EDITOR’S NOTE
Editorial Board
Hi BukYo! Nakasulay ka na ba ug pangita sa usa ka butang na kinahanglan kaayo nimo pero dili jud nimo makita? Frustrating diba? Well, usahay sa atong kinabuhi makabati gayud kita ug pareha ana. Gubot kaayo ang atong kasingkasing nga usahay dili nato makita ang atong mga ginapangita, ilabi na karon nga daghan kaayong mga butang nga gakuha sa atong atensyon dinhi sa kalibutan. Daghan kaayo choices ang gina-offer sa kalibutan karon na usahay maglibog kita ug unsay pilion. Apil pa ba si Kristo sa atong mga choices? Naa pa ba kaha Siya sa atong mga kasingkasing? Let us remember that it is in being clean that we see God. Pareha sa usa ka butang na lisod pangitaon sa gubot na kwarto, kung gubot usab ang atung mga kasingkasing, maglisod kita ug pangita ni Kristo dinhi. “Bulahan ang putli ug kasingkasing kay makakita sila sa Diyos.” Isip mga Kristyanos, we are all called to be Christ-centered. Kinahanglan nato maningkamot sa pagpuyo nga Kristohanon. Let us all again examine our hearts, makita pa ba nato si Kristo dinhi? Atong hinluan ang atong mga kasingkasing pinaagi sa pagsunod kang Kristo – pag-ampo, pagsimba ug pagpuyo nga adunay pagtuo Kaniya. Ang dakong hagit kanato mga igsuon mao ang paglikay sa mga tentasyon na gapalayo sa atua sa Ginoo. May God be with us. Happy reading mga igsuon!
EDITOR IN CHIEF Charmain Grace Casquite ASSOCIATE EDITORS Shiela C. Lumambas Cristine Mae Baguio CIRCULATIONS MANAGER Jessa C. Aranas LAYOUT ARTISTS Aaron Don V. Salvaña Alexander C. Alonzo STAFF WRITERS Aris Jay Lapizar, Nestor Delig Jr. Joven Dela Peña, Jr., Jollibert Lozada Melbert I. Guipetacio LIAISON OFFICERS Rachelle Darl Loayon, Rondel Marcelino Igpit, Charamie Gempisao CARTOONISTS Jesse Cahanap, Mayela Lou Adajar CONSULTANTS Jorrie Mae D. Hernandez, Sr. Leizyl G. Corre Fr. Ritchell S. Quita CONTRIBUTORS Anjon Frederick C. Mamunta Novice Vessie C. Ninobla, Carolyn G. Agustin Violah Janine G. Centino, Growing Seed Joevin Ybanez Sr. Ma. Evelyn Anuncio, MMS QueenBee
ABOUT THE
COVER
ATE CHA-CHA
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Theme: “Bulahan ang Putli ug Kasingkasing.” The cover is the Blessed Virgin Mary, a definite example of having a pure heart which symbolizes her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all of us her children. Cover was designed by ALEX C. ALONZO Text by: CHARMAIN GRACE CASQUITE BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
CONTENTS Buknews
01 - 03 - 05 - 06 -
Features 10 15 16 30
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Musings 31 32 33 36
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45 - 50 - 51 - 53 -
BukYo proclaiming... 1st Summer Youth Encounter... DCYCC @ RR Project Worship Who founded your church? Through the eyes... So what would it be? T.Y. Sr. Lerma What constitutes true beauty? Am I Qualified? Moments of being loved 10 Things Catholics...
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YouCat Dear Papang Komeyks Schedules
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38 30
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MESSAGES
“B
Bishop’s Memo...
ulahan ang putli ug kasingkasing”
Usa sa mga gihatag kanato sa Ginoo didto sa Mount of Beatitude sa ebanghelyo ni San Mateo mao kini: Bulahan ang putli ug kasingkasing, kay makakita sila sa Ginoo.” Hangtod karon mao gihapon kini ang hagit alang kanatong tanan; nga sa kanunay maningkamot kita nga magpabilin ang kaputli sa atong mga kasingkasing aron makita nato ang Ginoo. Apan dili sayon kini nga hagit, tungod sa daghan kaayong mga tentasyon karong panahuna. Tungod sa daghan kaayong ginahatag kanato nga nagkalain-laing mga
butang, dali lang kaayo kitang mahikalimot niining maong hagit. Daghang mga kabataan ang dili na makahatag ug higayon sa pagsimba tungod kay atoa na nag-atubang sa computer. Daghang mga batan-on ang nadaot ang kinabuhi tungod sa bisyo. Busa sa kanunay magbantay kita sa atong kaugalingon ug hugtan nato ang atong pagtoo sa Ginoo. Himuon nato nga una sa tanan ang paghatag sa atong kaugalingon ug pag-alagad sa Ginoo. Aron sa kanunay kita Iyang mahatagan sa mga grasya nga maghatag kanato ug kusog sa pagbuntog sa mga pagsulay sa kinabuhi. Maningkamot kita nga magpabiling putli sa kasingkasing tungod kay sa katapusan, makakita gayud kita sa Ginoo sa hingpit.
+JOSE ARANETA CABANTAN, D.D. Bishop of Malaybalay
the director's cut...
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aayong adlaw mga palangga! Ang kasingkasing sa tawo mao ang hinungdan nga kita nabuhi. Kon dili na mopitik ang kasingkasing sa tawo, moundang na usab ang iyang lawas sa paglihok, nga sa ato pa ang kasingkasing mao ang sukaranan sa kinabuhi. Apan dili lamang kana ang mabuhat sa kasingkasing, ang kasingkasing makabalo usab nga mahigugma ug maibog (kana gong “crush” daw). Kon mahigugma ang kasingkasing kusog kini mopitik, mao na nga magboto-boto dayun kon makakita ka sa imong gihigugma. Kini usa ka timaan nga ang imong kasingkasing is “functioning well.” Daghan ang mabuhat sa kasingkasing kay kini mao man ang importanteng bahin sa lawas nga gihimo sa Dios. Ang tema karon sa atong quarterly publication sa Banagbanag nagkanayon: “Bulahan ang putli ug kasingkasing.” Kini naghagit kanato sa pagpadayag sa atong gugma ngadto sa tanan. Ang putli ug kasingkasing mahigumaon. Ang putli ug kasingkasing “understanding.” Ang putli ug kasingkasing makiangayon ug Diosnon. Ang putli ug kasingkasing angayan nga mamahimong BUKYO! Busa, atong batunan ang kasingkasing nga putli mga kaBukYo! +
g o g a n a
a a
FR. RITCHELL S. QUITA
Diocesan Commission on Youth Spiritual Director
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BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
MESSAGES
Sister’s Note...
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aajong adlaw my dearest Bukyo!
What a grateful heart still I am feeling right now, sharing with you Christ’s mission in a youthful, alive and joyful expressions in serving the rest of the BukYo in the diocese. It reminds me of how I have also grown in faith and service during my younger years when I was also a young servant like you in my own parish. Exposing myself to this ministry is a great help to see more clearly the kind of life and person God wants me to be. Thanks to those former young formators/leaders that inspired me to get involved and served the church through youth ministry. It takes a lot of faith and a discerning spirit to recognize the very presence of God, it takes a pure and clean heart for Him to dwell and to capture us as His own. How to possess a pure and clean heart like Christ? As young followers of Him and evangelizers to others, you must try to practice listening and
BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
silent selves in this world full of noise and distortions. A value of silence requires a willful self to carry it out in order to become a keen listener as to seek the unity of your heart, mind and actions. Recognizing the God that is in your heart assures you for right decisions and aspirations in life. Many young people of today have observed to be weak in silencing and listening which make them poor in their choices and decisions thus, resulted to a regretful life. If only you may know how to be single-hearted: to seek only God in everything, in your relationship with yourself, with others and with the events of your life. Live pure as He is pure then, you may share Christ’s joy that life in this world could not offer! Courage mga kaBukYo!
Your kasana,
SR. LEIZYL G. CORRE, FdCC
Diocesan Commission on Youth Chairperson
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The DYL’s tweet... Dearest BukYo, As I am now approaching the last months of my term as your DYL, I realized that God did not just call me when I was elected (way back in 2012), He actually prepared me. He made sure I will not want the position so badly, that I will be contented with who I was then (a formator, just one of the team). He made it certain that I won’t do anything to be in the position and that I would keep my big mouth from bragging. In short, God purified my heart before He put me there. Personally, I find it so timely that the theme for this issue is “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see GOD.”- Mt. 5:8. It affirmed my thoughts that when God calls you to do something, He PREPARES YOU. HE prepares YOUR HEART. HE prepares YOU to see HIM so others would see HIM “in” YOU. There is no reason to be afraid in the future because the Lord will supply what is lacking and complement what is left. I don’t want you to think that I am itching my feet to get out of the circle, as I have been mentioning my nearest step down. To tell you with all honesty, this is never easy for me. My life for the last 15 years had revolved around this ministry and I could not even think of a life after this without it. But within, I heard a voice (that same voice who told me something three years ago), saying: “Let them do it.” Three years ago, that voice told me to take it and to take it with all my heart. Today, HE tells me to give it with all my heart and let you do it, with all your heart. I don’t know what you’re feeling right now as you are reading this. Perhaps the Lord is telling you something. LISTEN TO HIM! For almost three years, I was overwhelmed with joy for all the ups and downs I have soaked myself in as your DYL. It was a
wonderful experience! (It was too wonderful that I can’t afford to take it for myself alone and deprive anyone else who deserves it.) It is probably the most PRECIOUS blessing I’ve received in my existence! For that, I would like to thank you all for the trust, LOVE and support you gave me from day 1 and counting. I am forever grateful! And please note, I am honoured to be of service to all of you. I won’t be leaving you (at least for now). I will be at your back seeing you do your stuff, perhaps fall down at some points, get up and learn. But here’s a tip: when you want something so badly, when you are too enticed to get something, let the Lord purify your heart and magnify your desires. Let HIM purify your heart so that your intentions may lead souls to heaven and not only satisfy your earthly desires. Magnify your desires so you will be able to look closer into what is your purpose for wanting them so badly. And when you feel it’s too self- centered? Let it go! It’s not for you. I have been blessed by the Lord all my life, both with piling problems and overflowing blessings and being your DYL is definitely one of my favorites (both in the problem and blessing categories! *giggles*). I believe He will bless you, too. He will also purify your heart and only then you will know what you really wanted. He will lead you t h e r e . FOLLOW HIM! Don’t run away from HIM. Blessed are the pure of heart. Blessed be God forever!
JORRIE MAE D. HERNANDEZ Diocesan Youth Leader
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BUKNEWS
“BukYo: Proclaiming the Greatness of the Lord” Melbert I. Guipetacio
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alaybalay City— Gipahigayon ang ika-21 nga panagtigom sa mga kabatan-onan sa Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Mailag, Valencia City ug ang nahimong venue niining naasoy’ng panagtigom mao ang Manlio Caroselli Formation Center (MCFC) sa maong parokya. Ang maong panagtagbo gihimo niadtong May 26- 28, 2015 diin mokabat sa 55 ka mga kabatan-onang delegado nga nagagikan sa mga nagkadaiyang mga kapilya sakop sa maong parokya ang miapil. Mibisita ug nagpalalum sa ilang tema si Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC nga bag-ohay pa lamang mipuli BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
kang Sr. Lerma Sotalbo, FdCC isip Diocesan Commission on Youth (DCY) chairperson sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay, inubanan ni Joevin Ybañez, usa ka seminarista gikan sa kongregasyon sa Comboni Fathers, aron usab sa pagpromote sa ilang espiritualidad isip sakop sa naasoy’ng kongregasyon. Kining maong aktibidades gipaluyohan sa ilang Kura Paroko nga si Fr. Ian M. Calabria inubanan usab sa mga Parish Youth Officers nga sila si: Orland Tongan (Parish Youth Leader), Sherwin Sacopayo (Asst. PYL), Phoebe Joy Alguso (Secretary), Ramil Glenn Lester
Arojo (Asst. Secretary), Pinky Pajo (Treasurer), Mariel Orano (Asst Treasurer), Jacky Ayuda ug KJ Asingua (Auditors), Shella Vergara, Jhonalyn Albina, Jessa Suminao ug Carl Alcontin (Public Information Officers), ug sila ni Risa Rosales ug Jonas Quirante (Social Managers). Sa katapusan, mibilin si Orland Tongan, ang PYL, nining mosunod nga mga pulong: “Manglakaw kaming tanan sa tibuok kalibutan aron sa pagsangyaw sa Maayong Balita ug amo untang ipakita ang among pagkamaayong ehemplo sa tanang kabatan-onan hilabina sa parokya nga among ginsakpan.” 1
LOVE REVOLUTION Anjon Fredrick C. Mamunta “Let’s start the revolution! What we say is what we do! Revolution of the mind, revolution of the heart, revolution of the mind! Love Revo, Love Revo!” That was the chant of the delegates of the 22nd YFC International Conference (ICON) held at Surigao City Sports Complex, Surigao del Norte last April 10 - 12, 2015 with the theme, “Love Revolution,” anchored from the bible verse John 21:15-17. So what happened before and during the ICON? April 8-9, 2015. Travel & PreICON Days Over a hundred YFCs from different areas in Bukidnon formed the delegation for the ICON. The participants travelled the BukidnonDavao-Surigao route so that we could pass by San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, where Britannia Islands is located. The long travel was worth it as we were awed by the beauty of nature. We were buzzed with excitement while travelling to Surigao del Norte. April 10, 2015. Day 1 Sunlight filled the sports 2
https://twitter.com/cfcyfc/status/561889250824577024
BUKNEWS
complex as YFCs from all over the world started to gather at the venue. Kuya Joseph Ramon, FTPW of USA, led the 4,700 youth in worshipping the Lord during the opening of the said event. Hon. Myrna Romarate, board member of Surigao del Norte and National President of the Provincial Board Member League of the Philippines, welcomed the delegates to Surigao, “The City of Island Adventures”. The YFC International Coordinator, Kuya Lawrence Quintero, officially opened the 22nd YFC ICON. The opening of the ICON was followed by prayer for sportsmanship. And the competitions began afterwards. As the contestants and spectators dispersed to different venues for the creative and sports competition, the couple coordinators went to Surigao del Norte Capitol Convention Center for this year’s Church
Integration Congress which was given by Tito Shok Ariola, a CFC Elder. When the competitions ended, the delegates started to prepare for the Advocacy Parade. After the parade was the pride of Surigao, the Sadjao Surigao Dance Theatre, wherein they presented Philippine Folk Dances. Hon. Ernesto Matugas, the mayor of Surigao City, welcomed the delegates to his city and expressed his appreciation to the YFC members. Meanwhile, the governor of Surigao del Norte, Hon. Sol Matugas, challenged the youth on their significant role in the future of Surigao. While dinner was being served, our titos and titas surprised the crowd with their talents in the Couple Coordinators’ Got Talent show. Before Session 1 started, the FTPW of Bukidnon, Kuya Popoi continued to page 48 BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
https://www.facebook.com
BUKNEWS
Si Katya Quidet Clemencio, usa ka studyante sa tulonghaan sa BSU ang bag-ong napiling mangulo sa kabatan-onan sa OLHR Parish isip Parish Youth Leader
1st Summer Youth Encounter sa OLHR Parish, Damulog Nagmabalukon Melbert ‘Bobet’ Guipetacio
MALAYBALAY CITY— Gipahigayon ang unang summer youth encounter sa mga kabatan-onan sa Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish (OLHR) sa Damulog, Bukidnon niadtong Mayo 2930, 2015. Kini gipasiugdahan sa ilang supportive nga kura paruko nga si Fr. Bernard Saburao, kanhing youth director sa diyosesis. Nahibaloan nga kining maong aktibidades nagdala sa temang “Youth BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
Celebration of Faith”. Ang maong panagtigom gitambongan sa kapin kon kulang 200 ka mga batanon gikan sa nagkalain-laing kapilya nga sakop sa maong parokya. Bisita usab sa maong kalihukan ang Diocesan Youth Leader ning diyosesis nga si Ate Jorrie Hernandez ug ang Diocesan Youth Treasurer nga si Joven dela Peña, Jr. Atol sa maong panagtigom,
nahitabo ang election sa bag-ong set sa mga opisyales sa apostolado sa batan-on sa maong parokya ug nahimong bag-ong parish youth leader si Katya Q. Clemencio. Assistant youth leader si Tarry Queen P. Literatus, Psyche Donna P.Simacon ang secretary ug si Jenven Reponte ang treasurer. Pag-ampo ug giya ang hangyo ni Ms. Clemencio gikan sa ubang mga batan-on ilabina kay siya bag-o pa lamang sa maong posisyon. 3
NEWS FEATURE
resulta sa evaluation sa niaging DYDekada. Kini gipanguluhan ni Jorrie Mae Hernandez ug ni Joven Dela Pe単a (liders sa DCY). Gipadayag usab ni Joven ang financial report sa nahimong DYDekada. Naghatag usab og mga feedbacks gikan sa mga foster families ug host parish si Fr. Alex Indino, FdCC (usa sa mga nangulo sa kabataonan sa Lantapan). Napadayag usab ang mga nagkalain-laing impressions ug actions tungod sa mga hagit sa maong DYD nga nahimo sa ubang mga batan-on sa ilang pagbalik sa tagsa- tagsa ka mga parokya Sa mao usab nga adlaw gipailaila si Sr. Leizyl Corre, FdCC
Si Sr. Carol, ang Komisyoner sa Diocesan Commission on Health Care mihatag ug hamubong awareness/lecture mahitungod sa HIV/AIDS. Kini usa sa mga prioridad nga adbokasiya sa DCHC karon.
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ng kabatanonan sa Diocese sa Malaybalay nagpahigayon sa ilang quarterly Diocesan Commission on Youth Coordinating Council (DCYCC) Evaluation,Planning and Outing niadtong Agosto 15-16 , 2015 (Sabado ug Dominggo) didto sa RR Family Resort, Maramag, Bukidnon. Gitambungan kini sa 82 ka batan-on nga mga lider sa nag kalainlaing parokya sa diyosesis. Sa unang adlaw sa 4
panagtigum, adunay HIV/AIDS Awareness nga gipahigayon gikan sa mga miyembro sa Diocesan Commission on Health nga gipanguluhan ni Sr. Carol Base, FdCC isip pormasyon sa mga youth leaders nga nanambong. Ang tumong sa maong awareness program nakapapukaw sa mga batan-on nga mag kinabuhi subay sa moralidad ug paghatag og bili sa lawas ug dignidad. Gipaambit usab niining adlawa ang nahimong
Si Joven C. dela Pe単a, Jr., ang trasurer sa Diocesan Commission on Youth, mipresentar sa resulta sa Collated Daily Evaluation sa bagohay lamang natapos nga DYDekada dadto sa Lantapan, Bukidnon. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
DCYCC Evaluation, Planning & Outing Gipahigayon Rachelle Darl Loayon ang bag-ong madre nga magdumala ug maggiya sa mga kabatan-onan sa Diocese sa Malaybalay. Gihagit usab ni Sr. Leizyl ang mga batan-on sa pagsugod sa pag-evangelize una, sa tagsa-tagsa ka mga pamilya. Siya nagpalalom sa hagit nga “Charity should always begin at home”. Matod pa niya, “unsaon nimo pagkakita sa panginahanglan sa uban kung ang mismong panginahanglan sa imong pamilya wala nimo nakita.” Natagaan usab sa pagtagad ang pagpresenta sa mga nagkalain-alaing local, regional ug international activities ug formations sama
sa: ĂĂ HIV/AIDS Awareness Dissemination and massive HIV/AIDS Tests ĂĂ Voters/Political Education ĂĂ Eucharist 101 ( PreCabustam Activity) ĂĂ Drug Awareness Program ĂĂ Personality Integration Seminar ĂĂ Ecological Development inspired by “Laudatu Si” ĂĂ National Youth Days (NYD) sa Disyembre 5-6, 2015
Mga bag-ong pwedeng makita sa opisina ni BukYo, mga nagkalain-laing mga souvenir items isip kabahin sa bag-uhay lamang nga nag-abre nga BukYo Souvenir Shop hain andam nang mudawat ug mga orders sa t-shirt, button pins, personalized mugs, bag tags, PVC IDs, invitations, etc. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
Ang katapusang kalihukan mao ang ilang Social Night, diin gihatagan sila og higayon sa pakighugoy-hugoy sa mga kaubanang liders sa ubang parokya. Ang matag deanery nagpadayag usab sa ilang tagsa-tagsa nga mga talento. Sa Agosto 16, 2015 (Dominggo), kini gisugdan sa misa nga gipanguluhan ni Fr. Alex Indino, FdCC. Human sa misa, gihatagan usab sa taas nga kahigayunan ang mga batan-on sa pagpangaligo ug jamming2 piaagi sa sayaw – sayaw ug kanta-kanta. Natapos ang maong panagtigum pinaagi usab sa panag-uban sa simpleng salo-salo sa paniudto.
Ang mga youth leaders sa nagkalainlaing mga parokya sa ilang paparegister sa unang DCYCC Meeting human ang DYDekada.
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CFC-Youth for Christ Bukidnon heeds “A Call to Love” Anjon Fredrick C. Mamunta
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Worship-Love-Concert/104981419839217?fref=ts
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FC-Youth for ChristBukidnon’s annual praise and worship concert, Project Worship (PW), running on its 8th year of existence, was held at the University Convention Center of CMU last May 30, 2015. It was dubbed as PROJECT WORSHIP LOVE CONCERT: A CALL TO LOVE, anchored from John 21:15-18. In the 8th Project Worship, the Eucharistic Celebration was presided by the Father of the Diocese, Bishop Jose Araneta Cabantan,D.D. In his homily, he commended the CFC community for its youth arm, for helping in the evangelization of other young people. The assembly was led by the choir of the Parish Youth Apostolate of San Isidro Cathedral. The segments of this year’s PW focused mainly on three points: Offering, Breaking and Sharing. In these segments, there were different worship leaders who shared. OFFERING The talented YFCs portrayed Jesus’ life from His baptism to
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His death and resurrection with a contemporary dance during the opening of the concert. We saw here God’s great love for us which led to the offering of His only begotten Son to save humankind. BREAKING
In our lives, we reach a point when we are broken. We may question God but we are aware that to a bread has to be broken for it to be shared. We can see this in Peter who was transformed from being broken to a person whom Jesus trusted continued to page 43 BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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Meet and greet sr. leizyl Charamie S. Gempisao
P
ag may umaalis, may dumarating...may FOREVER!
Ug tungod naa may forever, bulahan ang pulti nga kasingkasing sa mga kabatan-onan sa Diocese of Malaybalay tungod kay aduna na usab kitay bagong tagagiya sa komisyon nga mao si Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC! Welcome to our family sister! :D Let me introduce to you sister Leizyl mga BukYo. Si Sr. Leizyl usa sa mga madre sa Canossian Sisters. She is 39 years old ug gianak kaniadtung September 15, 1977 didto sa Alicia, Bohol sa diocese sa Talibon. She was a former youth leader during her young years and she considers her life wellspent in service with the young. She was a teacher by profession and was assigned as a guidance counselor in her previous ministry. We are grateful and excited to be with you in this journey. May we have meaningful experiences with you, Sr. Leizyl. :D
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MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO
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50 ka tuig sa pagkapari gisaulog ni Bishop Onie Shiela C. Lumambas
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ALAYBALAY CITY— Ang tanang bokasyon gikan sa hunahuna sa Dios ug dili kini kompleto kung dili kini tubagon gikan sa kasingkasing sa tawo. Kini ang tipik ug kabahin sa pamalandong ug hagit ni Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, ang mihatag sa homiliya atol sa ika-50 nga anibersaryo sa pagkapari ni Bishop Emeritus Honesto ‘Onie’ Ch. Pacana, S.J. niadtong Hunyo 10, 2015. Gitambungan ang Santos nga Misa sa Golden Presbyteral Anniversary ni Bp. Onie sa mga kaparian sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay ug gikan sa laing diyosesis, mga kamadrehan, relihiyoso ug mga laygo gikan
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sa nagkadaiyang parokya nga sakop ning diyosesis. Gawas kang Cardinal Rosales, mitambong usab sila si Orlando Cardinal Quevedo gikan sa Arkediyosesis sa Cotabato, ang kasamtangang Provincial Superior sa mga paring Heswita nga si Fr. Antonio Moreno, Bishop Emeritus sa Dipolog Jose R. Manguiran, Bishop Elenito Galido sa Diyosesis sa Iligan, Bishop Nereo Odchimar gikan sa Diyosesis sa Tandag, Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar gikan sa Diyosesis sa Pagadian, Bishop Severo Caermare ang kasamtangang obispo sa Dipolog, Archbishop Romulo Valles gikan sa Arkediyosesis sa Davao ug si Malaybalay
SINNER BUT CHOSEN. The Silver Jubilarian Bp. Jose A. Cabantan and Golden Jubilarian Bp. Emeritus Honesto Ch. Pacana SJ at the center after the Holy Mass concelebrated by (L-R) the Society of Jesus Provincial Very Rev. Antonio Moreno SJ, Bp. Emmanuel Cabajar of Pagadian, Bp. Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, Bp. Severo Caermare of Dipolog, Gaudencio Card. Rosales, Bp. Emeritus Jose Manguiran of Dipolog, Orlando Card. Quevedo, Bp. Elenito Galido of Iligan and Abp. Romulo Valles of Davao, and the priests of the Diocese of Malaybalay. (Caption credits: Fr. Oliver O. Verdejo)
Bishop Jose A. Cabantan. Matud ni Card. Rosales, ang 50 ka tuig sa pagkapari ni Bp. Onie, sama sa ubang mga bokasyon nga puno sa mga katingalahang mga buhat sa Dios ug sa makadaghan napuno sa misteryo. Apan matud niya, aduna lamay usa ka istorya sa tanang bokasyon, ug mao kana ang “gugma sa Amahan pinaagi BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
Midasig siya sa tanan, sa pagbasa sa “inyong kinabuhi. Makompleto ba ang inyong bokasyon?” Basic vocation Aduna usab kuno kitay usa ka managsamang bokasyon, matud sa cardinal. “We have the same vocation. The basic, fundamental, radical vocation of every person and we will be judged by that—to be the living image of God here on earth.” MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO
Dili niya pa kita pagahukman kung unsa ang atoang titulo niining kalibutana apan kung unsa kita ug giunsa nato pagkahiong imahe sa buhing Dios dinhi sa kalibutan.
Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ch. Pacana, SJ (center) receives the plaque given to him by the Diocese of Malaybalay. With him in the picture is the former bishop of the Diocese of Malaybalay, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (left) and Bishop Jose A. Cabantan.
kang Jesus” nga nahitabo usab ug gipakita sa Dios sa kinabuhi ni Bp. Onie. Midugang ang cardinal sa pag-ingon, “The story of a priest is the story of the love of Jesus, in this occasion as casted in the life of our brother friend, Honesto Pacana. One story, differently narrated, differently described, differently shared.” Managlahi man, matud niya, kita og istorya sa atong bokasyon, aduna lamang usa nga nagpabiling komon ug mao kana ang gugma sa Dios pinaagi sa iyang anak nga si Jesus. Nagkanayon usab siya sa mga BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
laygong mitambong, nga dili lang maghunahuna nga ang mga pari lamang ang adunay bokasyon, tungod kay kitang tanan adunay bokasyon nga nagsumikad sa tawag sa Ginoo, sa iyang hunahuna. Ug tungod kay gikan man sa Dios ang tawag sa tanang bokasyon, gihagit niya ang tanan niini nga mga pulong, “Gikan man sa hunahuna sa Ginoo ang bokasyon, imo ba kanang gikompleto? Please, it has to be completed.” Sumala niya, makompleto lamang ang bokasyon sa usa ka tawo kung magtagbo ang hunahuna (tawag) sa Ginoo ug ang kasingkasing (tubag) sa tawo.
Ang bokasyon sa tawo, matud niya, gipili na sa Dios sa wala pa gihimo ang kalibutan. “Madawat mo ba kana? Masabtan mo ba kana? Nga bisan wala pa kita nahimo, ang Dios naghunahuna na sa imong bokasyon?” Dugang niya, bisan sa kalantip sa hunahuna sa tawo, dili gayud niya masukod ug masabtan ang walay kinutubang hunahuna sa Dios, “because my mind is made to understand things of here not of the eternal mind of God. It’s beyond me—the mind of God, the love of God.” Tungod niana, matud niya, nga adunay tawag bisag wala pa ang tawo mabuhi. “All vocations begin in the mind of God. It begins in the mind of God, it is complete only in the heart of the person.” continued to page 43
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Roman Catholic Church
also enlighten e v e r y believer, a l b e i t honestly, I share the faith that most of our readers do—the Catholic Christian faith.
For now, let’s just learn who founded what and decide for your own which is which. (BTW, for more information, visit splendorofthechurch.com.ph or i-google mo lang yan!)
The Catholic Church (a.k.a. Roman Catholic Church)—33 AD. Founded by God in the person of Jesus Christ. The largest Christian church, with more than 1.25 billion members worldwide. Our Lord named Simon BarJona (Simon Son of Jonah) the future leader of His Church, when He said to him “Thou art Peter (Rock), and upon this rock I will build MY Church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...” (Matthew 16:19). Its principal doctrines are summarized in the Nicene Creed. (Challenge: Understand the Nicene Creed! Catholics do not stop learning.)
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It is by knowing the very foundation of our Church that we come to appreciate the beauty of what and why we believe. Hopefully, this will
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ith the emergence of the many Christian (and non-Christian) churches worldwide claiming to be the ‘one true church’ with members proclaiming that those who share their faith (in short—those who are members of their church) would be save, I believe, it is imperative that Catholics should know what to say and how to battle those ideas and eventually fight for their faith.
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Baptist church
The Baptist church – 1606 AD. Founded by a man, John Smyth who launched it in Amsterdam, as an offshoot of the Mennonites. Baptists reject infant baptism as contrary to the Scriptures, and accept immersion as the sole valid mode of baptism. (They also argue among themselves whether their identity is Protestant or not.) 10
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lutheran Church
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The Lutheran church — 1517 AD. Founded by a man, Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the holy Catholic Church, who violated his sacred vows of both obedience and celibacy. Luther created a brand new Protestant Bible by throwing out 7 books of the Bible he personally didn’t agree with, and added the word “alone” after the word “faith” in Romans 3:28, in order to make the verse agree with his view of what it should have said (faith alone). This alteration of Sacred Scripture directly contradicts James 2:24. Luther also called the Catholic Church “the whore of Babylon,” and he said that the Pope was the antichrist (someone who denies that Jesus is God). (Really, Luther?)
anabaptist Church
The Anabaptist church – 1520 AD. Founded by a man, Nicholas Storch, and Thomas Münzer, former Lutherans. The Anabaptists rejected infant baptism and were denounced by Martin Luther. This “reformation of the reformation” is proof positive that the doctrine of “Scripture alone” is false. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been more than one interpretation of the Scripture and no need for an anabaptist church that totally ignores Luke 18:15-17. (Please refer to your individual Bible. If you don’t have one, buy now!)
amish Church
Anglican Church
unitarian Church
the quakers
The Amish church – 1693 AD. Founded by a man, Jacob Amman, a Swiss Bishop. Also a breakaway from the Mennonite church. His followers were called the “Amish.” While similar to the Mennonites, they differ in language, dress, and interpretation of the Bible. (Another breakaway from a breakaway!)
The Anglican Church – 1534 AD. Founded by a man, King Henry VIII, as a direct result of the Pope not granting him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Many Catholic priests were tortured and killed as a result of the very aroused Henry trying to find another young maiden for his pleasure. Queen Elizabeth II is the current head of the Anglican Church. (Wikipedia also defined Anglicanism as a tradition within Christianity comprising the Church of England and churches which are historically tied to i t or hold similar beliefs, worship practices and church structures.)
The Unitarian church – 1568 AD. Started in Poland, but died out. It was soon replaced by a man, John Biddle, in 1645. The Unitarians do not believe in the mystery of the Trinity. Biddle also denounced original sin and denied eternal punishment. (So does this mean, his members can do whatever they want even if it’s wrong?)
The Quakers — 1647 AD. Founded by a man, George Fox, in England. Also called The Society of Friends, although they originally called themselves “Children of Light”. They acknowledge absolutely no authority higher than what Fox called the “inner light” of personal revelation. (They separated from the Church of England, too.)
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FEATURES Congregationalist church The Congregationalist church (The Puritans) – 1583 AD. Founded by a man, Robert Brown, in Holland. Broke away from the Church of England. Brown rejected, among other things, the authority of bishops. One Puritan, named Oliver Cromwell, got involved in the English Civil War, and overthrew Charles I in 1646. Cromwell and the British government were also responsible for the subjugation and killing of hundreds of thousands of Irish Catholics, who were also forbidden to say Mass, wear green, and sing patriotic songs. (Another breakaway from a breakway.)
episcopalian church The Episcopalian church – 1784 AD. Founded by a man, Samuel Seabury in the American Colonies & is an offshoot of the Church of England. They believe in women priests and bishops, artificial birth control, and they accept homosexuality as being normal and good in spite of Romans 1:26-27. The Episcopalian Church is currently undergoing a 21st Century reformation of itself, with individual congregations breaking away from their own hierarchy over the question of scriptural inerrancy concerning homosexuality. Another proof that the doctrine of “Scripture alone” without an infallible Magesterium to interpret it based on sacred Tradition is false. It seems that the Episcopal Church is more concerned with going along with the current trend of society than it is in being true to what Scripture actually says about homosexuality. (Sorry guys, members are blind.) 12
Evangelical Movement The Evangelical Movement — ca. 1730 AD. It gained great momentum with the emergence of the Great Awakenings, led by Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley, in the British Isles and North America. The evangelicals believe in the centrality of the conversion or “born again” experience in receiving salvation, believe in the authority of the Bible as God’s revelation to humanity and have a strong commitment to evangelism or sharing the Christian message. (I saw them preaching in the plaza in front of lovers dating and in front of a certain gasoline station or pharmacy.)
mormon Church The Mormon church – 1829 AD. Also call themselves “Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter-Day Saints”, was founded by a man, Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York. They are polytheists who someday hope to become a god of their own planet after death. They believe that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers on that former planet. Above all, this is Smith’s righteous thought of himself: “I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.” (cf History of the Church, Vol. 6, 1884). BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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The national church
The National church — ca. 19th century AD. The idea was notably discussed, but not necessarily founded by one single man, during the emergence of modern nationalism following the principle of the Levitical Church in the Hebrew Constitution. (The Iglesia Filipina Independiente founded in 1902 in the Philippines or a.k.a. as Aglipayan church with members known as Pilipinasta is an example of this. There are other national church from different parts of the world.)
seventh day adventist
The Seventh Day Adventists’ church – 1831 AD. Grew out of the Millerite movement (followers of the teachings of William Miller, who in 1833 first shared publicly his belief that the Second Advent of Jesus Christ would occur in roughly the year 1843—which ended like any other day to the disappointment of his followers.) Based on his study of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Miller calculated that Jesus would return to earth sometime between 1843 and 1844. This prediction is in spite of the fact that the Bible says that no one will be able to predict when the Second Coming of Jesus will be (Matthew 24:36). Among its founders was Ellen G. White, whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the church. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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The Methodist church – 1739 AD. Founded by men, John and Charles Wesley, in England. The Wesley brothers were originally Anglican ministers who started a revival movement that eventually became Methodism. (Yet another reformation of the reformation.)
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methodist church
jehovah’s witnesses
The Jehovah’s Witnesses – 1872 AD. Founded by a man, Charles Taze Russell, as the “Millennial Dawnists.” In 1931, Judge Rutherford, his successor, decided that henceforth they would be called, Witnesses of Jehovah, or Jehovah’s Witness. The JW’s deny the divinity of Christ, the resurrection of the body, and refuse to take blood transfusions.
christian scientists
The Christian Scientists – 1879 AD. Founded by a woman, Mary Baker Eddy in Massachusetts. They also refuse blood transfusions and medical care, in spite of the fact that the gospel writer Luke was a physician.
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pentecostal church
The Pentecostal church — 1900 AD. Emerged in the early 20th century among radical adherents of the Holiness movement who were energized by revivalism and expectation for the imminent Second Coming of Christ. It was started by Charles Parham, an American evangelist and faith healer in Topeka, Kansas, who began teaching that speaking in tongues was the Bible evidence of Spirit baptism.
iglesia ni cristo The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) — 1914 AD. Founded by a man, Felix Ysagun Manalo, in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, Philippines. INC believes itself to be the one true church and says that it is the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus and that all other Christian churches, including the holy Catholic Church, are apostates. It rejects the Christian belief of the Trinity of God and considers Jesus as only a man but insists that the founder Felix is God’s last messenger.
The Member Church of God International The Member Church of God International — 1977 AD. Started with Eliseo Soriano as its founder and presiding minister. It is colloquially known in the Philippines as Ang Dating Daan which is the name of its flagship television program. The church was originally named as “Mga Kaanib Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas” but changed to its present name in 2005. It rejects the doctrine of Trinity but believes that Jesus Christ is an inferior god to the Father.
Pentecostal Missionaries Church of Christ 4th Watch
Pentecostal Missionaries Church of Christ 4th Watch — 1972 AD. Founded by Arsenio T. Ferriol in the Philippines, a mere man. He claimed that God appeared to him and called him to be the “Last Apostle”.
Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name — 1985 AD. Founded in Davao City by a mere man, Apollo Carreón Quiboloy, who claimed that he is the “Appointed Son of God.”
the apostolic catholic church
The Apostolic Catholic Church — 1992 AD. Founded in 1992 by a man, John Florentine L. Teruel, who claims 24 lines of apostolic succession but has no historical proof whatsoever.
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ccording to the splendorofthechurch. com.ph, ‘there are other thousands of non-Catholic groups who call themselves “Christian churches” which were never and will never be founded by God but by just mere men. The rise of denominations within the Christian faith can be traced back only to the Protestant Reformation, the movement to “reform” the holy
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Catholic Church, the true Church of Christ, during the 16th century. Yet, denominations are only based on disagreements over the interpretation of the Scripture, which were taken personally and became points of contention leading to a state of self-destruction. IF YOU ARE A CATHOLIC, YOU ARE IN THE TRUE CHURCH. KEEP YOUR FAITH.’ BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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THROUGH (ATHE EYES OF A FIRST TIMER YFC’S EXPERIENCE IN DYD) Anjon Fredrick C. Mamunta
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015 marked the 20th year after the World Youth Day (WYD) held in Manila. This WYD inspired the Bukidnon youth delegates to organize a localized version, the DYD. And now, after a number of years from the first DYD, we celebrated the 10th Diocesan Youth Days dubbed as DYDekada. DYDekada was held at Nuestra SeĂąora de Guadalupe Parish, Lantapan, Bukidnon on May 4-8, 2015. A lot of firsts happened during the DYD10 and one of these was the invitation for us YFCs to join the DYD. The youth organizations, CFC Youth for Christ & the Young Servants of the Lord, formed the deanery of the Youth Orgs. So all-in-all, there were 14 deaneries that BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
joined t h e DYD. Enough chit-chat and let me start my sharing. First and foremost, my most memorable experience during the DYDekada was the foster families and homes. For us YFCs, kapag pumupunta kami ng mga conferences, schools lang yung accommodation namin. Nanibago talaga kami sa foster homes. We thought that we would just sleep there and leave, but no. We had an activity that helped us bond with our foster parent. Another significant experience was the animation. (MAKANIWANG SIYA GUYS! PROMISE! HAHAHA.) Bitaw, the animation was really
animating and fat-burning. XD Pero all-in-all, DYDekada was a lot of fun, from the basketball match of the Bukidnon Clergy between Lantapan LGU, Police and even youth ministers from all over the Diocese of Malaybalay, to the Back-toBack Concert of Joey Ayala and Waway Saway, to the different invited clergy/guests from different arch/dioceses and meeting the former and current youth leaders and ministers. DYDekada surely made a great impression on my heart. DYD 10 challenged us to serve God with a renewed zeal. See you all in San Andres Parish, Maramag, Bukidnon, in 2017 for DYD Numero Onse. 15
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So wha
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Vessie Ninobla
e, as Catholics, are aware of the Church’s universal call to holiness. But are we aware that it also entails a universal call to “Chastity” o “Kalinisan”? We often associate chastity with religious sisters or brothers and their vows. The truth is, as Christians, we are encouraged to be chaste. Why? Simply because the One we are following lived chastely.
Sr. Vessie C. Ninobla is a Canossian Novice who is currently staying in Bukidnon at Canossa Youth Formation Center, Malaybalay City for her Apostolic Exposure. She is now 32 years of age. Her vocation was moulded at Noveleta, Cavite where at a young age, she was exposed to different religious activities such as Padasal and Block Rosary. She finished her degree at San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Cavite with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Instead of taking up a related career, she worked as an abstractor and proofreader. Experiencing the love of God and His generosity and faithfulness especially during difficulties is her reason for entering the religious life. She believes a more radical commitment to God in the Canossian way of life under the guidance of Our Lady at the Foot of the Cross would help people know Jesus so that He may be loved all the more.
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What do we mean by “chastity”? It originated from the Latin word “castus” which means “pure.” For us Catholics, to be chaste means to integrate our bodily and spiritual being. The former meaning brings to mind Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” A person with a pure heart relates with herself/himself, others and God with reverence, with outmost respect. And the latter meaning is a clear indication that chastity is not just for the religious but for all, whether one is married or single, young or old.
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at will it be? Relationship with self. Am I relating with myself respectfully? How do I respond to my needs: rest, nutrition, relaxation, security, love, affection? Do I seek physical affection by engaging in sexual activities, displaying my body through seductive clothes, actions and languages? Relationship with others. Do I respect the people around me genuinely or do I see them as answers to my needs? Do I see my parents as answers to my need for food, for education? Do I see my boyfriend/girlfriend as answer to my sexual needs? Do I take advantage of people around me? Do I use them for my own benefit? Relationship with God. Am I respectful of my God? Do I use His name in petty things, swearing, expressions, for my own gain? Do I give God what is due Him: my time, my attention, my service? As we can see, chastity encompasses our feelings, our thoughts and our actions. Married people can be chaste if they respect their spouse, are faithful to them, and are doing things for their spouse out of BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
love. Youth in a relationship can be chaste if they respect their loved ones, does not seek sexual favors and are faithful to them. A Christian is chaste if she/he respects and revere God by giving what is due to Him.
He was so sure and convinced of His identity as the Son of the Father, that He came from the Father, that He works with the Father. That is why He was graced with what He needs to live chastely.
Of course, chastity is not easy. Being a true follower of Christ is not easy for it entails sacrifice, self-discipline, going beyond what I want and need. St. Paul expressed this sentiment in his letter to the Romans: “I cannot understand my own actions. I do not do what I want to do but what I hate.” He adds: “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” It does not mean, though, that we should condemn our flesh. Our needs are there to help us survive. But we are more than flesh, we are also spirits. We are capable of accepting and overcoming our physical realities with the help of our spirit. How about Jesus, was it easy for Him? Remember, He is not just 100% divine, He was also 100% human. “He was tempted in every way we are, yet never sinned” (Hebrews 4:15). How did He overcome those temptations? Because
How about us, are we sure of our own identity? Are we convinced that we are children of God and Jesus is our model of how to live a meaningful life pleasing to our Father? As children of God, we received the same graces that Jesus received. It is only up to us if we will grab those graces to live chaste lives. The bottom line in following Jesus will always be our choices. To please myself or to please God? To live chastely or not? To be for and with Jesus or to be for the world? Choices always have consequences, no matter how insignificant it seemed they are. What we choose now will define our future. And how can we choose wisely? The only way is to choose under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Only then will we be able to make the right choices. So, are you ready to make a choice? Choose wisely, BukYo. 17
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#THROWBACK
TO DYDEKADA Shiela C. Lumambas
DAY 1—MAY 04 »» Christ the King Parish of Kisolon, Sumilao, Bukidnon was the first parish to arrive. But St. Jude Thaddeus Parish of Damilag, Manolo Fortich arrived May 03, 2015, the day before the official start of DYDekada. »» Fifty-four (54) parishes and two (2) youth organizations sent their delegations, respectively. »» Bishop Jose A. Cabantan, bishop of the Diocese of Malaybalay, presided the Opening Eucharistic Celebration. »» Excerpts from the bishop’s message: ǬǬ DYDekada itself is a celebration of faith, so Bukidnon Youth, let us celebrate our faith! ǬǬ Like the Virgin Mary who said ‘yes’ to the message of the Angel Gabriel and obediently accepted God’s plan of salvation for us, you, young people have said ‘yes’, and you are called to be Christ’s messengers in your family and wherever you may go. ǬǬ Like the Virgin Mary who visited St. Elizabeth thus shared the good news to her, and with her 18
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lmost three months have come and gone since the 10th Diocesan Youth Days dubbed as DYDekada which gathered more than 2,000 young people from all over the parishes of the Diocese of Malaybalay, and drew the attention of guests and visitors from other dioceses and regional youth offices as well, but the effects and fruits of the event continue to nurture and foster in us—youth and youth ministers
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Magnificat, which is the theme of our DYDekada, we are also called to give thanks and praises to the Lord; and like Mary, we are called to say: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. Pope Francis urged us that we should promote the culture of encounter, because it will help us know more ourselves, others and God. The inspiration of our DYDs came from God. Let us listen to His wisdom. Pope Francis taught us in his recent Papal Visit in our country that the most important subject we have to learn in life is to learn to love and not just acquire information in this information age. Think what you feel and what you do. Feel what you think and what you do. And do what you feel and what you think. Think well, feel well and do well, like the message of Pope Francis. Thank your former formators, directors, directress, leaders and
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alike--the very message of St. John Paul II— that we are the treasure of the Church. Here is a fast fact and a throwback to DYDekada. To those who attended the event, reminisce our moments. To those who haven’t been in the event, discover the energy, affirm the vibrancy and resonate with the love of the young for the Church and to God.
ministers who journeyed with the youth ministry, who started the Diocesan Youth Days (DYD) after their World Youth Day 1995 experience in Manila and answered the call of John Paul II—be missionaries of your own families and dioceses. »» The first DYD to have the Unity Dance. The first 32 counts were given by the animators, the rest of the dance steps were introduced by the selected dancers per deanery. »» There were 2,233 total registered participants. »» If you add 2+2+3+3 (the total number of registered participants), you get 10, which coincided with the name DYDekada, the 10th DYD. (Amazing? Yeah, right!) DAY 2—MAY 05 »» Four schools were invited and led the parade: Xavier de Kibangay High School, Bukidnon State University, Lantapan National High School and Balila Elementary School. »» The Opening Ritual showcased the 19
Ecomoda costumes of the selected representatives per deanery. »» Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Malaybalay, Honesto Ch. Pacana, S.J. graced the Eucharistic Celebration. »» Excerpts from Bp. Oni’s homily: ǬǬ Gratitude is a good word. ǬǬ To be a Christian is to be always grateful. ǬǬ Everyone is precious to God. Our being children of God gives us self-esteem. ǬǬ No youth would say, ‘I am nobody’ because we are all children of God. ǬǬ May we become instruments of peace always. ǬǬ To the young people, you are the future. Bring God’s peace to others because it is the sign that we are God’s children. ǬǬ May God bless you not just physically, but most of all, with wisdom and faith. ǬǬ Whenever you pray, remember these five things and just look at your fingers: 1. Thumb-pray for people close to you 2. Point finger-pray for people who teach us 3. Middle finger-pray for people in authority 4. Ring finger-the weakest finger; pray for people who are weak in our community, those who are sick, in hospital, in prison; the children, the women 5. Little/pinky finger-smallest finger represents ourselves; pray for ourselves and stay 20
humble »» Tribute to former youth minister occurred this day. »» Exhibition Games played between priests and youth, religious and youth brought so much joy and fun to the participants. »» BEC sessions with other delegates in a focal point gave so much meaning and interaction to other young people. Day 3—May 06 »» The only day with input and workshop. »» Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB gave the input and workshop entitled: The Call to Celebrate FAITH, with the POOR and the needy. »» Fr. Mario challenged the young people to educate those who are poor and make a long-term plan/activity that would answer their needs; and not just a one-time help. »» The output of the input and workshop is parish faith and action statements. »» Mr. Ervin Jay Baul, an invited speaker shared his faith experiences. »» The Taize Mass added to the solemnity of the event. »» The BEC sessions with their foster families ended the day’s event. Day 4—May 07 »» Fr. Jemasol Ortiz, the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Council Youth in-charge graced the Eucharistic Celebration »» Excerpts from Fr. Ortiz’s homily: ǬǬ God continues to own us because of the covenant He had made: ‘I will be your God and you will be my people.’ BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
ǬǬ God still believes in man. Even in our sinfulness, God is still hopeful of man. ǬǬ Let us ask ourselves if we have owned God as our savior. ǬǬ God asked us to remain in His love. We remain in His love if we follow His commandments. ǬǬ It is not enough that we memorize the commandments. Let us live it. »» BukYo Fair opened where young people enjoyed the different booths and parlor games prepared by the organizing team. There were parishes and invited vendors who displayed their products. »» Another festive event was the Kalye Fiesta patterned to Barrio Fiesta only that it is literally on the street. »» The first ever DYD which invited national artists to have their Back-toBack concert. Waway Saway and Joey Ayala graced the night. Day 5—May 08 »» Fr. Conrado ‘Bombom’ Casas, the parish priest of the host parish gave the pastoral synthesis of the event. ǬǬ Be a peacemaker. ǬǬ Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ǬǬ Watch your thoughts for they become your words. Choose your words for they become your actions. Observe your habit, for it becomes your character. ǬǬ Be healers of this world. Listen to others, forgive those who wronged you and reconcile with them. »» He also shared his experiences with the lumad (indigenous people) he has been serving through the Salsalan Hu Katatau—an IP literacy school in BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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Kibangay, Lantapan, Bukidnon. Bishop Emeritus of Dipolog, Jose R. Manguiran presided the Closing Eucharistic Celebration. Before the final blessing, the DYD cross turn-over took place. It was received by the next parish to host the DYD 11 on the summer of 2017—San Andres Parish, Maramag, Bukidnon. During the Awarding Ceremony, we had this list: ǬǬ Most United Deanery-Quezon Deanery ǬǬ Most Cooperative DeaneryKadingilan Deanery ǬǬ Most Participative DeaneryValencia Deanery ǬǬ Most Number of Participants (Parish)-San Andres Parish, Maramag, Bukidnon with 108 delegates ǬǬ Early Bird-St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, Damilag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon who arrived the day before DYDekada ǬǬ Best Presentor for Sayawit-Quezon Deanery ǬǬ Best Presentor for Contemporary Dance-Malaybalay Deanery ǬǬ Best Ecological Attire (Male)Lantapan Deanery ǬǬ Best Ecological Attire (Female)Quezon Deanery ǬǬ Best Totem Pole-Lantapan Deanery Simultaneous giving of certificates for parishes and giving of souvenir programs happened after the awarding ceremonies.
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FEATURE
T.Y. SR. LERMA Rachelle Darl Loayon
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iya ang Madre nga Canossiana nga kusog mo katawa! Siya ang wonder woman sa Canossa,
wonder woman sa iyang ; ĂĂ amazing and very inspirational words ĂĂ pag ka jamming sa tanan :3 ĂĂ pag idolize sa “see foods”. (tanang makita na food, apil mi nag idolize napod) ĂĂ ug sa iyang pagka inahan sa Youth Ministry. Siya si Sister TY Lerma :3 hehe . . . we were blessed that we were given a chance to be with the ever smiling yet very loving Nanay/ ate/friend/Bff/Madre/ Sr. Lerma.
need as we continue to serve our fellow young. TY for always reminding us of what is good and essential to the ministry. Sa wala pag surrender ilabi na sa mga trying times together. Hehe. . . TY for always seeing to it that we learn from our mistakes and never repeat them. TY for the deep understanding and love to the Bukidnon Youth. Thank you for touching our lives with our united prayers. We pray that wherever you may go, whatever you may do, You will be showered with blessings, love peace and happiness :3 happy lang ter walang ending :3 we love you much Sr. Lerma! You will be always in our hearts. Sr. Lerma TY :3
TY Sr. Lerms sa 2 years nga pakig-journey sa BUKYO. We learned a lot from you! TY sa pag provide sa amo ug strength that we 30
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MUSINGS
What constitutes true beauty? Carolyn G. Agustin
M
ost of us in today’s generation are putting too much concern about external appearances. We ate less, buy something to lose weight and even undergo operation for a lean, perfect and sexy body. These are the ways that we thought would make us beautiful in the eyes of people surrounding us. We are insecure about ourselves and this would lead us to want what others have. We are not contented with our physical appearance. I am not a woman with a fullpackaged beauty but I have the guts to join a beauty pageant. When we hear about beauty contests, what comes into our minds are the most beautiful girls with the sexiest bodies. I was challenged to do so. There were times when I pitied myself for not having a body like the other contestants. I was worried and afraid that the crowd will laugh at me during the pageant night. Many believed that I am capable and have the qualities to become a candidate for Ms. Kadingilan 2015. But
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the problem is, I am insecure and I could not see my own beauty. As I am preparing myself for the most awaited night of the pageant, I was nervous, afraid and worried that I might not achieve my goal of having a slimmer body. Somebody told me that I was consumed by my insecurities and this will become my weakness. Joining this pageant made me see what constitutes true beauty. It’s not about our external appearances, rather, true beauty is being beautiful inside and being in the likeness of God. It constitutes cleanliness of the body and spirit, pureness of heart and soul, and goodness of actions and deeds. If you have these qualities, you are the perfect masterpiece of beauty.
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magine yourself standing alone on an unoccupied stage with a heavenly ambiance and spotlight, tightly holding not just the wireless microphone on your hands but also your breath, like this moment will be your only chance to get a passport to become a qualified traveller to heaven. You show off yourself full of confidence and utter words stating the good and Godly things you’ve done in your entire life – telling them who were the persons you helped, that you’re a decent man, and persuading them that you have a pure heart. You wait for your turn until that man wearing a shining white cloth sitting before you press the “red button,” face you and say, “I want you!” Relating to the latest trend TV show, “The Voice of the Ph”, where instead of performing voices, you reveal yourself, your identity, your thoughts and deeds, and your attitudes and behavior. What makes it more provocative? God will act as the judge. Don’t take this as a gag ‘coz in reality, He will be the judge on Judgment Day. Now, ask yourself: Do all the things I’ve done acceptable to God and would make me qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven? Most of us have something within that makes us feel ashamed whether it is something stupid that we have done in the past or something we dislike and find unacceptable. All of these affect our self-image hindering us from moving forward with our life. In our sinful nature, there is a constant struggle within us between the forces of good and of evil. We could be weighed down by our past which would tempt us to choose the path of darkness. And that’s the time our hearts will be hardened. We then choose to be against the light. Hard hearts produce hard thoughts. In life, there are situations that leave us feeling anxious and fearful, powerless and out of control, as if we are in a boat on a stormy sea. We tend to be overwhelmed by many problems and concerns. Will these situations urge us to forget Jesus?
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Am i Qualified?
Violah Janine G. Centino
There are also moments when we wonder why we are where we are. Why can’t we have the things we want? Why can’t we have the people we want? Why can’t we love the people who love us? Why do we love those who don’t love us? Why can’t we appreciate the things we have in life? This is the time that we need to ponder, to treasure and to discover the purpose of our life. To top it all, life’s hard situations or having that feeling of being banned by people around and feeling of beng cast out by the world will normally bring us down. But try to open your heart and let God’s grace move and fill it. It’s the faith that will keep us going. Faith teaches us to believe that we are meant for something more, and more will happen to us. Through faith, we believe, we hope that a rainbow will appear after the rain. Through faith, God invites us to see the good in tense-filled and unexpected drowning situations. Through these life situations, God challenges us to see the light in the darkness, to see Him even in dark moments and to make us realize that even when we are being weighed down
by the world, we can still see Him because we hope, we have faith and we sincerely pray. Hope starts with faith, faith works with prayer and prayer changes everything. Will these ingredients make ourselves qualified? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” How to be one? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaimed His message: “Change your ways, the kingdom of heaven is near.” This had always been a reminder from the Bible. We know that repentance is incomplete without a real change in attitude and behavior that lies within our hearts. Change, while we still have the time. Following Jesus requires us to profoundly change our attitudes and behavior. Are we willing to undergo this radical change and be trained and coached by His values and by His love? Are we willing to open our hearts and heartily acccept Him as our life’s coach? And are we willing to soften our hearts and clean it from impurities for us to be more qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven? Reflect. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
MUSINGS
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want to love. I want to float in the cloud nine of ecstasy. It is but a wonderful feeling to be in love. I am in love. I am loved by the one I love. It is even more than how I love that I am being loved.
Moment of Being Loved Growing Seed
I don’t want to be betrayed! It is painful. Unbearable! If the one I love most will betray me, excruciating! I would never have wanted anything like that to happen to me. A time with the one I love is one moment I cherish the most. Two stone benches facing each other with a small round table of marble at the center. The whole place is shaded by the shadow of sturdy branch of a leaning acacia tree. A pond can be seen, a small-stonethrow away. It is but relaxing. Feeling the cool breeze of sweet air touching my skin. So quiet. So still. We were sitting. But… I was facing away from the table. Then, tears fell down from my eyes. I am guilty. I am deeply disturbed. I betrayed the one I committed to love. I hurt the one who love me the most. Then I heard, “I love you.” I can’t open my mouth. I trembled. The soft voice of love is not exciting but pierced my heart. I felt tormented inside. I failed. I betrayed. I am unfaithful. I promised constantly to be faithful, but for so many times, I failed. I am selfish. I don’t deserve to be loved. I don’t deserve to be given another chance after those chances. “I love you,” I heard it again. I cannot even turn my face towards the place where the voice BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
was coming from. The v e r y quiet and relaxing ambiance is slowly turning dark and dead cold. “I love you,” I heard it again. Ashamed! I wanted to beg to stop uttering those words. I want to close my ears. However, no words would dare come out of my lips. My hands were shaking. I am shivering. Crying. “Calm down. I did not ask you to love me as I do. I ask you just to have the desire to love me. That’s enough. That’s what I ask from you—a simple desire to love me. It is my will to love you. Your desire to love me back is what I
wanted most. Don’t force yourself to love me perfectly. I love you. I chose and willed to love you even before you know it. I love you. You are my beloved.” I betrayed. I was unfaithful. I failed. Yet, the love for me was never broken, and never will it change—always faithful and true. Note: This story was a prayer experience. Allow Him to love you. Ask for the grace “to desire” to love Him back—just the desire. Everything will follow then. 33
MUSINGS
O
ne of the basic realities of life is that our eyes manifest a thousand meanings. Take a glance at your lover’s eyes and you will find it so sweet. Look at the eyes of your friend and you will find it comforting. How about your mother’s eyes? Isn’t it so full of assurance? Yeah, it’s really true that our eyes are so powerful that it can penetrate even those who are unseen. I am so blessed that I was given the heart to love, the mind to think and the eyes to see the world. Of the five senses I have, I think it was my gift of seeing that is the most special. It is my window to the world. Some adage would claim that it is connected to your soul. However, there are so many instances that my eyes fail to see even if it is wide open. When were those times? It’s when I look into the heartpiercing eyes of the poor. They are scattered in the streets, in the market, in the plaza, in many public places and even crowding the church’s entrance. There are so many of them in different rugged costumes. Others are still young while most of them are in their old age. Every day, they tried to feast on whatever leftovers they could find in the garbage can. For them, that little food
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was heaven’s answer to their hungry stomach. Most of them have turned to begging in many public areas for just a coin of mercy. They are living in the most unimaginable situation a man could have. No access to basic necessities. No securities. The routine of life to them is to survive this day and to struggle tomorrow. When I looked at them, I became blind. According to our theology class, there are three kinds of poor; first are those who are economically poor, deprived of the basic human needs and basic livelihood to live as human persons with dignity. Next are those culturally and racially discriminated particularly the Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Lastly are the sexually excluded of society especially the women and children. Our global society today has standards that prioritized efficiency and productivity. Those who cannot cope up are treated as excess population who can be disposed anytime. Sadly, the poor are considered as useless groups. Beginning November 2014 until November 2015, our Catholic Church in the Philippines declared a special year for the poor. The main challenge posed by Archbishop
Villegas and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was to inculcate love and compassion, forgiveness a n d
challenge in this momentous year. The Church is always one with the poor following the directives of Vatican II for church renewal. The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) has in their document that the Church should have preferential option for the poor. The Church encourages us not to be materially poor but to be poor in spirit, living the evangelical spirit of poverty. This call of the Church posts a serious challenge to all of BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
Look @ Them Aris Jay Lapizar
us, being the only majority Catholic Christian country in Asia excluding the tiny country of East Timor. We are so proud of our being Catholic yet it seems that our faith is just on our lips. There is a severe dichotomy of faith and action. It is clearly manifested in the widespread corruption, exploitation and abuses here in our country that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. But to be poor is also an BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
opportunity to be with the Lord and to take part in His mission. Archbishop Villegas said, “But help the community in helping yourselves, should you have no work, look for work. Should you have work, work well. Cultivate a personal sense of industry, self-respect and social responsibility. Continue to contribute to the welfare of your neighbors, your barangay, your municipality, your city, your nation.” The poor is also called to participate
and get involve in the church for transformation. When I looked at the poor, I became blind. Actually, I did not become blind but it was I who choose to be blinded because I know I can do nothing to help. Look at them, directly into their eyes, into their agonies, sufferings and dreams. Look at them, look into the depth of their hearts. Isn’t it Jesus you are seeing? Why? How? Answer it yourself. 35
MUSINGS Retrieved from: http://www.catholic365.com/article/846/10-things-catholics-are-tired-of-hearing.html
“CATHOLICS WORSHIP STATUES.” This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.
“CATHOLICS PRAY TO MARY INSTEAD OF GOD.” This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as Protestants ask their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.
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“THE SAINTS CAN’T HEAR YOUR PRAYERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD.” I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays: -Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” -Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
“MOTHER MARY ISN’T IMPORTANT; SHE’S JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.” If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.
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10 THINGS CATHOLICS ARE TIRED OF HEARING
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“CATHOLICS MADE UP ALL THEIR RULES.” Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.
“GOD SAID TO CONFESS SINS TO HIM, NOT A PRIEST.” This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please. -James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him for forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to His disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.
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“CATHOLICISM IS A CULT.” Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.
“CATHOLICS AREN’T CHRISTIANS.” The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.
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“CATHOLICS ADDED BOOKS TO THE HOLY BIBLE.” This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there were no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St. Peter etc., until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.
“CATHOLICS BELIEVE YOU CAN PAY YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN.” We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.
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MUSINGS
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remembered someone had asked me during our break in my first days in college about what can I say about life. At that time, I was very “on-fire” with my mathematical ability as one of the best products I got from my high school so I put everything into the context of unrealistic mathematical phenomenon. I deliberately answered her, “Life is equal to zero.” That answer and her reaction made me ponder too of what life is really about, why it becomes zero. My minimal understanding of things at that time and the superficial revelation of the real world during my high school life were perhaps the bases why I answered her like that. Simply, to make life equal to zero is to understand that everything we had, we will have and we could
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Th
have, is nothing for we will all turn to dust. The name we have polished so hard will someday pop out from the minds of later generations. For me, it was not nihilism. Perhaps it was an incomplete, literal understanding of the words of St. Ignatius: “What profit is there for a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul.” That was then the beginning of my quest for truth to discover the meaning and the beauty of life even if it means “zero.” This was the mindset I had after my life situation turned for the worst because of the death of my father. Though it seemed to be the darkest period of my life, I never hanged my neck on our roof for I believed there is hope and light coming after that deep pit of darkness. Those were the
times… As life went on, I discovered a big substantial piece of this puzzle to mean indeed that life is equal to zero after few years of progressive thoughts and unwanted experiences. It is when to put into consideration all aspects of human life: material manifested in deprivations; social equated into human abilities; and spiritual revealed in the discovery of truths: the hunger for God and the meaning of life. These were all mysteriously put together by God embodied into the wholeness of a person. Deprivations or emptiness felt in one aspect may mean fullness in some other aspects. Our emptiness and fullness compliment and complement each other to make this world colorful and round. This is what I call the spirituality of the balanced world. No one can claim BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
he Me, Him and I Sem. Joevin Ybañez
pitiful I was after the death of my father or the realization of how heavy this cross on my shoulder.
that he is the best and the most of all mankind for no one is an island. This is not a one-minute discovery. It took me several unwanted experiences to arrive at this conclusion. My means to understand things are to indeed plunge myself into it. In this case, in order to understand the dark, dirty side of the world, I must depart from Him and plunge into the “world of darkness.” It was also to understand what did He meant by, “I am the Light of the world.” That is also when I intentionally diverted myself from Him and embraced the philosophy of hedonism, listened to the philosophy of the bitter world and Satanism promulgated by mass media. Yet, interestingly, I never lost His name in my mind. The more I went deeper and deeper into this “world,” the more I discovered how they continually persecuted Him, the more the BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
significance of His existence in my life was affirmed, and the more I got thirsty and hungry for Him. My intention of diversion from Him began after my first encounter with Him in the chapel of the RVM Sisters, while I was attending a Mass. His body on the brown cross looked so alive but pitiful, suffering and oppressed. For me, it was an invitation to follow Him to take His Cross and carry up the burden of His pitiful, suffering and oppressed people. Upon hearing that still voice, I answered Him deep inside, “Lord, give me a break! I have enough of You. How dare You call me to leave everything and follow you yet You took my father away from me!” Those were the stupid words I heard from my heart boisterously complaining at Him. And then tears fell from my eyes unpremeditatedly perhaps either remembering how
However, He is a strange God for He is possessive. As what I frequently heard from my aunt, “If you are for Him, you really are for Him. No matter how you deny it.” These words constantly reverberate inside my head. This has also driven me to start another quest for my identity. For extravagance and prodigality in my own way showed me no self-fulfillment. Emptiness constantly hung up in my head. It was also the time when I heard Him saying constantly in His words to the prophet Isaiah, “You are mine.” In response to these vague words, I joined the Family and Life Apostolate of the diocese under the tutelage of my aunt as volunteer lecturer in witnessing Christ in which I discovered Him once again along my journey through my personal study of the New Age Movement. I also joined the Singles for Christ (SFC) upon the invitation of a colleague so that I could express my longing for worship for Him which I did not do for quite some time. And finally, after my second encounter with Him, I joined the Diocesan Youth Formation Team (DYFT) in our diocese to experience what it meant to be a “missionary” for the youth of our diocese. This was also the time, the turning point of my
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VOCATION STORY
My Gospel Story Accord
(The vocation story of Sr. Maria. Evelyn Anuncio, MMS, a Medical Mission Sister here in community is involved with the IPs in Butong, Quezon, Buk
“The ANNUNCIATION “ THE BEGINNING Like the mustard seed, my life has been nurtured and grown with a sense of gratitude knowing that my mother had to adjust to an environment of a life in the city and this has affected her pregnancy. When I was being delivered, she suffered hemorrhage and was between life and death. I heard my mother telling the story to a friend that I was a rejected child because when I came into this world I had a birthmark on my left eye and an ugly face. She had to listen to some advice from my lola to put some saliva (laway) on my left eye every morning to lessen the swelling and birthmark on my face. Out of my nothingness, I can say that “I am a precious child of God”, chosen to be His own. When I was in my elementary years, my mother supported and cared for me especially if there were activities in school/ projects. I usually participated in cultural presentations like folk dancing. She would observe during practices and then later on when we were alone, she would comment on my performance. She would graciously demonstrate the movements of the dance and
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would invite me to do the same. This was a concrete manifestation of how my mother showed her great love for me.
The sacrifices of my brothers and sisters bore fruit. With God’s help, I graduated from college and passed the licensure exam.
THE TRAGIC EVENT
THE SEED
The turning point in my life happened when I was only 15 years old - when my mother died of lung cancer. This event made me reflect on why God allowed this to happen. Deep within my heart, I questioned Him many times. But there was no response. I was shattered into pieces, not knowing where to go. I felt so alone groping in the dark, nobody to turn to. This was a moment of desolation for me. Though I couldn’t fathom the message of God in this tragic event, I kept holding on to the support of my elder siblings who generously offered their time, energy and treasures to send us to college. Because of this, I became more mature in my outlook in life.
My love affair with God continued to unfold when I was brought to an unfamiliar place in Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur to work at Holy Family Clinic. God sent me an instrument that enticed me to join the “Life in the Spirit Seminar” of the Catholic Charismatic Movement. That was a moment of “awakening” for me. I realized my sinfulness and bit by bit started to know who God is. What was challenging on my part after the seminar was to ask for forgiveness from my father for not honoring and respecting his decision of getting married a year after my mother’s death.
One significant sharing I had with a friend was about our dream for the future. I told her “I want to be a nurse by profession someday and then I want to become a sister”. Looking back at the grace-filled moment of my journey, I humbly said: “the Lord has put everything in place” (giplastar sa Ginoo ang tanan), considering that we were really financially hard up that time.
St. Paul’s story of conversion played an important role in my own story of conversion. I will never forget this. It was in Mangagoy where the seed of my vocation started to grow. The journey went on as I had the chance to transfer and work as a school nurse at Jose M. Soriano Learning Center in Forest Drive Village, Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur supervised by La Salle Brothers. My life became more exciting and BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
ding to Jesus
Bukidnon. As of the moment, their kidnon)
in some way or another drew me to be more close to God. The school’s work schedule provided me with opportunities to participate in monthly Masses, yearly recollection with the non-teaching personnel, inputs re: Church of the Poor, Enneagram, Spirituality of St. John Baptist de La Salle and a weekly Signum Fidei faith sharing. One triggering question that I had before was “what is the purpose of my life?” This was accompanied by a feeling of deep emptiness from within. I reflected on this again, realizing that I had a stable job and a boyfriend. I was so comfortable and enjoying my life and yet I was searching for something from deep within. I sought help in the form of a priest’s guidance in my journey. THE SEARCH This search challenged me to discover new possibilities. Ate Fe Bolvar, a cousin of Sr. Ester Vite, gave me an address and telephone number of the sisters in Cebu. This was the beginning of a heart-toheart conversation with the sisters thru the phone. Sr. Lourdes was filled with fire and flame, that immediately she invited me to a come-and-see experience in one of their communities in Zamboanga City. Unfortunately, I was not ready for that. The exchange of communication happened thru BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
letter writing. Sr. Lourdes sent some brochures/ newsletters of the Medical Mission Sisters. She endorsed me to Sr. Aida Pelaez in Bongao. In April 1993, we had an educational tour in Baguio and Manila sponsored by the school. After the tour, I went to Cebu and met Sr. Lourdes. I told her that I was ready now for a come-and-see experience in Bongao,Tawi-Tawi. She supported me in my desire. So I came to Bongao unannounced bringing the letter of Sr. Lourdes. That was my first venture of travelling alone, of facing the unfamiliar, of letting go of my comfort zones. Our sisters in Bongao accepted me wholeheartedly. I felt strange during the first week of my stay because they were speaking in English. I only realized later that one of our sisters assigned there came from India. My encounter with their community health workers (CHWs) during one of their community assemblies inspired me especially of their motivation dynamics. They expressed that they joined the CHWs mainly for the glory of GOD (Umaat Sin Tuhan). I felt ashamed upon hearing this. I had to admit that I had prejudices with the Muslims. This experience challenged me to change my mindset/perspective about them.
I was so at peace while enjoying the grandeur and beauty of creation in Bongao. The search for meaning I have been looking for for the past few months was answered and it came into being. I experienced deep friendship, mutual admiration and a sense of being at home with the sisters, the staff and CHWs. The simplicity and the welcoming spirit of the sisters struck me. I told them that I will be joining the Society after a year since I still have some financial obligations in the school. On my way home after all these significant events in Bongao, I called my sister-in-law over the phone. I knew through her that Papa had a stroke in the ship where he worked during the time that I was in Bongao. They were searching/looking for my address in Bongao but they could not find it. Fortunately, my companion in John Bosco School happened to be in the ship where my Papa suffered the attack. Upon hearing the news of the incident, they went directly to our place in Carmen and informed my sister of Papa’s health condition. As they told the story, a passenger from the ship who happened to know Papa did a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation 30 minutes before the ship docked at the pier. He was brought to the nearest hospital in
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MUSINGS
My Gospel Story According to Jesus Nasipit. Upon hearing all these stories, I could only say that God spared Papa from any harm. Thanks be to God. My father regained his health and could go back to work. He decided to postpone his trip the following day because of my arrival. THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED I ventured into an unknown path to follow the footsteps of Jesus, to the road less traveled. It was so challenging for me to leave my comfort zones, my family, my work, my love ones, my friends and said goodbye to them. I said YES to the call not knowing what lies ahead of me. I felt uncertain, afraid and doubtful whether this is really the life God intended for me. I entered the Medical Mission Sisters Congregation on June 29, 1994 in Bongao,Tawi-Tawi together with Ma. Luisa Cataylo from Jolo, Sulu. We were gladly welcomed by the sisters together with the staff, health workers and friends with a simple liturgy. The settling down for me was an important moment in the process of becoming. Like a small child, we were taught the basics of prayer and liturgy, community life, household chores especially in cooking
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and others. We participated in the daily community prayer and responding to the needs within the community. We also had exposure in the areas to help us get in touch with the realities of people. I had my exposure in Lamion, the barangay where Ka Nap sa Baduli’s house was located. She was one of our community health workers in the area. We engaged in deep dialogue. I openly shared to them my fears, biases and prejudices. And in return, they also shared the same feeling with me when they were in a Christian community. This deep encounter with them strengthened my desire and enthusiasm to be with people of whatever race, culture or creed. Truly, a dialogue of faith and dialogue of life happened in Bongao. Looking back, this was an experience where I was being drawn to the love of God that is universal and encompassing. VOCATION, A GIFT…. God took the initiative of calling me even when I was still in the womb of my mother. Who Am I that God takes notice of me? I am not worthy of God’s love because I am a sinner. Though, I made so many detours in life, He was always searching and looking for me. In my own human understanding, I could not
grasp the mystery of the call and responding to His call is a grace. My encounter with different realities of people in our mission was a blessing. Their generosity, their faith and trust in God moved me to discover my own poverty. In my nothingness, my only security is GOD. Their life became a mirror in my continuous search for God’s will in my life. They helped me in my process of becoming as I was being shaped, molded and being transformed into the person God wanted me to be. My love relationship with Jesus deepened through the test of time. He is always with me even when at times I become unfaithful. I could not ask for more from Him. His love is unconditional and everlasting. “You Are Precious To Me And I Love You.” These words echoed in my heart and in my whole being. In all humility, I said YES to HIS call through the MMS way of life as I pronounced my first vow on December 8, 1997 at De la Costa, Novaliches. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
CFC-Youth for Christ Bukidnon heeds “A Call to Love”
SHARING
Nagtungha siya sa Ateneo de Cagayan nga karon Xavier University. Misulod siya sa Society of Jesus (SJ) didto sa Sacred Heart Novitiate sa Rizal, Quezon City ug didto nagtuon siya og humanities. Ang iyang pagtuon sa pilosopiya nahitabo didto sa Berchmans College sa dakbayan sa Cebu.
As we offer our lives to God, He first breaks us so that we could be shared. As we experience God’s love, both in simple and extravagant ways, we need to share this love to others.
Sa iyang regency, siya nagtudlo sa Ateneo de Davao University (High School Department). Mipadayon siya sa iyang theology didto sa Woodstock College, Maryland, sa Estados Unidos.
As I reminisce the 22nd YFC International Conference, I will always remember the 4th session where I read the statement: “It’s time for a Love Revolution, to love more and spread this love to the peripheries.” Indeed, this is the right time.
Niadtong Hunyo 10, 1965, naordinahan siya sa pagkapari didto sa kapilya sa Fordham University, sa New York City.
from page 6 the most and preached God’s love to all.
VOWS FOR LIFE My commitment to give my life for God was rooted from a sense of gratitude for the gift of life He bestowed on me and the covenant of love I made-- a promise to be with my Beloved. My heart leapt for joy as I finally pronounced my vows for life through the Medical Mission Sisters last December 8, 2002 at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Sangali, Zamboanga City. Archbishop Carmelo DF Morelos was the main celebrant with co- celebrants, Fr. Archie Arthur Faustino and Fr. Emilio Pablo, CMF. This commitment had been intensified when as part of my process I was invited to reclaim my name Maria Evelyn Baclayon Anuncio. Reclaiming this name is a gift that I can offer to the world to live passionately my prophecy of “Announcing, Proclaiming and Giving voice to the Healing Love of Jesus” to the ends of the earth in my continuous journey as a woman, as a religious with a discerning heart like Mary. Praise Be to Jesus and Mary! BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
50 ka tuig sa pagkapari gisaulog ni Bishop Onie from page 9 Sa katapusan, miawhag siya sa tanan sa pagpasalamat sa Dios tungod sa sakramento sa pagkapari ug ngadto kang Bp. Onie sa iyang pag-istorya kang Kristo, dili diha sa Bibliya, apan sa iyang kinabuhi isip pari. Personal nga kinabuhi ug misyon Si Bp. Onie gianak niadtong Enero 22, 1933 didto sa Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City. Siya ang kinamanghuran sa pito (7) ka managsuon ug ang iyang mga ginikanan sila si Vicente Pacana ug Felisa Chaves.
Niadtong Enero 12, 1994, gisangunan siya isip obispo sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay ug giordinahang obispo niadtong Marso 24 sa maong tuig. Miretiro si Bp. Onie isip obispo ning Diyosesis niadtong Pebrero 18, 2010. Sa iyang pagkapari, ubay-ubay nga mga misyon ang gidawat ni Bp. Onie. Nahimo siyang founder ug director sa Bukidnon Institute of Catechetics (BIC), maestro sa religious education sa San Isidro College (SIC), vocation director ug seminary formator sa seminary ning diyosesis, director sa San Agustin Institute of Technology (SAIT), director sa San Andres High School (SAHS) sa Maramag, nahimo usab siyang superior sa mission district (Bukidnon-Cagayan) sa mga paring Heswita ug rector sa St. John Vianney Thelogical Seminary sa dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro.
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The Me, Him and I from page 39
life, and the bridge to my new self where I discovered the immensity of His mercy and goodness despite my prodigality.
My second encounter with Him was during my Individual Prayer in Youth Encounter. One of my few friends – a DYFT, initially befriended me for of my huge collection of rock music. He invited me for a Youth Encounter. He didn’t reveal what it was despite my unceasing questions. Out of curiosity and pride, I went along with his invitation. I was not able to grasp the whole “situation” well during the different sessions for my stubbornness and timidity persistently played their ways. When we were asked to pray individually to find and talk to God among the vicinity of the landscaped objects: rocks, trees, the horizon, or just plainly in our imaginative lands, I just mocked myself deep inside. I tried to do as what the facilitator had said, yet sleepiness overcame me. In the end, I had done only short sleeping moments instead of praying. However, when I was striding my way back to the chapel, a strange phenomenon occurred. I felt somebody pat my right shoulder and the smile of my father whom I missed so much for quite many years suddenly flashed before my mind’s eyes. I indeed felt the warmth of his hand wrapped around my shoulder. Fragments of my memories of him came up out of nowhere. Suddenly, I saw a picture of Jesus who seemed to wear the smiles of my father. The contours of His face, the angle of His head and the beard on His face were very similar to my father’s. It was not just a plain picture, but a full-body image of a man passing by in front of me wearing His white garments. The event took place in just a few seconds, yet it was not within the
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limit of time.
I cried endlessly after that encounter. I did not know how to share my prayer experiences. I just mumbled, cried and then cried. Words were not enough to put them within the context of human language. That was the sweetest moment I ever had that up to now created an indelible mark into my being. “It’s ok. Let me take the place of your father in your heart,” He said.
Those were the words only my heart could understand. It created within me a “bridge of love” to be connected to the dimension I am in right now. I embodied prodigality expressed through self-righteousness, pride and extravagance on my own way, a sort of misdirection away from Him, towards infinite emptiness yet He crushed them with a plain fatherly smile. He entered into my life once more through the crevice that my father has left in my heart. He faded away yet I still keep the feeling of His tender pat on my shoulder. Perhaps my aunt was right. I belong to Him. He called me to follow Him in which I initially denied vehemently. I lost track of Him like a child in the middle of the night yet He sent many people to guide me in order to find my way back to Him. I put much pain into His wounds because of my grave sins yet He used them to enable me to understand what I wanted the most: His infinite mercy and His compassionate heart flowing from His big brown cross. It was also on that second encounter that I answered Him, “Yes Lord. I will go.” My inclusion in the DYFT family is His initial way to let me experience what it means to be a missionary – to leave your comfort zones in order to embrace with a more open heart the personally unfavorable situa-
tion for the sake of love. He left the comfort of the bosom of His Father in order to be with us, be with me, a sinful mankind and yet, for the sake of love, He obeyed humbly and selflessly. My encounters with different radical philosophies about Him turn out to be within His disposal to use them as my stepping stone to understand this unfathomable humility – that He allowed people to mock Him, spit at Him, and even nail and kill Him on the most shameful cross, even though He is God. The more I reflect on them and the dimension I am in right now, the more I see Jesus Christ, now the center of my life, continue making connections into my life using the threads of His love. One of these connections is the brown cross in the seminary chapel. In its own mystical way, it seemed that the cross I have seen in the RVM chapel during my first encounter with Him has the same warmth and welcoming invitation as the cross in the seminary chapel. I felt the same nostalgic feeling upon seeing it the first time. He seemed to whisper to me these words, “I called you here.” For I also felt His presence welcoming me when I entered the seminary gate. Just like what the Psalm 144 has declared, I am continually asking Him, “What is in me Lord that you care much for me?” I never heard yet any answer right now. But I believe, someday He will give me the answer. As I go on with my formation, I only equip myself with faith that He called me here. Now, I am a Comboni postulant. I hope and pray that He may continue to bless me with strength to preserve the same vigor I had when I gave Him my “Yes.”
BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
YOUCAT
Does Sacred Scripture speak about a way to happiness?
Why are the Beatitudes so important?
We become happy by trusting in Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes. [Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1716-1717]
Those who yearn for the kingdom of God look to Jesus’ list of priorities: the Beatitudes. [CCC 1716-1717, 17251726]
The Gospel is a promise of happiness to all people who wish to walk in God’s ways. Especially in the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), Jesus has told us specifically that eternal blessedness (BLESSING) is based on our following his example and seeking peace with a pure heart.
From Abraham on, God made promises to His people. Jesus takes them up, extends their application to heaven, and makes them the program for His own life: the Son of God becomes poor so as to share our poverty; He rejoices with those who rejoice and weeps with those who weep (Rom 12:15); He employs no violence but rather, turns the other cheek (Mt 5:39);He has mercy, makes peace, and thereby shows us the sure way to heaven.
What are the Beatitudes? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
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7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 9. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:3-12)
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A STORY TO TELL
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hy do we tend to let ourselves be hurt? Bakit nga ba tayo nasasaktan? At bakit natin hinahayaan yung sarili natin na saktan ng ibang tao? Di ba pwedeng maging masaya na lang? Yung di na tayo nasasaktan at umiiyak. Ang mahirap gawin sa isang relasyon ay ‘yung magpaalam sa isang taong pinakamamahal mo. Pa’no mo bibitawan ang taong ayaw mong mawala sa buhay mo? Kailangan mo pa ba siyang ipaglaban kung siya mismo ay sumusuko na? Bakit pa ba natin kailangang makilala ang isang tao kung sa huli, iiwan ka rin pala? We should ask... listen... and then let go. ‘Wag mong piliting intindihin ang ayaw mong maintindihan. Wag mo nang ipaglaban ang relasyon na alam mong wala nang patutunguhan. Hindi masamang umiyak kung kapalit man nun ay kaligayahan niya. Hindi madaling mag-let go, kahit san ka magpunta, kahit anong kantang maririnig mo, pati sa pag tulog mo siya ang naiisip mo. Para yang kutsilyo na sinaksak sa puso mo. Halos gabi-gabi nararamdaman mo ang sakit. Love can make you or break you. Buhay ka pero kapag patay na ang puso mo, mas malala pa yun sa kamatayan. Kasi arawaraw mararamdaman mo ang sakit. Mas mabuti pa kapag patay ka na, wala ka nang mararamdaman. Heartbreak is an unending torture. Kahit nakalimutan mo na siya, yung sugat nandito pa rin. Have you ever fell in love with a seminarian?
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Or may nakarelasyon ka na bang isang seminarista? Kung di pa, ‘wag mo nang subukan kasi masakit at isa pa di pwede. Gusto mo bang maging kaagaw si Lord? (Haha! Wag na kasing subukan.) Kasi sa huli di rin ikaw yung pipiliin niya kasi di siya para sa’yo. Gaya ng iba, naranasan ko nang ma-in love sa isang seminarista. In fact, naging boyfriend ko siya. We both love and were happy with each other. Araw-araw pinaparamdam niya kung gaano niya ako kamahal. Simula nung naging kami, dun ko napagtanto yung salitang “kontento” kasi wala na akong hinihiling pa. Yung hinahanap mo noon, pinapakita niya at pinaparamdam sa’yo kahit malayo kayo sa isa’t-isa. Distance doesn’t matter pag mahal at may tiwala kayo sa isa’t-isa ika nga. Ano pa ba yung hahanapin ko diba? I was contented and happy to have him. I was so thankful to have him. He never failed to make me smile, give this shiver on my spine, butterflies in my stomach and speechless moments. (Nyay, I remembered the day when he surprised me with a bouquet of flowers sa school. Sobrang speechless ako nun. Haha. Memories nga naman.) Pero gaya nga ng sabi ng iba, walang FOREVER. Magkakahiwalay din kayo. At walang permanent sa mundo. Oo, dahil bigla na lang nawala yung sparks, bigla na lang dumating yung “self doubts” mo, yung mga “what ifs” mo sa isip at higit sa lahat, bigla na lang siyang nagbago. Yung
nakasanayan mo sa kanya ay bigla na lang nag-fade. Ano nga ba yung nangyari? Ano ba ang mali? Yan yung laging tanong sa isip ko. Kahit di man niya sabihin sa akin, alam ko na may mali, na may nagbago. Yes, we still love each other pero di na gaya ng dati dahil bigla na lang nagbago ang lahat at nasasaktan ako. Di ako pwedeng magreklamo dahil ito yung consequence ng pinasok ko. The moment I entered this relationship, sinabi ko na sa sarili ko na I’m taking the risks no matter what happened. Kaya ito na yun, nasasaktan at umiiyak na ako. Ang hirap mag desisyon kung ano yung gagawin mo. Dahil alam mo sa sarili mo na nahihirapan din siya sa situation ninyong dalawa. Sabi nga ng kaibigan ko, “Di pwedeng maging dalawa yung mahal ng tao. Dapat isa lang.” Sa una pa lang di na siya akin, may nagmamay-ari na sa kanya. Parang hiniram ko lang siya sa sandaling panahon. Kaya pinag-isipan ko tong mabuti dahil ito ang tama. Sana sa huli di ko pagsisihan yung naging desisyon ko. Kahit masakit, kelangan kong gawin to kasi the best way to lose is to lose yourself to someone you love and that is SACRIFICE. Kelangan kung isakripisyo yung nararamdaman ko para sa kaligayahan niya. Oo masakit yung gagawin ko pero ito yung tama. Dahil kung magho-hold on pa kami, mas lalong magiging malaki yun sugat sa huli. Habang maaga pa at di pa malaki yung sugat, kelangan ko nang bumitaw at kalimutan kung anong meron kami. I BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
always love him in silent. Yes in silent. “In a few IN MY CONFESSION ROOM days now, you have to go. You need to go. I am letting you go. Slowly but surely I am. And as I let you go, I want to see that God is the reason and I will be at peace.” Nothing is forever when forever is just a lie. So someday, when it’s gone, it won’t take me eternity to let you go. There are times I wish I was born with limited by: QueenBee emotions so I’ll never experience pain, feel betrayed or disappointed and most importantly, I will never get my heart broken. Love can sometimes be magical, but magic sometimes is just an illusion. Life is what we make it. Love makes the world go round. So let’s live, love and take whatever pain it brings, though it’s hard to wait around for something that I know will never happen; it’s harder to stop when I know that it’s everything I’ve always wanted. I guess, I’m tired of being the least thing in your mind. Di porke’t bumitaw ako sumusuko na ako. I let you go kasi ito yung tama. Gaya nga ng kasunduan natin na walang susuko. Yes, I still don’t give up dahil maghihintay pa rin ako. Sabi mo nga, “You know that I love you but this is not the right time for us.” Right time, kelan kaya yun? Di bale nang di dumating yang right time dahil mamahalin na lang kita ng patago. Minsan sa buhay natin, may bigla na lang dumadating na isang bagay at di mo namamalayan na yung bagay na yun ay magiging mahalaga sa’yo at yun ay ang magiging rason kung bakit ka masaya. There’s no permanent sa mundo. Lahat ng bagay nagbabago. Di mo mamamalayan, mawawala na lang siya ng isang iglap at makikita mo na lang yung sarili mong nasasaktan at umiiyak. Despite that, we will always gonna find that person. Bakit nga ba hahanapin yung taong nagbibigay sakit sa atin diba? Sabi nga ng karamihan, “The person who makes you sad is the same person who can make you happy.” Stupid isnt it? Pero yan yung realidad. The reality of being in LOVE.
The Art of letting go
BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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BUKNEWS from page2 Arcenal, led the evening worship. Fr. Marbendear Morallas of the Archdiocese of Davao was the speaker of the first session entitled, “The Truth Exposed.” He explained that Christ is inviting us to partake in the great feast, the one abundant with His love, friendship and reconciliation. Fr. Morallas then called sharers to share their experiences where, instead of dwelling on their brokenness, they let God work on their lives for His greater glory. Lee Asuro, a Mission Worker of Metro Manila, was the first sharer. One of her experiences made her realize that God was telling her, “It’s enough, all that you are doing makes me proud.” The Provincial Youth Leader of Cavite, Kuya Emil Estabillo, shared next and the last sharer was Kuya Jigo Trinos, the OSYH of Metro Manila, who realized that true happiness is not found in worldly things but only in God. Fr. Morallas then led the participants to reflect on these questions: “How have I encountered Jesus’ invitation in my life?” and “Am I truly experiencing the abundance of God’s love, friendship and reconciliation?”
Before the day ended, the Holy Eucharist was celebrated by 48
the Bishop of Surigao, Most Reverend Antonieto Cabajog, together with other priests from the local diocese. He challenged the delegates with these words: “Love more, it is for the Lord.” And that concluded the first day. April 11, 2015. Day 2 Before the delegates were sent to their workshops, Patrick Elicano of Singapore led the morning worship. This year’s ICON workshops were: Revolution of the Heart, of the Mind, of the Home, of the Spirit, of Lifestyle, for the Church, in Social Media, Revolution for the Poor and ROCK Workshop, each with inspiring speakers, and in every workshop venue was a priest for confession. In the afternoon, the Holy Eucharist was presided by Msgr. Edito Alcala of the Diocese of Surigao. Kuya Elbert “Chingboi” Laruan, the Regional Coordinator of Central Luzon, led the participants into a spirit-filled worship. The FTPW of Canada, Ate Evony Evangelista, was the second session’s speaker with the theme, “Declaration of Dependence.” In her session, she talked about how we, like Peter, must give our total dependence to God to be a better version of ourselves.
This session’s sharer was Kuya Jerrick Villanueva of USA. He shared about an experience in his life that made him appreciate even the Lord’s simplest and personal message for him. The session 3 was entitled “Battle Cry of Love” with Kuya Renjie Villafuerte, FTPW of Eastern Samar, as the speaker. This session explained that like Peter, our battle cry for passion, conversion and even holiness should be: “YES LORD, YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU!” The first sharer, Ate Jan Allaine Estillore, a Mission Volunteer of Bohol, shared how she balanced her career and her mission. The Mission Volunteer of Rizal, Kuya Donnel Anselmo, was the next sharer. His life is a story of conversion, although he did not change directly after joining the Youth Camp, he changed in God’s perfect time. The reflection on the conversation of Jesus and Peter was given by Cardinal Antonio Tagle through a video recording. The Praisefest led by Kuya Glenn Paul Oliver, the Region Head Coordinator of Central Visayas, started after the sessions. End of Day 2. BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
April 12, 2015. Day 3 The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by the Most Reverend Zacharias Jimenez of the Diocese of Butuan. In his homily, he praised the disciple Thomas for being a good example of his being slow to be sure and being slow to surrender, but once he surrendered, it was a complete one. The last session is entitled “Love Revolution” given by Kuya Ruel Aguire of YFC Philippines Missions. This session explained that we are called to love – loving our God and our neighbors. During Pope Francis’ Encounter with the Youth in the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, the pontiff said that we must spread God’s love through our mind (ideas), heart (passion) and hands (actions). The central point of Love Revolution is to love more, to spread the love of God, and to revolutionize our mind, heart and hands to spread this love to others. “Revolutionize your mind by being a catechist,” Kuya Ruel stated. As for our hearts, he added, its revolution should occur by “filling it up with love through prayer and with the love that surrounds BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
us.” Revolution of the hands entails loving more by translating our thoughts and feelings into actions. This requires us to spread the Gospel, evangelize others and collaborate with other youths or youth organizations in our respective areas. Tito Ray Docto, the Couple Coordinator of Metro Manila, shared about an experience where he had nothing but prayed and received a lot. The next sharer was Ate Vanj Taguilaso, FTPW of Masbate. She realized that giving others what you have is a way of loving more. She said that she “was God’s angel of good to others in the world.” The session’s last sharer was Deanheart Plaza, a YFC from Surigao del Norte. He grew up rebellious but he was converted due to the efforts of his couple coordinator when he joined the community. Before ending his sharing, he addressed the participants with these words in Visaya, “Thank you titos and titas for helping a youth like me to return to God.” Prior to ending his session, Kuya Ruel asked the participants to write in their conference IDs what they will do after the conference. “God is always
present, this is the reason why we serve more.” Then he gave the floor to Kuya Mac Quinto, FTPW of Metro Manila, for the Praisefest. He said, “The calling of the Lord is personal but it is the mission.” While the worship was going on, it started to rain but it did not stop us from praising the Lord. The session was followed by the awarding program. Kuya Lawrence Quintero, YFC International Coordinator, thanked the host venue, and Cardinal Tagle, through a video, announced that the 23rd YFC International Conference will be held in BOHOL. The venue was then filled with screams from the participants as they showed their excitement for the next ICON. The CBCP declared 2015 as the Year of the Poor, and it was appropriate that CFCYouth for Christ International Conference’s theme was “Love Revolution.” It is time for a love revolution, to love more and spread this love to the peripheries. And this revolution starts with us. So, are you ready to start the LOVE REVOLUTION? 49
LINGAW2X CORNER Dear Papang, Hi pang! Maayung adlaw kanimu ug sa imung kauban sa buhatan sa Dear Papang. Unang-una papang, dako akong pasalamat kay nahatagan ko sa higayun nga makapadala ug makapaambit sa akong sulat diha kanimu. Ako naghinaut nga matabangan ko ninyo sa akong gibati. Papang pasensya kaayo kung wala nako gi-indicate apil akung ngalan ug address kay medyo confidential sya. Pang, wa na ko kabalo sa akong buhaton pang mao nga nagsulat gyud ako kanimo. Ang akung problema pang kay aduna koy uyab nga seminarista. At first namung panag-uyab pang, we are very happy. As in jud pang. Feeling nako kay magkasinabot jud mi sa tanang butang. Sa wala tagda, nilabay ang panahon ug nagkabugnaw pud iyahang pagtagad kanako ug wa ko nasayud kung unsa man ang rason sa maong panghitabo. He’s always saying nga love daw kaayu ko niya pero it’s not the right time daw. Dili pud daw siya fit para sa ako ug unfair daw kaayu siya. Karon pang, huot ug sakit akong gibati sulod ning akung kasing-kasing. Akong pangutana pang mao kini, “Should I still hold on or let go?” Naghigugma KABUKYO………..
g n a p a Dear P
Dear KABUKYO,
Hello pud. Maayung adlaw pud kanimo bisan sige ug ulan ug ang mga nilabhan walay uga-uga. Ang mga dress nato pang blockbuster na, now on its 3rd week. Hehe. KABUKYO, midyo galisud ako kung unsa akung i-ngalan nimu peru sige lang, siguro tawagon ka na lang namu ug kiatan, aw joowk. Bitaw, Ning-ning na lang nho arun nindot. Oh sige Ning-ning, kami ug ang buhatan sa Dear Papang maningkamut huh aron matabangan ka, OK. Ning-ning, sa imu pang gi-saysay nga aduna kay uyab nga seminarista nho. Ako naka imagine dayun sa maong tao, kay naay panultiun nga pag seminarista daw kuno gwapo ug buutan jud na sya. Aguie Ning-ning huh! Maayu pud ka mamili huh. Ang imung problema medyo comflicated nho kai tungod ang imung karelasyon seminarista. Adunay vocation ang maong tao. And we all know nga pag seminarista gani, buot niyang mag-alagad ug ihatag ang iyang kaugalingon sa Ginoo. So mao siguro nga ni bugnaw ang iyang pagtagad diha kanimo ug sa inyung relasyon. Siguro naka hunahuna siya nga unfair siya kay tungod in the long run basin mabiyan ka lang gihapun niya. Ug kabalo ka ang pinakalisod nga kontrahon ang kabobot-on sa Diyos, kai kahibawo jud ta nga wa jud ta’y mahimo sa plano sa Ginoo. Ning, unta sa primero pa lang naka huna-huna ka na ana. So, ang tubag nako sa imung pangutana ning, pag let go na Ning. Tagai siya ug kahigayunan sa pag pursue sa iyang bokasyon isip seminarista, ug sa imu pud Ning, tagai usab imung kaugalingon ug kagawasan nga mag move-on. I know na dili sayun apan kung mangayo ta sa Ginoo ug tabang makaya nato ang tanan. Kay gi-ingun pa sa 1st Corinthians 13:4-7, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. OK! Sa ana nga pamaagi, imu siyang matabangan sa iyang bokasyon ug pasalamatan ka sa Ginoo sa pagbuhat sa ingun. Kay kung kabubut-on usab sa Ginoo nga ipa dayun ang inyung relasyon, kabalo na sya kung unsa iyang buhaton. So kana lang Ning. Unta nga nalamdagan ka ug kami sa buhatan sa Dear Papang magampo for both of you nga mamahimong successful ang inyung tagsa-tagsa nga plano sa kinabuhi. Salamat Ning. God bless and more powers. Yours Truly, PAPANG <3
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BANAGBANAG | AUGUST 2015
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LINGAW2X CORNER
SCHEDULES
August 15-16 Diocesan Commissi on on Youth Coor dinating Council (DCYCC) Planning & Evalua tion & Year-end Outing @ RR Spri ng Resort, Marama g August 21 Diocesan Youth Fo rmation Team (DYF T) Aspirantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Orientation @ Ca nossa Youth Form ation Center (CYFC) August 29 World Youth Day Participants Orie ntation @ DCY Office September 5 Vocation Launchin g @ San Isidro Ca thedral & San Isidro Coll ege
September 6-Octo ber 18 (Sundays) DYFT Aspirants Fo rmation October 9-11 Catholic Social Media Summit (CSM S) v.4 @ Sta. Rosa, Laguna
November 5-7 International Yo uCat Congress @ Tagaytay, Cavite November 10-15 NYD @ Tuguegarao , Cagayan Valley November 21-22 Diocesan Youth Ge neral Assembly (D YGA) @ Aglayan January 28, 2016 International Eu charistic Congre ss Youth Days @ Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City