Friday, May 26, 2006
"Pamana 2006"
Thursday, May 25, 2006
"My Way" in Canto
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
PCF Elections 2006
Coordinator ------------Fr. Richard Tan (Calbayog)
Vice-coordinator--------Fr. Nemer Chua (Lipa)
Secretary/Treasurer---Fr. Oscar Cadayona (Maasin)
Committee Chairmen
Spirituality---------------Fr. Venusto Suarez (Manila)
Liturgy-------------------Fr. Melchor Braga (Urdaneta)
Music--------------------Fr. Joselito Jopson (Pasig)
Socials--------------------Fr. Rodelio San Juan (Iba)
Sports--------------------Fr. William Santiago (Caceres)
Physical Arrangement----Fr. Wagner Nalitan (Cagayan de Oro)
Friday, May 19, 2006
Da Vinci Code - A Flop!
Eternal Rest
Bishop Cantillas attends meeting in Vatican
The Most Rev. Bishop of Maasin, Precioso Cantillas, SDB came to Rome to attend the meeting as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants on May 15-17, 2006. The vice-rector of the collegio fetched him at the airport at 6:20 a.m. In the afternoon, he met with the Chaplain of the Centro Filipino at Santa Putenciana Basilica, Via Urbana, Rome. There he also celebated the Holy Mass at 4:00 p.m. Some members of the Pundok ni Beato Pedro Calungsod treated the Bishop to supper at the restaurant very near Collegio Filipino.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
New Nuncio to the Phils. Visits PCF
Your Excellency, the Pontificio Collegio Filippino has been a “home away from home” for Filipino priests here in Rome. As you may very well know, these priests have been sent by their respective bishops to specialize in various ecclesiastical disciplines so that they could later serve the local Church in the Philippines in different capacities. But this college is not simply a house of students. It is a home of priests. Indeed, it is hoped that the stay here in the Collegio will have helped a priest, not just in academics, but also in his spiritual, community and apostolic life. For forty five years, the Pontificio Collegio has tried to fulfill its role in the on-going formation of the priests that it has welcomed through its doors. It has tried to be the Filipino priests’ “home here in Rome”. After all, it is at home where one can truly grow.
Your Excellency, you are Italian, and certainly, you have a home here in Italy, perhaps even in Rome. But now, in the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, you have a “Filipino home” in the eternal city. Its doors are always open for you. Welcome, Your Excellency, to the Pontificio Collegio Filippino!
At sa inyo pong lahat, muli, magandang tanghali at mabuhay tayong lahat!
To our joy and pleasure, Cardinal Vidal again delivered a message with wit and intelligence. As he spoke, the pcf priests interrupted him with cheers of affirmation for what he said. The opening message of Cardinal Vidal metaphorically revealed what the Philippines has become( but only insofar as the political situation). Here is the full text of the message of Cardinal Vidal:
When I heard that Archbishop Antonio Franco is being sent to Israel while Archbishop Fernando Filoni is transferred from Iraq to the Philippines, I said to myself, “The Philippines must be a good place to prepare someone to be sent to Jerusalem and Cyprus, while Iraq is a good place to prepare someone for the Philippines”.
In welcoming Archbishop Filoni to the Philippines, however, I would like to assure him that while politics in our country is fractious, he can sleep well at night in Manila. Only politicians lack sleep in the Philippines.
While there may be seven thousand one-hundred islands in the Philippines, about five major tongues and scores of dialects, we are largely united by a single faith – the Faith of Rome. Liturgy is the common language in the Philippines. Catholicism is our common culture. Faith in Jesus Christ and love for Mary form the core of our identity. Thus, the boats that connect the islands are named after Our Lady of Fatima and other titles of the Madonna. Jeepneys and buses have large signs emblazoned on them proclaiming devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, never mind if the drivers drive like the devil himself.
Here in this little piece of the Philippines in Rome, we have kept our faith and our traditions alive. Your Excellency was present during the Mass last Sunday. You have seen how alive we are whether inside or outside the chapel. Our brother and sister Filipinos are gifted with happiness that not even the distance away from home can suppress.
Here before you are the future of the Philippine church. Our clergy is relatively young, and here are some of the finest among them. They are here to bring greater vitality to the Philippine Church, by strengthening its bond with the Holy Father and the Church in Rome.
My dear Collegio priests… I said you are “the future of the Philippine Church”, and I hope there is a “Philippines” in your future. When I say you are “the future of the Philippine Church”, do not think of it as your own personal “future”, rather think of the future of the Church and of our country .Your own plans for yourself, your own dreams, all must be subordinated to that which is higher and nobler. The Church is much bigger than yourself. The needs of your countrymen are much more urgent than your own. The love of the Lord is much more passionate than all the desires and longings you may be harboring in your heart.
Here in the city of the martyrs, you must learn to die to yourself, finish your studies and serve the Philippine Church in whatever capacity your Bishop may assign to you. Every day, grow up by getting smaller, like little children, finding your own peace and joy only in the Lord. While it is a privilege to study in Rome, the real honor is to the serve your own people who have put so much hope in you.
Thank you and may the Lord bless you always!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Collegio Day 2006
This 45th year anniversary celebrations of the Collegio Filippino should be very special for Filipinos here in Rome, for this coincides with the Jubilees of His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal: 75 years of life, 50 years of the priesthood, 35 years of episcopacy, and 25 years in Cebu.
The new Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Fernando Feloni, joined more than fifty Filipino priests in celebrating the Holy Eucharist wherein His Eminence preached about "Pag-ibig na tapat..." - the lessons of which were received by the audience with smiles and claps as the good Cardinal emphasized a point touching the "lovelife" of a migrant worker or a priest or a sister or a seminarian here in Rome. Concelebrating also with the Cardinal were Bishop John Du, Bishop of Dumaguete, Mons. Barnie Ausa, from Secretariat of State, who came with full of life as he met with friends, especially from the Visayas region, Don Luis Navarro, the ever likeable friend of the Collegio Filipino priests and formators, who came with his barong tagalog displayed after the Holy Mass. With the ever supportive presence of Ambassador Lydia Veyra, the Ambasssador to the Holy See (also known as Mother to the Filipino priests in Rome) and Consul Jerry, the celebrations became more joyous and worth remembering.
At 12:00 noon, the Holy Mass ended. The procession of the Our Lady of Antipolo and the Zagalas of 45 communities from the Chapel to the ground at the back of the collegio took place. The ground at the back was filled with people (approximately two thousand people) with festive faces and gestures. When the image of the Virgin Mary arrived at the center of the ground, the usual "coronation" of the image was done by Ms. Elvira Go, the prominent benefactress of the Collegio Filippino. Then the offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary by the Zagalas of the different Filipino communities and singing of the Salve Regina and prayer for peace. By 1:00 pm, the food was blessed by Bishop John Du, Bishop of Dumagute, and being served afterwards to the people who themselves prepared the food in their respective tents. By 2:00 pm, the program began: different selected Fililipino communities took turn in rendering worthwhile presentations - group dance, vocal solo, choral, drama, etc. The program ended at 4:00 p.m., but the revelries continued until 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Thrid Day of the Triduum
Friday, May 05, 2006
Cardinal Vidal arrives from the Phils.
By 11:00 p.m., His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal arrived at the Collegio Filippino from the Philippines to lead the PCF festivities this coming May 7, 2006. Coming with His Eminence were Bishop John Du (Bishop of Dumaguete), Fr. Dennis Villarojo, Fr. Agustin Ancajas, and Fr.Joseph Tan.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
First Day of the Triduum of Masses
At 7:30 p.m., Fr. Regino Cortes, OP, the only Asian member of Pontifical Biblical Commission, was treated by UST alumni (his former students) to dinner somewhere near the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Fr. Norberto Astillo, OP, the Father Superior of the faithful confessors of the said Basilica, joined the group which was led by Fr. Rey Adalid, OP, the Spiritual Director of PCF. Fr. Cortes was set to leave Rome tomorrow after a week of meeting with the rest of the members of the said commission which the Pope expects to come out a document entitled "the Bible and Morality."
Monday, May 01, 2006
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
Asking for prayers for his Father named Norberto, Msgr. Stude went home last Friday to attend to his ailing Father in the hospital in Manila. Fr. Rey Adalid, OP, arrived the other day from the Philippines, thanking everyone for a successful minor operation on his eye.