AMIHANThe MARIST BROTHERS Newsletter Philippine Sector, East Asia Province Volume 32, Number 1 General Santos City, Philippines June - December 2012 “Renewing With Fervor, Building Our Future.” AMIHAN Volume XXXII, No. 1 CONTENTS Editor-in-Chief Editorial ............................................................................... 2 Br. Ernie G. Sentina, FMS Message from the Brother Provincial .................................. 3 Cotabato Community .......................................................... 5 Dadiangas Community ........................................................ 7 Associate Editor Jolo Community ................................................................. 11 Br. Demosthenes A. Calabria, FMS Kidapawan Community ..................................................... 12 Lagao Community .............................................................. 14 Marbel Community ........................................................... 17 Layout Artist AMSRB Regional Assembly ................................................ 18 Br. Vincent J. Celeste, FMS Marikina Community ......................................................... 19 Malutok Community ......................................................... 22 Marist News ...................................................................... 25 Production Manager 3rd Marist Youth Festival ................................................... 26 Ms. Gelyn S. Niñofranco Marist Asia-Pacific Center .................................................. 29 Novitiate Community ......................................................... 31 Novices FY 2012-2013 ....................................................... 33 Adviser/Consultant Pre-Novitiate Community .................................................. 34 Br. John Y. Tan, FMS Aspirants & Postulants FY 2012-2013 ................................ 37 2012-2013 Brothers’ Assignment ...................................... 38 Enrollment Statistics SY 2012-2013 ................................... 39 Contributors Br. John Emil I. Alada, nFMS Br. Demosthenes A. Calabria, FMS Br. Noel T. Fernandez, FMS EDITORIAL Br. Job G. Tumacas, FMS tarting this year, the Amihan Newsletter has new mem- bers in the editorial board. Br. Manuel V. de Leon, FMS, Br. Dominador A. Santiago, FMS the Provincial of the East Asia Province has appointed Br. Jeff Rhey R. Antiquiza, FMS Br. Ernie G. Sentina, Br. Demosthenes A. Calabria, Br. Br. Nolasco O. Gavilan, FMS SVincent J. Celeste, Ms. Gelyn S. Niňofranco and Br. John Y. Tan Br. Cristino M. Sta. Ana, FMS as the consultant/adviser. Br. Ted A. Fernandez, FMS Br. Romulo L. Porras, FMS As we all know, Br. Ted Fernandez, FMS, a dedicated Amihan Br. Albert S. Bolibol, FMS editor for the past few years has done an excellent job for the publication of the Philippine Sector Newsletter. He requested to be relieved from his responsibility due to his distant assign- Amihan is a publication of the Marist Brothers of the ment. Thanks Br. Ted for the time and commitment you have Philippine Sector of East Asia Province for the dissem- extended for the past years. ination of updates and articles of interest among the Marist Brothers and Lay Mission Partners. The East Asia Province is blessed with “strong, effective leader- ship, many young and vibrant brothers” according to the letter We welcome contributions, comments and suggestions addressed to the Brothers by Brothers John Klein and Michael De Waas, the General Councillors who visited the East Asia from readers. Address all inquiries to: Province last summer. Indeed, the Philippines Sector shared these blessings especially in the vocation ministry as Br. Vince AMIHAN Celeste committed his whole life to God and 9 young men pro- Marist Province Center, NDDU-IBED Lagao Campus, claimed as postulants last August 18 and September 12 respec- Lagao, General Santos City, Philippines tively. Tel. No.: (083) 552 5994 Our sincerest thanks to all our Amihan correspondents, con- Email: [email protected] tributors and all those who helped in the publication of this Website: www.maristeastasia.org issue, June to December 2012. ### 2 MESSAGE FROM THE BROTHER PROVINCIAL Br. Manuel V. de Leon, FMS obody can give us a meaningful life except plained about Mary ourselves. We carry it like a bud. It involves wasting the costly oint- developing our own potentials in the best ment on Jesus’ feet and possible way. It is striking a happy balance wiping them with her Nbetween self-love and altruism. hair. Judas also made the same commentary In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3, Pelonios that the money could giving advice to his son Laertes who was in a hurry to have been used for the get to the next boat to Paris, said: needs of the poor. But what did Jesus say? “To thine own self be true, “Let her alone.” And it doth follow, as the night the day. Thou cans’t not then be false to any man. The temptation can easily be stated this way: Could I Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.” not spend my life more efficiently and reasonably if I had not joined religious life? The nature of the temp- And Laertes responded: tation can be the same as that of Jesus when he was tempted by the devil in the desert. “Most humbly do I take my leave my Lord.” The only justification and tenable reason for doing Pelonios was simply stating that living in “falsehood to such a commitment is taken from VITA CONSECRATA, self” can be destructive and detrimental to one’s im- “for those given the priceless gift of finding and follow- age. Take care of one’s self and that way, you’ll be in a ing Jesus more closely is that he/she can love the Lord position to take care of others. with undivided heart. This is to love the Lord with one’s whole life and not merely doing certain actions or per- Many of us who have embraced religious life ask, forming activities.” “What is the point of making the vows or living a con- secrated life as religious when there are so many ur- The invitation is for us to devote our lives totally to God gent needs that can easily be responded to without and to others for the love of God. It is an unbounded necessarily assuming the particular commitments of generosity and love in the midst of a modern day world the consecrated life? Am I not wasting my human en- undergoing secularization. Otherwise, without the ergies which can be put to better use if only I don’t concrete sign, the world will grow cold and the “salt” have a Religious Superior to ask permission from? Will of faith would lose its savor. I be more free to act if I don’t have a community to take into consideration? Recently, we have experienced the wrath of Typhoon Pablo that caused the death of hundreds of poor peo- These questions are asked more frequently in our day ple and destroyed billions of pesos worth of proper- as a consequence of the utilitarian and technocratic ties. Poor people are now depending on relief goods culture that we have. to survive while others go hungry because there is no enough supply of food coming. But these questions are not really new. Martha com- 3 ue to love and to trust one another. Our Constitutions say it clearly: “FREE OUR HEARTS FROM ANY RESENT- MENT. In this way, our community becomes a place of friendship, of life shared, where the human qualities and the spiritual gifts of each Brother can flourish.” And in all these years, I’ve learned five things that help me cope with the ups and downs of living reli- gious life. Others may not necessarily agree with me. First, I try to be true to myself for I cannot continue to live my life according to the expectations of others. What is inspiring is that people never lose hope be- Second, I cannot change people unless they change cause of the presence of the Church and of the people themselves. Thus, I don’t expect mush lest I be disap- who offered their lives for God and others. As Fr. Dar- pointed. I can only pray and ask God to do His job. wey Clark, parish priest of Lambajon, Baganga, Davao Oriental said, “They may have lost their homes and ev- Third, I try to get interested in the life and work of oth- erything, but they don’t have to lose their faith.” ers but not to the point of interfering with their per- sonal and private lives. Ordinary and simple people can easily anchor their lives in their faith in God. Even amidst tragedies, lost of Fourth, I am not perfect and I am not a “super human loved ones and properties, they are able to transcend being”. I need others to help me get to where I want to their physical and material needs to something spiri- be. I am always grateful to those who have been part tual. of my journey especially those who consider me a bur- den and heavy load to carry. In contrast, the normal life in religious communities where lack of food and security is never an issue. It Fifth, I do my share of making a difference to make this is the seeing of things from different perspective and world a better place. But there is only 24 hours a day doing things differently compounded by lack of sensi- and 7 days a week. It is best that these hours and days tivity and egoism that contribute to misunderstanding at my disposal are put to good use. That means to say, I among members. Because of the tension, some mem- need to eat, to play, to sleep, to make friends, to laugh, bers become aggressive and confrontational. Others to read, to plant a tree, to serve others, to create, to simply withdraw and remain apathetic. Some try to share, to pray and to love. With these, I don’t feel be- help the situation by playing the role of a peacemak- ing enslaved and I use my freedom more responsibly. er. Others continue to put more fuel to the fire hoping that people come to their senses and talk over their Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to differences. everyone!!! ### I have been a Marist Brother for 37 years and exposed to the realities of community living that I can say with “The aim of our service of evangelization is the formation of true disciples of Jesus Christ. We do absolute certainty that our life is far from perfect.