Rector’s Cup 2007 Winners

March 15 (Thursday)

The Annual Ping-pong Tournament dubbed as Rector’s Cup came to an end tonight with the championship games in singles and doubles. Athletic minded student-priests and cheerful OP Sisters with the presence of the Father Rector and Father Spiritual Director enlivened the San Lorenzo Hall where the Finals took place. The championship match - single between Fr. Greg Gaston (known this tournament as El Santito) and Fr. Dodong Billones (the Bamboo) was an exchange of speed and magic serves, an exchange of frustrating sighs or grunts (tenor? or bass?) and holy silence and subdued smile at unforced errors. It was a very exciting match that reached until the fifth set. And the champion for this year in single … Fr. Greg Gaston (3-2)!

At the break, before the championship match in doubles began, Msgr. Stude Santos gave a brief remarks regarding the tournament with his two T’s – Thanks to the Sports Chairman, Fr. Nemer Chua, to the players who tried their best, to God; and Tayo magkikita muli next year’s winter Olympics. The pair of Fr. Nonoy Billanes and Fr. Oscar Cadayona was given a name “Golden Kittens” since both came from UST Central Seminary, Manila and the pair of Fr. Dodong Billones and Fr. Bong Fuentes was “Blue Mayas” because they came from Ateneo-San Jose Seminary, Manila. The cheers of the audience (the Dominican Sisters, Tomasinos, and the Angelics for the Golden Kittens and the Josefinos and the Gregorians for the Blue Mayas) brought the intensity of the game to a higher level. There were again the magic serves of Fr. Dodong and the sudden punch of Fr. Bong. The combination was marvelous. But the quick reflexes of a professional player in Fr. Noi and the patient return of Fr. Oscar made the difference and “turned the table upside down.” As a result, the Golden Kittens won the championship (3-1) and the audience whooped it up as the last ball returned and landed not on the table but on the feet of the legendary ping-pong player of PCF, Fr. Noi Billanes! (Having finished his studies in scriptures, Fr. Noi Billanes is set to go back to the Philippines on March 28, 2007).

Cardinal Rosales with Filipino men and women of the cloth

March 11 (Sunday)

At 8:00 o’ clock in the morning, Filipino priests, religious sisters and seminarians gathered around the table of the Lord in the PCF chapel to celebrate the Holy Mass with Cardinal Rosales as the main celebrant. In his homily, one of the things that he pointed out was the observation that most of the Filipino leaders failed to translate to action what they have learned from Catholic schools because they lack conscience. Msgr. Stude Santos presented to His Eminence the amount collected by the Filipino Chaplaincies in Italy since the movement’s launching last December 9, 2006

Cardinal Rosales with Filipino Migrants

March 8 (Thursday)

Hundreds of Filipino Migrants in Rome flocked to PCF to take part of the celebration of the Holy Mass offered for them by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at 6:30 in the evening. In his homily, Cardinal Rosales talked about the nature of Pondo ng Pinoy which is now a popular movement founded on gospel values. He pointed out the theology of the crumbs with respect to the idea behind this movement. During the offertory procession, Filipino migrants offered their Pondo ng Pinoy bottles containing euro coins. There were almost fifty priests, and the two Filipino Ambassadors were present.

Canonical Possession of the Cardinal Rosales Titular Church

March 4 (Sunday)

His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, metropolitan archbishop of Manila, Philippines, took possession of his titular church at 12:00 noon - the title of the Most Holy Name of Mary in Via Latina (via Centuripe 18/22, Rome). With His Eminence were the Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, Msgr. Stude Santos, Fr. Rey Adalid, Fr. Rico Ayo, Fr. Genie Diwa (the liturgist), Fr. Reggie Malicdem (Cardinal’s Secretary), Fr. Edison, Fr. Rolly Garcia, and people from the Phil. Embassy to the Holy See.

Monthly Recollection with Don Luis Navarro

February 24 – 25 (Saturday-Sunday)

The Vice-Dean of Canon Law of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross came to PCF to give the recollection to the student-priests. Basing the theme on Jn 19:37 “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced,” Don Luis talked about looking at Jesus on the cross to listen to Jesus who speaks to us especially this time of lent. The tears that come out sometimes when we look at the cross should give rise to a resolution (to paraphrase St. Josemaria Escriva). In other words, looking at Jesus crucified on the cross, especially this season of lent, invites us to conversion. Furthermore, to look at him is to imitate him. Priestly spirituality has the Cross at its core. It is good to ask where is the Cross in my life, in my priesthood? Where is penance?