ng Banal naSantisima Trinidad ay may 35Simbang Gabi (kasama ang MisaAguinaldo). Tulad ng dati, ito angnagiging “pasyalan” ng maramikahit di mga taga-parokya dahil sanahihirati ang mga tao sa ganda ngsimbahan. Maalaala na kamakailanlamang ay nagdiwang ng ika-unang anibersaryo ngpagkakatatag ang nasabingparokya at simbahan.

Sa parokya ng InmakuladaKonsepsyon sa Batangas City, anganim na paring nakatalaga roon aymay kabuuang 18 misa lamang.

Ayon kay Rdo. P. Cecilio Arce,kura paroko, wala na silangkinuhang mga bisita dahil na rinsa “lumiit naman angnasasakupan ng aming parokya.”Noong una, ito ang maypinakamaraming simbahang gabi.Nguni’t sa paghiwalay ng SanIsidro, Euphrasia, Sta. Rita at ngSantisima Trinidad, bumaba angkanilang mga Simbang Gabi sa “18na lamang,” ani P. Cecil.

Mayroon din namang dalawalamang ang Simbang Gabi, tuladng isla-parokya ng Tingloy at ngIsla Verde. Hindi naman ito nagingkataka-taka dahil sa hirap ngpaglalakbay sa mga nasasakupanng nasabing parokya. Magingang Parokya ng Ina ng LagingSaklolo sa Aplaya, Bauan, ayonkay Rdo. P. Mateo Orario, ay sa“minimum” lamang, ibig sabihin,dalawa o tatlo lamang.

Ang panahon ng SimbangGabi ay okasyon din ng pagdalawng Lubhang Kgg. ArsobispoRamon C. Arguelles sa iba’t ibangmga simbahan at tuklong ngArsidiyosesis. Kabilang sakanyang napag-misahan ngSimbang Gabi ay ang Alitagtag,Katedral, Bolbok (Lipa City), IslaVerde, Padre Pio (Sto. Tomas).Nagmisa rin siya sa Villa San Josenoong Kapaskuhan. Ang VillaSan Jose ay ang housing projectng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa. #UB

SIMBANG GABI... P. 1

Lumantad na rin ang hayagangpagsuporta sa laban ng mgamagsasaka ng Baha-Talibayog,Calatagan ang KanyangKabunyian, Gaudencio Cardinal B.Rosales, dating Arsobispo ng Lipaat ngayo’y Arsobispo ng Maynila.Di lamang sinalubong niya ang 76ng mga Batangueñong magsasakasa Ateneo de Manila Universitynoong ika-apat na araw ng kanilangmartsa, pinangunahan pa niya angisang Banal na Misa para sa mgaito. Sa Misa, binasa niya angkanyang sulat sa Pangulong GloriaM. Arroyo kung saan nakiki-usapsiyang bigyan ng pagkakataongmagkaroon ng tunay na pag-uusap(dialogue) ang lahat ng mgasangkot sa nasabing problema.(Basahin ang buong liham nanakalathala sa isyung ito. – Ed.)

Maaalaala na ang 76magsasakang taga-Baha atTalibayog ay nagsimulangmaglakad mula Katedral ni SanSebastian sa Lipa City noong ika-1ng Disyembre, kung saanpinangunahan ng Lubhang Kgg.Arsobispo Ramon C. Arguellesang isang Banal na Misa. Ginugolng mga magsasaka ang unang gabisa Sto. Tomas Academy, kung saansila tinanggap ng mga guro, mag-aaral at ni Rdo. P. Mike Samaniego,director ng STA, at ni Rdo. P.Odong Dimaapi, kura paroko ngParokya ni Sto. Tomas de Aquino.Sumunod na araw ay dumaan silasa Parokya ni San Juan Bautista saCalamba, Laguna at sa Parokya niSan Andres sa Paranaque namansila natulog, matapos magdaan saLas Pinas Bamboo Organ Church.

Kabilang sa mga tumanggap atnakiisa sa mga magsasaka ay ang DeLa Salle University, sa pangungunani Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, pangulong nasabing unibersidad at isangtaga-Lipa. Doon nag-Misa angLubhang Kgg. Obispo Deogracias

Cardinal Rosales, Sumuporta sa mga Calatagan Farmers;Lumiham na kay PGMA

Yniguez para sa mga magsasaka naipinaglalaban ang kanilang lupaingnanganganib na makuha sa kanilaupang mabigyang daan ang isangpagawaan ng semento. Nakuhangmabago ang klasipikasyon ng lupasa pagiging agricultural sa pagigingmineral sa kabila nang nauna nangpagbibigay sa kanila ngemancipation patent bilang mgabeneficiaries ng repormang agraryo.

Bukod sa pagsasagawa ngcamp out sa tanggapan ng DENR,nagtungo rin ang mga ito saKamara at Senado upangmanawagan sa pagpapalawig atpagre-reporma ng ComprehensiveAgrarian Reporm Program, na

Ang mga magsasaka ng Baha Talibayog, Calatagan habang nagmamartsa salansangan ng Maynila upang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan.

PHOTO BY: KAISAHANG MEDIA

magwawakas sa katapusan ngbuwang ito, kung hindimaaaksyonan ng mga mambabatas.Matatandaan na nagkaroon pa ngang isang forum sa tahanan ngArsobispo Arguelles na dinaluhanng mga pangkat ng magsasaka saTimog Katagalugan, kasama angmga mambabatas, mga Obispo ngMetropolitan Province ng Lipa, atmga NGO na tumututok sanasabing usapin.

Ang pagkilos protesta ng mgamagsasakang taga-baha atTalibayog, Calatagan ay ikalwa nasa kanilang ginawa upang maipa-hatid ang kanilang kalagayan samga pinunong pambansa. #UB

Ang mga magsasaka ng Calatagan kasama ang kanilang mga suporters.

PHOTO BY: KAISAHANG MEDIA

Bukod sa kanila, finalists dinang mga sumusunod naChildren’s Choir: CaysasayAngels’ Choir (Labac, Taal,Batangas), ImmaculateConception Children’s Choir(Batangas City), at ImmaculateConception College Children’sChoir (Balayan, Batangas).Kasama ng mga nagwagi,binigyan din sila ng mga sertipikong pakikilahok. Sina Rdo. P. GamiBalita, Chairman ngArchdiocesan LiturgicalCommission (ALC), at Rdo. P.Bong Panganiban, chairman ngSacred Music Committee, angnagkaloob ng mga ito sa mgafinalist choirs.

Sa Mixed Category, nasungkitnaman ng San Pascual BaylonChamber Singers ng SanPascual, Batangas ang unangpuwesto. Pumangalawa angImmaculate Conception ParishChoir ng Batangas City, at angpangatlo ay ang St. MartinParish Choir ng Taal, Batangas.Bukod sa kanila, naging finalistsdin ang mga sumusunod:

Our Lady of Peace Children’s Choir,Over-all Champion sa Harana sa Panginoon

Tinanghal ang Our Lady of Peace Children’s Choir ng Lodlod,Lipa City, na over-all champion sa ginanap na finals ng Harana saPanginoon ’08 noong ika-13 ng Disyembre 2008 sa Katedral ng SanSebastian, Lipa City. Nauna rito, na-proklama ang nasabing koro ngmga bata na champion sa Children’s Category. Ang iba pang nanaloay ang Nuestra Señor de la Merced Children’s Choir ng Taysan,Batangas bilang first runner-up; ang Sto. Tomas Children’s Choirng Sto. Tomas, Batangas bilang second runner-up.

Cathedral Youth Choir (LipaCity), Sigma Choir (St. Padre PioParish, Sto. Tomas, Batangas),Vox Rosario (Rosario, Batangas),at Our Mother of Perpetual HelpChoir (Balayan, Batangas).

Ayon kay P. BongPanganiban, ang over-allchampion ay ang koro nanakakuha ng pinakamataas nagrado mula sa mga hurado.Napag-alaman na iisa ang nagingbatayan ng mga hurado saparehong kategoriya.

“Sa mga nanalo, lalo ninyongpag-igihin ang pag-awit para saPanginoon,” hamon ni P. Bong.“Sa mga natalo naman, dahil saito ay paligsahan, hayaan ninyo,sa inyong pagsisikap, sa bandadyan kayo naman angmatatanghal na champion,” sabiniya.

“Lahat kayo panalo,” ang alonaman ni Rdo. P. Dakila “Daks”Ramos na naging tagapag-pakilala, kasama si DJ Ricky ng99.1 Spirit-FM. Ang halos limangoras na paligsahan ay

OUR LADY... P. 8

4 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatanganE D I T O R Y A L

OPINION

Most Rev. Ramón Argüelles, DD, STL

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F

Archdiocese of LipaPublisher

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPA

Pater Putativus Publishing HousePrinter

Fr. Nonie C. DolorEditor-in-Chief

Fr. Oscar L. AndalManaging Editor

Contributors:Mrs. Nilda R. Adorable

Msgr. Ruben DimaculaganMrs. Norma Abratigue

Fr. Jojo GondaFr. Manny Guazon

Lenny D. MendozaEmma D. Bauan

Lay-out Artists

Jesusa D. BauanCirculation Manager

Fr. Eric Joquin AradaFr. Nonie C. Dolor

Photographers

Niño BalitaCartoonist

Atty. Mary Antoniette E. ArguellesLegal Counsel

For your comments, submission of articles, and/or subscriptionsemail us at ulatbatangan@yahoo.com PAHATID PAMASKO... P. 5

IKATLONG SERYE

Msgr. Fred Madlangbayan

Ipinagdiwang sa buong daigdig nitong unang linggong Disyembre ang ika-60 taon ng tinatawag naUniversal Declaration of Human Rights! Kaisa angSimbahang Katoliko sa pagdiriwang na ito. Nguni’t maymahalagang paalaala ang Kanyang Kabanalan, PapaBenedicto XVI. Ito ay mahalaga nating pakinggan, lalona tayong mga Pilipino na kung saan ang kontrobersyalna panukalang batas ukol sa Reproductive Health ayginagamit ng mga tagapagtaguyod nito ang sagradongngalan ng human rights.

Babala ng Santo Padre: “Ignoring the ethical basisfor human rights implies that their protection andrespect is always on fragile ground.” Ang mgakarapatang pantao, ayon sa matalinong teologongnaging puno ng Simbahan, ay “universal fact” dahil angmga ito ay nakasulat sa kalikasan ng tao mismo.

“The natural law, written by God in humanconscience, is a common denominator for all men andfor all peoples; a universal guide that all can knowand on the basis of which all can understand oneanother. The rights of man are, therefore, ultimatelyfounded in God the Creator. . . If one ignores this solidethical base, human rights remain fragile because theyare deprived of a solid foundation.”

Dapat nga lagi nating isaalang-alang kung ang mgaipinaglalaban nating karapatang pantao ay sang-ayonsa kalooban ng Diyos para sa tao. Halimbawa, angkarapatan bang sinasabi ng ilang mga kababaihan nakanilang karapatan na magpasya kung dapat o hindi nilaipagpatuloy ang buhay sa kanilang sinapupunan aytamang paggamit ng tinatawag nilang kanilangkarapatang pantao? Tama bang paggamit ng kalasagang karapatang pantao kung sasabihin na papiliin silakung ano ang dapat nilang gamitin upang magkaroonng ligtas na pakikipagtalik upang maiwasan angpagkakaroon ng mga sakit na dulot ng “unsafe sex”?

Ang karapatang pantao ay dapat lalong magpalawig sadignidad ng tao bilang nilalang ng Diyos. Tunay na angpundasyon ng dignidad ng tao ay nasa sa Diyos, kungano ang plano niya para sa tao. Kung sasabihin niyangkarapatan niya ang magpasya kung ano ang kanyangmagiging pamilya, na ang pasya niya ay kumuha ng kanyangka-uri (sa tinatawag na “same sex marriage) dahilkarapatan niya iyon, maliwanag na ito ay di tamangpagkaunawa at paggamit ng karapatang pantao. Labagna ito sa batas kalikasang iniukit ng Diyos sa lahat ng tao!

Kaya naman sinabi ng Santo Papa na ang ika-60anibersaryo ng Universal Declaration of Human Rightsay “occasion to verify in what measure the ideals,accepted by the greater part of the community of nationsin 1948, are respected today in the different nationallegislations and, even more so, in the conscience ofindividuals and of the collectivity.”

Sumama tayo sa ating Santo Papa na ipanalangin anglalo pang ikalalaganap ng tamang pang-unawa sa tunayna kahulugan ng ating mga karapatang pantao. Nawa,ang Anak ng Diyos na naging tao, kaya lalong tumaasang dignidad ng tao, ay laging magpaalaala kung anotayo sa harap ng bawat isa at lalo’t higit sa paningin ngDiyos. #UB

Mahalagang paalala ng Santo Padrehinggil sa Human Rights!

Bilang pakikiisa sa SimbahangPandaigdig (Universal Church) atsa Simbahang Lokal ng Lipa tungosa New Evangelization, atingsamantalahin sa panahong ito ngPasko 2008 na maisalin angpananampalataya sa ating mag-anak sa pamamagitan ng “tellingthe story of Jesus”!

Sa paanong paraan?Sa ating paggawa ng “belen” sa

bahay (bukod o sa halip ngChristmas tree) ay ating ipagsaliang ating mga anak. Ikuwentonatin sa kanila ang istorya ni Jesussamantalang ginagawa ang“belen”. Halimbawa:

Si Maria: Siya ang pinili ng Amasa langit upang maging ina niJesus. Kanyang ip-naglihi sakapang-yarihan ng Espiritu Santoat isinilang niya si Jesus.

Si Jose: Isang banal na lalaki naginawa ng Diyos na maging ama saturing (Pater Putativus sa wikangLatin – Ed.) at nangalaga sa mag-ina.

Ang tala: naging gabay ng mgaHaring Mago upang sila aymakarating kay Jesus at siya’ysambahing taglay ang mga handogna ginto, mira at kamanyang.

Ang kahoy na sabsaban:larawan ng kahoy na krus napagkakapakuan kay Jesus upangtayo ay matubos. Sa sabsaban siyaipinahayag sa mga dumalaw napastol noong si Jesus ay unanglumitaw sa mundo; sa krus siyainihayag bilang mananakop!

Ang asno: larawan ng hayop nasasakyan ni Jesus sa Kanyangmatagumpay na pagpasok saJerusalem upang ialay angKanyang sarili sa pag-ibig sa atin.

Ang ikalwang bahagi ay angpaglalagak ng “baby Jesus” sasabsaban. Ito’y gagawin sa gabing Pasko pagkatapos ng MisaAguinaldo. Ang buong mag-anakna galing sa Misa ng Hatinggabi aymagpuprusisyon sa loob ng bahayhawak-hawak ang “baby Jesus”ngama o kaya ng bunsong anak (kungkaya na nito), samantalang umaawitng isang Christmas carol.

Pagkatapos ng awit, magalang nailalagay sa sabsaban ang “babyJesus” na isa-isang sasambahin ngbuong mag-anak katulad na ginawang tatlong haring mago. Sakatapusan, mananalangin ang Amaat hihilingin na ang PanginoongHesus ay patuloy na mamalagi atmaghari sa kanilang bahay at buhay.Pagtapos ng isang awitingpamasko. Ang buong mag-anak aysama-samang magsasalu-salo ngNoche Buena.

Sa ganitong paraan, ang Banalna Santatlo: Diyos Ama, Anak atEspiritu Santo at ang Banal na Mag-anak: Jesus, Maria at Jose, aymabibigyang puwang sa isip atalaala, lalo na sa puso at kaloobanng buong mag-anak.

Dito nalalagum ang tatlongtaong paghahanda ng SimbahangLokal ng Lipa para sa pagdiriwangng kanyang ika-100 anibersaryo sa2010.

Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!Suma-atin nawa ang

Panginoon! #UB

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat! Ang Paskong ito ay masmakulay dahil napapaloob pa tayo sa taon ni Maria, ang esposang Espiritu Santo. Tuwing Pasko masaya nating inilalarawanang tagpo sa Belen. Sa isang dukhang kalagayan maliwanag namaliwanag ang yamang handog mula sa langit. Ang Maylikhang lahat ng bagay ay nakiisa sa kaliitan ng mga nilikha. Satagpong iyon na tumitingkad ang katauhan ng Inang Birhenkasama ang kanyang banal na kabiyak na si San Jose, maliwanagang napakagandang pagsasalarawan ng dakilang plano ng Diyossa lahat. Si Maria ay taimtim na nagninilay tungkol samakalangit na sanggol. Sa kanya natin matututunan ang naisnating marating sa pagdaraos ng Taon ni Maria at sa darating namga taon. Pinagmamasdan natin lagi ang kababaang-loob ngDiyos na nagbunsod sa kanya upang ang kanyang Anak aymaging isang sanggol na ang layunin ay maging “Diyos nasumasaatin”. Tunay na kalimitan ang ating makatao at hindimaka-Kristiyanong pag-iisip ay nagpapalagay na ang Diyos aynababalot ng kapangyarihan at nakasisindak na kalagayan. Parasa mga hindi nakakakilala sa tunay na Diyos ang paglapit saDiyos ay puno ng takot at pangamba. Ngunit hindi ganyanang pagdating sa atin ng Panginoon. Pinili Nya ang katahimikan,kaliitan, kapayakan, kababaang-loob, at karalitaan upang tayongmga tao ay hindi mahintakutan. Sa katunayan, dahil sa pagnanaisNya na ibigin natin siya, minabuti niyang ang Anak ng Diyos aymaging tunay na anak ng tao. Ito ang ating pagnilay-nilayan saPaskong ito kasama si Maria at puspos ng Espiritu Santo.Matagpuan sana natin nang buong galak ang ating tagapagligtas,maka-isa Siya at sundin Siya sa lakas ng pananampalataya at paglapitsa Diyos ng buong pagmamahal. Unawain sana natin na anghangad ng Diyos ay mahalin natin Siya. Iyang pag-ibig na yan aydi dapat ipagkait sa lumikha sa atin.

Ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko ay paghahanda sa kinabukasan.Noong isang taon na nakatalaga kay Hesus, Anak ng Diyos,ating sinang-ayunan na ang pagsapit ng taon ni Maria ay hindinangangahulugang iniwan natin si Hesus. Sa halip binigyannating diin ang katotohanang patuloy na tumitibay angpagkakaisa natin kay Hesus habang sinusundan natin ang nagingbuhay ni Maria. Sa ganito ding paraan, si Hesus na Anak ngDiyos na paksa ng ating marubdob na pananalangin ng taong2007 at si Maria, dakilang esposa ng Espiritu Santo na buongpagmamahal nating ginugunita ngayong taong 2008 ay kapilingpa rin natin sa pagdaraos ng taon ni San Jose na tapat na anyong pagiging Ama ng Diyos. Kaya ating binibigyan ng pansinang ama nating si San Jose, Patron ng ating Simbahang Lokal napara sa atin ay siyang kinatatayuan (foundation) ng matatag napag-uugnayan at pagdadamayan (communion and solidarity).

Kaya sa pagdating ng Pasko at Bagong Taon hinihikayat koang lahat na pagabay kay San Jose at makita sa kanya ang pagiginghuwarang ama ng Diyos. Mula 10 Abril 2009 hanggang 10Abril 2010, kasama pa rin si Hesus na Anak ng Diyos, kasamasi Maria, tapat na kabiyak ng Espiritu Santo, pagdilidilihan natinang maka-amang katangian ni San Jose na nagbibigay liwanag sa

Pahatid Pamasko

5DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatanganOPINION

Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan Gng. Norma Abratigue

1. Kung paano naluma ang kanilang Magna at Summa cum Laude. Minsan ay nag-session sa Judicial Committee ng kongreso. Pinagtalunan nila kung bibe (duck) nga ang bibe na kanilangpinanggigigilang pagtalunan. Ang tuka kasi nito ay sa bibe. Kungmaglakad ay parang bibe. Kung lumangoy ay parang bibe. Ang paaay bibeng-bibe. Ang behind nito ay lalo nang bibeng-bibe. Angsabi ng CBCP ay hindi naman ito manok. Hindi rin ito gansa. Hindirin ito turkey. Lalo nang hindi ito kalapati. Hanggang ngayon ayhindi pa rin matukoy kung ito ay bibe. Wala raw substance angalegasyon na ito ay bibe. Lalong lumabo ang usapin nang dalhinito sa plenary ng kongreso. Napahiya kasi ang kanilang pagigingmagna at summa cum laude sa technical question na: “Do youhave proofs?”. Hmmmmm … Syanga naman.

2. Kung ako ay pangulo ... Bow! Kung ako ay pangulo, kaso ay hindi,hindi ko dapat ipagmalaki na ang malaking asset ng Bansa ay angkinikita ng kanyang mga migrant workers. Dapat ko pa nga siguroitong ikahiya dahil kaya sila umaalis ay dahil nalulusaw na angkanilang pag-asa sa mga hagupit ng “tadhana”. Kung ako aypangulo, kaso ay hindi, di ko kayang ipagmalaki ang medicaltourism: maluwag na pagbibili ng mga lupain para pagtayuan ngmga bahay bakasyunan at permanent residence ng mga retired nabanyaga, para naman pagsilbihan ng ating mga nurses bilang nursesat iba pang papel. At dahil sa “proliferation” ng nurses, sila pangayon ang nagbabayad sa mga ospital para sa kanilang OJT. Kung ako ay pangulo, kaso ay hindi, hindi ako magsasayaw ngcha-cha. Hindi kasi pwedeng sumayaw sa tugtog ng “LupangHinirang”. Kung ako ay pangulo, kaso ay hindi, matatakot ako namaging pangulo. Bakit? Una, dahil oras na ma-addict ako sapagiging pangulo, napakahirap umatras pabalik dahil oras na akoay umatras, maraming sibat at punglo na nakaumang mula mismo samga taong aking pinaniwalaang dapat mahalin at pwedengpagkatiwalaan. Pangalawa, oras na ako ay ma-addict sa pagka-pangulo, pwede akong magpakabulag sa paniniwala na ang masmabuting kuhaning advisers ay ang mga katulad kong bulag kaysasa “Lord of History”. Syanga naman.

3. Horror Movies. Paano ba uunlad ang Filipino film industry, hindipa naipapalabas ang sine sa mga moviehouses ay pwede nangbilhin ito bilang DVD kahit sa tabing-daan? Kaya naman, wala nasilang mapanood kundi ang mga sumusunod sa serye: “Hello,Garci”, “Fertilizer Deal”, “North Rail Transit”, “NBN-ZTE Deal”,“MOA sa Mindanao” at “Euro Dollars”. Ang pangit lang dito aywalang “The End” ang mga “palabas” na ito. Parang horror storyna laging nagpapahayag na meron pa itong horror episode nakarugtong. Syanga naman.

4. “Maging handa kayo”: Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin nito? NgayongAdvent at sa darating na Christmas season, laging ipinaaala-ala saatin ng Ebanghelyo na maging handa sa pagdating ng Panginoon. Para sa akin, ang pagiging handa ay makakamit sa pamamagitan ngperseverance. Para kay Pope Benedict, ang pagiging handa aynangangahulugan din ng “hindi pagpapaliban sa mabubutinggawa na dapat gawin ngayon.” “Kasama ng pagiging handa”,dagdag ni Pope Benedict, “ang pagbubukas ng puso sa pag-asa”. Ang mundo ng maraming nasirang pangako ay nagdudulot ngmaraming dahilan para tayo maging pesimista o para matakot. Panahon muli ngayon ng pagsamba at pagninilay. Panahon na tikmanmuli kung paano lumaya sa mentalidad na maangkin ang “lahat” at“sa isang iglap”. Panahon ito ng paghihintay sa isang “Someone”kaysa “something”. Sa pamamagitan Niya, laging posible na maymagawang mabuti at maganda ang tao ngayon para sa kinabukasanggaling sa Diyos. Syanga naman.

5. Ang kabayanihan ay hindi lamang nasa quality ng kamatayan. Dahil medyo abstract ang salitang pag-asa, magbibigay ako ngsample ng konkretong kahulugan nito. Ang isang sample ng pag-asa, in concrete, ay kung itinatalaga mo ang pagkatao at posisyonmo bilang daluyan ng katarungan at mabuting gawa. Dahil sakabayanihan mo sa gitna ng bagyo, pati ang iba ay lumalakas angpag-asa. Samantala, kapag ikaw ang “nakaupo” at bumigay ka sakultura ng “lagay”, sapilitang “S.O.P.”, panggigipit lalo na sa mgamahirap, nagiging balakid ka sa daloy ng pag-asa na nanggagalingsa Diyos. Bahagi ng pag-asa ang paniniwala na “ang kabayanihanay di lamang nasa quality ng kamatayan kundi nasa quality, lalo’thigit, ng buhay,” i.e., ng pagsunod at pagpapasunod. Syanganaman.

6. Mga pamaskong regalo ngayong “Pauline Year at Marian Year”.Minsang nagbasa ako ang Zenit, nabasa ko ang isang payo niPadre Rossica ng Canada , isang Basilian priest: This Advent, allowme to suggest that you mend a quarrel. Build peace. Seek out aforgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Writea love letter. Share some treasure. Give a kind answer even thoughyou would like to respond harshly. Encourage a young person tobelieve in him/herself. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.Keep a promise. Find the time. Make time. Forego a grudge. Forgive

an enemy. Celebrate thesacrament of reconciliation.Listen more. Apologize if youwere wrong. Be kind even ifyou weren’t wrong!Idinagdag rin niya: Try tounderstand. Flout envy.Examine the demands youmake on others. Think first ofsomeone else. Appreciate. Bekind, be gentle. Laugh a little.Laugh a little more. Deserveconfidence. Take up armsagainst malice. Decrycomplacency. Expressgratitude. Go to Church. Stayin Church a little while longerthan usual. Gladden the heartof a child. Take pleasure in thebeauty and wonder of theearth. Speak your love. Speakit once again. Speak it evenmore loudly. Speak it quietly.Rejoice, for the Lord is near!Syanga naman.

7. Pamaskong Bonus na“siksik, liglig at umaapaw”.Para sa mga maka-Diyos,kagaya ni Abraham, “angkaligayahan niya ay iyonmismong kalinisan ngkanyang kalooban at angmapaglingkuran ang Diyos atkapwa nang buong pag-iisip,nang buong puso at lakas”. Kahit si Abraham ay inabot ngkatandaan na walang anak, nigaputok man ng pagrereklamoay walang narinig ang Diyosmula sa kanya. Kaya nga, angpagdating ni Isaac bilangkanyang anak ay nagingbonus na lamang sapagkat angmismo niyang kaligayahankahit bago pa siyapagkalooban ng anak aytanging ang Diyos lamang. Kaya nga, mga giliw namingmambabasa ng “The FilipinoCatholic” sa New York atNew Jersey, at ng “UlatBatangan” ng sa Archdioceseof Lipa, ganon din, sa mgasumusubaybay sa “SyangaNaman” sa e-mail at sablogspot (http://siyanganaman.blogspot.com),laging tandaan na angpamasko ng Diyos na “siksik,liglig at umaapaw” ay bonusna lamang para sa isangpusong wagas na nagmamahalsa Diyos. Merry Christmasand a Meaningful 2009. Syanga naman. Sana araw-araw laban niPacquiao . . . para makatikimman lang si Juan de la Cruz ngvicarious victory bawat araw.Bugbog sarado na kasi angkatawan ni Juan sa tindi ngtinamong internationalrecord na “most corrupt”,atbp. Sana araw-araw laban niPacquiao … para makakita manlang si Juan ng role model napinoy sa boxing expertise. Take note, boxing po; hindi posa politika. Tunay nachampion si Pacman nangpagkatapos ng laro ay sinabinya kay de la Joya na “You arestill idol”. At mas-championnaman si de la Joya nangbuong kababaang loob niyangisinagot kay Pacman: “Now,you are my idol”. Sana arawaraw ay laban ni Pacquiao…Krrrrrrrrriiiiiiiinng. Oppps,umaga na pala. Kailanganbumangon na! Syanganaman. #UB

Abalang –abala ang balana sa paghahanda para sa darating naPasko. Magagandang palamuti, mga bahay na halos “magliyab”na sa dami ng ilaw-dagitab na nakasabit. Nakikita natin sa TVang mga higanteng krismas tri, napapakagagandang panoorin.

Parang nakikita ko ang mag-asawang Maria at Jose,namamahinga sa may bintana. Ani Maria sa kanyang esposo,“Tingnan mo ang mga tao, Anak natin ang may kaarawan perosarili nila ang binibigyang kasiyahan. Sarili nila ang nireregaluhan.”

Ano nga ba ang maaaring ibigay na regalo kay Jesus? SaKanya na ang buong sangkatauhan… sa Kanya nga ba? Sa Kanyanga ba ang ating mga puso? Ano na ang pinahahalagahan natinngayon? Alam kong marami sa atin ang nagsusumikap ilagay siJesus sa sentro ng ating buhay. Subalit marami rin ang hindinakakaalala sa Kanya. Inuuna ba natin Siyang “kausapin” bagotayo tuluyang matangay at mapuyat sa kapapanood ng tele-nobelasa gabi? Hanggang sa sobrang kaantukan “automatic” na langang ating mga panalangin…minsan ay wala na. Binibigyan banatin Siya ng puwang sa ating abalang buhay sa pamamagitan ngsimpleng ngiti sa kapwa, pakikinig sa isang kaibigang gustongmagsabi ng kanyang problema…pagpapasensiya sa ating anak oestudyanteng di agad makaintindi…paggamit ng tama at sapatsa oras sa ating trabaho?

Noong unang dumating si Jesus sa mundo, wala agad Siyangmatuluyan. Iyon ay NOON. Ngayon, saan kaya Siya magdiriwangng Kanyang kaarawan? Handa na ba ang ating mga puso? Ito nalamang ang maaari nating ihandog sa Kanya: ang ating pusonghanda Siyang tanggapin bilang Hari, bilang Tagapagligtas.NGAYON, huwag na sanang magmukhang pulubi si Jesus saKanyang kaarawan – kailangang may matuluyan Siyang “tahanan”na puno ng pagmamahal. Ang tahanang ito, ang ating PUSO.Handa na ba tayo? Sana, Happy ang Birthday ni Jesus! #UB

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

kadakilaan ng ating AmangDiyos. Batiin at idalanginnatin lagi sa taong ito ang lahatng mga ama – ama sa buhayespiritwal, yan ang ating mgakaparian at ama sa buhaynating pangkaraniwan.Nawa’y ang mga ama sakaluluwa o sa buhay sa mundoay maging larawan at dahilanng pagkakaisa ng lahat ngmasayang mag-anak. Nawa’yang pagtupad sa tungkulinbilang ama ang humubog saating lahat upang mabuhay sapagdadamayan.

Sa ika-tatlong taon ng atingpaghahanda para sa ika-100taon ng ating Simbahang Lokalsana’y mabanaag sa ating mgasambayanan ang diwa ngpagdadamayan at tunay nakaisahan (solidarity andcommunion). Ito ang dapatmaging bunga ng pagbabalik-

PAHATID PAMASKO... P. 4 loob natin sa Diyos atpagpapahayag ng MabutingBalita na siyang layunin ngtaon ni Hesus, Anak ng Diyos(2007) at ng marubdob napanalangin (contemplation) atbuhay makalangit (spirituality)na siya naming hangarin natinsa taon ni Maria, kabiyak ngEspiritu Santo (2008). Itongpangatlong taon ay makasaksisana sa ating mga samahan salalawigan ng Batangas ng sama-samang pagsulong na bunga ngdakilang hangaring magkaroonng tunay na kaisahan atpagdadamayan.

Maligayang Pasko atManigong Bagong Taon salahat! Nawa’y tayong lahat aytulungan ni San Jose, Patron ngating Arsidiyosesis upangganap nating maisakatuparanang mabiyayang pagdiriwangng Sentenaryo ngArsidiyosesis. #UB

Salubungin ang Bagong Taon 2009ng nararapat.

Huwag magsunog ng mga gomao anumang makapipinsala

sa kalikasan.

TAMA NA ANG PAGYURAKSA INANG KALIKASAN!

MENSAHE GALING SA ULAT BATANGAN

6 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan FEATURES

Her ExcellencyGloria Macapagal ArroyoPresidentRepublic of the Philippines

Dear Madame President,

Greetings of Peace!At about this time a year ago I wrote Your Excellency a letter

related to a contested land in Sumilao, Bukidnon where I was for along time a Bishop. Thank God and people, including YourExcellency for the peaceful resolution of the Sumilao land case andthe gracious response of the agencies involved.

Today another group of farmers, this time from barangays Bahaand Talibayog, Calatagan, Batangas approached us to help negotiatesimilar problems where the land they have received from theGovernment as beneficiaries of Agrarian Reform Program is in dangerof being lost. Unfortunately, some of the land had already beenlost through sale by beneficiary farmers to a cement factory.

The said land is contested because two Government agencies,DAR and DENR, have declared the entire 507 hectares as mineralland and not agricultural land. The truth is that the precious largeland is part-agricultural and part-mineral. If at all possible, a truedeclaration of the classification of the land must be made to benefitthe farmers for the agricultural portion and the developers for theauthentic mineral land.

I am a firm believer of a clear declaration of facts and of fairnegotiation, accompanied by a friendly and peaceful dialogue thatwill be for the benefit of all parties involved, with special predilectionfor the very poor. God has made us “to His image and likeness” sothat in the end all human endeavors and negotiations should makeno one a loser, but must end where everyone is a brother to another.

Please encourage and support such a dialogue that leads toJustice, Love and Peace!

Respectfully yours,

(sgd) + Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales Archbishop of Manila

(ED’S NOTE: This is a copy of Cardinal Rosales letter to the President insupport of the farmers of Baha Talibayog, Calatagan.)

Jesusa Bauan

Sis. Janet 50 Taon ngPaglilingkod bilang Katekista

Sa ilang daang katekista meronang Arsidyosesis ng Lipa, mayisang namumukod tangi. Sakanyang limampung taon ngpaglilingkod, nagpamalas ngpagiging masipag at matiyaga sapagtuturo, anumang oras, umulanman o umaraw at higit sa lahat nahanggang sa kasalukuyan aypatuloy na naggpapakita ngpagmamahal bilang isangtagahubog.

Si Sr. Janet Jusi, katekista saparokya ng San Francisco ng Paola,Mabini, Batangas ay nagbahagi ngkanyang naging buhay atkaranasan sa gawaingpaglilingkod.

Ayon sa naging panayam sakanya ng Ulat Batangan, mula pang kanyang pagkabata, pangarapna niya ang maging isang guro.Subalit pakiramdam niya imposiblena ito ay maging isang katuparandahilan sa kanyang kapansanan samata. At sa pag-aakalang paralamang sa may kaya sa buhay angmaaring makapagturo. Ayon pa rinsa salaysay, naging plano pa rinng Panginoon na siya ay magingisang guro sa paraan ngpagkakatesismo, bilang katekista.

Siya ay nagsimula taong 1957sa gulang na labing pito. Isangmunting milagro para sa kanya angmakapagturo sapagkat hindi niyaito inasahan.

Lumipas ang mga taon, athinarap niya ang matindingpagsubok , at ito ay ang halostuluyang hindi na siya makakita.Binigyan pa rin siya ng biyaya ngmga taong tutulong para sakanyang operasyon sa mata. Sakanyang paghiling sa Diyos, hindi

naman siya nabigo .At noonay ipinangako na itutuloy niyaang pagiging katekista.

Subalit dumating din angpagkakataon na si Sr. Janetay natukso na iwananang pagtuturo. Sakadahilanang maynakita siyangm a g a n d a n gparaan ngpagkakabuhayan,naisip niya angmag-business na lamang, subalitnaalala niya ang pangako ngpatuloy na paglilingkod, mataposmaging tagumpay ang kanyangoperasyon kaya hindi na rin niyanagawang talikuran ang magturosa kabila ng kaunting halagangtinanggap.

Kung pag-uusapan naman angkanyang estado sa buhay,ibinahagi niya na wala siyangsaloobin na magkaroon ng kabiyaksa buhay kahit noong bata pa,dahil sa may takot na hindi namanniya alam kung anong uri ng taoang magiging kasama niya.

Maaring masabi na pamilya narin niya ay ang mga taongkanyang patuloy na hinuhubog satamang landas.

Subalit ano pa man ang nagingpagsubok at hamon na hinarapbilang katekista, hindi niyapinansin ang mga iyon. Ayon sakanya, hindi siya naglilingkod parasa iba kundi para sa Panginoon.Hindi rin naman naapektuhan angkanyang pagtuturo sa kabila nghindi maiiawasang karanasan napinagdaanan.

At hindi man niya naisalaysay,nabanggit naman niya na marami

siyang magagandang alaala sakanyang pagtuturo.

Para sa kanya hindi sapat angmaging matalino upang magingkatekista. Mahalaga ang tiyaga atkababaan ng loob sino pa man anghaharapin.

Kung bakit siya nanatilingmatatag at bumilang ng maramingtaon sa paglilingkod ay sadahilang napamahal na sa kanyaang kanyang ginagawa.

Kung babalikan ang ilan pangsamahang pansimbahangkanyang inaniban, siya ay nagingbahagi ng Legion of Mary,Catholic Women’s League (CWL),Mother Butler at Worship sa ilalimng Parish Liturgical Committee(PLC).

Sa kasalukuyan, anganimnaput pitong taong gulangna katekista ay kasapi ng PLCbilang Chairman of Collectors atnananatiling CCD President saloob na ng dalawamput dalawangtaon . Binanggit ni Sr. Janet nahindi man tulad ng dati namaraming natuturuan, halos araw-araw naman siya ay nasa parokyaat patuloy na dumadalo sa mgaseminar. “Habang kaya ko, ako aymananatiling katekista”, pahayagniya.

Ninanais rin niyang makabuong Confraternity of ChristianDoctrine (CCD) Board sakanilang parokya nang sa ganoonay may gaganap sa iba pa niyangginagampanang tungkulin .

Isang inspirasyon para sa ibangkatekista si Sr. Janet, higit pa sataglay ang bilang ng taon sapaglilingkod, kundi ang mgakatangiang meron siya kung kayasiya tumagal at nananatiling isanginstrumento ng Diyos para sa mgakabataan at sa ibang taongnangangailangan sa kanya. #UBSi Sis. Janet habang kinakapanayam ng may akda sa tanggapan ng CCD

Parokya ni San Francisco de Paola, Mabini, Batangas.

PHOTO BY: FR. NONIE D.

inclusion of those sectors of thepopulation that often fall belowthe threshold of extreme povertyand yet are not easily reached byofficial aid. The history oftwentieth-century economicdevelopment teaches us that gooddevelopment policies depend fortheir effectiveness on responsibleimplementation by human agentsand on the creation of positivepartnerships between markets,civil society and States. Civilsociety in particular plays a keypart in every process ofdevelopment, since developmentis essentially a culturalphenomenon, and culture is bornand develops in the civilsphere[13].

13. As my venerable PredecessorPope John Paul II had occasion toremark, globalization “is notably

ambivalent”[14] and thereforeneeds to be managed with greatprudence. This will include givingpriority to the needs of the world’spoor, and overcoming the scandalof the imbalance between theproblems of poverty and themeasures which have been adoptedin order to address them. Theimbalance lies both in the culturaland political order and in thespiritual and moral order. In factwe often consider only thesuperficial and instrumentalcauses of poverty withoutattending to those harbouredwithin the human heart, like greedand narrow vision. The problemsof development, aid andinternational cooperation aresometimes addressed withoutany real attention to the humanelement, but as merely technicalquestions – limited, that is, to

establishing structures, setting uptrade agreements, and allocatingfunding impersonally. What thefight against poverty really needsare men and women who live in aprofoundly fraternal way and areable to accompany individuals,families and communities onjourneys of authentic humandevelopment.

CONCLUSION14. In the Encyclical Letter

Centesimus Annus, John Paul IIwarned of the need to “abandon amentality in which the poor – asindividuals and as peoples – areconsidered a burden, as irksomeintruders trying to consume whatothers have produced.” The poor,he wrote, “ask for the right toshare in enjoying material goodsand to make good use of theircapacity for work, thus creating

a world that is more just andprosperous for all” [15]. Intoday’s globalized world, it isincreasingly evident that peacecan be built only if everyone isassured the possibility ofreasonable growth: sooner or later,the distortions produced byunjust systems have to be paidfor by everyone. It is utterlyfoolish to build a luxury home inthe midst of desert or decay.Globalization on its own isincapable of building peace, andin many cases, it actually createsdivisions and conflicts. Ifanything it points to a need: to beoriented towards a goal ofprofound solidarity that seeks thegood of each and all. In this sense,globalization should be seen as agood opportunity to achievesomething important in the fightagainst poverty, and to place atthe disposal of justice and peaceresources which were scarcelyconceivable previously.

15. The Church’s social teaching hasalways been concerned with thepoor. At the time of the EncyclicalLetter Rerum Novarum, the poorwere identified mainly as theworkers in the new industrialsociety; in the social Magisteriumof Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII,Paul VI and John Paul II, newforms of poverty were graduallyexplored, as the scope of thesocial question widened to reachglobal proportions[16]. Thisexpansion of the social questionto the worldwide scale has to beconsidered not just as aquantitative extension, but also asa qualitative growth in theunderstanding of man and theneeds of the human family. Forthis reason, while attentivelyfollowing the current phenomenaof globalization and their impacton human poverty, the Churchpoints out the new aspects of thesocial question, not only in theirbreadth but also in their depth,insofar as they concern man’sidentity and his relationship with

God. These principles of socialteaching tend to clarify the linksbetween poverty andglobalization and they help toguide action towards the buildingof peace. Among these principles,it is timely to recall in particularthe “preferential love for thepoor”[17], in the light of theprimacy of charity, which isattested throughout Christiantradition, beginning with that ofthe early Church (cf. Acts 4:32-36; 1 Cor 16:1; 2 Cor 8-9; Gal2:10). “Everyone should put hishand to the work which falls tohis share, at once andimmediately”, wrote Leo XIII in1891, and he added: “In regard tothe Church, her cooperation willnever be wanting, be the time orthe occasion what it may”[18]. Itis in the same spirit that theChurch to this day carries out herwork for the poor, in whom shesees Christ[19], and sheconstantly hears echoing in herheart the command of the Princeof Peace to his Apostles: “Vosdate illis manducare – Give themsomething to eat yourselves” (Lk9:13). Faithful to this summonsfrom the Lord, the Christiancommunity will never fail, then,to assure the entire human familyof her support through gesturesof creative solidarity, not only by“giving from one’s surplus”, butabove all by “a change of life-styles, of models of productionand consumption, and of theestablished structures of powerwhich today govern societies”[20]. At the start of the New Year,then, I extend to every disciple ofChrist and to every person ofgood will a warm invitation toexpand their hearts to meet theneeds of the poor and to takewhatever practical steps arepossible in order to help them.The truth of the axiom cannot berefuted: “to fight poverty is tobuild peace.”

From the Vatican, 8 December 2008.BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

BENEDICT... P. 7

7DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatanganVATICAN

1. Once again, as the new year begins,I want to extend good wishes forpeace to people everywhere. Withthis Message I would like topropose a reflection on the theme:Fighting Poverty to Build Peace.Back in 1993, my venerablePredecessor Pope John Paul II, inhis Message for the World Day ofPeace that year, drew attention tothe negative repercussions forpeace when entire populations livein poverty. Poverty is often acontributory factor or acompounding element in conflicts,including armed ones. In turn, theseconflicts fuel further tragicsituations of poverty. “Ourworld”, he wrote, “showsincreasing evidence of anothergrave threat to peace: manyindividuals and indeed wholepeoples are living today inconditions of extreme poverty. Thegap between rich and poor hasbecome more marked, even in themost economically developednations. This is a problem whichthe conscience of humanity cannotignore, since the conditions inwhich a great number of peopleare living are an insult to their innatedignity and as a result are a threatto the authentic and harmoniousprogress of the world community”[1].

2. In this context, fighting povertyrequires attentive consideration ofthe complex phenomenon ofglobalization. This is importantfrom a methodological standpoint,because it suggests drawing uponthe fruits of economic andsociological research into the manydifferent aspects of poverty. Yetthe reference to globalizationshould also alert us to the spiritualand moral implications of thequestion, urging us, in our dealingswith the poor, to set out from theclear recognition that we all sharein a single divine plan: we are calledto form one family in which all –individuals, peoples and nations –model their behaviour according tothe principles of fraternity andresponsibility. This perspectiverequires an understanding ofpoverty that is wide-ranging andwell articulated. If it were aquestion of material poverty alone,then the social sciences, whichenable us to measure phenomenaon the basis of mainly quantitativedata, would be sufficient toillustrate its principalcharacteristics. Yet we know thatother, non-material forms ofpoverty exist which are not thedirect and automatic consequenceof material deprivation. Forexample, in advanced wealthysocieties, there is evidence ofmarginalization, as well asaffective, moral and spiritualpoverty, seen in people whoseinterior lives are disoriented andwho experience various forms ofmalaise despite their economicprosperity. On the one hand, I havein mind what is known as “moralunderdevelopment”[2], and on theother hand the negativeconsequences of“superdevelopment”[3]. Nor canI forget that, in so-called “poor”societies, economic growth is oftenhampered by cultural impedimentswhich lead to inefficient use ofavailable resources. It remainstrue, however, that every form ofexternally imposed poverty has atits root a lack of respect for thetranscendent dignity of the humanperson. When man is notconsidered within the total contextof his vocation, and when thedemands of a true “human ecology”

[4] are not respected, the cruelforces of poverty are unleashed,as is evident in certain specificareas that I shall now considerbriefly one by one. Poverty andmoral implications

3. Poverty is often considered aconsequence of demographicchange. For this reason, there areinternational campaigns afoot toreduce birth-rates, sometimesusing methods that respect neitherthe dignity of the woman, nor theright of parents to chooseresponsibly how many children tohave[5]; graver still, these methodsoften fail to respect even the rightto life. The extermination ofmillions of unborn children, in thename of the fight against poverty,actually constitutes thedestruction of the poorest of allhuman beings. And yet it remainsthe case that in 1981, around 40%of the world’s population wasbelow the threshold of absolutepoverty, while today thatpercentage has been reduced by asmuch as a half, and whole peopleshave escaped from poverty despiteexperiencing substantialdemographic growth. This goes toshow that resources to solve theproblem of poverty do exist, evenin the face of an increasingpopulation. Nor must it beforgotten that, since the end of theSecond World War, the world’spopulation has grown by fourbillion, largely because of certaincountries that have recentlyemerged on the international sceneas new economic powers, and haveexperienced rapid developmentspecifically because of the largenumber of their inhabitants.Moreover, among the mostdeveloped nations, those withhigher birth-rates enjoy betteropportunities for development. Inother words, population isproving to be an asset, not a factorthat contributes to poverty.

4. Another area of concern has to dowith pandemic diseases, such asmalaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.Insofar as they affect the wealth-producing sectors of thepopulation, they are a significantfactor in the overall deteriorationof conditions in the countryconcerned. Efforts to rein in theconsequences of these diseases onthe population do not alwaysachieve significant results. It alsohappens that countries afflicted bysome of these pandemics findthemselves held hostage, whenthey try to address them, by thosewho make economic aidconditional upon theimplementation of anti-lifepolicies. It is especially hard tocombat AIDS, a major cause ofpoverty, unless the moral issuesconnected with the spread of thevirus are also addressed. First andforemost, educational campaignsare needed, aimed especially at theyoung, to promote a sexual ethicthat fully corresponds to thedignity of the person; initiativesof this kind have already borneimportant fruits, causing areduction in the spread of AIDS.Then, too, the necessary medicinesand treatment must be madeavailable to poorer peoples as well.This presupposes a determinedeffort to promote medical researchand innovative forms of treatment,as well as flexible application,when required, of the internationalrules protecting intellectualproperty, so as to guaranteenecessary basic healthcare to allpeople.

programmes for fighting poverty,which once again highlights itsintrinsic moral dimension, is childpoverty. When poverty strikes afamily, the children prove to bethe most vulnerable victims:almost half of those living inabsolute poverty today arechildren. To take the side ofchildren when considering povertymeans giving priority to thoseobjectives which concern themmost directly, such as caring formothers, commitment toeducation, access to vaccines,medical care and drinking water,safeguarding the environment, andabove all, commitment to defenceof the family and the stability ofrelations within it. When thefamily is weakened, it is inevitablychildren who suffer. If the dignityof women and mothers is notprotected, it is the children whoare affected most.

6. A fourth area needing particularattention from the moralstandpoint is the relationshipbetween disarmament anddevelopment. The current level ofworld military expenditure givescause for concern. As I havepointed out before, it can happenthat “immense militaryexpenditure, involving material andhuman resources and arms, is infact diverted from developmentprojects for peoples, especiallythe poorest who are most in needof aid. This is contrary to what isstated in the Charter of the UnitedNations, which engages theinternational community andStates in particular ‘to promote theestablishment and maintenance ofinternational peace and securitywith the least diversion forarmaments of the world’s humanand economic resources’ (art. 26)”[6]. This state of affairs doesnothing to promote, and indeedseriously impedes, attainment ofthe ambitious development targetsof the international community.What is more, an excessive increasein military expenditure risksaccelerating the arms race,producing pockets ofunderdevelopment anddesperation, so that it canparadoxically become a cause ofinstability, tension and conflict. Asmy venerable Predecessor Paul VIwisely observed, “the new namefor peace is development”[7].States are therefore invited toreflect seriously on the underlyingreasons for conflicts, oftenprovoked by injustice, and topractise courageous self-criticism.If relations can be improved, itshould be possible to reduceexpenditure on arms. Theresources saved could then beearmarked for developmentprojects to assist the poorest andmost needy individuals andpeoples: efforts expended in thisway would be efforts for peacewithin the human family.

7. A fifth area connected with thefight against material povertyconcerns the current food crisis,which places in jeopardy thefulfilment of basic needs. Thiscrisis is characterized not so muchby a shortage of food, as bydifficulty in gaining access to it andby different forms of speculation:in other words, by a structural lackof political and economicinstitutions capable of addressingneeds and emergencies.Malnutrition can also cause gravemental and physical damage to thepopulation, depriving manypeople of the energy necessary toescape from poverty unaided. Thiscontributes to the widening gap ofinequality, and can provoke violentreactions. All the indicators ofrelative poverty in recent yearspoint to an increased disparitybetween rich and poor. No doubt

on the one hand, advances intechnology, which mainly benefitthe more affluent, and on the otherhand, changes in the prices ofindustrial products, which risemuch faster than those ofagricultural products and rawmaterials in the possession ofpoorer countries. In this way, themajority of the population in thepoorest countries suffers a doublemarginalization, through theadverse effects of lower incomesand higher prices. Globalsolidarity and the fight againstpoverty

8. One of the most important waysof building peace is through a formof globalization directed towardsthe interests of the whole humanfamily[8]. In order to governglobalization, however, thereneeds to be a strong sense of globalsolidarity [9] between rich andpoor countries, as well as withinindividual countries, includingaffluent ones. A “common code ofethics”[10] is also needed,consisting of norms based notupon mere consensus, but rootedin the natural law inscribed by theCreator on the conscience of everyhuman being (cf. Rom 2:14-15).Does not every one of us sensedeep within his or her consciencea call to make a personalcontribution to the common goodand to peace in society?Globalization eliminates certainbarriers, but is still able to buildnew ones; it brings peoplestogether, but spatial and temporalproximity does not of itself createthe conditions for true communionand authentic peace. Effectivemeans to redress themarginalization of the world’s poorthrough globalization will only befound if people everywhere feelpersonally outraged by theinjustices in the world and by theconcomitant violations of humanrights. The Church, which is the“sign and instrument ofcommunion with God and of theunity of the entire human race”[11] will continue to offer hercontribution so that injustices andmisunderstandings may beresolved, leading to a world ofgreater peace and solidarity.

9. In the field of internationalcommerce and finance, there areprocesses at work today whichpermit a positive integration ofeconomies, leading to an overallimprovement in conditions, butthere are also processes tending inthe opposite direction, dividingand marginalizing peoples, andcreating dangerous situations thatcan erupt into wars and conflicts.Since the Second World War,international trade in goods andservices has grown extraordinarilyfast, with a momentumunprecedented in history. Muchof this global trade has involvedcountries that were industrializedearly, with the significant additionof many newly- emergingcountries which have now enteredonto the world stage. Yet there areother low-income countries whichare still seriously marginalized interms of trade. Their growth hasbeen negatively influenced by therapid decline, seen in recentdecades, in the prices ofcommodities, which constitutepractically the whole of theirexports. In these countries, whichare mostly in Africa, dependenceon the exportation of commoditiescontinues to constitute a potentrisk factor. Here I should like torenew an appeal for all countriesto be given equal opportunities ofaccess to the world market,without exclusion ormarginalization.

10. A similar reflection may be madein the area of finance, which is akey aspect of the phenomenon ofglobalization, owing to the

development of technology andpolicies of liberalization in theflow of capital between countries.Objectively, the most importantfunction of finance is to sustainthe possibility of long- terminvestment and hence ofdevelopment. Today this appearsextremely fragile: it is experiencingthe negative repercussions of asystem of financial dealings – bothnational and global – based uponvery short-term thinking, whichaims at increasing the value offinancial operations andconcentrates on the technicalmanagement of various forms ofrisk. The recent crisisdemonstrates how financialactivity can at times be completelyturned in on itself, lacking anylong-term consideration of thecommon good. This lowering ofthe objectives of global finance tothe very short term reduces itscapacity to function as a bridgebetween the present and thefuture, and as a stimulus to thecreation of new opportunities forproduction and for work in the longterm. Finance limited in this wayto the short and very short termbecomes dangerous for everyone,even for those who benefit whenthe markets perform well[12].

11. All of this would indicate that thefight against poverty requirescooperation both on the economiclevel and on the legal level, so as toallow the internationalcommunity, and especially poorercountries, to identify andimplement coordinated strategiesto deal with the problemsdiscussed above, therebyproviding an effective legalframework for the economy.Incentives are needed forestablishing efficient participatoryinstitutions, and support is neededin fighting crime and fostering aculture of legality. On the otherhand, it cannot be denied thatpolicies which place too muchemphasis on assistance underliemany of the failures in providingaid to poor countries. Investing inthe formation of people anddeveloping a specific and well-integrated culture of enterprisewould seem at present to be theright approach in the medium andlong term. If economic activitiesrequire a favourable context inorder to develop, this must notdistract attention from the need togenerate revenue. While it has beenrightly emphasized that increasingper capita income cannot be theultimate goal of political andeconomic activity, it is still animportant means of attaining theobjective of the fight againsthunger and absolute poverty.Hence, the illusion that a policyof mere redistribution of existingwealth can definitively resolve theproblem must be set aside. In amodern economy, the value ofassets is utterly dependent on thecapacity to generate revenue in thepresent and the future. Wealthcreation therefore becomes aninescapable duty, which must bekept in mind if the fight againstmaterial poverty is to be effectivein the long term.

12. If the poor are to be given priority,then there has to be enough roomfor an ethical approach toeconomics on the part of thoseactive in the international market,an ethical approach to politics onthe part of those in public office,and an ethical approach toparticipation capable of harnessingthe contributions of civil societyat local and international levels.International agencies themselveshave come to recognize the valueand advantage of economicinitiatives taken by civil societyor local administrations to promotethe emancipation and social

BENEDICT XVI’S MESSAGE FOR WORLD PEACE DAY“Fighting Poverty to Build Peace”

Here is the message Benedict XVI wrote for World Peace Day 2009, to beobserved Jan. 1.

BENEDICT... P. 65. A third area requiring attention in the principal reasons for this are,

8 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan NEWS & EVENTS

Liturgy

Q:Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe, Ireland, once said thatcohabiting couples must not receive Communion. I havetwo related questions: 1) Are civilly married couplesconsidered cohabiting if not married in church? 2) If acivilly married couple, never married in church, divorceand one or both eventually want to get married in churchwith a different partner, will they be allowed to?

A: The answer would depend on several circumstances and onthe religious status of the couple.If at least one member of the couple is Catholic, then the

Church would not recognize the civil marriage as valid and thecouple’s status would be practically the same as a cohabitingcouple.

This is because positive Church law ties the validity of aCatholic wedding to following the proper canonical form. Sincethis is positive and not divine law the local bishop has theauthority to dispense from the canonical form. This is usuallygranted if for some serious reason a Catholic wishes to marryaccording to a non-Catholic religious ritual. The dispensation israrely, if ever, accorded when a Catholic wants to marryaccording to a civil ceremony.

If a couple of civilly married, baptized non-Catholics were tobecome Catholic, then their status would depend on whethertheir former community recognized the validity of civil marriageor not. If their civil marriage was recognized as valid, then, in theeyes of God and the Church, that marriage would also besacramental. This is because the Church considers that all validmarriages between baptized persons are automaticallysacramental even in those cases where the particular religiouscommunity does not number matrimony among the sacraments.

If a civilly married couple receive baptism, then the baptismitself transforms their valid civil marriage into a sacramentalmarriage and this fact is noted on the baptismal register.

In both of the above cases if there is some well-groundeddoubt as to the validity of the original bond (for example, if theterms of the civil wedding created a presumption against makinga lifelong commitment), then the couple should be wed onentering the Catholic faith.

Addressing the second question, we can say that if a Catholichad entered into an invalid civil wedding, and later divorced, inprinciple he or she could marry someone else in the Church.

It is possible that the same rule would apply in the secondsituation mentioned, but each case would have to be examinedon its own merits to determine the sacramental validity of theprevious Christian marriage. In general the law presumes thevalidity of such a marriage until the contrary is proven (Canon1060).

The previous civil bond of someone who divorced beforebaptism would not usually constitute an obstacle to beingmarried in the Church. If necessary, the previous marriage couldbe dissolved in virtue of the Pauline privilege (Canon 1143).

It is important to note, however, that marriage in all of theabove cases require the permission of the local bishop,especially if the person has civil obligations toward the spouseand children arising from a previous bond (Canon 1071).

Likewise, before any of these weddings can take place, Canon1085.2 requires that “the nullity or dissolution of the prior marriageis established legitimately and certainly.” #UB

(Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara,professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University.)

Civilly Married CouplesIsa muling pagkakataon ang

naibigay sa mgamananampalataya ng parokyani San Vicente Ferrer,Banaybanay Lungsod ng Lipaang makaisa ang Mahal naArsobispo ng Lipa, RamonArguelles.

Noong nakaraang ika -2 ngDisyembre , ganap na ika-6 nghapon, nanguna ang Arsobisposa Banal na Misa sapagdiriwang ng unang taonganibersaryo ng Divine MercyChapel sa Transville HomesSubdivision, isa sa mga sakopng nasabing parokya.

Sa paanyaya ng mganamamahala sa nasabingkapilya, marami ang nakiisa atsumuporta mula pa sa ibatibang barangay , naroon dinang Pangulo ng ParishPastoral Council sa katauhanni Arthur Reyes at ang kuraparoko Reb. P. Jojo Mendoza.

Matapos ang banal napagdiriwang, sinundan ito ngmaikling pananalita tungkol saDivine Mercy Apostolate andthe Three O’clock Habit ngbisitang pari , Reb. P. RomyMendoza (Priest Coordinator,Lipa Archdiocesan DivineMercy Apostolate-LADMA).Hinikayat niya ang lahat naipalaganap at mamintuho saMabathalang Awa ng Diyos.Ayon sa kanya, pananalig angkailangan at kay Hesus lagimagtiwala.

Katulong ni P. Romy sagawaing pagpapalaganap ngdebosyon sa Divine Mercy aysi Sr. Divina Pastora M.Padilla,lay coordinator ng LADMA.

Sa patuloy na pagtataguyodng mga namamahala sakapi lya at sa mgasumusuporta dito, ang DivineMercy ay patuloy na makikilalaat maipapalaganap hindilamang sa nasakupan ngparokya maging sa iba namakikita at mararamdamanang awa ng Diyos. #UB

Divine Mercy Chapel,nagdiwang ng unang

anibersaryo

Isang makabuluhang araw angnaipagkaloob sa mga kabataan ngParokya ni Sta. Clara de Asis sapagkakaroon nila ng MarianYouth Congress (YouthGathering) noong nakaraang ika-22 ng Nobyembre. Sapagkat angaraw na iyon ay nakatakda paraKumpilang Bayan sa parokya, atnaroon ang Arsobispo ng Lipa,Lubhang Kagalang-galangRamon C. Arguelles, D.D., S.T.L.Sinamantala na ni Reb. P. RaulFrancisco A. Martinez, KuraParoko, na anyayahan angbutihing Arsobispo upang kahitsandali ay makadaupang-paladang mga kabataang naroroon.

Bilang pasimula, nakiisa angmga kabataan sa Banal na Misangpinangunahan ni ArsobispoArguelles para sa mga kukumpilan.Sa mensaheng ibinigay ngArsobispo, sinabi niyang ang mga

Youth Gathering sa Sta. Clara, idinaos

kabataan ang tutulong upang ma-iangat ang simbahan.

Ang maghapon ay napuno ngkaalaman sa pamamagitan ng mgalectures tungkol sa Kabataan saTahanan, sa Paaralan at saSimbahan na isa-isang ibinahagi ngmga opisyales ng KabataangKaberks ng Mabuting Pastol(KKMP), samahang pangkabataansa parokya. Kabilang naman sapaksang tinalakay para sa Mahalna Ina ay ang Papel ni Maria bilangisang Ina at si Maria sa buhay niHesus.

Ipinakita rin nila ang kanilangpakikisama sa pamamagitan ngtinawag na Game-Human Binggokung saan nakipagkilala sila sa mgakasamang kabataan.

Ang Parish Marian YouthCongress ay dinaluhan ngapatnaput limang mga kabataan.#UB

Nagpakita ng talento sapamamagitan ng pagganap saisang musical play ang mga pilingseminarista ng Seminaryo Menorni San Francisco de Sales noongnakaraang ika-5 g Disyembre saLipa Youth Cultural andDevelopment Center.

Ang Sacerdotal: a musicalplay ay tungkol sa pagtawag atpagtugon sa bokasyon ngpagtatalaga ng sarili bilang pari .Ito ay sa produksyon St. Francisde Sales Minor Seminary(SFSMS) sa pangunguna ni Reb.P.Jose Dennis Tenorio, rektor ngSeminaryo Menor at sapakikipagtulungan ngArchdiocesan Commission onVocation sa ilalim ng pamumunoni Reb. P. Rochester Charles“Toter” Resuello.

Nang araw na iyon, nagkaroonng matinee show sa ganap na ika-dalawa at kalahati ng hapon parasa . mga kabataang pumapasok samga paaralang pang-sekodaryamula sa Lungsod ng Lipa.Samantala, gala show namannoong ika-pito ng gabi na

Sinungkit ni SeminaristaJuan Miguel Tolentino, nasaikalawang antas sa SeminaryoMenor ni San Francisco deSales ang ikalawang pwestosa kategoriyang FeatureWriting in English sa ginanapna Regional Schools PressConference (RSPC) noong ika-1 hanggang ika-5 ngDisyembre sa BatangasNational High School, Lungsodng Batangas.

Ang RSPC ay isangkompetisyon sa pagsulat na

Galing ng Menor...

Tolentino ng SFSMS, nagningning sa RSPC!

binubuo ng iba’t-ibangkategoriya at nilalahukan nglabing-apat na dibisyon mulasa CaLaBaRZon Region.

Nauna rito, nakuha rin niyaang ikalawang pwesto sapareho ring kategoriya saDivision Level. Doon aykasama niya ang isa pangseminaristang menor,Seminarista Karl JosephSanmocte, na nasa ikaapatna antas, na nagwagi rin ngikalawang pwesto sa Pagsulatng Lathalain. #UB

Isang kakaibang paraan ng pagkampanya...

Mga Seminaristang Menor,nagpamalas ng talento

dinaluhan pa ng ibang mga pari atng Arsobispo Ramon C.Arguelles.

Hindi ito ang unangpagkakataong ipinalabas angnasabing play sapagkat dalawangbeses na itong itinampok saSeminaryo Menor noong Abril atisang beses sa Parokya ng Sta.Teresita ng Batang Hesus sa Sta.Teresita, Batangas noong buwanng Mayo.

Naging kakaiba angpagtatanghal na ito sapagkatkabilang rin sa mga gumanap aysi Reb.P. Richard Hernandez,prokurador at paring-tagapagturo’t tagahubog sanabanggit na seminaryo,Hinalinhan niya angseminaristang gumanap na ama ngpangunahing tauhan nakasalukuyang nagpapagaling. Sakanyang pagganap bilang Atty.Salvador, ipinamalas niya angkanyang talento sa pag-awit atpag-arte.

Ang Sacerdotal ay inaasahangmaipapalabas rin sa ibat ibangpaaralan at parokya. #UB

BALITANGSeminaryo

FSP... P. 1

napakinggan “live” sa himpilan ngradyo ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa.

Pawang mga taga-labas ngArsidiyosesis ng Lipa ang mgahurado: Prof. Minette DayritPadilla, Prof. Nenen Espina, atRdo. P. Nilo Mangusad. Ang huliang nagsilbing pinuno ng mgahurado.

Ipinarinig ng magkakasamangtinig ng mga koro ng mga bata angisang komposisyon ni P. Bong,

OUR LADY... P. 3 “Buhay at Dangal ng Batangan”.Ito’y isang awit parangal sa Mahalna Birhen ng Caysasay.

Masayang binati naman ngLubhang Kgg. Arsobispo RamonC. Arguelles ang mga nagwagi atang lahat ng mga lumahok. Sinabiniyang sana maging “centennialchoir” ang mga ito at mabigyanng pagkakataong umawit anglahat ng koro sa Arsidiyosesis saika-100 taon ng Lipa bilangsimbahang lokal. #UB

sa P25M ang magagastos sanasabing proyekto. Ibinalitanaman ni Mayor Oscar Gozosang pagsang-ayon ng isang grupong mga abogado na nagmamay-ari ng kalapit lupa na handa silangmagkaloob ng kapirasong lupaupang mapalawak-lawak angkinatatayuan ng magigingparokya.

Bukod kay P. Jun,pinagkalooban naman ngConstruction Committee ngplake ng pagkilala si P. JojoMendoza na siyang unang

naatasan na maghanda sa mgamananampalataya sa lugal naiyon upang maging bagongparokya. Target umano ninaP. Quiambao na sa kapistahanni Sta. Teresita ng BatangHesus sa Oktubre 1, 2009,maisasakatuparan na angminimithing canonicalerect ion at dedicat ion ngnasabing bagong simbahan. SiP. Jun ang inaasahangitatalagang magiging unangkura paroko ng magigingParokya ni Sta. Teresita ngBatang Hesus. #UB

SHELL STRUCTURE... P. 11

Susie Bauan

Susie Bauan

Jesusa Bauan

Sem. Karl Sanmocte

Ipinasya ng mga madre naipagdiwang ang malakingbiyayang ito ng Diyos bilangbahagi ng Hubileyo ng ika-2000taon ng kapanganakan ni SanPablo Apostol. Sa homiliya ngArsobispo, ipinaabot niya sa mgamadre ang kanyang pasasalamat sakanilang pagiging “silentpreachers” na nagpapalaganap ngSalita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ngpaglalathala at ng radyo.Iminungkahi rin niya naipagpatuloy nila ang pagtulong samga gawain ng lokal na Simbahanng Lipa upang ito ay maging tunayna misyonero ayon sa halimbawani San Pablo.

Sa Lipa unang naitatag angpundasyon ng mga Daughters ofSt. Paul sa Pilipinas, saimbitasyon ng yumaong ObispoAlfredo Verzosa. Di kataka-takana ang kanilang paghubog aymatatagpuan sa Lipa. #UB

9DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatanganNEWS & EVENTS

(Bauan, Batangas) -Kaalinsabay ng kapistahan ngKristong Hari, ipinagdiwang ngKnights of Columbus, HolyCross of Bauan 8536 ngkanilang ika-25 taon ngpagkakatatag sa Parokya ngInmakulada Konsepsyon,Bauan, Batangas.

Matapos ang pagdiriwangng Banal na Misa sa ganap naika-6 ng umaga, nagkaroon ngsama-samang almusal ang mgakasapi sa Knights ofColumbus Hall na sinundan ngisang motorcade. Nangsumapit naman ang ika-5 nghapon, nagtipon ang mgaKnights, kasama ng kanilangmga kabiyak at mga panauhin,sa Boomtown Clubhouse.

Matapos ang Invocation niRdo. P. Dondon Beredo,Chaplain ng K of C ng HolyCross of Bauan, inawit angPambansang Awit sapangunguna ni Sir ArturoCatimbag. Si SK FlorianoAbuzman ang nagbigay ngpambungad na pananalita atkinilala naman ang mgapanauhin at ang mga kasapi niBro. Ben Enriquez.Pagkatapos ng hapunan, isangproduction number angipinamalas ng grupong TheSurtidos at nina SK August atFely Arada; ganoon din namannagparinig ng mga awitin angImmaculate ConceptionYouth Choir at ang SingingKnights. Nagbigay nginspirational talk si SK MarioMagsaysay, Sr. samantalang siSK Leon Gonzales angnagpakilala sa panauhing taga-pagsalita. Ang paggagawad ngHonorary Lifetime

K of C ng Bauan, nagdaosng ika-25 anibersaryo

Membership ay ginampananng kasalukuyang GrandKnight SK Ernesto Arada, Jr.at si SK Rudolfo Maliwanagnaman ang nagbigay ng hulingpananalita.

Kabilang sa mga binigyan ngHonorary LifetimeMembership ay sina SKFloriano Abuzman, SK AurelioAgbay, SK Augusto Arada, SKPonciano Lim, SK BenitoManalo, SK Pedro Medrano, atSK Arcangel Talain. Angpinagkalooban naman ngHonorary Membership ay sinaSK Virgilio Gonda at SKRosauro Magpantay. Ang mgaservice awardees (10hanggang 28 taong kasapi ngsamahan) ay sina SK PelagioPana, SK Henry Talag, SKArturo Catimbang, SK LeonGonzales, SK FranciscoCastillo, SK Regino Malapit,Bro, Nicanor Manalo; SKMardonio Agabay, SK JaimeHermosisima, SK MoisesHernandez, Bro. RodrigoGarcia, at SK Mario Sarmiento.

Sa kanya naming mensahe,sinabi ni Rdo. P. CarmeloGozos, kura paroko ng Bauan,ang mga Knights ay mgakalalakihang Katoliko nanagtatalaga ng sarili upanggawin ang kanilangsambayanang mas magandangtirahan habang nananatilingtapat at tumutulong saSimbahan. Ito, aniya angpagpapalago ng kanilangpananampalataya. Malaki ringbahagi ang ginagawa ng mgaito upang maipagtanggol atmapayabong ang buhaypamilya. #UB (mula sa ulatni Bro. Ernesto Robles)

Sinimulan ng mga pari atseminarista ng St. Francis deSales Major Seminary angbuwan ng Disyembre sapamamagitan ng pagigingpunong abala sa taunangpagtitipon ng mga collegeseminaries, na tinampukan ngmga paligsahan sa iba’t ibangmga sports. Ayon kay Rdo. P.Jessie Balilla, rektor ng SFSMajor Seminary, ang pagtitipongito na kung tawagi’y “Bukluran”ay nagsisilbi ding isang daan ngpagkakakilala ng mgaseminarista na nasa antas ngPilosopiya. Nagkakapalitan silang mga karanasan, lalo na samaka-bagong buhay saseminaryo.

“Pati naman kaming mgaformators ay nagkakaroon ika ngang panahon upang mag-comparenotes, ika nga,”paliwanang pa niP. Jessie. Kasama rin sapagtitipong ito ang mga layteachers sa college seminaries.“Kung ang mga Minor Seminariesay may Sangkan kay Kristo,kami namang mga college

SFS Major Seminary, Host ng Bukluran ‘08dagdag pa niya.

Bukod sa host seminary, angiba pang mga seminaryonglumahok at dumating ay angmga sumusunod: CentralSeminary (University of Sto.Tomas), San Jose Seminary(Ateneo de Manila), San CarlosSeminary (Makati City), SanLorenzo Mission Institute(Makati City), St. Peter’s CollegeSeminary (Diyosesis ng SanPablo), Our Lady of PillarSeminary (Diyosesis ng Imus),Mt. St. Aloysius CollegeSeminary (Diyosesis ngGumaca), at Our Lady of HolyRosary (Diyosesis ng Lucena).

Tinanghal na over-allchampion ang mga seminaristang San Carlos Seminary,bagama’t pumangalawa lamangsila sa basketbol. Tinalo sila ngmga basketbolista ng USTCentral Seminary. Nagkaroondin ng isang “Lomi EatingContest” na kung saan nagwagiang isang seminarista ng SanLorenzo Mission Institute. AngLipa ay bantog sa pagkaing“lomi”. #UBseminaries ay may Bukluran,”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This year the theme of the Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees is: “St Paul migrant,‘Apostle of the peoples’”. It is inspired by its felicitous coincidence with the Jubilee Year I established in theApostle’s honour on the occasion of the 2,000th anniversary of his birth. Indeed, the preaching and mediationbetween the different cultures and the Gospel which Paul, “a migrant by vocation” carried out, are also animportant reference point for those who find themselves involved in the migratory movement today.

Born into a family of Jewish immigrants in Tarsus, Cilicia, Saul was educated in the Hebrew and Hellenisticcultures and languages, making the most of the Roman cultural context. After his encounter with Christ on theroad to Damascus (cf. Gal 1:13-16), although he did not deny his own “traditions” and felt both esteem andgratitude to Judaism and the Law (cf. Rm 9:1-5; 10:1; 2 Cor 11:22; Gal 1:13-14; Phil 3:3-6), he devoted himselfwithout hesitation or second thoughts to his new mission, with courage and enthusiasm and docile to theLord’s command: “I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (Acts 22:21). His life changed radically (cf. Phil 3:7-11): Jesus became for him his raison d’être and the motive that inspired his apostolic dedication to the serviceof the Gospel. He changed from being a persecutor of Christians to being an Apostle of Christ.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, he spared no effort to see that the Gospel which is “the power of God forsalvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rm 1:16) was proclaimed to all,making no distinction of nationality or culture. On his apostolic journeys, in spite of meeting with constantopposition, he first proclaimed the Gospel in the synagogues, giving prior attention to his compatriots inthe diaspora (cf. Acts 18:4-6). If they rejected him he would address the Gentiles, making himself - anauthentic “missionary to migrants” - as a migrant and an ambassador of Jesus Christ “at large” in order toinvite every person to become a “new creation” in the Son of God (2 Cor 5:17).

The proclamation of the kerygma caused him to cross the seas of the Near East and to travel the roadsof Europe until he reached Rome. He set out from Antioch, where he proclaimed the Gospel to people whodid not belong to Judaism and where the disciples of Jesus were called “Christians” for the first time (cf.Acts 11:20, 26). His life and his preaching were wholly directed to making Jesus known and loved by all, forall persons are called to become a single people in him.

This is the mission of the Church and of every baptized person in our time too, even in the era of globalization;a mission that with attentive pastoral solicitude is also directed to the variegated universe of migrants - studentsfar from home, immigrants, refugees, displaced people, evacuees - including for example, the victims of modernforms of slavery, and of human trafficking. Today too the message of salvation must be presented with the sameapproach as that of the Apostle to the Gentiles, taking into account the different social and cultural situations andspecial difficulties of each one as a consequence of his or her condition as a migrant or itinerant person. I expressthe wish that every Christian community may feel the same apostolic zeal as St Paul who, although he wasproclaiming to all the saving love of the Father (Rm 8:15-16; Gal 4:6) to “win more” (1 Cor 9:22) for Christ, madehimself weak “to the weak... all things to all men so that [he] might by all means save some” (1 Cor 9:22). May hisexample also be an incentive for us to show solidarity to these brothers and sisters of ours and to promote, inevery part of the world and by every means, peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions.

Yet what was the secret of the Apostle to the Gentiles? The missionary zeal and passion of the wrestler thatdistinguished him stemmed from the fact that since “Christ [had] made him his own”, (Phil 3:12), he remainedso closely united to him that he felt he shared in his same life, through sharing in “his sufferings” (Phil 3:10; cf.also Rm 8:17; 2 Cor 4:8-12; Col 1:24). This is the source of the apostolic ardour of St Paul who recounts: “Hewho had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son tome, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles” (Gal 1:15-16; cf. also Rm 15:15-16). He felt “crucifiedwith” Christ, so that he could say: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20), and nodifficulty hindered him from persevering in his courageous evangelizing action in cosmopolitan cities such asRome and Corinth, which were populated at that time by a mosaic of races and cultures.

In reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters that Paul addressed to various recipients, we perceivea model of a Church that was not exclusive but on the contrary open to all, formed by believers withoutdistinction of culture or race: every baptized person is, in fact, a living member of the one Body of Christ. Inthis perspective, fraternal solidarity expressed in daily gestures of sharing, joint participation and joyfulconcern for others, acquires a unique prominence. However, it is impossible to achieve this dimension ofbrotherly mutual acceptance, St Paul always teaches, without the readiness to listen to and welcome theWord preached and practised (cf. 1 Thes 1:6), a Word that urges all to be imitators of Christ (cf. Eph 5:1-2),to be imitators of the Apostle (cf. 1 Cor 11:1). And therefore, the more closely the community is united toChrist, the more it cares for its neighbour, eschewing judgment, scorn and scandal, and opening itself toreciprocal acceptance (cf. Rm 14:1-3; 15:7). Conformed to Christ, believers feel they are “brothers” in him,sons of the same Father (Rm 8:14-16; Gal 3:26; 4:6). This treasure of brotherhood makes them “practisehospitality” (Rm 12:13), which is the firstborn daughter of agape (cf. 1 Tm 3:2, 5:10; Ti 1:8; Phlm 17).

In this manner the Lord’s promise: comes true: “then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, andyou shall be my sons and daughters” (2 Cor 6:17-18). If we are aware of this, how can we fail to take chargeof all those, particularly refugees and displaced people, who are in conditions of difficulty or hardship?How can we fail to meet the needs of those who are de facto the weakest and most defenceless, marked byprecariousness and insecurity, marginalized and often excluded by society? We should give our priorityattention to them because, paraphrasing a well known Pauline text, “God chose what is foolish in the worldto shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low anddespised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human beingmight boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:27).

Dear brothers and sisters, may the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on 18January 2009, be for all an incentive to live brotherly love to the full without making any kind of distinctionand without discrimination, in the conviction that any one who needs us and whom we can help is ourneighbour (cf. Deus Caritas Est, n. 15). May the teaching and example of St Paul, a great and humble Apostleand a migrant, an evangelizer of peoples and cultures, spur us to understand that the exercise of charity isthe culmination and synthesis of the whole of Christian life.

The commandment of love - as we well know - is nourished when disciples of Christ, united, share in thebanquet of the Eucharist which is, par excellence, the sacrament of brotherhood and love. And just as Jesusat the Last Supper combined the new commandment of fraternal love with the gift of the Eucharist, so his“friends”, following in the footsteps of Christ who made himself a “servant” of humanity, and sustained byhis Grace cannot but dedicate themselves to mutual service, taking charge of one another, complying withSt Paul’s recommendation: “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). Only inthis way does love increase among believers and for all people (cf. 1 Thes 3:12).

Dear brothers and sisters, let us not tire of proclaiming and witnessing to this “Good News” with enthusiasm,without fear and sparing no energy! The entire Gospel message is condensed in love, and authentic disciplesof Christ are recognized by the mutual love their bear one another and by their acceptance of all.

May the Apostle Paul and especially Mary, the Mother of acceptance and love, obtain this gift for us. AsI invoke the divine protection upon all those who are dedicated to helping migrants, and more generally, inthe vast world of migration, I assure each one of my constant remembrance in prayer and, with affection, Iimpart my apostolic Blessing to all.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Message for World Refugee and Migrant Day...

“St. Paul Migrant, ‘Apostle of the Peoples’”(Here is the message Benedict XVI wrote for the 95th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, to be held Jan. 18, 2009. Wedeemed it useful to print this even before the day so that we can reflect on the word’s of the Holy Father more deeply.)

10 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan (IN)FORMATION

I had the privilege of traveling a few countries the past month. Idid this for two basic reasons: one, for a personal desire to visit theHoly Land before I reach 50 years old. This goes way back to myseminary days. The second reason is to attend the Seminar on SpiritualDirection initiated by the Pontifical Mission Societies. The travelopened me to so many learning, reflections and insights.

I. HOLY LAND TOURI toured the Holy Land (November 5 to 14, 2008) first with my 5

brother priests from our Archdiocese: Fathers Ed Pagcaliuangan,Gami Balita, Eric Arada, Lou Dolor and Larry Abante, with 5 otherpriests from other dioceses and a religious congregation (OMI) plussome 37 lay people. All came with the desire to see the Holy Placesthat would situate our faith context on God, on Jesus Christ, ourSavior. We did not fail as we went from one Holy Place to anotherexperiencing the life of Christ, his journey, teachings, miracles andsaving act.

I could just imagine the power of God in Jesus Christ, how Hismission was completed and transmitted to the disciples who in turnbrought it to the whole world. It reached us through the SpanishMissionaries. His story should and must continually be told to peopleof all walks of life, believers and non-believers, so that all maycontinually put their trust on the Redeemer, born in a manger, inBethlehem on the first Christmas day!

II. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION SEMINAR IN ROMEI was privileged to attend a seminar on spiritual direction from

November 14 to 27, 2008, hosted by the Pontifical Mission Societiesin Urbaniana, Rome, Italy. In spite of my personal training andexperiences in spiritual direction, this seminar gave me a newdimension since this was prepared intentionally for mission territoriesin Asia and Africa. Moreover, this has a particular emphasis onseminary formation. The Congregation for the Propagation of Faithdiscovered that this seminary formation, and in particular, spiritualdirection was and is the root of the quality of priests and missionarieswe have at the moment in these two continents. The speakers andmoderators seemed to point out that, good priests and missionariescome from good seminary formation and spiritual direction andproblem-situated priests and missionaries come from poor seminaryformation and spiritual direction. It is of course a generalization, butcertainly, there is truth in this in reality.

The tough experiences of priests from Africa and Asia in theirmission and ministry, and in their formation work in the seminariesmade me realize that we in the Philippines, in particular, in ourArchdiocese are very much in a privileged position in terms offinancial, social and academic security. It is very embarrassing tothink and feel bad about our situation here when priests andmissionaries out there suffer many difficult and out-of-controlsituations.

III. MIGRANTS’ ISSUES AND SITUATIONSI met a good number of OFWs in Rome, Florence and Dubai. I

felt helpless at their flight working abroad trying to earn better forthemselves and their families and in the end they lose their values,they lose their families and they at times lose their identity as Catholicsand Filipinos. Financially, yes, they are okay, at least 30% of them;still many live under difficult situation with meager income. And manythings change in their lives. Many become materialistic. A goodnumber lose their families: falling to other relationships, abandoningtheir children, living a life of infidelities. Some fall to gambling, alcoholand drug addictions. Many more just completely abandon their faith,if ever they had it before they left our country.

On the other hand, there are signs of hope among these people.A good number of them stay connected with the Church, becomeleaders and catechists and members of different organization like theCouples for Christ. They reach out to others, especially the young,who are lost. They invite people to join evangelization programs inthe parishes. Some Filipino priests do ministry to them and take careof them as much as they can.

Yet, the work is humungous! With more and more Filipinos goingabroad trying to find their luck and life there, Our Church alwayscomes in late in doing ministry to them. I feel that the program offormation and education for Filipinos begins while they are still here– in the schools, in the parishes, in the barangays and tuklongs ofour parishes. With this, we can aspire for a better church for ourcountry especially for our Archdiocese.

All these can happen with God’s grace and we do everything forhis greater glory. I hope our Christmas will find its way towards themeaning of Jesus birth: Mission to bring the good news to all - Fromhis birth in the Holy Land of Bethlehem, to the missions and to themigrants of our world and our country.

A Blessed Christmas and a Meaningful New Year to all! #UB

Mission and Migration: RealitiesIn today’s fast changing media

technology, one can easily getlost in the maze of gadgets.What is fashionable today caneasily be outdated the next fewdays as the man’s genius hasseemingly found no limits. Thedanger in all this lies in the oft-repeated mistake of modern man:he gives more importance to themedium than to the message. Orworse, he mistakes the mediumfor the message!

Take for instance thecellphone. It has become sotrivial and trite that it has becomea constant companion, almostindispensible and necessary formany people nowadays. And thisinclude clergy and religious! Tobe bereft of that mobile phone islikened to a driver going outwithout his driver’s license. I ameven afraid that many priests(religious included and this ismore true with the lay people)have already forgotten to carrythat rosary in their pockets, butnot without their cellphones whenthey go out.

Cellphones – Boom or Bane?altar while the good padre issaying Mass. He wouldstealthily open the gadget oncethe signal (vibration while onsilent mode) goes on, and wouldagain sheepishly type aresponse, depending on hisjudgment whether it is urgent ornot. To think that in manychurches, an announcement ismade before the mass to eitherput off those cellphones or putthem in silent mode. Whenasked why he brings hiscellphone even when sayingMass, one priest retorted, “thevoice of someone asking for helpis the voice of God”, re-echoingthe admonition of St. Paul to hisSisters in orphanages, “if youhear the doorbell of yourconvent’s door, attend to it atonce, even if you’re at prayer. Itmay be God calling you in theperson of a baby left at the doorof your hospice!” Enough foraccommodation!

Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,Vatican spokesman, warns, “Inthe age of the cell phone and theinternet, it is probably moredifficult than before to protect

Rev. Fr. Leonido C. Dolor

It is no longer rare to see thatubiquitous gadget on top of the

silence and to nourish the interiordimension of life.” He admits thatbut he readily asserted, “It isdifficult but necessary.”

As mentioned above, let usnot be deluge by the sweetthought of interchanging themedium and the message.Reflection, meditation andcontemplation are thingsindispensible to the life of priestsand religious in the same veinas breathing is important to life.We cannot dispense time forexternal silence! We need thatfor our internal communion withthe Divine. I am still confidentthat the angelus in the eveningand the time that follows itremains to be silenciummagnum, though I hear that insome convents, especially thatof male religious and (diocesan)priests, the evening newscast(and basketball) has totallyobliterated this great silence.“Wala na naman tayo saseminaryo, (We are no longer inthe seminary,)” rationalized oneyoung priest!

Watch out! While thecellphone is good and expedientfor our communications with oneanother, rendering time and spaceinutile, the very gadget can hinderand slowly deaden ourcommunication with God andwith ourselves!

Don’t blame us for not warningyou! That gadget in your handscan be a boom or bane,depending on how and when youuse it! #UB

Emma D. Bauan

Pinangunahan ng Arsobispong Lipa, Lubhang Kagalang-galang Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D.,S.T.L., ang isang MisaPasasalamat sa Bangko Sentralng Pilipinas, Malate, Maynilanoong ika-5 ng Disyembre.Kasamang nakipagdiwang ngMisa sina Reb. P. RochesterCharles “Toter” A. Resuello(Kapisanan ni San Francisco deSales Director) Reb. P. AngelMarcelo Pastor (St. Francis deSales Theological SeminaryRector), Reb. P. Jesse LucasBalilla (St. Francis de SalesMajor Seminary Rector), Reb. P.Wilfredo Rosales (SFS Intitute ofFormation Director at KSFSBoard of Directors Member),Reb. P. Rustam Sabularse (SFSTS

Nagpasalamat sa mahigit dalawampung taong pag-agapay sa Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa...

KSFS nagdaos ng Misa sa BSPProcurator at KSFS Board ofDirectors Member) at Reb. P.Russell Matuloy (SFS MajorSeminary Professor).

Bagama’t ang BSP ay nasahurisdikyon ng Arsidiyosesis ngMaynila, ang mga opisyal atempleyado ng bangkong ito nanagmula sa Batangas ay gumawang paraang makapagbukas ngpinto para makatulong saArsidiyosesis ng Lipa sapamamagitan ng KSFS. AngKomunidad ng BSP ay mahigitdalawampung taon nang bahagi ngKSFS at hindi matatawaran angtulong-pinansyal na kanilangipinagkakaloob para sa mganangangailangang seminarista.Matatandaang ang yumaong siGng. Luisa (“Nanay Isay” sa mga

taga-bangko) Magsino angnaging tulay ng KSFS at BSP.

Bukod sa taunang pagdalawng mga paring-tagahubog saBSP para sa ganitongpagdiriwang, malaking biyayaring maituturing angpagbibigay ng bangko ng isangregular na mass schedule saKSFS. Kaya nga, tuwingikalawang Lunes ng buwan,pumupunta sa Maynila si P.Toter para makapag-Misa doon.

Sa kasalukuyan meronglimang aktibong promoters angKSFS sa BSP. Noong mganakaraang taon, labinlimahanggang dalawampungbahagdan ng kabuuangkoleksyon ng KSFS ay galing samga taga-bangko. #UB

Rev. Fr. Joselin C. Gonda

11DECEMBER 2008Ulat

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Many things happened during the month of December. To namea few.

• Pacquiao won his bout over Oscar de la Hoya• December 8 is Immaculate Concepcion Day, and my 25th

wedding anniversary• December 9 was the birthday of my second son Antonio; he

died December 10 of the same year, 1985, He would havebeen 23 years old by now

• Last but not the least, December 30 is the designated date ofthe ALUMNI Homecoming of ANAKIKOS

There was winning, birthday, death, anniversary, andhomecoming. There was happiness but there was also sadness.So what’s the common denominator to all of the above dates/eventsI mentioned?

I say... PRAYERS.Pacquiao prayed before and after his boxing bout, asking for

strength and thanking GOD thereafter for the win and for not gettinghurt too much. Not that I tolerate his hurting somebody of lettinghis body (as TEMPLE of GOD) being hurt, but it still prayers.

I thank GOD for the lasting marriage and reaching 25 years ofmarriage.

I thank God for giving me a second son; and prayed for therepose of his soul.

Anakikos normally begin the homecoming with a prayer, mass,more prayers before and after meals and lastly, for non-priests,pray that their wives or girlfriends will not whip them for cominghome late (just joking).

Whether there is a celebration, or there is death in the family,something to thank for, or something to ask for, we should useprayers in talking to GOD about our needs, our thirst for HISLOVE, our REPENTANCE.

Take it from me. Let me give readers some thoughts... Eventhough I was an ex-seminarian, there was a time in my life that Icompletely forgot to pray, forgot GOD... My sister kept on remindingme to pray, pray, pray. She even gave examples about how GODhelped her and her family wade thru series of problems and succeededin warding them off. I just laughed her off. After all, I had a goodpaying job, a beautiful family, a healthy body… …….Until an eyeopener - I had an ANDIOPLASTY, not once but twice…Then, Ilost my job... I did not know how to recover from being jobless.Everything else seemed lost, all my money/savings gone. I askedhelp from those whom I know could help me find jobs. But nobodycould seem to help me find one. Until I remembered my sister’sreminder. KEEP ON PRAYING. I must admit, I’ll do anything atthat time just to overcome this difficulty in my life. But I turnedinstead to prayers, earnest prayers... I did not ask immediately forfavors. I first asked for HIS forgiveness for forgetting HIM. ThenI gave myself completely to GOD.

Lo and BEHOLD! My prayers were heard... A 53 year-old sicklyman was hired by another company and given a decent paying job!THANK YOU, GOD.

So, there you are…Continue praying and GOD will provide!HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!! #UB

Tadeo Dolor Medrano, Anakiko ‘67-72

Lumiwanag ang pag-asa ngmga mananampalataya saiminumungkahing bagongparokya ni Sta. Teresita ngBatang Hesus nang binasabasanna ang tinatawag na “shellstructure” ng simbahangginagawa sa labas ng Gate 2 ngMt. Malarayat Golf and CountryClub, Talisay, Lipa City noongika-14 ng Disyembre.

Pinangunahan ng LubhangKgg. Arsobispo Ramon C.Arguelles ang nasabingpagbabasabas kasama sina Rdo.P. Jun Quiambao, nakatalagangtagapangalaga ng nasabingsambayanan; Rdo. P. JojoMendoza, Bikaryo Poranyo ngBikariya V; Rdo. P. JonasPalmares, Kansilyer; Rdo. P.Angel Pastor, rektor ng SFSTheological School; Rdo. P. SamTitular, kura ng Bolbok, Lipa City;Rdo. P. Jojo Gonda, direktor ngLACCMi; Rdo. P. Eric Arada,kura ng Marawoy, Lipa City;Rdo. P. Rodem Ramos, katulongna pari sa Katedral ni SanSebastian; Rdo. P. QuielDimaculangan, propesor sa Sr.Alphonsus Regional Seminary saLucena City; Rdo. P. ErnieGarcia, C.Ss.R., superior ng mgaRedentorista sa Lipa; at Rdo. P.Jing Buensalida, kura ng SanIsidro, Lipa City at nagsilbingmaster of ceremonies.

Pinasalamatan ng Arsobispo atni P. Jun Quiambao ang lahat ngmga tumulong at tumutulong samga taga-barangay Talisay,Lumbang, Sta. Cruz, at Sta.Teresita upang maisakatuparanang pagtatayo ng isa pangparokya sa Arsidiyosesis. Bukodtangi ang pagbanggit sanagkaloob ng lupa, lalo na angmag-asawang arkitekto, G. atGng. Tony Turalba, pangulo ngMalarayat Golf and CountryClub. Si Gng. Turalba angsiyang arkitekto ng magandangsimbahan, na katabi ng golfcourse.

Ayon sa panayam ng UlatBatangan kay G. Turalba, aabot

Shell Structure ngProposed Parish of St.Therese, Binasbasan

SHELL STRUCTURE... P. 8

Rev. Fr. Gerard Jonas R. Palmares

Jubilee Watch…2008 Archdiocesan YEAR with MARY, SPOUSE of theHOLY SPIRIT

Visit of Our Lady of Caysasay to the Parishes of Vicariate V -January 2009Archdiocesan Marian Exhibit – As Archbishop Ramón C. Argüellesofficially closed the exhibit at Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastianlast December 10, he challenged the faithful to begin to “exhibit Mary’svirtues” in their daily life. Thanks to Fr. Rene Ramos and his committeethat made this Marian Exhibit available to all.Coming up in February 2009 – Visit of the Pilgrim Image of OurLady of Fatima.

Grand Gathering of all the Priests and Religious of theArchdiocese of LipaAll the priests and religious of the Archdiocese of Lipa will hold a grand gatheringin 2010. Wherever you may be (and to whatever community you belong),please register with our Vocation Office – tel. no. (043)7564190, 7562175 orwith your parish of origin. Register and be counted among the ‘vocationblessings’ of the archdiocese on its 100th year.

* * * * *Pilgrimage Churches for the Lipa Jubilee Year 2010Vicariate IParish of the Immaculate Conception (Balayan, Batangas), Parish St.John the Baptist (Lian, Batangas), Parish of St. Francis Xavier (Nasugbu,Batangas), Parish of St. Raphael (Calaca, Batangas);Vicariate IIShrine of Our Lady of Caysasay (Labac, Taal, Batangas), Minor Basilicaof St. Martin of Tours (Taal, Batangas);Vicariate IIIMinor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Batangas City), Shrineof the Most Holy Trinity (Pallocan West, Batangas City);Vicariate IVArchdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch (San Jose, Batangas);Vicariate VMetropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian (Lipa City), ArchdiocesanShrine of St. Vincent Ferrer (Banaybanay, Lipa City), Divino Amor Chapel(Lipa City), Monastery of Our Lady of Mt Carmel of Mary Mediatrix of AllGrace (Lipa City),Monastery of the Minim Nuns of St. Francis of Paola(Lumbang, Lipa City), Monastery of St. Benedict (Pinagtongulan, LipaCity), Monastery of Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias (Lipa City);Vicariate VIParish of St. Thomas Aquinas (Sto. Tomas, Batangas), Parish of St.John the Evangelist (Tanauan City);Vicariate VIIParish of the Immaculate Conception, Bauan, Batangas

* * * * *New Churches & New Pastors!a) Parish of Nuestra Señora de Soledad, Darasa, Tanauan City - Rev.

Fr. Crispin de U. Guzman, 10 December 2008b) Parish of Divina Pastora, Tambo, Lipa City - Rev. Fr. Jose Maria Loyola

“Bon” D. Cumagun, 12 December 2008c) ‘Shell Structure’ of the Church of the Proposed Parish of St. Therese of

the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Talisay, Lipa City - Rev. Fr.Hermogenes “Jun” Qiambao (Priest-in-charge), 14 December 2008

* * * * *Harana sa Panginoon sa Taon ni MariaCongratulations to all the participating choirs, especially the winners -Children’s Choir Category: 1st place- Our Lady of Peace Children’s Choir(Lodlod, Lipa City), 2nd place- Nuestra Señora dela Merced Children’sChoir (Taysan, Batangas), 3rd place - Sto. Tomas Children’s Choir (Sto.Tomas, Batangas); Mixed Choir Category: 1st place - San Pascual BaylonChamber Singers (San Pascual, Batangas), 2nd place- ImmaculateConception Parish Choir (Batangas City), 3rd place- St. Martin of ToursParish Choir (Taal, Batangas), and garnering the highest score, the GrandChampion - Our Lady of Peace Children’s Choir (Lodlod, Lipa City) getsto keep the roving trophy till next competition.Congratulations too to Fr. Bong Panganiban and Fr. Joden Tenorio,director and assistant director of the Committee on Sacred Music, and thestaff- Leila Villostas, Ariel Fondano, Rodman Bangcot, Liza Hicao, Ed Babasa,Aimee Ilagan, Rodel Garcia, Baby Marquez & Gary Comia.

* * * * *Pilgrimage to St. Paul the Apostle Church in Isla Verde onArchbishop’s Anniversary21 December, on his 39th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary, ArchbishopRamón C. Argüelles kicks off the Pilgrimage to the Parish of St. Paul theApostle in Isla Verde, Batangas City - the lone church in the Archdiocesededicated to the great Apostle, on this year of commemorating his 2000th birthanniversary. Those interested to ‘embark’ on similar pilgrimages to this islandparish, on a Paul-like boatride, may please contact their parish priests. Fr. JojoAfrica, the pastor, welcomes everyone to this unique and grace-filled spiritualactivity in his parish.

12 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan

PHOTOS BY: FR. NONIE D.

12 DECEMBER 2008Ulat

BatanganBatangan NEWS IN PHOTO

MABUTING BALITA (Mon – Sat; 5:30 – 6:00 am)MISA NG BAYAN (Sunday, 7:15 – 8:15 am)HOLY ROSARY (Daily: 5:00 -5:30 am; 10:30 -11:00 pm)MAGNIFICAT/DE PROFUNDIS (Daily: 8:00 pm)

On its 8th YearOn its 8th YearOn its 8th YearOn its 8th YearOn its 8th Yearof Service!of Service!of Service!of Service!of Service!

A special feature for this year’s Clergy Christmas Party is Mr. Elmer Bustos, a magician. Some of his tricks shown here. Archbp. Arguelles gifting him and his family.

OSJ, Basketball Champions Fr. Romy the magician. Super Emcees, Frs. Donald & Bimbo. Fr. Jonas, Checkered Polo King Bp. Quizon, Nilalamig King!

The Lipa Clergy at their elements during their Christmas Party last December 11. PHOTOS BY: FR. NONIE D.

Blessing of the Shell Structure of the Proposed Parish of St. Thereseof the Child Jesus, Talisay, Lipa City, December 14.

PHOTOS BY: FR. NONIE D.

Celebrating the 70th Year of the Daughters of St. Paul’s presence in the Philippines.

PHOTOS BY: FR. NONIE D.

Some photos taken during the Canonical Erection held at Darasa, Tanauan City. Some photos taken during the Canonical Erection and Dedication at Tambo, Lipa City.

PHOTOS BY: FR. NONIE D.