Besides borrowing money in times of emergency, what else can a poor family do to access costly medical treatment that will save the life of a loved one?  Fr. Rolly Fernandez, MI dreamed of an alternative which he disclosed to the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) of St. Camillus Healthcare Center in Cainta, Rizal.  The dream caught on.  The CHVs, with Fr. Rolly’s guidance, brainstormed and ended up with a plan that gave birth to Lingap Kalusugan (LK) – which means caring for health.

The Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) and the Department of Health (DOH) conducted the Public Private Mix Dots (PPMD) Annual Program Implementation Review (PIR) at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila last September 16-17, 2009.  The participating Regional Committees and PPMD implementers from all over the country did a fourfold task: assess the accomplishments of the PPMD units; share the best and promising practices; discuss and understand the issues and challenges encountered during implementation; and formulate recommendations for the PPMD initiative.

Camillian Spirit Still Ablaze at SCHC

While we are all busy with the bench book thing, the Camillian Spirit remains ablaze here in Calbayog City.  Last September 19, as part of our Lay Camillian Apostolate, we revisited the Calbayog City Jail.  By the way, this is a once a month activity, by which as LCF of Calbayog, we reach out to the so called sick of our society.  We usually celebrate mass and spend time with one another, sharing our inspiring stories and thoughts.  Then we end with a simple salo-salo.  It is a refreshing experience to bring the ever present love of Christ to those who are cast out by society.

Fr. Bong celebrates his 41st birthday

“It’s you who makes the difference” said Fr. Bong as he started expressing his gratitude to everyone present at the Eucharistic celebration for his 41st birthday last Sept. 16 at 5:00 pm at the St. Camillus Hospital chapel.  Fr. Bong’s concelebrants included Fr. Bienvenido Jonson and Fr. Angel Crisostomo as well as his two batchmates and friends, Fr. Jojo Eloja, presider, and Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, homilist. Interestngly,  Fr. Evan’s homily and Fr. Bong’s response included a recollection of the experiences that forged the deep friendship between them.

Adult Formation

The Cogeo community has gladly welcomed Reywynx Morgado, an adult applicant, who arrived from Butuan City last September 5. While waiting for the result of his entrance examination, he stayed in the house with the community for almost two weeks. Hopefully, he will return in January 2010 since he passed the written examination and the interview.

Birthday of Mama Mary

Last September 8, the adult formands and the novices together with their formators went to River Banks in Marikina City to participate in the Eucharist celebrating the birthday of Mother Mary. This yearly celebration has become part of the community’s tradition and expression of their Marian devotion.

After cracking their heads during the midterm exams in the first week of the month, the seniors, juniors, sophomores and representatives from the freshmen and orientation years moved on to prepare for vocation promotion.

Fr. Nato, the seminary vocation director, assisted by the vocation committee chaired by Sem. Mark Vincent Madronero, spearheaded a series of seminar-workshops for official vocation promoters/animators and those who would like to help. On the evening of September 5, Saturday, the group (including this writer) had a session on effective presentation with Ms. Mary Ann Cruz, principal of St. Faustina Academy in Quezon City.

The Baloney is taking a well deserved vacation in Super Obama’s baby killers land.  Will be nice to relax and enjoy my favorite beverage – milk?

While I’m in the USA it would be a good time to invite my barkada to the most exquisite and expensive restaurant I can find in my hometown.  Will be difficult though to find one that will feature a final bill of $20,000.  Of course I won’t pay for it but one of my rich friends will foot the bill.  How’s that for baloney?

Posi+ive Prayers

From May to August, three recollection activities were facilitated by Sch. Dan V. Cancino, MI and this writer for people who are HIV/AIDS positive. On those occasions, an important time was allotted for the participants to articulate their own prayers. Here are some of them:

A Tribute for Mama Mary

The Chapel of the Divine Healer of Davao Medical Center joined the entire Catholic Church in honoring Mama Mary on her birthday. Last September 8, the chapel overflowed with mass-goers who came to honor Mama Mary. The Holy Mass was celebrated with much devotion. The inspiring homily of our hospital chaplain, Fr. Tex V. Buntol, M.I. and  the misa-cantada animated by the Divine Healer Choir and Banal Na Pag-aaral singing ministry  made the celebration a wonderful gathering of believers. After the final blessing, the community prayerfully offered roses to Mama Mary, the Great Woman of faith, as their expression of love and gratitude while the choir solemnly sang Marian songs. “It was my first time to witness such a lovely celebration, with devotees lining up to offer flowers to Mama Mary,” commented a lay minister.

Guest Priests

Fr. Virgilio Bago and Fr. Tony Palina are diocesan priests from the Diocese of Bayombong. Through the invitation of a Filipino-German family, they came to Essen for a few days of vacation. During their stay, they contacted Fr. Manny Tamayo to avail themselves of the religious activities of the Filipino Catholic community. Fr. Tony is the chaplain of the Filipino community in Ibiza, Spain, while Fr. Virgilio is scheduled to go to Florence, Italy for a special course on Spirituality.