MANILA PRIORY NEWSLETTER

S t. S c ho l a s t i c a ’ s P r i or y 2 7 Ma ga l l a ne s D r i v e , S i l a ng C r os s i n g W e s t , Ta g a y ta y C i ty P HI LI P P I NE S

Vol. V No. 3 Aug. - Sep. 2016

The Cluster 1 Retreat was held at St.

Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City

from August 15 to August 22, 2016 participated in by

ninety (90) Missionary Benedictine Sisters. The

participants came from the following communities:

Priory House Tagaytay, Priory House Extension

Manila, Marikina, Manila, St. Benedict’s Home,

Formation House, San Fernando Pampanga, Angeles,

Baguio, Westgrove, Legazpi, Tabunok, Ormoc,

Tacloban Hospital, Tacloban School, Ormoc,

Pambujan, Mati, Marihatag and Bacolod.

The retreat facilitator was Fr. Luigi Gioia,

OSB from S. Anselmo, Rome, Italy and with his

direction and guidance, the participants were able to

deeply reflect on the given scripture passages and the

Rule of St. Benedict. It was the same Scripture and RB

passages, but Fr. Luigis’ interpretation and way of

looking at them were something new and had a sense

of freshness to them. What he emphasized was the

way how to pray: to put aside everything, place

ourselves before a loving parent, listening to his

words: “You are my daughter. You are my Beloved”

and believing in those words. Then we respond to God

as a child would to a parent. He also delivered good

homilies at mass, so actually we had three conferences

a day for six days and two days of reflection. Thus, it

was an enriching experience to all the retreatants. With

grateful hearts, the sisters thank Fr. Luigi Gioia, OSB

for making this spiritual journey a meaningful

experience.

The sisters also thank Mo. Adelaida Ygrubay,

OSB for inviting Fr. Luigi Gioia, OSB as Retreat

Facilitator for the Manila Priory.

By: Sr. M. Rosario Obiniana, OSB

Fr. Luigi Gioia, OSB was born in Salerno, Italy. He joined the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Siena, Italy), mother house of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto, for the noviciate. He studied biblical Greek, Latin and History and Philosophy at the Seminary of Siena. In 2006, he completed his doctorate (D.Phil-Doctor of Philosophy) in Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford with a thesis on Augustine’s De Trinitate. In 2011, the Abbot Primate Notker Wolf requires him as Professor of Systematic Theology and Monastic Studies at the Pontifical University S. Anselmo in Rome.

(http://www.lrb-rome.com/)

Fr. Luigi with the 1st Cluster Retreatants Fr. Luigi with the 2nd Cluster Retreatants

MANILA PRIORY Page 2

The day began with an opening song “Make Me a

Servant” prepared by S.

Angelica Leviste, OSB

followed by the welcome address of M. Adelaida

Ygrubay, OSB to all the

Superiors and Formators and to Mother Angela Strobel,

OSB and S. Lumen Gloria

Dungca, OSB at the PH in Tagaytay. This was the first

time that the two (2)

Visitators sat in the Superiors

-Formators’ Meeting. Sister Marianne Razon, OSB, the Priory

Procurator, reported on the Management of the Temporal

Goods of the Monastery by giving the financial report and state of the Priory. The body was given time to ask

questions.

Sister Constance Tecson, OSB, head of the newly created Priory Development Office, spoke of the proposed

Priory ventures of expanding current undertakings. More

details will be given during the Echo of the Superiors-

Formators' Meeting. Priory Disaster Response Management was

reported by S. Rosalind Tanhueco, OSB. She presented the

background, clear guidelines and defined the machineries according to Priory Level, School Level and Community

Level. Clear standard operating procedures for emergency

responses and rehabilitation support through the

Rehabilitation Fund were also explained clearly. She said that a Disaster Response Fund (such as the Emergency

Assistance Fund, Rehabilitation Assistance Fund and

Special Projects Fund) is necessary. A committee has been formed already for the Priory Disaster Response Team

namely: S. Rosalind Tanhueco, OSB, S. Theodora,

Bilocura, OSB, S. Claudia Sampal, OSB and S. Marianne Razon, OSB.

The above program is being done already by our

local centers, schools and communities. Values formation

and training programs on disaster response have also been started. Each school and or community can allocate a

certain amount from their budget and have to assign a point

person responsible when a disaster comes.

A M R W S P

National Convention attended by S. Lydia

Villegas, OSB and S.

Cecille Ido, OSB held at the Central Luzon State

University in Munoz, Nueva

Ecija. S. Lydia reported

what Fr. Nonong Fajardo,

CM shared on July 13 the Ada ms o n Un i v er s i t y

experience of volunteerism

that has been effecting

systemic change in the lives of hundreds of households relocated from the "riles". Appointed by the University

President to launch an outreach program, Fr. Nonong

mobilized the faculty, students, and alumni to share their gifts with the displaced people in relocation sites.

The University volunteers trained potential leaders to

become daycare teachers, trainor -leaders, entrepreneurs, etc. equipping them with skills to be

productive persons in their communities. The different

colleges took care of training programs in basic

education, architecture, computer technology, sciences, political science, etc.

Today the local leaders have been acting as

resource persons and trainors in ten other communities reaching the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna.

And the university volunteers have expanded their

activities to reach out to farther away places. What had

been successfully initiated has been replicated, institutionalized, and systemized. The people in

relocated communities have discovered that they are

not problems as society had seen them, but they are people with dignity who have transformed their

relocation sites into communities they can be proud of.

Sister Cecille Ido, OSB shared the experience of the peasant sector as reported by Fr. Cesar Vergara

and his co-workers on how they broke the cycle of

dependence from commercial input of using fertilizers,

pesticides, insecticides, etc. to farming system and finally to Organic Farming Alternative System from the

year 2000-2005. The group called themselves Social

Action Gratia Plena Incorporated (SACGPI) from the Diocese of Nueva Ecija. How did they break the cycle?

August 12August 12--13, 201613, 2016

Seated front L-R: Sr. Lydia, Sr. Lumen Gloria, M. Angela, M. Adelaida, Sr. Angelica Standing 2nd row L-R: Sr. Melanie, Sr. Edna, Sr. Josefina, Sr. Cecille, Sr. Evangeline,

Sr. Adela, Sr. Barbara Martha, Sr. Mary Rose, Sr. Vicenta Standing 3rd row L-R: Sr. Ma. Teresita, Sr. Rebecca, Sr. Celine, Sr. Pauline, Sr. Daniela

Standing 4th row L-R: Sr. Ana Maria, Sr. Ma. Luisa, Sr. Reginalda, Sr. Maureen, Sr. Agnella and Sr. Mary Paul

Page 3 Vol. V No. 3 Aug. - Sep. 2016

They began to produce for themselves, and what was not sold they planted. Whatever could not be used for planting

they used for the animals. With the help of Fr. Cesar who

worked with them “the Organic Integrated Farming

System” they were able to set up all their support mechanisms, set the Federation of People’s Organization

which started the project. They had Christian Formation

and organizing development and liberation in BEC and Damaging Kristiyano.

The lessons learned promised more sustainable

outcome compared to their previous experience and maintenance of the integrity of organic products. Their

direction now is the expansion of market through third

party certificates on the practice of integrated farming

system. S. Pauline Triviño, OSB gave the report on the On

-Going Formation from June to August 2016. The OGF

Team is composed of Mother Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB, Mother Irene Dabalus, OSB, S. Lydia Villegas, OSB,

S. Mary Paul Baul, OSB and S. Pauline Triviño, OSB.

The OGF Renewal Weeks earlier planned for five years was reduced to three years. The first change:

Renewal Weeks in 2016 will have two groups - the first

group are the School Administrators and second group are

the Elderly Sisters. The first group of Renewalists will include in their one month renewal (October 17-November

14) the RB Study weeks Phase IX. Part I of the Renewal

will be in the PH Tagaytay. Part I Topics for the Renewal will start with an

Opening Conference by M. Adelaida: Focusing on Christ

and inputs on Centering Prayer by S. Lydia, and In His

Image and Likeness by S. Pauline. The Process for the Psycho-Spiritual Integration will be given by a Team from

Emmaus. Other inputs will follow like: Centering Prayer

Part II, Maturing in Crisis, the Treasure of a Tradition and Special Blessings and Burdens. Part II of the Renewal at

the St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality is the RB Study

Weeks phase IX from Oct. 28- Nov. 12, 2016 and Part III from Nov. 12-14 is an input on the Balance of the Mis-

sionary and the Monastic by M. Adelaida followed by the

Integration and evaluation of the Renewal Month.

The Oct 2016 Renewalists are: S. Pauline, S. Adela, S. Rebecca, S. Melanie, S. Ma. Teresita, S.Agnella,

S. Maureen, S. Mary Ignatius, S. Mary Frances, S. Regina,

S. Alexis, S. Julia, S. Jessica, S. Catalina, S. Michaela, S. Victoria, S. Ezechiel and S. Ida.

The second group schedule for the Elderly Sisters

will be discussed in the next OGF Meeting.

By: Sr. Edna Quiambao, OSB

The Socio-Pastoral Apostolate committee

(SPAcom) for the school year 2016-2017 is

composed of Sr. Rosalind Tanhueco, OSB

(chairperson), Sr. Mary Emmanuel Espera, OSB

(Luzon cluster coordinator), Sr. Claudia Sampal,

OSB (Visayas cluster coordinator), Sr. Aurora

Bravo, OSB (Mindanao cluster coordinator), Sr.

Theodora Bilocura, OSB (Mission with the

Indigenous People's (MIP) coordinator), and Sr.

Cecille Ido, OSB (Justice & Peace and Integrity of

Creation ).

On August 13, 2016 SPAcom members met

at St. Scholastica's Priory House, Tagaytay. Among

those present were Sr. Mary Emmanuel, Sr. Aurora,

Sr. Theodora and Sr. Rosalind. They discussed the

following agenda: Updates on the Duterte

administration, plans for the Luzon cluster assembly,

discussed concept of People Based Disaster

Response (PBDR), Mission with the Indigenous

People (MIP) and plans for the 25th SPA General

Assembly.

The meeting ended by signing the petition

paper "to bring back the Lumad home with justice".

By: Sr. Rosalind Tanhueco, OSB

https://www.google.com.ph q=images+of+lumad+in+mindanao

L-R: Sr. Aurora, Sr. Mary Emmanuel, Sr. Theodora and Sr. Rosalind

MANILA PRIORY Page 4

At 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, on

September 1, 2016 we had the joy of celebrating

through a Garden Peace Concert, the inauguration

of the new JPIC Office located at the Subiaco

compound. Artists who graced the occasion

included the Redemptorists Choir, St. Scholastica

Choir, a representative of the Pilgrims of Peace, a

Dumagat guest and the Benedictine Sisters. In

solidarity with the quest for peace, a hundred

people came to attend the office blessing and to

enjoy the concert.

After the singing of the Philippine National

anthem and a short invocation led by S. Agnella

Capili, OSB, we were all warmly welcomed by

Mother Prioress Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB. We

were especially grateful for the presence of

S. Lumen Gloria Dungca, OSB, Vicaress General

of the congregation in Rome, who gave a very

inspiring message.

The blessing of the newly renovated JPIC

office, Conference Room and the garden area was

officiated by Fr. Theodolo Holgado, CSSR. JPIC

in Review, a power-point presentation on the

activities of JPIC was an attempt to introduce and/

or give an update on JPIC-MBS work.

The Peace Concert is part of a series of

activities, seminars and study sessions that the

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation - MBS, Ma-

nila Priory is sponsoring towards the consolidation of

its members and deepening their skills in advocacy

and social Analysis. The first of this series was held

on September 1 -3, 2016 at the St. Scholastica Priory

Museum compound, with the aim to equip its

members to become true PEACE ADVOCATES.

The JPIC-MBS is aware of the ongoing

PEACE TALKS entered into by the Government of

the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the

National Democratic Front (NDF) which is aimed to

address the root cause of the armed conflict and un-

peace situation in the country; it is likewise aware that

Peace Talks is not the sole task of the negotiating

panels, but also of the citizenry including church

people. While Peace Talks is a necessary element in

achieving peace, what the peace advocates need to

nurture is how to become advocates of a just and

lasting PEACE.

By: Sr. M. Cecille Ido, OSB

JPIC Coordinator

MANILA PRIORY Page 5

SACS is St. Alphonsus Catholic School, the school that we, Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, turned over to the Daughters of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (DOLSH) in June 2010.

I was in SACS from the year 2007 to 2009; I was assigned there as High School Principal and one of the last Missionary Benedictine Sisters (MBS) before the turn-over of the school management. Sr. Reginalda Cortez, OSB, is the very last sister who was assigned in SACS. On August 1, 2016, SACS turned one hundred years old as an institution. I was one of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters invited to attend the centennial celebration of the school.

Mother Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB headed the delegation of the Sisters who attended the celebration. The other Benedictine Sisters included Sr. Julia Yap, OSB, Sr. Consilio Napi, OSB, Sr. Filipina Pineda, OSB, Sr. Roselita Geronimo, OSB, Sr. Rita Tullao, OSB, Sr. Susan Abellana, OSB, Sr. Reginalda Cortez, OSB, Sr. Ma. Gabrielle Costumbrado, OSB, Sr. Marianne Razon, OSB, Sr. Constance Tecson, OSB, Sr. Michaela Manalang, OSB, Sr. Felicity Boy, OSB, Sr. Eugene Amar, OSB, and Sr. Cecilia Carolino, OSB. Most of the invited sisters were assigned in SACS as school administrators. Sr. Eugene Amar, OSB, on the other hand, is the lone alumna and teacher of SACS who joined and remained in the MBS congregation.

The SACS centennial celebration started on the 29th of July. There was a motorcade on this day but, only few sisters were able to join the activity. Most of us came on the morning of July 30 and were able to watch the Field Demonstration of the pupils and students, one of the best features of SACS. In the evening, we joined the DOLSH sisters and the SACS employees in giving honor to all SACS retirees. It was an evening of reunion for both retirees and some of the Benedictine sisters; good old days were rekindled.

On the 31st of July, we attended the 7:30 A.M. Sunday Mass at the Virgen de la Regla Parish. Then, we viewed the exhibits at the newly blessed archives located within the school grounds. In the evening, we watched the school’s centennial production. The play depicted the

history of SACS from the year it was established by the Redemptorist Priests in 1916, then the administration of the Benedictine Sisters (1922) for more than 89 years until the coming of the DOLSH sisters in 2010. It was moving to see how we helped develop SACS and turned it over.

The highlight of the centennial celebration was the Solemn Mass on the 1st of August, feast of St. Alphonsus de Ligouri, the school’s patron. The Eucharistic celebration was held at the covered court of the High School Department, which serves as the main campus. Rev. Bishop Narciso Abellana, MSC, D.D., Bishop of Romblon, was the main celebrant. His concelebrants included 13 MSC priests, 2 Redemptorist priests, an SVD priest, and a Carmelite priest. Two of the concelebrants were SACS alumni, namely, Fr. Gene Pejo, MSC, Batch’77, and the current Provincial Superior of the MSC Philippine Province and Fr. Randy Lozano, OAD, Batch ’99.

The solemnity of the Eucharist manifested the distinct Benedictine trademark in our celebrations –coordinated movements and flow of the activity, solemn atmosphere, starting the Mass “on time,” etc. I felt nostalgic the whole time but, I also felt glad that we left SACS with an indelible mark, which the DOLSH sisters try to maintain.

After the Holy Mass, it was announced that SACS is now a tourist destination and a historical site; a centennial marker was unveiled. Together with the marker was an old missile shell, which was used as a bell to signal assemblies, start of classes, and dismissal. Shortly afterwards was a program that honored the Benedictine Sisters and a number of alumni who served the school. I shed a tear when we, former school administrators, were called one by one to receive our plaque – we, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, served SACS for 89 years and 5 months as mentioned by Sr. Emma Benedicta Villanueva, the School Directress. I said goodbye to SACS after the program. I also thanked God that we, Missionary Benedictine Sisters, were instrumental in the growth and development of SACS.

The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing headed by Mo. Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB (front row, 4 th

from left) and the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with their Provincial Leader, Sr.

Elizabeth Little, FDNSC (front row, 5th from left) and their Provincial Councilor, Sr. Jenny Kirby,

FDNSC (front row, 8th from left)

By: Sr. Maureen Cariaga, OSB

Page 6 Vol. V No. 3 Aug. - Sep. 2016

We want to respond to the challenge of Pope

Francis during the Year of Consecrated Life to “get

out of ourselves and go toward the periphery”, and

make the people aware of God’s mercy. Our

community came up with the inspiration to celebrate

the Sisters’ feastdays with those we deem are on the

periphery.

Thus, on August 4, 2016 Sister Claudia

Sampal, OSB whose feastday was on August 7 hied

off to Sitio Balirigan, Barangay Banquel, an island

off the coast of Villareal, Western Samar, to prepare

the people for a medical mission. The following day

the team, composed of Sisters from the hospital

community, three doctors who are on their Post-

Graduate Internship at DWH, another doctor from an

NGO called the SOS (Samahang Operasyong Sagip,

Inc.), and two MAKAPAWA staff, arrived with the

needed basic medical equipment and medicine.

Half of the almost 300 residents of the sitio

were checked by the doctors. Most of the children

were suffering from colds, cough, asthma, diarrhea,

and malnutrition, while the adults complained of

hypertension, skin diseases, arthritis, and dizziness.

Sister Florence Laroco, OSB, a registered

nurse, took charge of taking the vital signs of those

who came for check-up, while Sister Ana Maria

helped with the information sheets. Sister Gabrielle

Costumbrado, OSB volunteered to take care of the

documentation, and Sister Claudia assisted in

dispensing medicine. Sister Ana Maria also spent

time with the kids for reading session.

While the medical check-up was going on,

some mothers cooked macaroni soup for the children

and some adults. The Sisters brought adobo and

pansit for lunch. The residents contributed tahong,

which they themselves propagate, fish, squid and

boiled camote. The medical team and the residents

of the barangay partook of the simple but very

satisfying meal. The people said it was truly a feast.

Sister Claudia dispensing medicine

Sister Florence taking temperature of a young mother

Sister Ana Maria holding a reading session with the young ones

Mothers cooking

Page 7 Vol. V No. 3 Aug. - Sep. 2016

Before leaving the island, Sister Ana Maria

heeded the appeal of a resident and visited Rodel

Sadulio. After seeing the condition of Rodel, Sister

Ana Maria suggested to the Sisters to visit with a

doctor and see what can be done for him. He was

bedridden, had a big bedsore, unable to speak and

move by himself, and was having seizure almost

every 4 minutes. The father of Rodel said the illness

might have been caused by a mallet which hit his

head while working as a carpenter in a construction

in Bulacan.

Realizing that Rodel needed immediate

medical intervention, arrangements were made for

him to be brought to Divine Word Hospital. He was

confined at the ICU on August 6 and was diagnosed

with schistosomiasis (a disease caused by parasitic

flatworms of the Schistosoma type). He was

discharged last August 23 with his bedsore drying

up, and already able to speak and walk. Sister

Gabrielle sent him off with some food stuff for his

convalescence.

It was indeed a grace-filled mission. We are

looking forward to the next feastday celebration.

By: Sr. Ma. Gabrielle Costumbrado, OSB

President Rodrigo R. Duterte visited patient

PO1 Nestor Villanueva at Divine Word Hospital,

Tacloban City on August 29, 2016. PO1 Villanueva

survived an encounter while serving an arrest

warrant to a suspected drug pusher in Marabut,

Samar.

President Duterte arrived at the hospital at

around 2pm, and was welcomed by Sister Eliza

Arpon, OSB, Hospital Administrator, Dr. Gil Asoy,

Medical Director and City Mayor Cristina

Romualdez.

The attending physicians - Surgeons Dr.

Leocadio Carpio and Dr. Alden Caalim were

stationed at the patient’s room to give the medical

bulletin of the patient to the President. Also present

in the room were family members of the patient.

After the short visit, the President entertained a

media interview at the lobby of the Out-Patient

Department (OPD).

This is a historic event in the hospital, having

been visited by a Philippine President for the first

time.

By: Sr. Eliza Arpon, OSB

Pres. Duterte welcomed by S. Eliza Arpon, OSB at the

hospital OPD ground.

Pres. Duterte and his staff with S.Eliza on their way to the

patient’s room.

With the patient were Pres. Duterte and the surgeons Dr. Carpio

and Dr. Caalim.

Page 8 Vol. V No. 3 Aug. - Sep. 2016

The Friday Crusade Everytime I come home from the Friday

Crusade, I always feel having attended a retreat. Their

faith sharing is so deep, touching and awakening that I

am drawn closer to God. Instead of me, evangelizing them, I am the one being evangelized by them. Thus, they

started to attain their mission, among others, “… to make

families an evangelized and evangelizing domestic church in Pampanga.” I am edified by their hunger for the

Word of God and their readiness to satiate themselves

with it in their Friday Crusade. Their Crusade is actually in the form of Lectio

Divina where they read the Gospel for the following

Sunday four times. After the second reading, they share a

word or phrase that struck them most. After the third reading, they share a one-sentence message that they hear

from God through that word or phrase. And after the

fourth reading is the faith sharing proper. There is now a new development in their Lectio: they read a

Capampangan Bible in the third reading and a Tagalog

Bible in the fourth reading. They were the ones who proposed this last year, because according to them to

listen to the Word in their own language deepens their

reflection and it makes God’s message clearer to them .

So I approved their proposal. Indeed, their sharing improved. They could clearly articulate through

their personal faith experiences how God works in them.

Furthermore, they have practiced the “IMessage” and they are comfortable in telling the group their own

reflections. There was no Crusade that no one shed tears

during the sharing. Sometimes, I am also led to shed

tears. This is how sincere they are in their sharing.

Monthly Activities

The Crusade is done in three Fridays of the month. The last Friday is devoted to formation session

with the Moderator. This session could be in different

forms: Lectio Divina among themselves, catechesis on the seasons of the year and rituals relevant to the season.

Sometimes business meetings are held on this Friday. But

even if there is business meeting, they always have meditation on the Sunday Gospel before starting the

meeting. Also, this Friday is devoted to choir practice in

preparation for their Sunday “choiring” in the Parish Church at 7:30am Mass.

Sometimes their monthly “fellowship” is done on

this Friday. Their monthly “fellowship” is aimed at

camaraderie and bonding among members with their families. I have observed that this “fellowship” has a

good effect on them, because I heard one member saying

that she had seen two members who were not in good terms, but in that “fellowship” she saw them talking to

each other. This “fellowship” is actually, a monthly

simple party to honor the birthday celebrants for the month. This is done by “pot luck” (Each family brings

food or a box of drinks or a basket of fruits.)

As regards relationships, I was happy to hear one

member commenting that being a member of many

religious organizations in their parish, the FAMI is the

best because it has the least “negativity”. She could hear gossiping, but very minimal. This is a manifestation that

the Word of God has formed the lives of the FAMI

members.

13th Anniversary Celebration

FAMI celebrates its anniversary by means of an

outreach activity. Actually, their outreach activities are the following: catechesis to the Aetas, feeding the street

children at Bale-balayan, feeding the elderly at Bahay

Pag-ibig, distribution of goods to calamity victims, visiting the sick and visiting the wake of the dead

relatives and friends of FAMI. The type of outreach

activity varies every Anniversary, that is, September 3, according to the needs of the time.

This year, the FAMI members were inspired to

have an outreach with the street children at Bale-balayan,

a drop-in center of the street children. This center is owned and managed by Mr. Peter De Vera, a well-known

Capampangan Artist and dance instructor. What is

interesting is that this house was partly built out of the scraps and old furniture of St Scholastica’s Academy,

San Fernando. This house is at the same time a museum,

with a collection of artifacts, sculptures, picture frames, etc. which depict the varied Filipino culture from the

three islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

MANILA PRIORY Page 9

deserve to be helped. Thus, the FAMI found this group as their outreach beneficiaries at this year’s anniversary.

After their performances, the FAMI served them

dinner. The dishes were contributed by all FAMI members and some donors. The FAMI members and

guests joined the children in that meaningful meal.

This is my second year of being the Moderator of FAMI. In last year’s anniversary, their outreach activity

was a visit to the elderly at Bahay Pag-ibig. They

entertained the elderly with a program and served them snacks. I found their anniversary celebrations relevant

and meaningful.

I was struck by their coordinator saying that in

their plan of activities, they see to it that the seven corporal works of mercy are completed by the end of the

year. So, they are actually conforming to the Church’s

celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. I was with them last March, during the Holy Week when

they visited seven churches with designated doors of

Mercy. I can see myself starting to grow in holiness because of FAMI. I thank God for assigning me as the

Moderator of FAMI.

By: Sr. Stephanie Zamoras, OSB

More importantly, this house not only aims to attract tourists, but it shelters at daytime some street

children. At night time, they are back to their families.

Some of them are battered children and some are not

cared for by their parents. In this house, they find a home where they feel a sense of belonging to a family. Since

the owner-manager of this house is an artist, he is helping

these children to develop their musical skills and talents. And so these children have learned to dance, sing and

play ethnic and modern musical instruments. The FAMI

was able to find a donor who gave one lyre, the instrument which they need most this time.

On 3 September 2016, Saturday, to celebrate

their 13th Anniversary of existence, the FAMI had Holy

Mass with these street children at Bale-balayan with Fr. Jesus Gozun, SSP as the Mass Celebrant. There were also

invited guests like some FAMI friends and benefactors.

Among the Benedictine Sisters of Angeles Community, Sister Edigna and myself were present. Fr. Jess gave a

beautiful homily appreciating the FAMI for holding such

Holy Mass in a house where everybody feels at home, especially these children who are looking for a place

which they can call a home. He explained the term

‘bale-balayan’ which means a simulated home. At the

end of the Holy Mass, he blessed 3 of these children who were scheduled to join a musical competition in Capiz.

Thereafter, he also blessed all the street children there

and all the FAMI members for celebrating their 13th Anniversary.

After the Holy Mass, the tour guide brought us

around the house for a tour. It was followed by a program

which consisted of a series of musical renditions of the

street children. They danced, sang songs and played the anklong, marimba and different kinds of drums. In one

part of the program, they asked for audience participation

where some guests were asked to play small anklongs to make up the orchestra. The conductor was the tour guide,

a former street child himself.

It was so touching to watch these children

perform that a few of the audience shed tears. Who would imagine street children turning into musicians? They

MANILA PRIORY Page 10

packs of candies and chocolates to them.

On August 18, in celebration of the Buwan ng

Wika, the Grade School Department of Holy

Family Academy invited 20 Aeta children and

adults in school. They arrived at 7:30 a.m. and

joined the Morning Praise. They presented their

cultural dance during the Program and had

interaction with the Grade 4 pupils in their

classroom. The Aeta shared their life and culture

with the pupils and sold necklaces, flute,

songbirds made by them. They also brought and

sold root crops like camote, ube, and their other

farm products.

August was a special month for the Indigenous

Peoples of Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato.

On August 7, one hundred (100) Staff from

FREELIFE Company celebrated their annual

GOJI Kids Events in Sitio Target. They played

games with the Aeta children, prepared food for

feeding the 100 Malnourished Aeta Children

and distributed 100 packed lunch good for 5

family members. They also donated used

clothing, slippers, school supplies, toys and food

supplements for the children.

On August 9, National Indigenous People’s

Day, S. Angela celebrated her birthday with the

Aeta children. The community’s friend, Miss

Jeanette Sambo, sponsored the feeding of 100

Aeta malnourished children and distributed 100

Aeta children singing their cultural song before the

Freelife Staff and Sisters Edigna and Angela.

S. Angela and Ms Jeanette Sambo with Aeta children

By: Sr. Angela Bingan, OSB

MANILA PRIORY Page 11

We express our gratitude to all who have

contributed to this newsletter.

Sr. Virginia Ferino, OSB Priory Secretariat

Stella Marie Martinez

Layout Editor

Sr. Eliza Arpon, OSB

September 5, 2016

to Daegu, Korea

Sr. Juana Maria Rivera, OSB

September 1, 2016

from Argentina for good

Assigned to Bacolod (Oct. 15)

Sr. Lillian Barbudo, OSB

Birth: November 2, 1944

Prof: June 17, 1972

Died: August 8, 2016 Sr. Mary Peter with the

Social Action Staff

Last August 13 – 19, 2016, almost all provinces in Luzon were affected by the North East Monsoon

known as “Habagat”. Many places were flooded and the

people were left distressed by this calamity.

The Central part of Luzon was not spared. Most areas and roads were submerged in water due to heavy

downpour of rain. This situation caused establishments to

temporarily close and educational institutions to cancel classes in all levels.

St. Scholastica’s Academy, San Fernando

Pampanga also experienced flooding within its area. In the grade school department, the water went up

knee-level. Luckily enough, all important documents and

some equipment were not soaked in water.

Since classes and work was called off, only the security guards and construction workers were present

and helped together in securing the equipment in the

grade school principal’s office. They had “operation sand bag” within the affected offices.

Classes and work resumed only after four days.

The Sisters in partnership with the SIP team had a relief operations to their maintenance personnel whose places

were greatly hit/damaged by “Habagat”. The construction

workers and the security guards, who rendered charitable

work, were likewise beneficiaries of the said operation. The SSASF PTA also extended their help and

donated sacks of rice for the “Habagat” flood victims.

By: Sr. Mary Peter Mackay, OSB

Sr. Mary Peter

Mackay, OSB

Sept. 1– Nov. 30, 2016

to Daegu/Seoul, Korea

For Exposure

Sr. Agatha Marie

Husmillo, OSB

Sept. 1- Nov. 30, 2016

to Daegu/Seoul, Korea

For Exposure

Sr. Marialuz

Dungca, OSB

Sept. 1 - Nov. 30, 2016

to Daegu/Seoul, Korea

For Exposure