Ganito pala ang maging Misyonero...

For weeks pinaghandaan ko ang petsang October 28 at 29 kasi ito ang mga araw para sa Outreach Mission ng Diocese of Laoag sa Adams. Matagal ko ring inihanda ang aking sarili kung ano ba ang aking maaasahan sa pagpunta ko sa Outreach. Well, hindi na rin naman bago para sa akin ang maki-join sa mga Outreach kasi sa school palaging may ganito. Pero naiiba sa case ng Adams kasi ito ay programa ng Diocese.

Adams is a town on top of a mountain. Katabi lamang siya ng Pagudpud. Kung gusto mong pumunta ng Adams, aabutin ka lang naman ng limang oras from Laoag. From Pagudpud town proper, siguro mga dalawang oras. Bakit? Kasi ang road papunta rito ay very rocky road. As in, talagang mabato at kung hindi ka mag-iingat baka mahulog ka pa sa bangin. Actually, ang only transportation ng mga tao ay mga motorcycles. Pwede rin naman ang 4x4 at truck pero ang mas mabilis pa rin ay mga motor.

September

Una kong narinig ang about sa Outreach sa Misa. Pagkatapos nun, agad kong inapproach si Sr. Maria Antonieta, CWC na nagbabantay noon sa likod para sa project na ito. Hayon, sinabi ko ang interest ko to join such project bilang President ng CABSAT at SC officer. Lunes, sinabi ko kaagad sa SC President at nag-approve naman siya then pati ang SAC ng College. Martes, kinausap ko si Ma'am Remy, head ng mga catechist ng parokya namin. Miyerkules, ibinigay sa akin ni Ma'am Remy ang Mission Can. Kanihapunan, nagkausap na kami ni Sr. Evangeline F. Pabalate, MCST.

Sa sumunod na week, inilakad ko ang mga approval letters sa Dean's office. Tapos nagkasakit ako ng hindi inaasahan kaya hindi muna ako nakapag-collect ng mga contributions. Nakapag-collect ako but parang hindi ako nakontento pero di ko rin naman masisi ang mga schoolmates ko dahil di naman lahat ay Katoliko. Katotohanan po yan, dahil ayon sa stats ng Ilocos Norte more than 40 % lang ang Katoliko.

October 13 - Isinabmit ko ang aking nakolekta.

October 28

7:30 hanggang 12:00 - Kahit naghahanda na ako para sa Outreach, nagreport pa rin ako sa school kasi walang kasama ang co-officer ko sa pagiging enrolling officer. Sakto rin kasing camping ng University at pumunta ang iba dito. Sabi nga nila dala-dalawa kami kung mag-activity, may camping na may Outreach pa.

9:30 - Nalaman ko na hindi na makakarating ang aking makakasama dahil pinagbawalan ng lolo dahil sa Adams raw kami pupunta, masyadong malayo. Well, wala akong magagawa kaya nakipagugnayan nalamang ako sa mga catechist na kakilala ko. Syempre ayaw ko rin namang ma-out of place.

2:00 - Pumunta na ako sa meeting place, sa Catechetical Office. Pagdating ko pa lang doon, I'm shy na kasi wala akong kakilala, si Sr. Vangie at si Ate Pipo lang ang kakilala ko. Dumating naman si Ate Jovie, kilala ko siya dahil classmate siya ni Kuya Dave then galing siya sa Divine Mercy Parish, kilala na rin naman nila ako doon.

3:00 - Nag-start kaming mag-travel papunta sa Pagudpud, kung saan makikituloy kami sa bahay ng isang catechist. Habang nag-tetravel, inilead naman ng kasama naming Pastorelli Sister (tama ba me?) ang Holy Rosary.

5:00 - Dumating kami ng Pagudpud. Saktong pista pala ni St. Jude, eh di pistang pista naman ang bayan ng Pagudpud. Dinala kami ng mga Missionary Sisters of the Holy Trinity sa bahay ng Hermana Mayor. Wow, foods. Kain syempre, kahit biyahilo na ako. Gusto ko ngang sumuka pero di ko mailabas.

7:00 - Nagpa-dinner si Apo Greg, parish priest ng Pagudpud. Doon foods na naman. Magpakabusog ka iho. Dun kasabay namin si Bishop with all the priest ng Pagudpud with Fr. Tom. Pagkatapos ng kainan, nagkaroon kami ng final briefing. Hala, feeling ko na talaga eh misyonero ako. I can feel the spirit. Pagkatpos ng meeting, sakto naman na concert ng mga pari, yun si Bishop with the sisters nanonood.

9:00 - Nagprepare kami ng mga gulay for the meal sa Adams.

10:00 - Tulog.

October 29

4:00 - Umpisa ng pagluluto at paliligo.

6:30 - Kainan na naman sa kumbento ng parokya ng Pagudpud dahil sakto naman na Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary ni Apo Greg.

7:30 - Hayan, pumunta na kami ng Adams. OMG! Para kang nasa isang rollercoaster ride. talagang mapapahawak ka sa kinauupuan mo. Ang sinakyan kasi namin ay yung elf truck. For two hours talagang nagtiis ako sa aalog-alog na sasakyan.

9:00 - Dumating na kami sa tuktok ng bundok, ang bayan ng Adams.

9:30 - Eucharistic Celebration sa quasi-parish ng Our Lady of Perpetual Help with Bishop Sergio L. Utleg as presider. Pagkatpos nito, sumunod ang mga Catechesis, Medical mission, at gift giving. Ako naman all-around, tumutulong sa Catechesis, sa pagluluto, atbp.

2:30 - Goodbye Adams. Sumakay ako this time sa patrol car ng mga police.

4:00 - Goodbye Pagudpud.

6:00 - Hello Laoag!

Personal Reflection/Feelings

Sa aking pagdating sa office pa lang, talagang nahihiya ako sa mga catechist. I regard myself as the pasingit that's why I am shy. But with the catechists, I did not feel that feeling that I was different from them. They welcomed me very warm. I was very silent while traveling but after we have talked to each other I belonged already to them. They say that I am not a catechist but I am the official representative of the Schools of Ilocos Norte. I am very flattered with that term. What flatters me most is that they call me as their "bunso." By this, I confirmed that truly I am now not different from them for I was already a part of the family. I never felt that I was different from them. That's why I won't forget them. I will never forget the times when they call me "bunso."

In Adams, looking at their Church makes me feel the difficulty of being a missionary. I only see that kind of church on the television. Seeing like the SVD's and other missionaries. Wooden church, small in area. I really feel the missionary spirit. I wonder how can Fr. Tony, SVD, the pastor, can surpass such challenge for him to be the only priest in this mountain town. But eventhough that it is difficult to think, I realized how our missionaries sacrifice themselves for the service of the people of God. What I saw with the residents is their strong Catholic faith. They were active in the Mass, children and elders. Truly, God is present everywhere. I felt the love of God for all creation. That even in the mountains He is there nourishing the needs of His children. Over and over again, I felt that God has a purpose for me that's why He let me experienced that missionary experienced. I want to be a Misyonero!

Seeing the smile in the face of the people, especially the kids makes me very happy. My cellphone is full with Jesuit songs. And let them hear the song "Humayo't Ihayag." To my surprise the children were singing the song. I am very much happy listening to them. They now the song. What a surprise. The people are very thankful with the small gifts that they received. It shows that people do not really find for much material things, to care for them is enough. I realized that all these material things do not really give happiness for me. I saw happiness when I saw just the simple thankful smile. Happiness for me, I can find in helping. I do not know but I am really fond of helping those who need help or I just volunteer myself, this makes me happy.

I am not blessed with a materially rich family and we are not poor either. My family is just a typical Filipino family, can provide for the immediate basic needs. Because of this I am oriented that I cannot just get the things that I want. Honestly, because of that I became a "kuripot" a little bit because I keep to myself that I cannot always get what I want and so I will be the one to make a way to get it. Well that is why I am do not always care with material things. And when I saw the smile of the people of Adams with the small material gifts they received it just affirmed my thought that material things do not really make a man happy. We need material things, yes, but in the deeper thought of man there is also a deeper need. A deeper need that material things cannot fill it up. And by filling up this need the true happiness will come out.

The Bishop was right when he said that in missionary works the benificiaries are not the only ones who are affected. But in reality the greater effect is with the missionaries themselves. And I can attest to that.

Here is my CBCP News article: http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/5547

By the way I have three purpose kung bakit ako pumunta sa Outreach... First I really want to join, second as representative of the school, and third to have a coverage for the CBCP.

Pictures will be next!

Nagkaroon ba ako ng Sembreak?

From October 11 to November 2 ang nakatakdang semestral break ng University... Wow, napakasarap sanang magpahinga na muna mula sa mga gawaing nakakapagod hindi lamang ng katawan kundi pati ng isipan...

First week pa lang ng sembreak wala na, tapos ang sana'y mga maliligayang araw ng sembreak... Paano ba naman requirement mo para makapag-enroll ka is matapos mo ang mga FS at AR ng Student Council for the previous sem... Walang magagawa kundi tulungan ang aming Treasurer at Secretary... Pero okay rin lang naman kasi kukunin rin lang naman ang mga clas cards na matataas syempre ang grades... Ako pa, syempre College Scholar na naman ang lolo... Syempre na nangangarap pa rin naman ako ng Latin Honors pagkatapos ng degree na ito...

Ngayong second week, hay nakakapagod ang week na ito... Ikaw ba naman ay enrolling officer... Naku 8 hours ka na ngang naka-duty sa pangongolekta ng mga provisional fees na halos magkanda hilo-hilo na kami sa pangongolekta pagkatapos niyan isang oras pa ng auditing na halos hindi magkatugma-tugma ang mga pera... Buti na lang at palaging sobra ang pera na aming nakokolekta... Kanina lang natapos ang aking enrollment... Hay, nakakapagod napakaraming step... Pero nakapagpapangiti pa rin sa akin kahit ako'y pagod na ang general weighted average ko ngayong sem na ito ay 1.597... At least fighting pa rin naman ang average... I'll try rin naman na mkuha ang 1.45 gwa next sem para maging University Scholar ang lolo... Bukas, mag-aatend ako ng di ko malaman kung seminar, symposium, or training, o baka naman ay isang program ng Youth for Christ sa LHS Gym... Syempre kahit hindi po naman ako YFC dahil alam naman ni Dr. Resurrection Mateo na pareho kaming religious, ipinadala niya ako doon total pwede rin ang mga hindi YFC members... At the same time kukunin ko na rin ang chance para makagawa ng bagong article for CBCP News...

Next week, puno na ang schedule ko... Monday resume ako sa aking post bilang enrolling officer... Sa Tuesday and Wednesday, pupunta na ako ng Adams para sa Outreach ng Diocese of Laoag... Thursday or Friday, I will meet ang isang mahalagang tao doon sa Mangato... Then Saturday, All Saints Day... Hay napakaraming mga gagawin... Wala na akong time pa para mag-relax... I ave only Sundays... Okay lang... Worth naman kasi puro service ang aking ibinibigay...

Gusto ko rin ang life na ganito yung palaging maraming ginagawa... Ayoko nung palaging naka-upo lang at naghihintay ng wala... Well, balanced pa rin naman kahit ganito ang aking mga ginagawa... Syempre una pa rin si Lord, ang aking mga nagagawa ay dulot ng pagtalima ko sa kanya...

At nawa'y wala sanang mga taong maging sagabal o kj sa aking mga ginagawa... Sana di na ako maka-enconter pa ng mga nambibwisit ng araw... Nahihigh blood tuloy ako... Hay, hinay-hinay lang Mark huwag kang magagalit... Just smile always...

Tracing the History of the Carmelite Sisters of Laoag

Ito ang aking research sa history ng Carmel ng Laoag... Ipinasa ko ito sa Iluko Litereature namin as described na historical place and scenic view of Laoag... By the way they are celebrating their 59th anniversary of Carmelite presence in Laoag as mentioned kaninang umaga sa Mass...

At the end of the 1940s the Diocese of Laoag was not yet canonically erected by the Vatican and so the city of Laoag and the whole province of Ilocos Norte is under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia (Vigan). The Diocese of Laoag was only erected on June 26, 1961.

Archbishop Santiago Sancho, D.D., then Archbishop of Nueva Segovia initiated the move to establish a Carmelite Community in Laoag. He wanted to have the Carmelite Sisters in his archdiocese. Instead of putting their house in Vigan (the seat of the archbishopric), he choose Laoag City. He gave them the mission of helping in the evangelization of Laoag residents and also the conversion of the Aglipayans, who were many in the province that time.

Through the intervention of His Eminence Adeodato Cardinal Piazza, O.C.D., secretary to the Sacred Consistorical Congregation, and with the assistance of the new Apostolic Delegate (Nuncio) to the Philippines, Msgr. Egidio Vagnozzi, the Holy See, through Archbishop of Manila, Most Rev. Michael J. O’Doherty, D.D., granted permission to establish the Carmelite Monastery of Laoag on August 30, 1949 and to be named as the Carmel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Laoag. It was signed through a special authorization by the Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of Manila, Most Rev. Rufino J. Santos, D.D. (later Cardinal Santos). The “Act of Foundation” signed by Archbishop O’Doherty and awarded on October 7, 1949, granted exclaustration of Sister Mary Gabriel Therese of the Child Jesus with nine other nuns. They were Sr. Mary Magdalena of the Saviour, Sr. Therese of the Holy Family, Sr. Mary Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Sr. Mary Lydia of Jesus, Sr. Agnes of Mary, Sr. Anne of the Assumption, Sr. Corazon of Jesus and Mary, Sr. Mary Rose of the Angels, and Sr. Purification of Jesus and Mary. The group arrived in Laoag on October 11, 1949 and were graciously received by Msgr. Sancho and Msgr. Cordero.

The first building to house the Carmelite nuns was the former Minor Seminary of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Laoag (Sacred Heart Chapel in Barangay 8) after the seminary was transferred to a new building beside the Saint Joseph Church in Laoag. The nuns stayed in this house for several years. Through the efforts of Msgr. Ignacio Cordero, then parish priest of Saint William Parish (later Cathedral), and with the nuns’ fervent prayers, a piece of land on top of a hill was offered by Mr. Trinidad Julian. The lot adjacent to the hill near the street was donated by the Javiers for the construction of a monastery the Carmelite nuns could call their own. The laying of the cornerstone and blessing of bells were held on December 27, 1953. After three years, the nuns transferred to their partly built monastery. It took ten full years to complete the monastery with an enclosure, rooms for the nuns, and a chapel. The structure of the Monastery especially of the Chapel is of Gothic Architectural Design.
People visit the Carmelite Monastery to request prayers from the nuns. Part of their charism is to fervently pray for a holy clergy so that the people in turn be holy. Essential part of the nuns’ raizon de etre in the Diocese of Laoag is to pray for vocations and the clergy. The Monastery Chapel open its doors everyday for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Monastery is also used for retreats and recollections, prayer vigils, and spiritual seminars.

The Carmelite nuns are great prayer warriors of the people, who want more prayers. They also serve as the people’s confidant and counsel. People would go there to offer some of their bounty in exchange for some pleasantries with the cloistered nuns.

The Carmelite Monastery of Laoag have already produced two Ilocana nuns. The first Ilocana Carmelite nun was Sister Pauline Datoc, who entered the cloister in 1958. While the second Ilocana Carmelite nun of the Carmel of Laoag was Marissa Villalobos, who hails from Solsona, Ilocos Norte. She entered the cloister of Carmel in 1995 in the age of 34. She took her temporary profession of vows in 1998 and on October 15, 2004, on the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, she took her perpetual profession of vows, taking the religious name Sister Marissa Therese of the Eucahrist. Currently the Carmel of Laoag is housing 15 Discalced Carmelite nuns.

Last Day of the Semester: Semestral Break na!

Technically, tapos na ang aking semester pero reality dictates na hindi pa tapos kasi I have two exams pa sa Monday... History and English 102... Tapos na ang other test ko at it seems fine pa rin naman ang aking mga scores... Come what may, tapos na ang aking pagkakataon para ipakita ang aking kagalinang kahit pa anong gawin ko wala nang magagawa... Tanggapin na lang ang magiging resulta...

Matinding issue ngayon kung sinong matitira sa aming mga English Majors... Issue ito lalo pa't kami lang ang may screening sa lahat ng mga Majors... Ako hindi talaga ako nag-aalala ng ganun kasi matatanggap ko kung ano man ang conviction ng mga English Professors ko... Nakikita naman nila kung sino ang mga karapat-dapat at hindi... Alam nila kung isno ang mga nagsisikap at mga taong ginagamit lang ang Major na ito... Mahirap pumasok sa Major na ito... Opo maaaring sabihin na Education lang naman... pero ang lahat ng mga kurso ay may hirap... Walnag superior at inferior... Mahirap siya lalo pa't ang ituturo mo someday is Language and Communication... Gaya nga ng sabi ng mga Language Scholars tulad ni Noam Chomsky, Langauge is not taught but learned... Therefore the role of Language teachers are not to teach the language but to help them learn it the easy way... Kung sino ang maiiwan nasa kamay na iyan ng mga Professors namin...

Tapos na ang semester ko na naging memorable sa akin kasi maraming mga luha ang ipinatak ng mata ko dahil na rin sa katangahan ko... Opo, inaamin ko napakatanga ko pagdating sa pag-handle ng pera... Imagine para ko lang itinapon ang 2000 sa loob ng dalawang buwan... Nawala ko ang lahat ng ito... Pero ganito talaga ang buhay I need to lean something from this... Hanggang ngayon iniisip ko pa rin kung papaano ako naging napakatanga...

Tapos na rin ang paghihirap ko sa mga subjects na di ko sukat akalain na itatake ko... Gay na lang ng Iluko Litereature ang Language... Diyos ko po hindi naman sa dahil ako'y hindi fluent sa vernacular ko pero nakaka-nosebleed kasi talagang pinag-aralan namin ang grammar ng Iluko language... Pero dahil sa subject na ito mas natuklas ko ang aking pagiging Ilokano... My rich heritage, my beautiful community, and our historical past... I can say proudly that "Ilokano daytoy ading!"

Tapos na rin ang sem kung saan nagawa ko ang mga bagay na di ko inaasahang magagawa ko... Like ng pagbuhay ko sa tamang gawain ng CABSAT... Ngayon it is a working organization already sa school... Kahit I am only holding 64 members, okay lang yun... Basta ang importante we are doing our job to respond to the spiritual needs ng mga students... Dahil na rin dito hindi ko inaasahan na pwede ko palang paglapitin ang MMSU sa Diocese through the Outreach sa Adams... Tapos na ang aking collection period at magreremit na ako ng pera sa Tuesday... Kahit kunti lang naman yung na collect okay lang in the sense that we are not a Catholic institution anyway, buti nga at may tumulong pa rin... ang exact perang nakuha ko is 1234... gandang amount 1234...

May recollection din sana ngayong sem break namin pero I needed to cancel it at ipapa-December ko na lang, gahol na kasi sa time ng preparation at I need to consider na marami sa mga students na sasai ay uuwi na rin sa mga bayan nila... Well, I have the power anyways, I need not to worry...

Sana maging maganda ang resulta ng 1st sem 2nd year ko at ako'y nakatingin na ng buong tapang at paghahanda pwa sa susunod na semester... Gagalingan ko para na rin sa mga taong nag-eexpect ng malaki sa akin... At isa pa ang lahat ng aking pinagdaraanan ngayon ay malaki ag maidudulot sa panghinaharap kong gawain...

Goodbye sa mga matatanggal at kung ako man ay isa sa kanila... Good luck and God bless naman kung matitira ako...

Holiness is for all, says Laoag bishop: My Second Article at CBCP Online...

Marami na rin akong nai-send na mga articles sa CBCP pero hanggang ngayon its the second article pa lang na naipublish... Well, okay lang ang mahalaga ay may mga nailalabas kahit pailan-ilan lang siya...

Kahapon nang gawin ko ito, I was very confident na lalabas na ito... Pero kaninang umaga I was very disappointed kasi wala pang lumalabas pero may approval na from Sir Melo Acuna... Kaya ang pakunsuelo ko na lang sa sarili ko ay lalabas yan mamayang hapon... At lumabas nga ang article ko...

Ang ganda ng pagkakataon na ito kasi ngayong araw ding ito aking natapos ang SINAMAR, ang newsletter ng aming GUMIL (Asosasyon ng mga Iluko Writers) sa College... Ako ang Editor-in-Chief ng nasabing newsletter... Hehehehe.... Accidental appointment dahil sa pagkapanalo ko sa Essay writing contest sa Iluko... Tapos ngayong araw natapos rin ang CTE Bulletin namin kung saan Assistant News Editor naman ako...

Ang sumusunod na article ay edited na kaya may mga grammatical at typographical errors, maraming proofreading error na ang article... Di ko rin ma-blame ang CBCP... Okay lang at least di sinabi na ang Laoag City ay nasa Ilocos Sur...

http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/4969

Holiness is for all, says Laoag bishop

LAOAG CITY, October 2, 2008—“Holiness is for everybody!” thus said Laoag Bishop Sergio L. Utleg during his homily at St. Therese of the Child Jesus feastday Mass at San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

The prelate said the life of Saint Therese made ordinary things into extraordinary ones all because of love. He said the life of St. Therese is an outstanding example for Christians to follow. She made no miracles during her lifetime but she because a saint and Doctor of the Church because of her deeds. of how ordinary things she have done became extraordinary because of love.

“Holiness is not limited only to the clergy, religious men and women, the monks and the penitents,” said Bishop Utleg. “God calls us all to holiness, not only me or the priests but even the housewife, the policeman, the doctor, or the janitor are called to become holy by God,” the 65-year old prelate added.

To correct the people’s misconceptions about sainthood Bishop Utleg said, “Let us change our definition of a saint. Saints are those who are close to God and those who do the will of God.” He explained “they are not those who make extraordinary things but those who make ordinary things extraordinary.”

In closing, Bishop Utleg said “the secret of being holy is the thing that Saint Therese did. It is giving love to all that you do.” The prelate added “that everything here on earth, whether big or small, has its own purpose.”

After the Mass, three MCST Sisters of San Nicolas renewed their vows before Bishop Utleg. Afterwards the MCST Lay Cooperators also renewed their vows.

The MCST Sisters are in charge of Laoag’s catechetical program. They also manage the Sta. Rosa Academy in San Nicolas town. (Mark Vertido)

I will post my blog about the CCS Anniversary sa susunod... hehehehehehe...