A Tribute to Dino Piccioni.

February 23, 2007

After 27 years of service in PCF, Dino was honored with a simple but memorable dinner and program because starting tomorrow he would retire from his work in PCF. The "gabi ng parangal" para kay Dino started with the Holy Mass celebrated at 6:45 p.m. by the Father Rector himself with all the student-priests concelebrating. His son and daughter were moved to tears not only when Msgr. Stude Santos thanked Dino for his valubale service to the PCF community since 1980, but almost throughout the mass. After the Holy Mass, the honoree with his family was joined by the PCF priests and personnel at the main lobby where the dinner and program took place. The two emcees for tonight's affair, Fr. Tony Ricarte and Fr. Rolly Garcia, really displayed their mastery of the Italian language because that's the only way to please and entertain the honoree and his family who are Italians and therefore can only understand Italian tongue. The first to speak during the program was the honoree's best friend in PCF, Gerry de la Cruz. Then the honoree's children spoke and thanked PCF priests and personnel for tonight's parangal for their Papa and for everything. The most beautiful part of the program came with a short but professional video presentation depicting the life of Dino in PCF and his frequent close encounter with almost all Filipino Bishops who came to visit Rome, especailly with the late Jaime Cardinal Sin. The video presentation was prepared by Fr.Lito Jopson, a graduating student of social communication of Pontificia Univerista` della Santa Croce. A thunderous applause prevailed over the whole lobby after the video presentation. The plaque of appreciation was then presented by Msgr. Stude Santos and Fr. Richard Tan to Dino. Shortly after, Fr. Dodong Billones and Adela Guico creatively proposed a toss for DINO. The song entitled "my prayer" with English and Italian lines was rendered to Dino who by this time sitted with his back the artistic stage decorations conceptualized by Fr. Bong Fuentes and Fr. EJ Jarapa. It was very clear that behind Dino's happy happy face there were tears moistened his eyes as he would start tomorrow missing this place he long considered as his home.

Community Winter Outing 2007

February 17, 2007 (Saturday)

Community Winter Outing. The pulmino left PCF by 7:30 a.m. By 10:30 a.m. the community celebrated the Holy Mass at the Sanctuary of St. Gabriel. The homily of Fr. Rector revolved around the three M’s since the gospel was about transfiguration: Mountains, Message, and Mission. Then the group proceeded to Gran Sasso and arrived there at 12:00 noon. Before going up the snow resort, the group took their lunch at the foot of the mountain. Reaching the place where one could see a desert of snow, each one relished the experience of being there in such a way that almost everybody forgot the time to go home at 4:00 o’ clock in the afternoon. By 7:00 p.m., all found themselves inside the collegio and back to reality.


February 19, 2007 (Monday)

Start of the second semester of this school year 2006-07.

Opening of the Rector's Cup 2007

February 16 (Friday)

Rector’s Cup 2007. The PCF Winter Olympics began with Fr. Rector’s introductory words of encouragement which would revolve around the three T’s: Try your best, Trust your playmate, and Turn to God. The first of the pairs to play and won during the opening: Fr.Doods and Fr. Bong over Fr.Raul and Fr. Jess; Fr. Greg G. and Fr. Gio over Fr. Oscar and Fr. Noi. While the games were going on, bottles of beer were distributed to the spectators, thanks to the sports committee chairman Fr. Nemer Chua.

Filipino Chaplains at Vicenza

February 12-13, 2007

The meeting of Filipino Chaplains in Italy for this winter was held in the city of Vicenza, the birthplace of Antonio Pigafetta. As a national coordinator for Filipino migrants in Italy, Msgr. Stude Santos presided over the meeting which started in the afternoon of February 12 and lasted after lunch the following day. Aside from the usual sharing of experiences in the apostolate, there was an item introduced by group of Ms. Elvira Go related to the International Family Bible Quiz. Those present in the meeting included: Fr. Rey Adalid, OP, Fr. Tony Ricarte, and Fr. Oscar Cadayona of Pontificio Collegio Filippino; Fr. Dennis Estrella of Padova; Fr. Rico Sayson of Treviso, Fr. Socrates, OAD of Ancona, Fr. Paul Bumanglag, SVD and Sr. Josie of Vicenza, Fr. Tonette Timoner and Sr. Teresita, MCST of Milan, Fr. Domingo of Brescia, Srs. Gloria, SDB and Lilian, RVM of Urbana.

Final Exams

January 29, 2007 (Monday)

Today is Monday, the beginning of the final exams of PUSC, PGU, PUST, and AA. Nobody seemed to be in a relax mood, except the doctoral student-priests. The examinations period would last until second week of February.