Starting today, Fr. Julius Sanchez, SDB the Provincial Superior of the Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians, Philippine South (FIS) will conduct his canonical visit to Don Bosco Lawaan. Taking note of the name of the Lighthouse on a Hill, I cannot yet determine the proper title. Fr. Ronel said it would be Don Bosco Formation Center, but more recently Fr. Fidel had quoted the name Don Bosco Missionary Formation Center. We cannot tell yet until all the planning has been done this summer.
As for Fr. Julius, a priest notorious for his comical homilies, he will be chatting with all of the Salesians and possibly all candidates, and that's a long list of rendiconto. In every Salesian house, the visit of the Provincial marks days of blessings. He is the living Don Bosco in the province.
I have known Fr. Julius since I was in grade school. We were still living in Pasil when he was assigned at the parish. He organized a piano and guitar school for those interested. My mother enrolled me but I was still too young. She bargained before Fr. Julius and he was quoted saying, "wa man mi nagtudlo ug ABC..." I was admitted anyway. After three months, I was left as the remaining student of the parish with the others giving up on the lessons.
Fr. Julius is famous in Pasil. Laughing all the way through the homily, you couldn't just forget him. His is a combination of entertainment and substance.
On the episcopal ordination of then Fr. Patricio "Pat" Buzon, Fr. Julius was elected as the next provincial. I could still remember his acceptance speech as he stood before the Salesian community at Don Bosco Technology Center. He was overwhelmed by the situation and he wept. I can't tell if he was weeping for joy or weeping for shock.
From February 8 to 12, he will be staying with us. I am very happy that the formation house has become the focus of the province. Living through a transitional formation plan I can finally breathe now that great changes are happening. As he said early this morning, the changes he wanted must start with the people and then we can build anything we ought to build. I am happy I'll be taking part in the change.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Smiles and Pics
Just a short reflection.
I'm uploading files to multiply.com when I noticed that most frames are crowded. Hey, wait a minute, these aren't pictures of demonstrations and rallies!
It's a Filipino trait, people crowd to fit into a picture frame. Smiles in their faces, each poses and tries to block the people behind them. Its quite fun, foreigners should try it too! We Filipinos tend to find ways to immortalize the moment in an image. We are very sentimental people and we attach ourselves to many things!
I remember Dexter Cuevas, my famous friend who was notorious for his cut-and-paste smile in every picture we take in the aspirantate. You can really see and feel the joy of his smile! Check your pics, do you wear them too?
I'm uploading files to multiply.com when I noticed that most frames are crowded. Hey, wait a minute, these aren't pictures of demonstrations and rallies!
It's a Filipino trait, people crowd to fit into a picture frame. Smiles in their faces, each poses and tries to block the people behind them. Its quite fun, foreigners should try it too! We Filipinos tend to find ways to immortalize the moment in an image. We are very sentimental people and we attach ourselves to many things!
I remember Dexter Cuevas, my famous friend who was notorious for his cut-and-paste smile in every picture we take in the aspirantate. You can really see and feel the joy of his smile! Check your pics, do you wear them too?
Friday, December 21, 2007
Highway Woes
I came home this week for my holiday vacation. I finally had a very nice, long, and warm sleep. When I woke up later the morning after, I was met by some dark news.
One tricycle was traversing the South Road bringing workers to a factory near our home when it met an accident. A speeding mini-bus, a speed devil, slammed into the tricycle's rear side killing all the passengers including the driver. In just a matter of seconds, around six lives were ended, and to think those workers were breadwinners for their families.
The whole barangay that morning was gloomy. It was sad to note that the holidays for these families are tainted with death caused by recklessness. It was also a reminder that we can never know when our time to go comes.
Accidents like these, unfortunately, happen all the time in the highway. And it seems that people never learn anything and that human lives are payable by burial expenses. Does the government even know about this or are they keeping deaf? Is the law really that useless that such disorder prevails the roads?
Drivers ought to drive defensively. Transport people however are too concerned about money over life, safety, and time.
Over the years, how many lives were lost in car accidents, in hit-and-run? Even for animals, dog and cat carcasses lie on the highway after some mad driver drove in frenzy. Is human and animal life really disposable? Why won't people make a bold move to stop these? Is this part of the evil that is in us that keeps us from acting?
Drivers with no sense of time is also a problem, for the public transportation at least. If you are riding jeepneys and multicabs, you'll know what I mean. They'll stop at every street corner waiting for some inexistent passenger.
Service. It's a lost word. Few have it, but everyone needs it. I'll stop grumbling now.
One tricycle was traversing the South Road bringing workers to a factory near our home when it met an accident. A speeding mini-bus, a speed devil, slammed into the tricycle's rear side killing all the passengers including the driver. In just a matter of seconds, around six lives were ended, and to think those workers were breadwinners for their families.
The whole barangay that morning was gloomy. It was sad to note that the holidays for these families are tainted with death caused by recklessness. It was also a reminder that we can never know when our time to go comes.
Accidents like these, unfortunately, happen all the time in the highway. And it seems that people never learn anything and that human lives are payable by burial expenses. Does the government even know about this or are they keeping deaf? Is the law really that useless that such disorder prevails the roads?
Drivers ought to drive defensively. Transport people however are too concerned about money over life, safety, and time.
Over the years, how many lives were lost in car accidents, in hit-and-run? Even for animals, dog and cat carcasses lie on the highway after some mad driver drove in frenzy. Is human and animal life really disposable? Why won't people make a bold move to stop these? Is this part of the evil that is in us that keeps us from acting?
Drivers with no sense of time is also a problem, for the public transportation at least. If you are riding jeepneys and multicabs, you'll know what I mean. They'll stop at every street corner waiting for some inexistent passenger.
Service. It's a lost word. Few have it, but everyone needs it. I'll stop grumbling now.
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