European Cup 2008

The European Cup 2008 was held in Austria and in Switzerland. It was a very exciting event here, with a very lively atmosphere. Almost all restaurants and bars had their TV channels fixed on the games. There were plenty of public viewings and almost every night, there was a celebration. We went to Basel and had our face painted with Germany’s flag. 

Three years from now, silver will be at hand. Fortunately, this write-up is not about a mediocre dream of settling for second place in the Olympic Games. Neither does it tackle the performance of Pinoy Olympians (which showed us that even bronze is hard to achieve). Rather this is a look at no less than the St. Camillus Polyclinic on 116 E. Amang Rodriguez Avenue, Pasig City. (Sorry folks, it’s not in Beijing.)

Fr. Ruben, Fr. Joseph and Bon are not kissing the fog of Baguio. But they are not desperate to kiss the smog of Cogeo (that’s crazy!). At any rate, they have some misty mornings here that are equally spirit-lifting. After all, good things are also happening in Barangay Inarawan.

The Commission on Justice and Solidarity in the World of Health (CJSWH) held its first Asian regional conference on July 3-4, 2008 at the Camillian Home for Disabled Children in Bangkok, Thailand.  The different CJSWH heads in Asia and Australia attended the gathering.  Those who attended from the Philippine Province were Fr. Giovanni Rizzi (Taiwan), Fr. Jojo Eloja (Australia), Fr. Charly Ricafort (Philippines) and Fr. Aristelo Miranda (Philippines).

We’re Alive and Kickin’!

After more than two months of spiritual intensification here in the Novitiate, it is time to break the privacy and let everyone have a glimpse of where the Novices spend their days. Many are intrigued about the kind of Novitiate Formation we get here because we are the first batch (for sure there will be a second) who successfully finished a five-month integration process; the first (and again there will be more next to us) to stay in Antipolo City and be handled by Fr. Ruben J. Mandin; and the batch (hopefully, the last) with the least number – now we’re down to two.

Guess what?  The problem is number 1 again.  The problem is the “honor” comes from being the most corrupt country in Asia.  Of course this is denied by those in power.  Guess, being number 1 in something is better than being number 1 in nothing except boxing and singing.  How’s that for baloney!

AUGUST Events - exhausting yet fulfilling!

Many people and nations throughout the globe waited for August to come. It was Olympics time; the biggest sporting event in the world. In sync with the global event, the scholasticate community did not miss the chance to hold its own Olympics.

The Young Camillian Religious (YCR), in the company of their spiritual adviser, convened for their mid-year gathering on August 18, 2008 in Quezon City. The YCR composed of six religious below five years of perpetual profession gathered in a simple para-liturgical service which helped them reflect and share about their personal journey in their respective communities.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, our national hero, once said:  “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa kanyang sariling wika, ay masahol pa sa hayop o malansang isda.” (He who does not love his native language is worse than a beast or a putrid fish.)  I don’t know if the writer was true to his words, considering that most of his writings were in Spanish.  This statement certainly had its own context.  Or else, we could conclude that our national hero was really “malansa.”  What an irony? Right?