archbishop tagle celebrates mass of the holy spirit

Vol. 20, No. 1
January-June 2012
ARCHBISHOP TAGLE CELEBRATES
MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
This year’s mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated for the first time by Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, the
Archbishop of Manila.
In his homily, Archbishop Tagle stressed the importance of the Holy Spirit in ones formation to the priesthood. He
highlighted that it is through the Holy Spirit that a community becomes one. The Archbishop also warned about
the abuse of power in the clergy, singling out the issue of monetary power. He advised that such must be rooted out
in the person throughout his seminary formation.
The Mass of the Holy Spirit was attended by the seminary communities within the complex, namely San Carlos
Seminary, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary and Lorenzo Mission Institute. Aside from those seminary communities,
the community of Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, Redemptoris Mater Mission Seminary, Our Lady of the
Pillar Seminary of the Diocese of Imus, and various religious communities like the Congregation of the Blessed
Sacrament and the Order of the Servants of Mary, together with the staff and professors, (continued on page 2)
SCS holds
Commencement Exercises
with the new Archbishop
Most. Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, the new Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Manila, headed for the first
time the graduation rites of the San Carlos Seminary
last March 18, 2012.
Archbishop Tagle, before the graduation rites, celebrated
the Baccalaureate Mass for the St. John of the Cross
Class of the Philosophy Department and for the St. John
Vianney Class of the Theology Department. A number of
priests concelebrated the Mass, (continued on page 2)
FRUIT OF ARDENT LABOR Rev. Angelo Parlan receives his Academic Award
from Archbishop Tagle.
Six Karlistas Ordained;
Archbishop Tagle
presided over his first
Karlista Ordination
Six more Karlistas were ordained; three to deaconate
and three to presbyterate. While the new Archbishop of
Manila, His Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle presided
over his first Karlista ordination last March.
Rev. Fr. John Paul del Rosario and Rev. Mariel Sarez of
the Diocese of Parañaque were (continued on Page 2)
DIAKONIA Rev. Lord Beltran answers the Archbishop during the Diaconal
Ordination at the Lay Formation Center Chapel.
Philippine Archbishops
to Receive Pallium
Last June 29, 2012, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, joining
several other Archbishops from around the globe, four
prelates from the Philippines received the Pallium from
Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Basilica, namely:
Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of the Archdiocese of
Manila, Archbishop Jose Advincula of the Archdiocese
of Capiz, Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese
of Palo, Leyte and Archbishop Romulo Valles of the
Archdiocese of Davao.
The Pallium is reserved for the Pope and Archbishops as
a sign of their office as shepherds of the Church. Worn
by the Pope, it symbolizes the plenitudo pontificalis
officii (i.e. “the plenitude of pontifical office”); worn
by Archbishops, it signifies their participation in the
supreme pastoral power of the Pope, who confers it
on them for their respective church provinces. An
Archbishop petitions the Pallium from the Pope, and
the former may not exercise any ecclesiastical power
over his province until he receives the Pallium. It is a
liturgical garment worn over the chasuble and is a thin
circular band around two inches wide with two pendants,
one hanging in front and one behind. Decorated with
six black crosses, it is woven from white wool supplied
by lambs presented annually as a tax to the Chapter of
St. John by the Lateran Canons Regular on the feast of
St. Agnes.
Kevin Joshua Cosme
2 News
Archbishop Tagle Celebrates...
(from page 1)
were also present as the institution officially opened its
school year.
During the Eucharistic celebration, the formators
and professors professed their faith in front of the
Archbishop of Manila. This profession of faith reminded
the formators and professors that what they teach are
not their own but of the Holy Spirit. This entails that
as they form the seminarians for the sacred orders,
they should also fully submit themselves wilfully and
intellectually to the teachings of the Roman Pontiff or
the college of bishops. Before the final blessing, each
seminary rector presented to Archbishop Tagle their
respective communities.
Along with this, Rev. Fr. Jose Vidamor Yu, LRMS,
was installed rector of the Lorenzo Mission Institute
replacing Msgr. Esteban Lo, LRMS who has served the
seminary as its rector for more that a decade.
As San Carlos Seminary opened its school year, the
community of disciples acknowledged the need of
the Holy Spirit in responding fully to their seminary
formation.
Jonathan Noel Mojica
SCS holds Commencement Excercises...
(from page 1)
among them were the Priest-Formators of the San Carlos
Seminary, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary and Lorenzo
Mission Institute. Guest priests who were invited by
the graduates also joined the Mass. This was also the
first graduation rites that Archbishop Tagle presided as
the new head of the Archdiocese of Manila, where San
Carlos Seminary belongs. The Main Chapel was filled
with the families, relatives, benefactors and friends of the
graduates, including the guest-professors of the Seminary.
After the Mass, the Graduation Rites officially began
with the march led by Rev. Fr. Lorenz Moises Festin,
Dean of Studies of the Philosophy Department and Rev.
Fr. Joel Jason, Dean of Studies of the Graduate School
of Theology. At the beginning of the ceremonies, Msgr.
Hernando Coronel, Rector of San Carlos Seminary, gave
the opening remarks. Fr. Festin led the presentation of
graduates for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, including
two professionals who just finished their Philosophy Units
as part of Ecclesiastical requirements. Fr. Jason led the
presentation of graduates from the Graduate School of
Theology. Three seminarians, namely, Sem. Francis Roi
Madarang, Sem. Jayvann Carlo Olaguer and Sem. Jose
Mari Villas received academic awards for the Philosophy
Department. For the Graduate School of Theology, those
who received academic awards were Rev. Victor Angelo
Parlan (Summa Cum Laude) and Sem. Richard Lagos
(Cum Laude). After the presentation of the graduates and
the awardees, Sem. Jerome Bantog gave a Thanksgiving
message on behalf of the Philosophy graduating class.
The Graduation rites concluded with the Pledge of Loyalty
led by Sem. Francis Roi Madarang and Sem. Francis Mark
Guzman. A reception followed at the Seminary gym and
Theology parking lot.
Redentor Lorenzo Bituin
Six Karlistas Ordained...
(from page 1)
ordained to presbyterate and deaconate respectively.
His Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, D.D, the bishop of
their diocese, led the holy ordination that took place on
December 3, 2011 at the Cathedral-Parish of St. Andrew.
Fr. John Paul graduated from SCS Graduate School on
2008; however, Rev. Mariel finished his studies on 2009.
Abroad, two Vietnamese Karlistas Rev. Fr. Dominic
Pham Minh Hanh and Rev. Fr. Joseph Doan Van Tinh
received the sacrament of the Holy Orders as priests of the
Diocese of Bui Chu, Vietnam last December 8, 2011. Both
graduated from the SCS Graduate School of Theology in
2010.
On March 17, 2012, Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle presided
his first diaconal ordination in San Carlos Seminary
Complex held at the Lay Formation Center Main Chapel.
His Excellency ordained two from San Carlos Seminary,
Rev. Lord Kristoffer Beltran of the Archdiocese of San
Fernando, Pampanga and Rev. Victor Angelo Parlan of the
Diocese of Cubao. In the same celebration, the Archbishop
also ordained three from Holy Apostles’ Senior Seminary,
one from Lorenzo Mission Institute and three from
Redemptoris Mater Mission Seminary.
Clyde Nolasco and Raemel Niklaus Leyretana
The SCS Community 2012-2013
San Carlos Seminary opened the School Year 2012-2013 with 141 seminarians and 13 formators. The Formation
Year (FY) Department consists of 14 seminarians and 2 formators, namely, Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia (Director)
and Fr. Ramon Merino (Prefect of Discipline) who also serves as Procurator of the seminary.
The Philosophy Department has 81 seminarians and 5 formators. The team of formators is composed of Fr. Rey
Anthony Yatco (Director), Fr. Lorenz Moises Festin (Dean of Studies) and Fr. Yulito Ignacio, Fr. Albert Flores and
Fr. Celestino Pascual (Spiritual Directors).
The Theology Department has 42 seminarians guided by their 4 formators, namely, Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo
(Director), Fr. Joel Jason (Dean of Studies), Msgr. Allen Aganon (Pastoral Director) and Fr. Joselito Buenafe
(Spiritual Director). The Pastoral Spiritual Integration Year (PSIY) has 4 seminarians with Fr. Joselito Martin
(Director).
Fr. Rolando Garcia, Jr. serves as Professor and Spiritual Director and currently works as Secretary at the Apostolic
Nunciature. Now in his fifth year, Msgr. Hernando Coronel leads the community as Rector.
Anthony Sibug
Eco-Activities launched
on Independence Day
The San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex community launched ecological activities during the celebration of
Independence Day. This formal launching concretized the vision of Msgr. Hernando Coronel regarding the significance
of loving the environment and caring for creation. This includes programs for proper waste segregation and conservation
of energy (water and electricity).
To formally put up a system for waste segregation, the RCAM Earthcare Services and Resource Recovery Center was
opened and blessed by Msgr. Coronel.
Mrs. Lou Valencia-Arsenio, coordinator of the Ministry on Ecology of the Archdiocese of Manila, gave a whole-day
seminar to prepare the seminarians and seminary personnel. Mrs. Arsenio strongly stressed the need for ecological
conversion among Filipinos, which entails a change of lifestyle and a renewal of ecological concern. Mrs. Arsenio
said, “We can discuss a lot of things about proper waste segregation but without ecological conversion, the attempt to
pursue this noble project and concern for environment is bound to fail from the very start.” In between the workshop,
video clips on the destruction of the Sierra Madre and the deterioration of Manila Bay were shown as situationer to the
importance of ecological conversion.
In the afternoon session, Mrs. Arsenio led everyone to plan out ways to concretize the fruits of this ecologival conversion.
Seminarians grouped together according to their formation houses for the planning. Finally, Mrs. Arsenio encouraged all
to fulfill what they have planned.
Ryan Adrian Aguinaldo
LOVE FOR COUNTRY One way to celebrate Independence Day is to have concern
for the environment. The SCS Complex community recently takes initiative on ecology.
Karlistas walk to Antipolo to end
S.Y. 2011-2012, to begin S.Y. 2012-2013
The community of San Carlos Seminary culminated
the School Year 2011-2012 as the seminarians,
together with the seminary-formators, walked from
San Carlos Seminary to the National Shrine of Our
Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage in Antipolo City
last March 3, 2012.
Recently, the San Carlos
Seminary
community
started the School Year
2012-2013 with another
pilgrimage to Antipolo
just last June 23, 2012.
This Academic Year 2012-2013, the good weather
of June 23, 2012 permitted the San Carlos Seminary
community to hold its traditional pilgrimage to
Antipolo at the beginning of the School Year.
As usual, the Marian
Pilgrimage of the present
School Year started with
a paraliturgy which was
led by Fr. Rey Anthony
Yatco, the director of the
College Department. In the
short paraliturgy, Marion
Noel Q. Bayaras, a fourth
Traditionally, the pilgritheology seminarian, gave
mage to Antipolo is done
his reflection and sharing
every last Saturday of
about his experiences of
June at the beginning
this annual pilgrimage to
IN OUR JOURNEY Every school year, the Our
of the School Year. COMPANION
Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo is visited by the seminary Antipolo. He emphasized
However, due to the community to pray for her guidance.
on
his
sharing
the
unstable weather last June 2011, the San Carlos significance of this spiritual activity in the life of
priest-formators decided to pursue it on March 2012 every seminarian.
Franz Joseph Aquino
as part of the Lenten sacrifices and the culmination of
the School Year 2011-2012.
News 3
NEW KARLISTAS IN THE MAKING
SCS Community:
Viva! Sto. Niño!
Together with the entire Philippine Catholic Church,
the San Carlos Seminary community shouted with
joy, “Viva! Sto. Niño” during the celebration of its
annual ati-atihan dance competition in honor of the
Child Jesus, with the theme of Santo Niño: Huwaran
ng tapat na pananampalataya, last January 15, 2012.
NEOPHYTES The new members of the community perform with a dance number.
ALL SMILES Msgr. Ding poses with the newcomers.
Evening of June 12, 2012, the community with the team of the formators, held a welcome party for the new comers and
returnees for the School Year 2012-2013 in the main refectory. After dinner, the program started with a simple opening
number from the newcomers and returnees with an introduction of themselves. The exciting part of the program was
when the new comers delivered their unique pick-up lines. The evening was also graced by pieces of advice from the
priests of every department. Fr. Ramon Merino, FY formator, welcomed the Formation Year seminarians with great joy
and hope for the vocation they have chosen. Fr. Rey Anthony Yatco, Philosophy Director, greeted the new members
of the Philosophy Department and urged them to maximize their potentials with the help of the community. Fr. Carlo
Magno Marcelo, Theology Director, reminded the new ones and also the returnees of the Theology Department to
become active members of the community and not just mere observers.
Indeed, all had a great time celebrating the brotherhood and unity in the seminary as they received the new members of
the community. The night was concluded with some inspiring words and the blessing from Msgr. Hernando Coronel,
the seminary rector.
Ron Mark Elarcosa
SCS Complex
celebrates Corpus Christi
On June 10, 2012, San Carlos Seminary joined the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of Corpus
Christi. A morning mass was celebrated in the Main Chapel by Fr. Rolando Garcia, Jr. with the SCS community
in attendance. Diverging from the “usual sermon about Corpus Christi” in his homily, Fr. Rolly expounded on the
meaning of the English translation “And with your spirit” (Et cum spiritu tuo in Latin), the response to the priest’s
greeting of “The Lord be with you” in the newly translated Roman Missal.
At the evening twilight, the priests and seminarians of San Carlos Seminary (SCS), Lorenzo Mission Institute
(LMI) and Holy Apostles Senior Seminary (HASS) held a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament around
the San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, a longstanding and venerable tradition upheld by the Church during
Corpus Christi. The exposition and procession started in the SCS Main Chapel then proceeded to the San Carlos
Theology Building, HASS and LMI before finally going back to the SCS Main Chapel, ending with Solemn
Vespers and Benediction.
Kevin Joshua Cosme
CHRIST TRULY PRESENT The seminary community makes a solemn procession
of the Body of Christ around the San Carlos Formation Complex.
The event in honor of the Child Jesus began with
an opening prayer which was followed by a parade
within the vicinities of San Carlos Pastoral Formation
Complex. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the San
Carlos Seminary Lobby to witness the opening of
the competition. Rev. Fr. Yulito Ignacio, the head
spiritual director of the Philosophy Department, gave
the opening remarks. As part of his opening remarks,
Fr. Ignacio let his Irish friend, Bro. Bernard, to talk
about the significance of the Ati-Atihan Festival here
in the Philippines.
The annual ati-atihan dance for this school year was
participated by the two departments of the community;
the Philosophy and the Theology Departments. Aside
from the ati-atihan dance, two minor contests were
done on this day namely; Andas-Making Contest and
Body Painting Contest. The Theology Department
won the Best in Body Painting. On the other hand, the
college seminarians won as Over-all Champion for
they got one major award, Best in Ati-atihan Dance,
and and a minor award, Best in Andas-Making.
The formation year department did not join the Atiatihan Dance Contest however; they joined in the two
minor competitions. They presented a skit presentation
which is in lined the theme of this celebration. To
formally end the said event, Rev. Msgr. Hernando
Coronel, the Rector of San Carlos Seminary, gave his
closing remarks and final blessing.
The annual feast of the Santo Niño is celebrated every
third week of January. This reminds us of Spain’s
colonization to the lands of the Philippines in the 16th
century. Tracing our history, the image of the Santo
Niño became the symbol of the colonization and with
it the spread of Catholicism in the country.
John Alfred Casuga
ADORATION The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in one of the seminaries within the
seminary complex.
Liturgist discusses the New English
Translation of the Roman Missal
Fr. Carmelo Arada, Jr. explained the new English translation of the Roman
Missal during the liturgical conference last February 29, 2012 at the San Carlos
Seminary Auditorium. It was attended by the three houses of formation inside
San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, namely, San Carlos Seminary, Lorenzo
Mission Institute and Holy Apostles Senior Seminary. Fr. Arada, a liturgist of
the Archdiocese of Manila, illustrated the significance of this development on
the liturgical celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The New English Translation of
the Roman Missal is the result of the 10-year study and consultation made by
Congregation for Divine Worship through the guidelines it issued entitled “Liturgiam
Authenticam” which was released in March 28, 2001. The said document dealt with
the use of the vernacular language in the publication of the Roman Liturgy with a style of translation using formal
correspondence to its original text.
The conference also aimed to prepare seminarians on using the new translation in the celebration in the Holy
Eucharist. In the Philippines, the full implementation will take effect on the First Sunday of Advent, December 2,
2012 as approved by the members of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Raymund Acuña
SHOWCASE OF TALENTS Each department had their own bag of tricks for
their much anticipated Sto. Niño Festival dance performance.
4 News
Bp. Bancud admits Theology 1 Class
to the Candidacy for the Priesthood
Most Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud S.S.S., D.D., Bishop of Cabanatuan, solemnly presided over the Rite of Admission
to the Candidacy for the Sacred Order of the Theology 1 Class, the St. Ignatius of Loyola Class. The rite of
admission was officiated inside the Holy Mass of the 3rd SETA Family Day last February 12, 2012.
In his homily, Bishop Bancud reminded the 12 seminarians admitted as candidates for the Sacred Order about the
importance of reminiscing their own unique vocation story as they continue to respond to the call of God towards
the priestly life. Along with this, Bishop Bancud stressed the significance of self-reflection or self-introspection
regarding one’s motivation for staying inside the seminary.
The seminarians who were admitted as candidates for the Sacred Order were as follows: Jonathan Mojica for
the Archdiocese of Manila; Franz Joseph Aquino, Dean Jerome Cruz and Jereco Rebadejo for the Diocese of
Cabanatuan; Frederick Carlo Narvasa, Fred Cristian Narvasa and Jover Domanico for the Diocese of Cubao;
John Rommel Atienza for the Diocese of Alaminos; Florante Balderas for the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay; Niku
Vicente for the Diocese of Pasig; Bon Andeo Navarro for the Diocese of Parañaque and Anthony Sibug for the
Diocese of Balanga.
After the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the seminarians and their parents proceeded to the San Carlos Seminary
Auditorium for the program and SETA Raffle Draw. The said program comprised some presentations from the
Formation Year Department, College Department and Theology Department. The parents of the seminarians
participated on the SETA Raffle Draw. Before the program ended, the seminarians offered a song for their parents
as their tribute for them for the celebration of the Valentines’ Day.
As the SETA Family Day came to its close in the afternoon, the Optimi Choir, headed by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo,
had a vocation concert. Parents and some guests attended the said concert which aimed to promote the vocation to
the priesthood as part of the intensive vocation promotion program of the Archdiocese of Manila.
Franz Joseph Aquino
ONE STEP The Theology 1 seminarians are officially admitted to the Candidacy for
the Sacred Orders, which is an initial requirement for ordination.
Diocesan Days storm SCS
The School Year 2011-2012 had ended with two more dioceses hosting the event. The Diocese of Antipolo brought
with them the replica of Nuestra Señora Dela Paz y Buen Viaje last January 26. Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes, D.D.,
Bishop of Antipolo, graced the celebration of the Eucharist at 6:30 in the evening. Fr. Joselito Santos (Secretary
to the Bishop of Antipolo), Fr. Jeff Santos (Vocation Director), Fr. Joel Victorino of the host diocese and some
seminary fathers were the concelebrants. In his homily, the bishop stressed the importance of prayer in the seminary
formation. He also reminded the seminarians to be faithful with their meditation and spiritual reading. Having the
theme, “Maglayag kasama si Maria,” the celebration was to encourage a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
The Diocese of Pasig hosted the last diocesan day of the year on February 16 with the theme, “Maria: kaPaseo
tungo kay Kristo.” Fr. Loreto Sanchez, the Vocation Director of the diocese, presided over the Holy Mass in the
evening. Fr. Sanchez shared in the homily about his vocation story and his love for music. He emphasized the role
of Mary, the Mother of the Lord, in a seminarian’s journey to the priesthood.
For the current School Year 2012-2013, the Archdiocese of Manila hosted the first diocesan day last June 28
with the theme, “KASAMA: Kasama sa paglalakbay, Kasama si Poong Hesus Nazareno.” The highlight of the
celebration was the visit of the Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno of Quiapo.
VIVA NAZARENO! The highlight of the first Diocesan Day for this school year is the
visit of the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
The college department of San Carlos Seminary held
its 8th annual Philosophy week with the theme History,
Memory, Narrative: Exploring the Interpretative
Dimension of Philosophy. The seminaries of San
Carlos, Our Lady of the Pillar and Lorenzo Mission
Institute enthusiastically participated on the weeklong celebration.
Most Rev. Bernard Cortez D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, presided over the Eucharistic celebration at
6:30 in the morning. In his homily, Bishop Cortez reflected on the connection between the Filipino devotion
to the Nazareno and the priesthood. He said that priests must faithfully bear their crosses in life like
the Black Nazarene.
Jason Alde
SCS PhiloWeek
dwells on Hermenuetics
The Philosophy Week 2012 opened with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist headed by Fr. Lorenz Moises Festin, the Dean of Studies of the Philosophy Department.
This was followed with the ribbon cutting ceremony at the hallway beside the classrooms, which was decorated by mind-blowing exhibits displaying the theme of the
event. As icing on the cake, the Dean of Studies delivered the first of the three symposia for the week. After their luncheon, the students gathered once again in the SCS
Auditorium to witness the defense of the philosophical essays of the selected forth year students for the Aristotle Award. The Poster-Making Contest that was held at the
Philosophy Recreation Hall marked the last contest of that day.
The next day, Wednesday, began with the poem declamation contest and was followed by another symposium given by Dr. Feorillo A. Demeterio III about a hermeneutical
interpretation of Botong Francisco’s painting. A debate contest highlighted the second day of the Philosophy Week.
On the third day of the celebration, January 26, Fr. Raymun J. Festin, SVD gave the third symposium at the Big Classroom.
Looking best in their coats and ties, the concluding day of the 8th Philosophy week was wonderfully topped by the awarding ceremony. Fifteen-minute films, produced
by each class and a film made by the OLPS philosophers were shown in the wide screen at the auditorium. The class of St. John of the Cross won, for the fourth time, the
Zwaenepoel Award.
Ramon Mikhail Paulo Nicdao
CROWD FACTOR Seminarians cheer for their classmates during the debate proper ALL OUT Philosophers prepare the art materials for their beautiful exhibits.At the start of the Philosophy Week, each class puts up their artistic work along the classroom corridors.
of the 8th Philosophy Week.
The exhibits are philosophical interpretations expressed through different forms of art in line with the PhiloWeek theme.
News 5
KAPATIRAN
2012 GATHERS
HUNDREDS OF
SEMINARIANS
Diverse in charism, united in mission.
Almost six hundred participants composed of diocesan
theology seminarians with their formators from
different theological seminaries throughout the country
came together on February 4, 2012 for the yearly
KAPATIRAN meet. This year’s event was hosted by
the Tagaytay cluster of seminaries namely: Tahanan
ng Mabuting Pastol, the theological seminary of the
Diocese of Imus; San Pablo Theological Seminary of
the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna; St. Augustine Major
Seminary of the Diocese of Mindoro; and the Mission
Society of the Philippines Theological Seminary.
KAPATIRAN 2012 has as its theme: AMARE ET
SERVIRE, The Diocesan Spirituality and Mission.
This year’s KAPATIRAN focused on the cultivation of
the seminarians’ spirituality as future diocesan priests.
Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, D.D., who just months
before was the Bishop of the Tagaytay cluster, gave
an in-depth reflection on the topic during his homily
at the opening mass. Amid the laughs of seminarians
and priests during the cheerful Archbishop’s talk, Tagle
reminded the participants that they should become
instruments of unity and harmony even while still inside
the seminary community, or else he said, “lumabas ka
na lang!”
The organizers also prepared time for sharings and
workshops by year level. This was an opportunity for
seminarians to mingle with their “batchmates” from
other seminaries and form a closer bond among the
“theologians” who in a matter of few years would be
serving the local church in the presbyterium.
The Focolare Movement also facilitated a workshop on
Spirituality and was held on their Terra Moi center also
in Tagaytay.
The event was capped by a dinner with program in
the evening. The theology seminarians of San Carlos
Seminary were given an opportunity to perform a song
number during the said evening program. They sang,
to the delight of the other seminaries, a mash up of the
songs Umbrella by Rihanna and the traditional Latin
chant Vidi Aquam.
The KAPATIRAN is a yearly general assembly of the
members of the Seminarians’ Network of the Philippines
(SEMNET) which is composed of diocesan theological
seminaries from all over the country. It is alternately
hosted by the member seminaries each year. San Carlos
Seminary together with Holy Apostles Senior Seminary
and Lorenzo Mission Institute hosted the KAPATIRAN
in 2003 with the theme DIVERSE IN CHARISM
UNITED IN MISSION, and just recently in 2010 with
the theme WE ARE FOR CHANGE, WE ARE FOR
CHRIST, coinciding with the national elections held
that year.
PANTASAN COUNCIL The leaders of the Philo community are (from left) Kurt Tesalona, Philippe Garcia, PJ Pendon, Xavier Jacome, Rommel Cruz, and Greg Turqueza.
“Happy to Serve!”
San Carlos Seminary welcomed the new sets of officers for the School Year 2012-2013. Both the Philosophy and
Theology Department elected their new officers who will be the head of their respective community.
The Pantasan Council members of the Philosophy Department are as follows: Fernando Pendon, Jr. (President),
Xavier Paul Jacome (Vice President), Philippe Garcia (Secretary), Kurt Tesalona (Assistant Secretary), Rommel
Cruz (Treasurer), and Greg Turqueza (Assistant Treasurer). The council aims to lead and inspire each member of
the community to be an agent of responsible brotherhood for each other.
On the other hand, the Executive Council of the Theology Department are as follows: Tejay Samsom (President),
Fred Cristian Narvasa (Secretary), and Florante Balderas (Treasurer). These new set of officers will be the leaders
of the community. By means of their leadership and service to the community, they are called to be like Christ to
be the servant of many and not to be served.
This year, they will also lead the community in promoting ecological and environmental activities as stressed by
the rector, Msgr. Hernando Coronel.
Justine Pabalan and Norman Trambulo
Theology Leaders Undergo Training
Every year, part of the seminary program is to train and community. Different activities were given to facilitate
prepare the leaders of the community. All the members the discussion. Practical application and situations were
of the theology council and the committee chairpersons presented to about understanding of the ideas given in
usually attend a leadership training program held after the talk.
the recently ended school year or before the start of the On the last day, the last part of the leadership training
coming school year. Last March 19-21, the Theology program was assigned for the committee chairpersons
Council
members
and
to conduct a planning of
committee chairmen had
the different activities for
their Leadership Training
the coming school year.
Seminar which was given by
The three main concerns
Mrs. Eileen L. de Guzman,
“I AM STILL MORE” (2 Cor 11:23). St. Paul in and thrusts of the plan of
who works in a parish in the
dealing with the Corinthians, acknowledged his own activities for SY 2012Diocese of Pasig. She was
weaknesses. Though he was weak, he boasted of 2013, such as Vocation
also the same person who
himself by saying, “I am still more.” He was aware that Promotion, Ecology, and
gave the leadership training
labors, sufferings and persecutions would come in his Mission, were given special
programs for the previous
The
leaders
life, but he was still able to do something more for the attention.
batches
of
Theology
tried to create their plan
sake of Jesus.
community leaders.
of activities in relation to
For the School Year 2012-2013, “I AM STILL MORE”
The inputs of Mrs. Eileen
these three concerns. There
is the theme of the Theology Department. The theme
guided the council members
were also evaluations of the
encourages everyone to go beyond the minimum
and committee chairpersons
activities of the past school
demands of daily life. This means they are to go out
in constructing their plans
year to determine which
of their comfort zones and enhance a way of life that
and how to come up with
of them were helpful and
is self-giving. Living this out will facilitate a holistic
goals of each committee
effective and which were
seminary formation and a venue to be a better person.
for the coming School Year
in need of improvement.
2012-2013. As leaders, Through this theme, every seminarian can promote a Some activities of the
the council is expected to greater sense of loving concern for others. They shall previous school year were
bring all the members of be bearers of the love of Christ in the community and still included for the list of
the community together, in apostolate areas.
Tejay Samson activities and new programs
and to be united in
were also added. After the
accomplishing their goals and plans. They should also planning, the seminarians went home for their summer
help other members to get involved in managing the vacation.
Fred Cristian Narvasa
Theology Community
Strives for More
Next year’s KAPATIRAN will be held in Mother of
Good Counsel Seminary in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Kali Pietre Llamado
PLANNING Tejay Samson, president of the Theology Council, facilitates the making of the plan of activities for SY 2012-2013. Fr. Carlo joins the leaders in the planning session.
College One Orientation
culminates in Sariaya
After a weeklong orientation to college seminary formation, the First year college seminarians went on a community
outing at the Paraiso Beach Resort, Sariaya, Quezon last May 31, 2012.
The twenty-five college freshmen, together with Kevin Cosme and Jorenz Gancia, were headed by their class
adviser, Fr. Albert A. Flores. They enjoyed exchanging stories and laughters, singing, playing outdoor games and
quality bonding moment in Paraiso Beach Resort.
DIOCESAN SPIRITUALITY Seminarians share snacks in one of the events during
SEMNET 2012. Fraternal communion is one distinct character of the diocesan priesthood.
At the end of this activity, the First Year College seminarians hope to be truly marked with the genuine spirit
of brotherhood, fraternity and camaraderie in the guidance and intercessions of St. Thomas Aquinas, their class
patron saint.
Raemel Niklaus Leyretana
6 Opinion
ITO LAMANG BUWAN NG HUNYO,
ipinagdiwang ng ating bansa ang ika-isangdaan at
labing-apat na taong pagiging malaya mula sa mga kamay
ng Espanyol. Natapos ang pamumuno ng Espanya nang
unang iwagayway ang watawat ng Pilipinas sa Kawit,
Cavite noong Hunyo 12, 1898. Pinamunuan ito ng
bagong tatag na Republika sa pamamagitan ni Heneral
Emilio F. Aguinaldo, ang hinirang na unang Pangulo ng
ating bansa. Hindi natin makalilimutan ang araw na ito
sapagkat isa ito sa mga pangyayari sa ating kasaysayan
N
na patuloy na nagbibigay
pag-asa at inspirasyon sa
ating bayan mula noong
panahong iyon hanggang
sa kasalukuyan.
talaga ang lagi nating pinapahalagahan? Kung ganoon,
nagkakaroon pa ba ng saysay ang ating kasaysayan?
O sadyang nananatili lang itong nakasulat na kuwento
sa ating mga aklat ng kasaysayan at marahil isang
selebrasyon at pag-aalaala na wala naman talagang
kabuluhan o ibinubunga sa atin.
Hindi maipagkakaila na ang Araw ng Kasarinlan ay isa
na lamang selebrasyon at masayang araw dahil una sa
lahat, wala tayong pasok. Maaalala natin na sa nakaraang
administrasiyon, ang lahat ng mga makasaysayang petsa
ng Pilipinas ay inililipat kung hindi sa araw ng Lunes
ay sa Biyernes. Sa ganitong kalagayan, ang ginhawang
ibinibigay ng mahabang araw na walang pasok o
holiday ay naaayon lamang sa praktikal na pag-iisip ng
mga tao. Kung magdiriwang nga naman tayo at walang
pasok, bakit hindi pa sa mas komportableng paraan?
Oo, masaya ang lahat ngunit nakalulungkot na natakpan
at hindi totoong
napapahalagahan
ang tunay na
diwa ng isang
mahalagang
araw sa ating
kasaysayan.
Ang SAYSAY
ng KASAYSAYAN
Ang okasyong gaya nito ay isang pagpupugay sa pagaalay ng sarili at buhay ng ating mga bayani. Katulad
na lamang ng ginawa ni Dr. José Rizal at ang kagitingan
ng mga sundalo sa “Death March” sa Bataan. O kaya
naman ang pagkamatay ni Ninoy Aquino na sinundan
pagkatapos ng tatlong taon, ng makasaysayang Unang
Rebolusyon sa EDSA noong 1986. Hindi ba’t kapag
naaalala natin ang mga ito ay nagkakaroon tayong muli
ng pag-asa at inspirasyon bilang isang bayan bagamat
hindi pa rin talaga natatapos ang ating kahirapan.
Ngunit kung titingnan natin ang ating mga sarili,
tayo kaya bilang Pilipino, ay nagbibigay ng lakas ng
loob at pag-asa sa ating kapwa Pilipino? O sarili lang
Idagdag pa rito na makakalimutin talaga tayong mga
Pilipino. Sinong mag-aakalang nakalimutan agad ng
ating mga mamamayan ang pandarambong ng dating
pangulo, at nang mapatawad at mapalaya sa kulungan,
tumakbo pang muli ito sa pagkapangulo. Muntik pa
siyang manalo dahil pumangalawa pa siya sa eleksiyon
noong 2010. Patunay ito na mabilis nga tayong
makalimot at nakakaligtaan ang mga bagay-bagay lalo
na ang patungkol sa mga mahahalagang aspekto at
detalye ng mga ito.
Nais nating umunlad bilang bansa ngunit hindi
naman tayo natututo. Kailan pa kaya tayo matututo?
Walang iba pang panahon… kundi ngayon! Kaya’t
magsumikap tayong maging mabuti.
Matuto tayong magmalasakit, maging
disiplinado at sumunod lagi sa tama
para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Matuto
tayo sa mga pagkakamali ng nakaraan
at bigyang halaga ang tunay na diwa
ng kasaysayan.
Ngayon ay malaya tayo dahil sa
pagsusumikap ng ating mga ninuno.
Pamana nila ito sa atin, kaya naman
tayo ay lubos na nagpapasalamat
sa kanilang pag-aalay ng sarili sa
bayan; atin itong pakaingatan.
Ngayong tayong mga Pilipino ay
malaya na, patuloy na binubuhay ang
nakaraan hanggang sa kasalukuyan
dahil ito ang nararapat sa ating
paglago bilang tao at iisang bayan.
Naka-ugat tayo sa tunay na pagkaPilipinong ipinamalas ng ating mga
nagmalasakit na mga ninuno at mga
bayani. Tunay ngang nagkakaroon
ng saysay ang kasaysayan sa
pamamagitan ng ating pagpapanibago
ng mga sarili at aktibong pakikilahok
sa mga adhikain at gawain tungo
sa pagkakaroon ng tunay na
kalayaan.
and seeing if there is
a common ground for
collaboration. The “ivory
tower attitude” has to be
abandoned. The seminary
ministry needs to see
itself as joining other ministries so that formation of
the future priests would be integral and complete.
Eat all you can…
The Corona impeachment hullabaloo was many things. It was
a machination. It was a weeding out of corruption. It was a
venue for reconciliation. It was a moment of resurrection (yeur
huener...). It was a period of intellectual gymnastics (we seek
enlightenment, your honor). It was a chance of redemption
(uhhh..... proceed). It was an opportunity for painful revelations
(spoiled brat po siya). It was the field of a family feud. It was an
area for privilege speeches (I thought I had unlimited time...).
It was an arena for some sour-graping (ako din po ay biktima
ng media...), a few wonderful and at times comical orations
and quotable quotes. (Wah!) In other words, the impeachment
was a political version of Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors. More
than historic, it was histrionic. The whole thing is a mixture of
drama, suspense, mystery, action and comedy (Wah…Wah!).
And these point to one thing; it’s more fun in the Philippines.
What other country has the benefit of watching an actual
telenovela, courtesy of the government?
For forty-four days, reporters kept yapping that this
impeachment would go down in history books. However, I
think course of the proceedings would better go in with the
works of Homer than the contributions of Venerable Bede.
There’s a lot of grey area that our grey matter can’t peer
through.
Even the origin of this “machination” or “cleansing of the
temple” stands on wobbly stilts. One story says the guy ought
to be impeached for his assignment was part of GMA’s plan
of escaping the jaws of justice. He was to act as the woman’s
shield from the lady justice’s flaming sword. It makes a lot of
sense. Only the highest magistrate of the land could tilt the
scales to anyone’s favor since he alone has the privilege of
an absolute interpretation of the law. The other version of the
story goes like this: the Chief Justice is crucified because he
dared to cross the path of the “Hacienderong Presidente” et
al. The ruin of his life was payback for the ruin of their stocks.
Sadly, both sides remain today as opinions. To add more irony
to the drama, Corona’s fate emerged from neither nests. He
fell because of his perversion of truth, not perversion of office.
Additionally, there were debates on whether the guy was
really a midnight appointee. When the word got out that there
was a new CJ in town, some people immediately shouted
“Henchman!” For these men, it was obvious. The guy was
there to pervert our sacred laws. Yet, there are also others who
contended that the seat of the magistrate was vacant for ninety
days and that the Constitution demanded the appointment of a
Magistrate there and then. But the arguments on these issues go
on. Some asked, “Why didn’t he have the delicadeza to refuse
the office?” And many unsolicited answers have sprung from
foreign mouths. Pero palasyo ba si Corona at ang dami niyang
spokesperson? (Is Corona Malacañang to have spokesperson?)
All we have is chismis.
Furthermore, the nation should be proud of the chefs who
served the half-baked impeachment cake to the upper house.
How did they ever receive a degree in college? How could
they pass something so premature? They’re educated men.
It dumbfounds the imagination. It’s as if they signed a paper
whose contents they never knew. Di lang pala hustisya ang
bulag. Pati pala yung gumagawa ng batas. (Lady justice isn’t
the only one blind. The law makers are too.) It was only during
the impeachment that the real articles of impeachment were
formed. The very act makes one think of the phrase, “the show
must go on.” Perhaps this whole thing was just an on-the-spot
skit and these guys were only compelled to keep the show
going; otherwise the whole thing would be a waste of time.
The prosecution had to do double time to find holes and even
drill a few just to rock the foundations of the defense. The only
question is, “Who’s holding the strings?” Miriam Defensor, at
least in my opinion, had all the reasons (let’s not talk about
rights) to go ballistic as it was obvious (continued on page 9)
A RESPONSE FORMATION
SEMINARY FORMATION NEEDS TO BE
RESPONSIVE to the challenges of the times.
Seminary formation flourishes and grows in a milieu
of the Church within the context of society. If the
priesthood is to be relevant to the times, seminary
formation cannot be isolationist and confined to a
shell. Seminary formation needs to interact with
laity formation and the ongoing clergy formation; all
of these are preparatory bearing in mind the overall
pastoral development of the Archdiocese. We cannot
live in an ecclesiastical vacuum oblivious to the
programs on ecology, mission, human development
and other ongoing ecclesial innovations.
This means listening. This means interacting. This
means discovering the charism in other ministries
It is acknowledged that basics are to be enforced and
essentials have to be instilled: a community life that
lives out the Gospel values with a humanity that is
integral, an intellect equipped to explain the faith, a
pastoral thrust to be a servant-leader, and a spirituality
centered on the Eucharist.
Yet in so many dimensions of formation, we need
to look at mission-orientedness. The priesthood is
a gift as well as a response to spread the Gospel as
mission to the rest of Asia. According to the Updated
Philippine Program for Priestly Formation, “priestly
spirituality is missionary.” Seminary formation does
not just add the mission ministry as a tai-end priority.
Inherently, the priest is a reflection of Jesus who is
sent into a mission of salvation by the Father. The
divine life, the inner life of the Trinity, involves the
mission of the Incarnation of the Son. Indeed, the core
spirituality of the priest is a mirror of the joy of a God
in mission.
In practice, the seminary ministry and the mission
ministry of the Archdiocese need to interface to
discover and renew their unitive soul. This consists
not just of mission collection and invitation of
missionary priests as speakers; rather it is an exposure
to the world of mission with all its hues, colors,
aspects, and diversities. This is a challenge for San
Carlos Seminary in the coming years as the charism
of the new archbishop stresses the responsibility of
the Philippines to Asia.
Opinion 7
Archbishop Chito Tagle
and the Task of Building up
the Faith of the Church in Manila
ARCHBISHOP CHITO TAGLE’S APPOINTMENT
to the Archdiocese of Manila did not come as a
surprise to many. After all he is one of the most
recognizable figures not only in the local Church but
even internationally, especially among theologians. A
theologian himself, Archbishop Chito has spoken both
to experts and to the most ordinary of the faithful. Who
hasn’t heard of his name? And who hasn’t had the
chance to listen to one of his
inspiring talks?
Archbishop Chito’s ability
to inspire may be partly
explained by his gift of
humor. He can effortlessly
hold the attention of his
audience by his witty
anecdotes and funny quips. But what really keeps
people seek him again and again as speaker is his knack
for leading his listeners to deeper insight. In the clarity
and simplicity of his words, one cannot but be moved
to experience the joy and vivacity of our Christian faith.
Now that he is Shepherd of Manila, the Archbishop’s
task hasn’t changed much. It only became more
intense. For his mission is to lead us to encounter Jesus
in the experience of our faith. And this the Archbishop
can very well do by inspiring us with his words–which
is exactly what he has been doing ever since he became
a priest, for the Word he proclaims is no less than Jesus
himself, the Word Incarnate.
Of course, people nowadays are more visual than aural,
which means they are less likely going to listen to mere
words. They are rather more inclined to use their eyes.
You ask, which of the five sense functions they’d rather
not lose, and very often the most preferred is the sight.
That’s quite understandable. Ours is a world that
engages our sense of sight more than ever. But the
downside of it is disastrous. We get stuck with the
external and the superficial, to the effect that we become
less reflective and introspective–which only makes the
task of proclaiming God’s Word more challenging.
But that’s the nature of faith. There’s something
invisible to it. No wonder then faith comes not so much
through seeing as through hearing. Surely, the act of
listening happens in the enigma of the hidden. You’d be
pretty well aware if a person stares at you, but there’s
no way of telling whether the person you’re talking to
is really listening to you or not. Listening just happens
in secret.
Archbishop Chito’s thought about Easter very well
articulates such interiority distinctive of the Christian
faith. Reflecting on the disciples’ Easter experience at
the clergy excursion last April 23, 2012, the Archbishop
points out how the joy of Easter quite differs from that
of Christmas. He asks, “Who can’t be happy in the
presence of a newly born baby?” But the gladness
Easter brings is more subtle, he argues. For one has to
turn back into one’s interiority to recognize the Lord
from within.
Such was the disciples’
experience
after
the
Resurrection. Recognizing
the risen Lord involves
more than the act of seeing,
which might even be the
reason for our failure to do
so. Often it is in the act of
hearing his voice that we come to know that it’s him.
Thus the two disciples at Emmaus had to hear Jesus
speak before they could recognize him at the breaking
of the bread. They asked, “Were not our hearts burning
within us as he spoke to us along the way?” And Mary
Magdalene, mistaking Jesus for a gardener, had first
to hear Jesus call out her name “Mary!” before she
realized it was the Lord.
Now we can understand why Archbishop Chito has
chosen the very words of the beloved disciple as motto
when he became a bishop: “It is the Lord!” I guess that’s
how the good Archbishop sees his mission as shepherd–
to enable us his flock to discern the Lord’s presence
in this world gone out of touch with the very source
of its life and existence. And this the Archbishop most
effectively does every time he exposes to us the Word.
Upon his appointment as Shepherd of Manila,
Archbishop Chito said, “I face this heavy responsibility
with much trepidation […] But faith in the gracious
Lord and the love of the Church give me strength.”
Now the Archbishop’s main task is to confirm the faith
of his brethren in the Archdiocese of Manila.
I still remember the lyrics of one old Tagalog song. It
quite describes how we can know the Lord. It says,
“Hesus na aking kapatid, sa lupa nami’y bumalik.
Iyong mukha’y ibang-iba. Hindi kita nakikilala […]
Hesus na aking kapatid, putikin man ang ‘yong sapin.
Punit-punit ang ‘yong damit. Nawa ika’y mapasaakin.
Tulutan mong aking matang mamulat sa katotohanan.
Ikaw Poon makikilala sa taong mapagkumbaba.”
Indeed, recognizing the Lord in our midst requires
more than seeing. We are so fortunate that we have a
bishop who with his words can help us realize, “It is
the Lord!”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This article also appeared in SOWER 2012.
SCSInFormation is the official bulletin of San Carlos Seminary.
Comments, suggestions, reactions or request for subscription may be addressed to
SCS InFormation, San Carlos Seminary Publications, San Carlos Seminary, EDSA, Guadalupe Viejo,
MCPO Box 1414, 1254 Makati City. Telephone Number: 02 8958855 f Fax Number: 02 890 9563.
Publisher
MANILA ARCHDIOCESAN SEMINARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION,
INC. (MASSFI)
Moderator
REV. MSGR. HERNANDO CORONEL
Director
REV. FR. LORENZ MOISES FESTIN
Editor-in-Chief
BON ANDEO NAVARRO
Research Team
PAL JADEN PAGUERGAN
DANIEL DOMINGUEZ
KEVIN COSME
ALFORD MOLINA
Graphics and Lay-out Artists
DEAN JEROME CRUZ
MARVIN CRUZ
KRISTOFFER DUQUE
EDRIANNE BERSAMINA
Associate Editors
JONATHAN NOEL MOJICA
FRANCIS ROI MADARANG
FRANZ JOSEPH AQUINO
Photographers
CLYDE ERICSON NOLASCO
FRED CRISTIAN NARVASA
PHILIPPE GARCIA
GREG TURQUEZA
Circulations
ANTHONY SIBUG
PAUL JEFFREY TOGUAY
NORMAN TRAMBULO
Writers
NIKKO LEYRETANA, PAULO NICDAO, ALFRED CASUGA, JASON ALDE, JONATHAN CADIZ, XAVIER PAUL JACOME,
JONATHAN CAÑETE, RYAN AGUINALDO, JOKO PLURAD, KALI PIETRE LLAMADO, RAYMUND ACUÑA, ROMMEL
CRUZ, ROLANDO DIAZ, JUSTINE PABALAN, JOHN VICTOR BACLOR, MARVIN VINUYA, KIM VALLADORES, JOMARI
ECHANO, RON MARK ELARCOSA, GUILLER OMNES, TEJAY SAMSON, REDENTOR BITUIN, BENEDICT JARLEGO
BETTER AFTER
EXACTLY FOUR YEARS AGO, my classmates and I had
received our white cassocks. It was the most awaited event of
our seminary life then because for the first time, we could finally
wear the cassocks that we had been dreaming of to put on.
During that occasion, I was also given the privilege to deliver
the thanksgiving speech on behalf of my classmates. I shared
about an insight based on the spirituality and pursuit of St.
Ignatius of Loyola, our class patron saint. To convey our saint’s
belief and at the same time make it interesting to people, I shared
about the “best before” label commonly found in food products.
Every time people buy food products in the market or in
grocery stores, I have noticed most of them if not all, would
always check the print on the food packaging that says “best
before.” In relation to this, I thought of the phrase, “better
after.” It was the obvious opposite of “best before,” which
indicates the expiry date.
Applying that in the context of seminary formation, I realized
that the label “better after,” and not “best before,” means that
we are like some kind of “food” that is offered for all. As
Christians, we become food like Jesus, the Bread of Life –
blessed, broken and shared to everyone. If we did give our best
in doing our responsibilities before, we are now challenged to
perform better, after the trials we have undergone. We also try
to be better persons after learning from the many mistakes in
the past. We always do better because that is the way we are
all called to be.
St. Ignatius of Loyola’s desire for magis, which means more,
inspired me to live life by doing more in everything I do. As
I continue my journey in the priestly formation for almost ten
years now, I wish to look deeper into my commitment and
struggles for magis. In that sense, what’s the point then of
doing better after all these years of responding to God’s call?
If we pursue what we want to achieve, we have to work
hard for it. We attain it by giving our best. However, we do
not stop there. We continue to find meaning and strive for
more, for something better. Of course, to be the best is the
highest degree but doing this by means of our efforts is only
a reminder that pertains to someone who is eternally the Best
and the Greatest. Our God is perfect. He is the best. I know we
cannot reach that level on our own. Nevertheless, we can share
in that perfection by becoming connected and committed to
that spirit of aiming higher, being more, and doing better.
So what is being better? It means that we must not be
contented with the achievements we already have. It means
that we must pursue aiming for the magis as life progresses.
Renowned athletes today never stay satisfied with their
present success, championship awards, or world records.
Our very own Manny Pacquiao is the example of this
although he lost just recently in a controversial split decision
against Timothy Bradley. Without a doubt, Manny is the
best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. But he still remains
eager and keeps on preparing for more fights. We know that
he has outdone himself not only because he desires for more
accomplishments, but because being better has become his
routine and way of life as a boxer. Besides, Pacquiao’s wanting
for more is the way he has expressed his love for boxing.
Just like Manny, the desire to become better, after many
triumphs and sometimes defeats, makes us grow as a person.
It also leads us to acquire a certain habit and a greater value to
treasure in life. Such habit and value is the invitation of Jesus
to go the extra mile rather than fulfilling only what is required
from us. Being more and doing better is not only performing
the minimum but also sharing and growing more in love.
When I was still young, I wanted to be a great basketball
player. It was my dream to be someone like my idol then in
basketball, the great Michael Jordan, or a successful artist,
the other Michael, Mr. Jackson. Indeed, more than a dozen
years had passed since the time I thought of that dream and
here I am, still not like those personalities and not even
the best basketball player. I wish to be such perfect person
but I cannot be because it is just the way life goes for me
and there’s a reason for it. The point is that I cannot just be
contented with the present status even though I may have
reached my goal of being the best. I do not stop there and I
cannot just feel good about being successful because I can be
stagnant with this disposition. Above all, my wholeness and
happiness will never depend on the achievement of my goals.
We must not end to strive to become the best. The only way to
do this is to continue to do things better at every endeavour. As
God’s people, our true happiness comes into reality because
of faith, hard work, and patient endurance. At the end of our
journey, heaven is but the only perfect state of life that we have
been longing for ever since. It is only in God’s presence and
eternal joy that we can find fulfilment of all the best things here
on earth. It is in His kingdom that the best is finally realized.
Learning from the past and having a glimpse of the perfect
life to come, how can we be more and do better now?
8 News
SCS Embraces Ash Wednesday
The San Carlos Seminary community welcomed the
start of the Lenten Season as they celebrated Ash
Wednesday last February 22, 2012. It started with a
Holy Eucharist at 6:30 am at the Main Chapel presided
over by the seminary rector, Msgr. Hernando Coronel.
The Holy Mass was attended by the seminarians and
both the teaching and non-teaching personnel of the
seminary.
The message of the liturgical celebration was for the
faithful to repent and believe in the Gospel in order
to remember that they were from ashes and to it they
will return. A mark of the cross using the ashes was
put on their foreheads as a sign of repentance and
commemoration as they start the Lenten Season
awaiting for Christ’s Resurrection.
Ronaldo Diaz
THE SAVING CROSS The Cross is a profound symbol of the observance Lent.
Theology and Formation Year
Join Goods for Garage Sale
Last February 2-3, 2012, the Theology Department
together with the help of the Formation Year
Department launched their annual Garage Sale. The
Pastoral Committee collected from the seminary
formators and seminarians their donated clothes, shoes
and other items to be sold at the event. The two-day
sale of donated goods attracted many buyers because
of the affordable prices and it was considered sold out
in the end. The proceeds will be used for the Pastoral
Committee’s apostolate such as necessary aid for old
and sick priests of near Dioceses and scholarships for
deserving students outside the seminary.
The event also served as an opportunity for both
departments to bond and create a better sense of
brotherhood. The work attached to it was worth doing
because it did not only promote camaraderie but it also
expressed the value of detachment which the community
showed by the initiative of the priest formators. San
Carlos Seminary excitedly looks forward for bestselling merchandises and most importantly, virtues that
everyone could acquire on the next garage sale.
Guiler Van Omnes
Philosophers Invade Bataan
Last January, the San Carlos Seminary Philosophy
community held their annual departmental outing at
Fajardo beach in Bagac, Bataan. The outing was filled
with excitement as the college seminarians were able
to explore the beauty of nature as they prayed their
vespers in front of the sunset during their first day on
the venue. This spirit remained in their hearts up to the
last day of the excursion.
The leaders of the community prepared some exciting
games such as sand castle making contest, tag of war,
and group jumping rope to have bonding for each
buklurans, committees and class.
The collegians enjoyed the company not only of their
brothers in the department but also of their formators.
Joko Rheinsen Plurad
The philosophers also visited famous sites in Bataan,
namely the Bataan Cave, the white beach, and the
historical Mt. Samat, where the Filipinos and Americans
fought the Japanese forces with great courage.
FOR A GREATER CAUSE Garage Sale in the seminary is an apostolate of
generosity and charity.
Philosophy Summer Exposure
After the conclusion of the school year, the Philosophy
Department went to Daet, Camarines Norte for the
annual apostolate and pastoral exposure.
Leaving the seminary on March 20, they travelled eight
hours to reach the Parish of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in
the main district of Daet. There they met with Fr. Augusto
Angeles for some few reminders and orientation. Then
they immediately left for their assigned places in
Labo, Paracale, Mercedes, San Lorenzo, San Vicente,
Capalongga, and Daet Proper. The rural apostolate was
to form their hearts after the heart of the Good Shepherd.
The two week exposure ended on Palm Sunday (April
1) in an audience with the Bishop of Daet, Most Rev.
Gilbert Garcera D.D. He shared thoughts and insights
about the faith, hope and devotion of the people in his
diocese.
Going back to Manila, the seminarians brought with
them lessons and memorable experiences being with
the people. Truly, these are treasures that will contribute
to their formation as future shepherds of the Church.
Joko Rheinsen Plurad
PHILOSOPHERS IN DAET The college seminarians enjoy the company of the foster families and parish priests in their respective areas in Daet, Camarines Norte. The rural
apostolate of the Philosophy Department is the last seminary activity of the school year before going for summer vacation.
BONDING TIME The beautiful beach of Bagac, Bataan was a nice place for
enjoyment, friendship and relaxation for the Philosophy community.
News 9
Philosophy bids
Seniors Farewell
Last March 27, 2012, the Philosophy Department
paid tribute to their graduating seniors before
the Graduation Day. The program began with a
pleasurable sharing of supper. Afterwards, each
bukluran gave heartwarming and amusing messages
to their respective seniors. They also cherished the
best things that ever happened in that year. Some
stories touched the hearts of the seminarians and
some were humorous. Those messages filled the
refectory with laughter, gratitude and forgiveness.
Some seniors are described as jokey, exemplary,
patient, supportive and prayerful. They were good
leaders in our department. The seniors also shared
their unforgettable memories and overflowing
gratitude to the community. Gifts for the seniors
also came together with the letters of their bukluran.
Awarding for the winners of Intramurals led by the
formators also took place.
Theology Building
Marks its Silver Anniversary
The building of San Carlos Graduate School of Theology marks its 25th anniversary this School Year. It was
blessed and inaugurated on June 29, 1987. Years passed and the building has created its own history and legacy.
In order to celebrate the silver anniversary of the building, the theologians are making some preparations for this
grace-filled event.
Last summer vacation, through the initiative of Fr. Carlo Magno S. Marcelo, Director of the Theology Department,
the rooms within the building were all repainted. Fr. Marcelo encouraged all the theology seminarians to be part
of this momentous celebration. He asked every seminarian to choose a picture which will be framed and will be
placed on the wall of his own room. Moreover, on June 29, 2012 new crosses will be blessed to symbolize the
Silver Jubilee of the Theology building. The silver crosses and the pictures will serve as a reminder to the future
occupants of the rooms about the significant event of celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Theology building.
Indeed, the preparations of the theology department seem so minimal for a celebration like this but Fr. Marcelo
stressed that what is important is the history and legacy that the building offers to the seminarians. This building
is an existing witness to the lives of many seminarians and priests, therefore it is but fitting to celebrate this
wonderful event.
Francis Roi Madarang
Fr. Rey Anthony Yatco, the Philosophy Director,
announced the new leaders, which were the
committee chairmen, bukluran leaders and Pantasan
officers, for the following school year. As a final
tribute for the fourth year, a video led everyone
for the community singing. Everyone greeted each
other with smiles, tears, gratitude, forgiveness and
farewell to those who would follow a different road.
The formators expressed their gratefulness to the
community for performing excellently in the past
school year. They also bid farewell to the seniors.
As a finale, each class and bukluran enthusiastically
and happily danced “I Love Philosophy” which is
the theme song of the department. The year-ender
program might not be enough to sum up all the
unexplainable and memorable experiences of the
department but it is a good beginning for a new
school year.
Rommel Cruz
Theo Department
remembers their “Happy
Days” with their Seniors
Theology seminarians gave tribute to their
seniors with a theme, “Happy Days” to let them
reminiscence their memorable and unforgettable
experiences in their five year stay in the Theology
Department.
March 18, 2012 marked a memorable day for the St.
John Ma. Vianney Class for it was their graduation
day in the morning and a special tribute for their
class in the evening. Tradition has it in the Theology
Department to offer a tribute to the graduating class
on the last day of their stay in the department.
25 YEARS The Theology building has been a home since 1987 for many seminarians who are now priests.
Eat All You Can...
(from page 6)
that even the prosecution had no clear vision of their arguments.
Even a geriatric Enrile exercised a great deal of patience saying,
“Counsel, I am very lenient with you...” When such is the case,
one can’t help but contemplate of machination or power play.
Another mind boggling thing concerns the decisions of our
honourable old men. It is for the Senate to pass on laws. It is for
the Supreme Court to provide its interpretation. But what about
Enrile’s interpretation? He argues, “The so-called conflict of
laws between R. A. Nos. 6713 (SALN) and 6426 (Foreign
Currency Law) is more illusory than real. Section 8 of R.A. No
6426 merely prohibits the examination, inquiry, or looking into
a foreign currency deposit account by an entity or person other
than the depositor himself. But there is nothing in R.A. No.
6426 which prohibits the depositor from making a declaration
on his own of such foreign currency funds, especially in this
case where the Constitution mandates the depositor who
is a public officer to declare all assets under oath.” Are we,
therefore, to consider this as an infallible doctrine or an opinion
of a fallible mortal? I do not know.
Lastly, the judgment rendered to the Chief Justice was brought
about neither by the brilliant arguments of the Prosecution nor
by the negligence of the Defence. Conchita Morales may have
dropped a bombshell but her statements were as questionable
as the Nagasaki bombing. She released the AMLC report
without a court order and “publicized” what to Corona she said
was confidential. Corona also didn’t provide any supporting
documents for his three-hour statement. In short, the sentence
emerged from the union of unverified testimonies and personal
opinions. “Konsensya lang po ang ginagamit ko dito...” (I’m
only using my conscience) said one Senator. Sadly, his data
stood on sandy ground. Conscience can go a long way but with
dubious data it will doubtlessly stray.
In the end, our quest for enlightenment has led us more into the
valley of darkness than the plains of illumination as we stand
on pure speculation. This is not the place of Venerable Bede’s
woks of History. This is for Homer’s mythical stories.
And so, in our desire to know the truth we have bitten more
than we could chew. We have eaten more than what our
stomachs could hold. In gastronomical terms: Impacho.
Karlo Marko Valladores
The program commenced at the Theology Refectory
at 8:30 in the evening. The said tribute comprised
messages from the formators, videos to honor each
fourth year in each Kapatiran. There were also
games of recalling and remembering, and lastly,
messages from each fourth year as their final words
of wisdom, gratitude, and appreciation for the
community. The program capped with the toast of
wine to wish everyone good luck and perseverance
for the precious gift of vocation God had given us.
Ral Jaden Paguergan
10 N e w s
GOD’S GENEROSITY
IN THE LIVES
OF OLD PRIESTS
“To give and not to count the cost…to labor and ask
not for reward.” These words taken from the Prayer
for Generosity of St. Ignatius of Loyola resounded
in our experience of visiting old and retired priests.
Last January 21, the Pastoral Committee of the
Theology Department, in coordination with Ephesus
Ministry, organized the Dalaw Pari apostolate. The
community was divided into several groups wherein
each group, accompanied by an Ephesus volunteer,
was assigned to visit old and retired priests in their
homes.
Our group was assigned to visit one retired bishop
and two priests residing in Parañaque area: Most
Rev. Pedro Dean, Fr. Jesus Estrada and Msgr. Danilo
Pascual. Bishop Dean is the Archbishop Emeritus of
Palo; Fr. Estrada is a retired priest from the Diocese
of Parañaque; and Msgr. Pascual is a retired priest
from the Archdiocese of Manila. All of them were
not in good medical condition. Archbishop Dean
is suffering from diabetes. Fr. Jesus has cancer.
Msgr. Dan is bedridden after suffering from stroke.
Despite of these, we were still grateful for their
mere presence in entertaining us as their visitors
during that day. Bishop Pedro shared with us his
seminary experiences. Fr. Jesus shared with us his
life during his active ministry. Msgr. Dan, because of
his difficulty in speaking, expressed his appreciation
for our visit through his body language. He swayed
his toes to the beat of the songs we happily rendered
for him.
Theology Spends
A Day of Sabbath in Puerto Galera
In the Theology Department, a Sabbath day is always
observed every Monday. It is a day meant for physical
rest, personal prayer and recreation. It is in this spirit
that theologians spent the duration of their excursion in
Puerto Galera.
Last January 22-23, the Theology community together
with its priest formators went to Puerto Galera, Oriental
Mindoro. They stayed overnight at the elegant yet
affordable Tamaraw Beach Resort. The peaceful and
relaxing atmosphere of the place provided them the
opportunity to enjoy the sceneries of the beach since
the area was relatively away from the party-filled and
noisy portion of Puerto Galera.
God in turn did not leave them alone. Hearing their
stories, I was able to recognize God’s providence
actively working in their lives, even at the very
weak moments of their ministry. Fr. Jesus told us
that a certain parishioner, upon knowing that he is
suffering from cancer, offered one of their rental
houses for free. Bishop Pedro and Msgr. Danilo
are under the care of the people who look after and
provide their needs. Indeed, the faithfulness of God
never fails. God always remains to be generous to
us unconditionally. God gives without counting the
cost. God works without expecting any reward. This
is God’s unconditional generosity which moves me
to be also generous in responding to His call.
Jonathan Cadiz
Bon Andeo Navarro
MINDORO BREEZE Theology seminarians with their formators arrive in Puerto Galera after a cool boat ride.
Theology Annual Retreat Gears
towards Counter-culture
For almost a week, the San Carlos Seminary theology
community entered the annual retreat from the evening
of May 27, 2012, Sunday, until the morning of June 1,
2012, Friday. Fr. Andrew Recepcion, the parish priest
of Our Lady of Penafrancia Parish in Naga City of the
Archdiocese of Caceres and president of the Philippine
Missiology Society, facilitated the said retreat.
Upon reflecting on this experience, I realized that
Bishop Dean, Fr. Jesus and Msgr. Dan were living
witnesses of the generous offering of their whole lives
for the service of God. As someone who is aspiring
to become a priest, I am reminded by this enriching
experience that priesthood is not about the mentality
of what profit I can gain from the ministry. Rather,
it is about giving without counting the cost, serving
the people without expecting any reward. It is about
trusting God who Himself is our ultimate reward. In
other words, priesthood is about one’s generosity in
offering his life for the service of God.
The entire duration of the excursion was indeed a day
of rest from various seminary activities. Everyone was
given the chance to spend quality time for bonding and
relaxation with their kapatirans and classmates. It was
also a day of recreation as they happily enjoyed playing
beach volleyball under the heat of the sun while some
took a plunge into the pristine waters of the beach. It
was also a day of personal prayer as they encounter God
through their direct contact with nature. The excursion
began with a spirit of excitement and ended with a
spirit of thanksgiving during the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist in the Theology Oratory.
Fr. Recepcion, a missiologist, addressed to the
community the importance of the adaptation of
evangelical cultures as a response to the prevailing
materialistic-consumerist cultures present in the
society. Through this awareness, he led the community
to discover the value of the Gospel teachings as
evangelical cultures that can be applied in the seminary
formation. He challenged the community to respond to
the call of the times. He also stressed that the holy priest
is formed not when a candidate becomes a priest.
Fr. Recepcion focused on the preparation of the self,
his relationship to the Divine and his dreams for the
community to build its goal and vision for this school
year.
Fr. Joselito Buenafe assisted Fr. Recepcion in the
beginning of the retreat as he gave a talk on the
importance silence to this spiritual exercise. On the
other hand, Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo introduced
to the community a documentary film on the life of
Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, a known
Vietnamese prelate who underwent imprisonment for
13 years, but best remembered as a man of silence and
a witness of hope.
Raymund Acuña
ALREADY BUT NOT YET Fr. Andrew Recepcion guides the Theology seminarians in their four-day retreat at the start of SY 2012-2013. He points out repeatedly that the life of
a seminarian is a life of the priest “already but not yet.”
Theo builds A
Community of Love
“We can never build memories of tomorrow…
enjoy the present moment” was one of the main
points of Dra. Gaines Rosario when she facilitated
the community building workshop of Theology
seminarians of San Carlos Seminary held at the new
Layforce Auditorium last June 11 and 18, 2012. The
main the theme of the said event was “Building a
community of Love.”
The two-day workshop stressed the importance
of respect and love as avenues towards building a
community.
Clyde Ericson Nolasco
MOMENT OF GRACE Dra. Gaines emphasizes the importance building good
relationships in accepting and loving one another .
R e v i e w s 11
Sparks did it again
“How can you explain something that you yourself
don’t even understand?” - Logan Thibault (Zac Efron)
Last summer, a novel of a well-known author, Nicholas
Sparks, was put into a motion picture. Sparks, known
as the writer of overemotional romance, had just added
this novel The Lucky One to his great collection of
writings last 2008.
The novel, which was published during the time when
American was attacking Iraq, was centered on the life
and experiences of a soldier stationed in Iraq, which
would add a government touch to the romantic plot.
Logan Thibault (ZacEfron) is a former Marine, who
had just returned from a tour in Iraq. While he was
stationed in the Middle East, Logan discovered a
lost picture with a beautiful woman in which the
background is at a fair in North Carolina. After the
discovery, he asked if someone owns it. When no
one claims the picture, he then decided to keep it.
Eventually, after keeping the picture he began to
experience a streak of good luck.
After sometime he returned
back to the States and there
he found out that it was hard
to return to his former life in
Colorado, so he decided to have
a new life. In order to fulfil this
purpose, he backpacked and
began to find the woman in the
picture. Along his journey, he
experienced and endured many
challenges just to find the girl.
After a long journey, he
found his way to Hampton,
North Carolina and there he
met Elizabeth Green (Taylor
Schilling), a single mother
and teacher living with her
grandmother and the girl who
is in the picture. Logan, at that
point, lost the chance to tell the
story about picture but in the
end Elizabeth found out about
the story of the photo.
This movie is so moving that in fact it can’t just be
about romance and political at all but you can also
relate it to what is happening right now with you.
The guy, Logan Thibault, has faced many other
challenges on his way to find the girl. Would we take
it all too? Would we face all the challenges that would
come just to get what we want to achieve? Can we
make through it all?
John Victor Baclor
In Time
The movie “In Time” has a twist where everyone is
craving and eager to have more time to live because
who in the world would not want to live longer than
much of expected in humans’ lifetime? People’s
life in the movie is controlled only by numbers in
the form of time. Numbers nowadays are the most
powerful things that control the earth because they
give certainty to quantitative elementss such as
time, amount and size. They
give exactness to things and
eventually become the measure
of things. Before, man is the
measure, but now it is different.
The currency is no longer
money or tangible matter but it
is already time.
Indeed, it is an inspiring movie because with time,
one has changed the order of everyone’s life. Will
Sallas (Justin Timberlake) was given a century to
live by someone whom he does not really know and
he has been given a task to make a great change. That
change is a dare given that he had acquired a century
time to live (where in the real world we cannot do)
means he was given a great responsibility and a once
in a lifetime opportunity.
In my situation, the movie can be connected to the
allegory of the cave by Plato because in the movie
there is this great search for the truth. The truth that
they seek has been hiding from them for a long time.
In quest to know the truth, they must live longer
equipped with all the knowledge and the skills while
they unravel the lies that has been blinding everyone
for a long period of time. The Filipino signage
“Bawal tumambay dito” gave me an idea that I must
seize the day. Every second, every minute, every
hour counts and it is very precious for every person
who has a limited time just like the people in the film
“In Time.”
Having a million of years
is like having a life that
is eternal. In the movie
there was a pack of time
in the vault of one of
the richest person who
owns one of the largest
and most corrupt “times
lending company.” It is
corrupt because they are
charging much of what is
expected from those who
are in dire need of time.
Time is an essential thing
in life and the characters
did everything just to
have more time.
The film was similar to “Robin Hood” in the way
that the protagonist steals from banks’ time to be
given to those unfortunate people who cannot afford
to return the time they owe from banks when they
are borrowing time.
How can one live longer? That is still uncertain, but
everything will be answered in time.
Jomari Echano
THE JUNGLE BOOK
Have you ever dreamt of
spending your vacation
along the sandy shores
of Boracay? Or on the
cool mountaintop of
Baguio? How about in a
jungle?
Enter Seeonee Jungle,
abode of wolf packs,
gigantic
elephants,
frightening
pythons,
and Mowgli, the man
cub. The Jungle Books
by Rudyard Kipling
revolves on the story of Mowgli, a child abandoned
on the Seeonee jungle and raised by the wolves. In his
adventures, Mowgli meets the phyton Kaa, the tiger
Shere Khan, the elephant Hathi, the wolf Akela and
many more.
Composed of two volumes, The Jungle Books does
not only feature a jungle-centered Tarzan story, but it
also contains the stories of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Toomai,
Kotuko and others. The Jungle Books tells stories of
courage, heroism, brotherhood, love for nature and
many more.
While waiting for the next vacation to come, why not
peer into the jungle and create an adventure of own?
Good hunting to all!
Benedict Jarlego
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
“God is the biggest one there is. And he really really
loves us, Dad. You can’t believe how much he loves
us!”
Heaven is for Real is a book written by Todd Burpo,
the father of a little boy who had an “astounding story
of his trip to heaven and back.” After miraculously
surviving a ruptured appendix, a three-year old child
Colton Burpo of Nebraska describes an extraordinary
experience he had in heaven. He details to his
parents how he left his body during the surgery and
the way the angels sang before him while he was in
the hospital. Colton describes what his parents were
exactly doing in different rooms while he was in
the surgery bed. He described how beautiful heaven
is and how welcoming the people in heaven are.
There he met his grandfather and sister who died
even before he was born. “In heaven, nobody is
old and nobody wears glasses.” He narrates stories
about things which had actually happened prior to
his birth. In heaven, met Jesus whom he described
having very beautiful eyes and who “really really
loves children.” He has
even encountered the
Holy Spirit during his
short stay in heaven.
The Holy Spirit “shoots
down” power to his
father while he talks in
church. Colton’s simple
and innocent words to
his parents offered them
a glimpse of heaven.
The book Heaven is for
Real stirs the heart of the
readers to think and rethink their view on heaven and
eternity. Seminarians may have very sophisticated
idea of what heaven is really like and what it is like
to be there. However, the innocent story of Colton
puts this fundamental truth in a simple yet profound
statement. It is that heaven, indeed, is for real!
Dean Jerome Cruz
12 F e a t u r e
A
fter my two-year regency, I experience God intensely
in various situations of my life. The following are
the meaningful experiences and realizations I had with the
many people I have met from the day I left the seminary. I
consider them gifts from Jesus which guided and helped me
acknowledge God’s presence in my life.
I devoted my first year of regency in deepening my relationship
with God by adopting and learning the life of love and
communion espoused by the Focolare Movement. Indeed,
living with individuals with different personalities was difficult
yet possible in the name of love. Being with the community, I
saw my own selfishness and bad habits and experienced losing
myself for others. It was quite challenging and a continuous
struggle from within. The invitation for conversion was strong
and compelling as the spirituality of communion summons
oneself to always go for an extra
mile in loving.
I am deeply touched and moved by their love. Living together
with them reminds me of my life learned in Tagaytay. It is an
experience no one can take away from me and I will continue to
hold on it as I journey in this life. During our weekends where
everyone is at home, we share together our experiences the
past days. We had shared many special occasions in the family.
No words can describe my deepest joy and thanksgiving to
them and to our Lord Jesus Christ. Having this opportunity
reminds me how blessed and loved I am. I will never take this
for granted because of my selfishness.
Shortly during the middle of July, I was accepted as a message
clerk at Malayan Insurance in Binondo, Manila. Neither
I expect this work to come nor see myself working a bit far
from Angono. First two weeks, I was with my mentor. Then,
on the succeeding weeks I was on my own. The process of
Looking at My Vocation
with New Eyes
I was in the kitchen
then, working with
a Chinese deacon.
We were the ones
deciding what to
cook and when to
buy the ingredients
for our meals. He
had his own ideas and I had mine too. There were times that we
agreed on what to do. But there were times that we disagreed.
It was an experience of give-and-take relationship. It measured
my patience and understanding. Nevertheless, it was a great
deal to love the person. To see Jesus in others and being the
first one to love was my means to overcome myself. I always
prayed for every one that Jesus might be our teacher in living
the life of communion. Then suddenly, an ordinary kitchen
work turned to be a beautiful place to express our love for Jesus
through our neighbors.
The house also became my purgatory. Since we were
responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and earning money
to support a part of our daily needs in the house, I could not
avoid to compare and to judge everyone’s negligence of their
duty. I was deluded with so much expectation. I became lax
with my assignments and self-centered in regard with my
priorities. Then, one of our meditations called my attention for
a change. It was a meditation on the death of Jesus that is for
the salvation of everyone, both good and bad people.
This meditation challenged me to face my unsettled relationship
with my father. Since he failed to do his duties to us as our
father, we were not also close to one another. Our relationship
is superficial and empty. He is just my father and I am his son.
Of course, it is not the will of God to treat my father that way.
There might be reasons behind his mistakes. And the right
thing to do is to love him. Loving him is difficult yet possible
in the name of love. Our spirituality says that love conquers
everything and Chiara Lubich testified to this many times.
Fortunately, the priests in Tagaytay guided me to disclose
myself in the grace and mercy of God to forgive my father.
It was tough but relieving. I realized that it was not too late
to start again and create a harmonious relationship with him.
At present, he lives with another woman, but we feel that the
connection with me is already there and is going strong.
Since then, I felt close to God. I have learned that life is, indeed,
a choice and continuously choosing. Dedication to serve God
is rooted in love and humility. And our neighbor could also be
our way to heaven, to become holy and true servant of God.
I have learned so much about optimism in life and a new way
of looking at God. The community’s way of living out the
Gospel had an inspiring call to a holy life, which is suited for
everyone. Then, I began to absorb the spirituality and practice
the art of loving. The art of loving was an expression of the
golden rule, suggesting ways how to live out the word of God
always. It required dedication and love for Jesus. Thus, I began
to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus while improving
also my love for my neighbor.
Then, March of the present year, I went down and stay with
my foster family (Yabut family) in Angono, Rizal. I decided to
extend my regency program to experience work outside and to
settle remaining issues on my family life. I was afraid then but
they accepted it wholeheartedly. Again, I felt blessed for this
beautiful opportunity to grow as a person.
It took a little while for me to find a job. Indeed, I stayed quite
some time waiting at home. On the other hand, I did not waste
my time; instead, I reviewed my English grammar and planned
out my schedule during the day while finding a job. At home,
I dedicated my time doing different house chores every day.
During the week, I scheduled what to clean and what to arrange
at home. I did them one at a time. I started clearing the garage
and arranged stuffs neatly. I sometimes felt obliged to do
these things because I owe to them much love and generosity.
However, I never felt that way anymore because I could feel
their sincerity and kindness as part of their family.
my application was done in a matter of
week. I took the exam on a Wednesday,
and then Friday they called me up for an
interview on Monday of the following
week. After the interview, I got hired. The
nature of my work is to receive and record all the inbound and
outbound mails of the company. I am also tasked to renew the
registrations of all company cars and paying all the real state
of the company. Once a month, I am expected to do fire safety
inspection of the whole building. When I heard all of this stuff,
I uttered unto myself, please help me God.
I had a hard time adjusting with my work. It was busy and
tedious. Though busy or tiresome it was, I still reflected every
experience that I had during the day. I knew God was telling
me something through these experiences. He would never put
me here, if there was no purpose. Therefore, every day I prayed
for guidance and openness to welcome all the good and painful
experiences as I met different kinds of people in the office, in
the streets, and in the train. And, lo and behold, it is true, for
there are significant experiences I learned to treasure in my
heart.
For example, I realize when somebody asked me a question
about the Trinity and historical birth of Jesus. I felt ashamed;
first she knew that I was in the seminary, second I was confused
and could not compose myself to answer her questions. I tried
to recall everything I studied. I knew that we had discussed it
in class before, but I failed to convince her with my answers.
Since then, I realized the importance of studying our lessons
well and learning them by heart.
Another experience was in the office. It was a fair morning
when I received a call from one of the departments in the
company, complaining about delay of a document going to
Cebu. It contains a bond that costs 5 million pesos. The client
is demanding to receive the bond on that very day but it was
almost impossible unless we pay for an extra charge. I started
to shake when the client is warning us to bring her concern to
the chairman of the company and withdraw her transactions in
the company if she will not receive the bond that day. If this
happens, then it is a loss. We would not like to end up that way.
We might lose our job too. The whole department was busy the
whole morning trying
to find out the best
solution. I am started to
blame myself because
I am the person who
should release the
document. Fortunately,
the assistant manager
gave the best answer
and document had
reached Cebu within
the day. Then, later in
the afternoon, my boss
called me, talked to me
and told me to remember
RETURNING REGENT Two years outside the always this experience
seminary gave Ron Mark many realizations.
to avoid problems in the
future. I was relieved when she encourages me to work hard more
and keep my eyes wide open for possible problem.
First-time... in my
Last Apostolate
For nine summers, since I entered the seminary in 2004,
I have experienced the so-called summer apostolate for
seminarians in the Diocese of Antipolo; be it parish based
apostolate or immersion apostolate; and from all types of
places in the jurisdiction of the diocese – rural, urban, and
rurban. I have been in the two farthest places of the diocese
– the two boundaries: Jala-jala (where many seminarians
get married after their apostolate) and Montalban (where
relocation sites are); to the Solid Cement (where it is
dust free) and to Antipolo Cathedral (where there are a
multitude of car blessings); to SSS Marikina (where
almost all parishioners have their own missals) and to
Tañong, Marikina (where my job was to walk with the
mammoth Rottweiler dog of the Jesuit Pastor); to Tanay
(where traditions are rich) and to the Bishop’s House
(where I became more acquainted with my bishop); and
finally, my last apostolate, to a nearby parish in our home,
at Our Lady of Light Parish, Cainta, Rizal, under the
guidance of Rev. Msgr. Arnel F. Lagarejos.
Though it was my last summer apostolate, still, I have
had many “first time experiences.” It was my first time
to act as the Master of Ceremonies during the Holy Week
services; my first time to sing the exultet and the litany of
saints; my first time to bless a number of fetus; my first
time to share my reflections in the Bibliarasal; my first
time to give an allocutio in the Legion of Mary; and my
first time to deliver a homily in the presence of the Parish
Priest who is a good preacher himself and who uses power
point presentations in his sermon. As I look back, I can say
that each and every apostolate is unique because it offered
me first-time experiences as a seminarian.
Secondly, in all my apostolates, I had been praying to be
partnered with someone who is elder than I or even as old
as I am; but in all those nine years of apostolates, I have
been the elder of the group. I have accompanied 9 younger
seminarians who are first timers in the apostolate realm
– a minor seminarian or a formation year seminarian.
Though it was the case, it challenged me to guide them
all the more, especially in mentoring and forming them as
better seminarians doing an apostolate. It was also a time
for me to share experiences and stories with them in order
to help my younger companion to be a better seminarian
especially with high emphasis in the spiritual aspect of the
apostolate but not disregarding its pastoral and intellectual
aspect.
Last of all, it was not just a time to remind myself that
“there is no vacation for my vocation” but it was my first
time to “find my vocation in my vacation,” meaning, it
was an opportunity for me to grow more in my vocation
even it is vacation because of the formation the apostolate
had given me. The apostolate made me reflect on what can
I give to the Church in the present moment – would I be an
asset or a liability to her? Thanks be to the grace of God,
I feel that God had showered me the choicest blessing I
needed whenever I am in the apostolate, sharing myself
to others and manifesting to them the love for the gift of
vocation God had given me.
Ral Jaden Paguergan
I am offering all of these experiences to the Lord. My strength
is the love of God. Constant visit to the Blessed Sacrament
and prayer sustain my day. Though I could not afford to hear
the mass every day, I am entrusting everything to the Lord all
Sunday masses. And of course, Mary is always my companion
in my daily trip. Rosary, rosary, rosary…
Indeed, the reason why I would like to come back in the
seminary is that I believe love begets love. Though I may be
wounded, God is my healer. Though I may be vulnerable, God
is my strength. Without him I am nothing.
Ron Mark Elarcosa
HANDS ON Diocesan summer apostolate is a time of direct encounter with people
and an experience of unexpected things such as living and working like the people in
the areas.
Feature 13
Church of the Poor
Full implementation of the extended Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP) was the battle cry of Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Broderick Pabillo to President Benigno Aquino III. This
shows the Auxiliary Bishop’s great support for all farmers.
As the CARP reaches its end this coming 2014, farmers worry
about their pending petitions. This is the reason why the bishop
pleaded to our President to have a mandate extending the said
program so that the hope for the solution to the decade-long
petitions of the farmers might not be treated with disregard, and
worse, be discarded.
We all know that farmers are responsible in providing us food.
“We eat to live.” How can we live if we have nothing to eat? We
must realize the noble role of farmers in the whole human race
and let us be aware of their plight and sad fate in the country.
What if farmers will not plant anymore because they do not have
lands of their own to till and plant their crops on? We who are
not farmers are lucky because we just go to the market or airconditioned supermarkets to buy our food without relaying the
many hardships the farmers go through before such food reach
our tables and fill up our empty stomachs. Can you imagine
how devastating it is when after all the time spent and the effort
exerted by farmers from pre-planting, planting, until harvesting,
then all of a sudden a typhoon would just destroy all that they
have worked hard for? Let us try to put ourselves in their place.
They just have simple needs: food, shelter or a dwelling place
which they own, and education for their children.
The farmers do not care much about their sunburned skin. All
they care about is the land which they own and can plant their
own crops because they know that if they do not plant, all of
us will go hungry. So, what must we do? We can help them by
being their VOICE to our leaders telling them that those farmers
who provide us food have their own needs to be provided, too.
It’s More Fun in Carugang
Last April 10, the SCS Philosophy seminarians of the
Archdiocese of Manila went to Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija,
for our Diocesan rural apostolate. We did not expect that
assignment but we still had to go. We packed up all the
things that we needed and with high hopes, we journeyed
straight to our destination. Morning of that day, we rode a
bus from Cubao going to Cabanatuan City. When we got
to the city, the Maria Assumpta Seminary (MAS) offered
us lunch and truly we are grateful for them. Conserving
our time and energy from MAS, we went immediately to
the parish of St. Paul in Gabaldon. When we arrived at the
parish, all of us thought that we will only be assigned in
the neighborhood, so we thought it will not be that hard
after all. Seeing stores and other signs of modernization,
these gave us an idea that the rumors about what we will
be experiencing for this summer apostolate were not true;
things like no electricity, or the convenience of clean
water, or a well maintained comfort room.
That was our mindset until Kuya Rey, the head of the Lay
Ministers of the parish broke the news and advised to ride
tricycles, and then the real trip to our apostolate began.
The tricycles unload us near the riverside; it was already
late in the afternoon. All our baggages were loaded to a
tractor while we, keeping the ends of our shorts higher
than our knees, crossed the flowing river. At last, we had
set foot on the place named Carugang. After crossing the
river you would have to take a walk across the fields going
up to the sitio proper. When we arrived at the area called
as the plaza, it was already dusk so we were immediately
sent to our respective foster families with whom we would
stay for two weeks.
To sum up our experiences in Carugang, I quote the
reflection of one of my brother seminarians, and he said,
“Kapatid, I realized…If you set a mentality on a certain
thing like: naasign ako dito or di ako mag-eenjoy, gusto
ko ng umuwi, hintayin ko na lang matapos ito. Then, this
will never be fruitful, I will never cherish the opportunity
and the moments, which are hiddenly plotted in our
hearts, and when we try to examine ourselves, we dig
in these treasures without knowing everything we do is
worthwhile. If before I used to take these experiences for
granted, now I consider them as grace.”
We all went back to Manila with our kilos of sibuyas and
our handful of stories to tell. Our stay in Carugang after
all is like hitting two birds with one stone: we got to live
in harmony with the people and we strengthened the bond
of our ties as brother seminarians. The important insight I
learned from this experience is, “Apostolate is never about
the service or aid that you render to the people because
these things are merely accessories, but Apostolate is more
about gaining self-knowledge that will determine whether
you are for the priesthood or not.”
Xavier Paul Y. Jacome
According to the official website of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), “As of Wednesday, 30
bishops have already signified their support to Pabillo’s letter
to Aquino. Among them are Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio
Tagle and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, current president of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.”
Bishop Pabillio also sought a dialogue with the President and
the protesting peasants and Malacañang officials said they
are ready to meet with leaders of farmers’ groups on June 8.
Some of these farmers most especially those who came from
Negros Occidental stayed overnight at San Carlos Seminary
Gymnasium, last June 6, 2012.
This is to show that, at least, our Church leaders are trying their
best to give some preference to the poor and thus, putting the
words of Jesus into practice: “Whatever you did to the least of
your brethren, you did it to me.”
MARCH OF HOPE (Left) Farmers walked all the way from Negros Occidental to Malacañang and stayed overnight in the San Carlos Seminary Gymnasium (Right), where
during the evening they had the celebration of the Eucharist.
Jonathan James Cañete
AS HAVING A
MISSIONARY IDENTITY
Any Karlista who has taken the classes that he handles
in both the Philosophy and Theology Department
would surely have a lot of exciting stories and
memories to share about the man and how he handled
his classes from the balasa system to the dreaded
bungo (skull, i.e. a failing mark), and much more, the
knee-trembling Golgotha or Lugar ng mga Bungo (if
ever you give a barrage of unsatisfactory answers and
earn a lot of failing marks in his subjects), one would
surely await the utterance of that
sweet word, that one favorable
word in his class: moksa which
could either mean rest or
salvation in Indian Philosophy
(this means class dismissed for
us). Furthermore, who would
be able to forget that almost
immortalized PUB, Pascual
Liner and Cobra Energy Drink
that by merely mentioning them
in class have become mantralike.
Rev. Fr. Jose Vidamor B. Yu,
LRMS surely has a lot of things
up his sleeves to make his
classes both entertaining and impressive at the same
time.
Life, Vocation and Others
Fr. Jose Vidamor Yu, more commonly known as Fr.
Jo Yu, is the only child of Rogelio Yu and Gresilda
Baybay. He was born in Cebu City on August 24,
1966.
He finished his primary and secondary education at
the Holy Cross of Kalinan School in Davao City.
Studying in a Catholic School, the young Jo Yu was
not at all unaware about Church affairs. The school
itself, which was run by
the Presentation of Mary
Sisters, played a vital role
in his vocation.
When asked about how
his vocation started, Fr.
Jo was very simple and straightforward in his answer.
He told me that it all started when he was asked to
join the Flores de Mayo celebration in his parish when
he was just 10 yrs. old, then he joined a charismatic
group which he said “further nourished his vocation.”
After his high school graduation in 1987, Fr. Jo
immediately entered St. Francis Xavier Seminary in
Davao where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in
Philosophy. He went to Manila
and entered the Lorenzo
Mission
Institute
(LMI),
then finished his Theological
Studies at the San Carlos
Graduate School of Theology.
It was in Davao where he
learned about the Lorenzo
Ruiz Mission Society (LRMS).
A certain Msgr. Paul Lu,
PME, Pastor of Sacred Heart
Parish in Obrero, Davao
City, acquainted him with
the Society. So after being a
seminarian for the Archdiocese
of Davao, Fr. Jo started to
embark on his missionary journey as part of LRMS.
He was ordained as deacon on March 25, 1992, and
shortly after he was sent to Hsinchu, Taiwan where he
spent six months of missionary work. He then went
back to the Philippines and was ordained by Cardinal
Sin to the priesthood on January 17, 1993.
His assignments after ordination were as follows:
Queen of Peace Parish, Bacolod City for three months
and Sacred Heart Parish, Davao City for one year and
seven months. Cardinal Sin then sent him to Rome
for further studies. He obtained his Licentiate in
Missiology in 1996 and Doctorate in Missiology in
1999 both from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
When he came back to the Philippines, he was
immediately assigned in LMI where he served as Vice
Rector, Procurator, Dean of Studies, and just very
recently, Rector.
As rector, I asked him what his particular thrust would
be. Because usually, a change in management could
also mean a change in the way things are done. He told
me that he would change nothing in the way things
are done in LMI but that he would just “continue the
tradition and charism of LMI as having a missionary
identity.”
Message to Seminarians
When asked about his message to seminarians, Fr.
Jo paused for a while and after some moments of
introspection, his answer proved all the more how
much he values seminary formation. His message
goes thus:
“Let us form ourselves according to the image of
the Good Shepherd, and let us take care of one
another.”
The new LMI rector takes a break with the author.
14 F e a t u r e
SY 2012-2013: NEW FACES IN THE ACADEME
THIS SCHOOL YEAR 2012-2013, the Philosophy
Department of San Carlos Seminary welcomes
three teachers from Our Lady of Guadalupe
Minor Seminary (OLGMS) as they have been
invited for the first time, as professors in the
college department. They are Mrs. Tanya Namit,
MA cand., new professor of Study and Thinking
Skills in English (English 1), Mr. Noel Noble,
Ph.D cand., new professor of Earth and Universe
(Science 3), and Mrs. Lelia Vital, MA units,
new professor of Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan
(Filipino 1).
Born on January 15, 1972, Mrs. Namit took up her
BS Tourism at the University of the Philippines,
SCS AT 310…
MORE TO COME
This school year, the San Carlos Seminary community
marks numerous anniversaries. We begin first with
our seminary foundation. Yes, SCS is now 310 years
old. Recall that our seminary, envisioned as an ideal
house of priestly formation in the Far East, was
established by virtue of Spanish royal decree on
April 28, 1702.
Diliman in 1993 and she is currently pursuing
her Master ’s Degree in Language Learning and
Literature Teaching at the Ateneo de Manila
University. She has been teaching at OLGMS
since 2003.
Mr. Noel Noble was born on August 9, 1968. He
finished his Bachelor of Science in Biology, minor
in Chemistry at the Adamson University in 1989.
Since 1990, he belongs to the faculty of OLGMS,
where he also serves as Assistant Principal at
present. He holds an M.A. in Science Education
from the Philippine Normal University. Recently,
he successfully defended his dissertation for his
Ph.D in Science Education at the same institution.
Mrs. Vital, born on January 24, 1956, holds a
BSE in Filipino, minor in Home Economics from
the Philippine Normal University, and has M.A.
units in Linguistics from the same university.
For the Graduate School of Theology, Liturgy 1 is
given to a new professor, Fr. Reginald Malicdem,
private secretary to the Archbishop of Manila. He
finished his Master ’s Degree in Liturgy (MAL),
Summa Cum Laude, from the San Beda Graduate
School of Theology last year.
Mr. Edwin Lopez from EWTN Asia takes his
invitational lecture for Homiletics 2.
Daniel Dominguez
Similarly, the Pastoral-Spiritual Integration Year
(PSIY) marks its 20th anniversary. The PSIY was
introduced to San Carlos Seminary in the SY 19921993, with Fr. Celestino V. Pascual as its first
director. Now, the PSIY Department has 4 resident
seminarians, with Fr. Joselito Martin as director.
Six of our formators are celebrating their sacerdotal
jubilees. Msgr. Allen Aganon, Pastoral Director of
the Theology Department will celebrate his 30th
sacerdotal anniversary on September 18. Fr. Yulito
Ignacio, the Head Spiritual Director of the Philosophy
Department, marks his 25h anniversary as a priest
on September 19. Fr. Lorenz Moises Festin, the
Academic Dean of the Philosophy Department, will
celebrate his 20th priestly anniversary on December
3. Fr. Joselito Buenafe, Spiritual Director of the
Theology Department, and Fr. Rolando Garcia Jr.,
resident Professor, will turn 10 years in the priesthood
this coming September 28, 2002.
THE FOUNDER (Above) Fr. Van de Steen leads the Optimi Choir in the 1980’s. Inset
photo shows the new batch of Optimi in one of their live performances.
THROUGH THE YEARS San Carlos Seminary is the first diocesan seminary for
Asia.
This June, we commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the
theology building. It was blessed and inaugurated on
June 29, 1987, by then Manila Archbishop Jaime L.
Cardinal Sin. At present, the Theology Department
is graced to welcome the event with the unveiling of
monumental picture frames in every dormitory. Fr.
Carlo Magno S. Marcelo, the director of the Theology
Department, also shares his delightful sentiments
over the building, as he recalls being one among the
pioneer seminarians who first occupied the building
(See related story on page 9).
PRIESTS FOREVER (Clockwise) Msgr. Allen, Fr. Lorenz with Fr. Yul, Fr. Jojo and
Fr. Rolly all celebrate a milestone in their priestly ministry.
The San Carlos Optimi Choir will mark the 25th
death anniversary of the late music mentor Rev. Fr.
Jan Van De Steen this August 16.
ABOVE ALL, SCSInfo celebrates 20 years of
existence in seminary publication. It was introduced
in the SY 1992-1993 during the tenure of then rector
Msgr. Crisostomo Yalung.
Daniel Dominguez
THE LEGACY LIVES ON The first issue of SCS Information was released on
August 31, 1992 during the rectorship of Msgr. CrisostomoYalung (Inset).
Commemorative Page 1 5
It may mean a surprise gift for you.
A new bi-monthly publication for the San Carlos
Seminary (all three departments) is in search of a
name.
The name should:
- Speak of the nature and character of a
seminary publication.
- Project the publication’s objectives to
inform and form.
- Be short and precise.
- Be catchy.
- Have impact.
All students and formators are invited to give their
suggestions. Write down your suggested title/s
for this new publication on a clean sheet of paper
bearing your name and department and submit to
Fr. Nestor Cerbo.
Be part of the exciting birth and christening of
a new publication. Join now, the person whose
suggestion is chosen will receive a surprise gift.
Entry # 1: Manny C. Hipolito, submitted July
18, 1992: The Karlista; The Servant-Leader; The
Major Seminarian; The Formand (Formandus,
Formandi); Communio; Karlistahan; The ServantDisciple; The Evangelizer; Formatio (or the
Latin equivalent of formation); Sancti Caroli;
The Borromean; Seminarium; Presbuteroi;
The Presbyter; San Carlos; Manny C. Hipolito,
submitted July 22, 1992: SCS IN FORMATION/
SCS In Formation
Entry #2: Kenneth Masong, submitted July 19,
1992: Seminary CHANNELS
Entry #3: Peter Nelson S. Palomar, submitted July
21, 1992: The HERALD
Entry #4: Ramil Marcos et al, submitted July 22,
1992: Vox Sancti Caroli
Entry #5: Peter Nelson S. Palomar, submitted July
23, 1992: The Light Post; The Sentinel
Entry #6: Christian Carlos Almo, submitted July
24, 1992,: The Grain
Entry #7: Ret Tawat, submitted July 30, 1002:
Challenge; LE COUER; St. Charles’ Lane; …That
we may serve; CARLISTA/CHARLES; Dawn to
Dusk in San Carlos; Within the Wall; A Way of
Life/ Our LIFE; Mga IBON/SISIW; Wonderful! or
Fantastic!; SSSSSTT!; San Carlos Seminary; Day
is Done; The Mustard Seed; Hiyang; Angat sa Iba;
The Sandals; Wos is das?; Sari-sari; Buhay-buhay/
Buhay Carlista; The Herald; Reason/Razon;
Inspiration; Thought; Literra; Isa pa nga
Entry #8: Anonymous, submitted July 31, 1992 :
Bukasloob
Entry #9: Jason H. Laguerta, submitted July 31,
1992: The Vineyard; Karlista
The SCS Information marks its 20th year anniversary this August. This Special Page
is dedicated to all who have contributed to its existence and legacy for the past 20 years.
We also thank the readers for their continuous support by reading the articles.
We hope to see you in the next SCS Info issues. More power to SCS Info!
Entry #10: Val Rodriguez, submitted July 31,
1992: Ventrem or The Womb
16
ARE ALL
BURDENS
DIFFICULT TO
CARRY?
These two cartoon strips above are only part of a series starring “SEMI’T NARYO”
dating back from the first issue of SCS INFORMATION in 1992. We’ll see more of them
in the next issue, the 20th Anniversary Special.
Well, we can
actually make
them lighter and
enjoyable.
Smiles count even
in times of pain
and overload of
work.