The Philippine SVD Centennial: Days of Remembering, Rejoicing, and Renewing

August 13 2009: Experience 100, the centennial concert

To kick off the hectic 10 days of the Centennial main events, the Manila District organized this concert held in The Arena Gym in San Juan. Free admission assured a big turnout of guests (led b Fr. General Tony Pernia) for the show that featured young talents from the SVD Manila parishes and institutions, as well as established SVD attractions like Raul Caga and the Arnoldus Company, Jerry Orbos and Fatima Soriano, and the Fifth Gospel. There was even a surprise appearance of comedian Michael V who obviously could not find many funny things to say about the SVD in his short spiel. Fr. Provincial Nielo Cantilado was joined by three SVDs (Jun Bacit, Angel Magada, and John Regalado) in a once-in a hundred years song number as a group identified as Il Verbo. The show dazzled with its medley of songs, dances, light effects, slides, and the live music of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. It was also an inter-active spectacle: 100 singers, 100 dancers, and the audience (well represented by many religious) heartily participating in the action songs that culminated in a candle lit touching rendition of the Centennial song.

August 14, 2009: Centennial Mass in CKMS

Today at 4 pm, Fr. General was the main celebrant and homilist for the mass that marked the arrival of the first two SVD missionaries on August 15, 1909. The members of PHC turned out in full force, with the almost 200 priests and bishops brightly attired in new centennial stoles. In his homily, Fr. Pernia stressed that the Philippine SVD mission was the last mission accepted by the founder St Arnold Janssen before he died. It was the founder’s gift to the Philippines and it came about despite some opposition from his council who wanted to send missionaries only to pagan countries. The mass was also attended by delegations from the SVD parishes and institutions, especially from the Manila area. The mass took an ethnic slant as Tingguian dancers preceded the Gospel reading. A sumptuous meal followed at the gym and entertainment was provided by the Fifth Gospel, Raul Caga and the Arnoldus Company. The MTV of the Centennial song was also shown for the first time.

August 15, 2009: CKMS Alumni homecoming

The association of former SVD seminarians (XVDs), led by its president Tyrone Cimafranca, organized the grand alumni homecoming in the afternoon in CKMS. More than 300 (XVDs and SVDs) turned out for the affair which was highlighted by the Holy Mass officiated by Fr. General. In his homily, Fr. General pointed out that lay people are also given an opportunity to live out the charism of the SVD and of St Arnold. He laid out a challenge to the XVD  to continue doing mission in their own capacities, not excluding the possibility of establishing a kind of fourth order for the lay.
August 16, 2009: Fr. General attends the biennial “Panagtapok” in Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, a gathering of SVDs, SSpS, and their families.
August 18-19, 2009: Fr. General is the featured guest for the general assembly of the SVDs of the Philippine Southern Province.

August 20, 2009: DWST Alumni homecoming
See http://divinewordseminary.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-in-tagaytays-divine-word-seminary.html

August 21, 2009: beginning of the Abra festivities

3 buses of SVDs, SSpS, and lay partners motored up to Abra to join PHN’s centennial bash. A good number of visitors also came by private cars. Most of the guests were billeted in private homes dubbed as ‘Nazareth Homes’. At 7 PM there was dinner in the grounds of the convent in Penarrubia followed by the so-called ‘Pangili’ or traditional welcome rituals. Political figures were also present and they spoke about how good it was for Abra that the SVDs came along 100 years ago. The welcome rites featured the ‘Pallooc dance’ where the guests were encouraged to come up and join the dancers.
August 22, 2009: The Nuncio’s mass and evening cultural show at DWCB.

9 AM was the scheduled time for the mass of the Nuncio. Coming with other bishop guests from Manila by private plane, the Nuncio was late by almost 2 hours. Special guest President Gloria Arroyo patiently endured the wait in the sweltering Bangued Cathedral and left after the Nuncio delivered his homily (she obviously had other appointments). The procession (from the Bishop’s house to the Cathedral) of more than 200 priests (SVDs and diocesans) clad in identical brightly colored centennial stoles provided an awe inspiring sight to the Abrenians who lined up the streets.  Lunch afterwards was prepared at the Holy Spirit Academy and the Divine Word College of Bangued.

The evening featured a well-appreciated cultural show in the DWCB gym participated in by the different schools and districts of the Philippine Northern Province. It highlighted the development of the Abra mission and the expansion to neighboring provinces of North Luzon. It was no mean feat to bring together the diverse talents from the different schools and parishes.

August 23, 2009: Mass in San Isidro

At 8 AM, the guests assembled in front of the Ubbog district house with their vehicles for a motorcade to San Isidro. All were properly awed by the spanking new cemented road, all 16 kilometers just finished in time for the occasion, courtesy of the local government. People lined up the road and waved at the passing vehicles, savoring the once in a lifetime spectacle. Upon arrival in San Isidro, a short prayer service was held at the tomb of Fr. Juan Scheiermann, the pioneer who died 4 months after his arrival. I San Isidro itself, the brightly colored church was too small to let in all the people. Tents were set up in the sprawling parish grounds and TV monitors were set up so they could glimpse what’s going on inside. Fr. General was the main celebrant and homilist and he focused on the fact that the Abra mission and consequently, the whole Philippine SVD mission, would not have survived were it not for the welcome and support accorded by the people of Abra. Then he urged all the SVDs and SSps present to stand up, turn around and give a round of thankful applause to the people. Many commented later that it was the most meaningful moment in the celebration. Comic relief was later provided by the parish priest of San Isidro, Fr. Deva Savarriyappan SVD, as he could not remember the name of Fr. Eduardo Rocha, who stood in for the PHS provincial. Despite promptings from the SVDs present, Fr. Deva kept calling Fr. Rocha by different names. There was also a historical marker from the National Historical Institute that was unveiled after the mass. In the mass, the bishop of Abra (Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian SVD ) presented the SVD through Fr. General a plaque of appreciation for having started the Philipiine mission in Abra. The lunch that followed was plentiful and thoroughly enjoyed by guests and locals alike. The local youth prepared a program after lunch in the noonday heat but the guests were hurrying to get back to their vehicles for the long haul back to Manila. On the road back, the guests were one in saying that it was a truly beautiful and meaningful Centennial celebration.

August 23,evening: Fr. General meets the SVDs of Abra and Kalinga-Apayao in fellowship at the Ubbog district house.
August 24,2009: 9 AM – holy mass in DWCB. Evening dinner with Bishop Jaucian and the Abra clergy.
August 25, 2009: 9 AM – mass in DWC Vigan.
August 26, 2009: 9 AM – mass in DWC Laoag. Evening flight back to Manila.
August 27, 2009- trip to Semirara

The Consunjis, owners of the coal-mining company in Semirara island, sent their private plane to fetch Fr. General, Fr. Provincial Cantilado,a nd some SVDs and lay employees of the Provincialate to visit the island. Students from the Divine Word School of Semirara were on hand to welcome the guests at the island airport. Holy mass followed at the chapel of the Holy Trinity chaplaincy (air-conditioned and renovated courtesy of the company, as the convent too) with the faculty, students and lay leaders who were just too eager to accept the invitation of their chaplain, Fr. Alex Vitualla. The theme of Fr. General’s homily was that of thanksgiving, especially for generous lay people who continuously support the SVD mission. Fr. Alex was especially pleased when Fr. General mentioned that he was not alone in the island that the whole SVD world is with him. The Consunjis and the people present were impressed by the show of solidarity of the SVD. A tour of the island showed the schools and housing projects constructed by the company. The Divine Word School is supervised by the DWC of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The school is well set up, with computers and air conditioned rooms.The tie-up , initiated by the mining company, was the beginning of the cordial relations between the Consunji family and the SVD. The old mining site was also shown: the pit is now a beautiful lake and soon to be stocked with fish. Tree planting and reforestation efforts were also evident. The gigantic pit of the present coal mine showed the huge features of the mining operation. After the tour, festive lunch was served at the air conditioned mess hall. Electricity is no problem here as the company can produce an unlimited supply from their coal. The scheduled time of departure was delayed a bit as Fr. General enjoyed chatting with the Consunjis, both sides properly becoming appreciative of each other’s accomplishments. The relaxing time provided a perfect ending for Fr. General’s centennial tour of the Philippine SVD.