Christmas card from Kris Aquino

 Wake-uppers:

Scene: Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez will try to settle who's the best boxer in their prime when they clash December 8 (December 9, Manila time) for the fourth time. Where to watch for free?  Geresonic (along Ma. Clara Street) and Diccion Electronics (along CPG Avenue fronting the Bohol Cultural Center) provide small screens for their parokyano for the nth time. If you want to witness the fight on a wide screen, go to Island City Mall Screenville Cinema and BQ Mall Cinema.

Scene: All roads lead to Sevilla and Booy District, Tagbilaran City on Dec. 12 for the fiesta, in honor of its patron saint Our Lady of Guadalupe. Happy fiesta to all the good people of Sevilla headed by Mayor Ernesita Digal. Like Sevilla, Booy District in Tagbilaran City will also celebrate its barangay fiesta lead by Barangay Captain Jun Telmo. It is also a nationwide celebration in Mexico in honor of Virgin of Guadalupe.

Scene: The Loboc town plaza comes alive with a dancing lights and vibrant Christmas parols. Christmas lights adorn the facade of the centuries-old Loboc Church.

Scene: There was no streetdancing during the Sambat Mascara y Regatta Festival in Loay town last Dec. 1.

Scene: The Philippine National Police (PNP) told Rappler.com, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change, that Bohol is the only province in Central Visayas that has private armed groups (PAGs). PNP says PAGs are organized groups of two or more persons, legally or illegally armed, who use their weapons to intimidate for political or economic purposes. Meanwhile, another website www.boholrepublic.com posted the same news and asked, “Where are Bohol’s 2 private armed groups at?”

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Fishing vessel ravaged by Pablo. LPU

Willy “Robocop” Maestrado (of dyRD), Edward Guyano (of dyTR) and I searched for news the morning after Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha) visited the province.

Pablo was relentless.

Hundreds were forcibly evacuated in several areas of Bohol as Pablo headed towards land.  Residents were evacuated in Villalimpia, Loay , barangays Looc and Cantagay in Jagna, barangay Magsaysay in Sierra-Bullones, Bool in Tagbilaran City, barangays Casbu and Trinidad in Guindulman,  Moalong River in Loon and Mantatao Island in Calape.

We also witnessed how Pablo ravaged eight fishing vessels in Mayacabac, Dauis town.

Fishermen try to look for the missing boats.LPU

Some 100 Badjaos were evacuated in Totolan because of the rising waters.  Dauis Mayor Jimmy Jimenez who, unlike most public servants/officials who forever “cannot be reached, please try again later,” answered the call himself. He spent sleepless night monitoring the situation.

It was Mayor Jimenez who told us that there’s one casualty in his hometown.

We checked with the Badjaos several minutes after we interviewed Mayor Jimenez and they said that, yes, the Mayor had helped them while they feared for their lives.

More small talk.

We also learned that Dauis has now potable water. Unlike Panglao where officials are still debating on potable water for their constituents, a perennial problem of the town over the years already, the officials of Dauis led by Mayor Jimenez have answered this problem.

 Jimenez: Quick to the rescue

On the way back to Tagbilaran yesterdays afternoon, we saw on TV scores of people in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte (and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao) begin to rebuild their lives from massive death and destruction wrought by Pablo last week.

The storm is over now…

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Perhaps because of advances in technology, not many people bother to send Christmas cards like they did in olden times. They simply text or email which are admittedly faster and much cheaper. Oh, sad!

That’s why Tessie Labunog-Sumampong of Loboc Riverwatch was so thankful when she received a Christmas card from someone special — the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino.

Kris still do- sends Christmas cards to her friends, especially for Tessie, who is one of Kris’ friends in Bohol.

The card has picture of Kris and siblings. It is written by Kris herself which says, “Merry Christmas to you my friend. I thank God for the blessing that is you.”

So Tessie treasures the card.

 “I didn’t expect a Christmas card from Kris. I was thinking that Christmas cards are passé,” says Tessie. “This is my first Christmas card I received this year.”

Meanwhile, Tessie also shares that the Kapamilya Network will have a new teleserye. Part of the story, there will be scenes situated in Bohol.  

ABS-CBN will bring another quality entertainment to the Filipino viewers worldwide as it will launch a new project, May Isang Pangarap, topbilled by Vina Morales and Carmina Villaroel with a special participation of Rico Blanco.

If plans do not miscarry, the shooting will be on Dec. 13.

May Isang Pangarap is a series that will showcase acting, singing and dancing prowess of its cast. It will be directed by award-winning Jerry Lopez- Sineneng (of Walang Hanggan), who visited Tessie in Loboc last week.  

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Tessie Labunog-Sumampong with the staff and Jerry Lopez- Sineneng (front, extreme right) who will direct the Kapamilya’s new teleserye.

St. Pedro Calungsod: A model of purity, faithfulness for the youth

This just in: A five-foot tall statue of Blessed Pedro Calungsod (who will be elevated to the altar of the Universal Church today, Oct. 21, the second Filipino to be canonized in the history of the Catholic Church after Pope John Paul II canonized Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in 1987) found in barangay Malbog, Jagna town, is now a popular pilgrimage site. The only statue dedicated to Pedro Calungsod in Bohol, tourists and pilgrims pray before the statue and leave written prayers at the foot of the statue.

in Malbog, Jagna, Bohol

For centuries, Pedro Calungsod has been a symbol of hope for many Filipinos, despite the grim details of his short and painful life.

Boholanos hold some affinity to the Filipino saint having reportedly stayed in Loboc. In fact, some Boholanos (Bishop Leonardo Medroso and some 45 Boholano priests and pilgrims including Rev. Fr. Alfredo Amora, Rev. Fr. Presciano Boncales, Rev. Fr. Eutemio Espina, Rev. Fr. Felix Tabigue, Rev. Fr. Abet Uy,  former Gov. and Mrs. Constancio Torralba and daughter Fluer de liz Tubio, former provincial board member Corazon Galbreath, Atty. and Mrs. Jun Amora,  Jun  and Anabel Caturza with children Joannah Lou and Jun Constantine, Dr. Grace Araneta, Dr. Maria Jasmin Relampagos, Dr. Leta Cutamora, Mr. and Mrs. Perkin Ong, Mr. and Mrs. Efren Tanjay, Engr. and Mrs. Gregorio Sayson, Mr. and Mrs. Peregrino Real, Aquilina Malanog, Estela Malanog, Imelda Moser, Betty Balatero, Zosima Acuram, Joaquina Uy,  Erlinda Sarmiento,   Adelia de la Serna, Minda Nemenzo, Maria Elena Amodia,  Charlie Balani, Bernadette Rances,  Zenaida Tapang,  Cristita Toleron, Carmelita Azarcon, Marielle Cheza Acedo, Alberlita Morales  and Zarah Dejaresco of Angels' Wings Tours and Travel  who escorted and organized the pilgrimage) are on hand at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome to witness Calungsod’s canonization.

Very little is known about Pedro Calungsod.  According to the Calungsod website, he was a teenage boy from the Visayas who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines to the Ladrones Islands in 1668 to evangelize the Chamorros.

 "Very little is known about him. We do not even know where exactly in the Visayas he came from or who his parents were," the site said.

Historians take great pleasure in locating the birthplaces of great figures from the past. This is particularly true when the birthplace has been the subject of heated debate, as is the case for Pedro Calungsod. There have been claims and counterclaims. The Calungsods in Ginatilan, Cebu claimed that Pedro was their great-great-great-grandfather.  Other said Calungsod was born in Molo, Iloilo City circa 1655. Boholanos said Pedro was from Loboc. For various reasons, however, none of these provides a satisfactory solution.

According to historian and cultural icon Prof. Jose Marianito Luspo, there was no record of Calungsod’s education in Loboc.  However, he pointed out that there is a possibility that Calungsod stayed in Loboc.

“Actually, I have not found any direct evidence to prove that Beato Pedro Calungsod ever studied in Loboc,” continued Luspo, “In fact, the only claim that the people of Loboc have about his origin there are people carrying the family name “Cal” living in the town. Other than that there has not any documentary evidence that he was a student.”

The Caturzas- Jun Caturza and his wife Anabel with children Joannah Lou and Jun Constantine- and other Filipino pilgrims are in Rome today to witness the canonization rites of the young catechist and martyr who remained true to his Catholic faith until his death. Contributed Photo

One thing is for sure- there was a school in Loboc, the Seminario Colegio de Loboc.

“They have undergone the same system followed since the beginning of the school. Training school dili na seminario para mga pari,” clarified Luspo, “The school was the training ground for westernization not only the religion class but also how to believe like a westerner including teaching them the western music.”

He elaborated, “We have to put everything in context.  The Jesuits in the places that were assigned to them, they opened schools for the natives. These are not ordinary natives but children of the local nobility. They started in Iloilo. They believed that to educate the nobility, when they would become rulers of the place or their own kingdom, they would make also everybody Catholic."

After 1604, Loboc has no record of the students of the school.

“We don't have records right now who were the students of the school,” said Luspo. “The school was a strong training in terms of academic and at the same time they are helpers of the missionaries. They kept moving around Bohol, these students assist the Jesuit missionaries.”

Asked if Calungsod belonged to a wealthy family, Luspo said that maybe Calungsod came from a prominent family.  “Either he comes from the royalty or local nobility; we never had a record of him.”

Msgr. Ildebrando Jesus Alino Leyson in his book Pedro Calungsod Bisaya, Prospects of a Teenage Filipino said that “"Calungsod" is a very native and descriptive Visayan family name. His family name is variously spelled in the different documents as "Calonsor,"  "Calongsor,"  "Calangsor,"  or "Calansor".  His real family name must have been Calungsod. The variations of the spelling of Pedro's family name in the documents may have been due to the Spanish authors' inability to accurately hear a Filipino name.”

His baptismal record cannot be found.  Most, if not all the baptismal records of the 17th century in the Visayas have been destroyed by fires, typhoons or termites.

The only source of information about him are found in the documents on the martyrdom of P. Diego Luis San Vitores, SJ.  

According to Vatican, Pedro Calungsod may only have been in his early teens (between 12 and 15 years old) when he went with Padre Diego to Guam in 1668. He was one of the young catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries to the Ladrones Islands to evangelize the Chamorros. At that time, the Ladrones Islands were part of the Diocese of Cebu.  

Pedro died at 17 in Guam while trying to defend his fellow mission worker, Jesuit priest and now Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, when natives attacked them on April 2, 1672.

Calungsod was struck by a spear and his skull was split by a machete blow. Their bodies were then tied together and thrown into the sea.

“The record is not very clear. He was no longer affiliated with the Jesuits in Loboc. The Jesuits mentioned him by name which was very rare at that time. During the Spanish period, seldom you can find natives being mentioned.  There was no mentioned of Pedro Calungsod before, but he was martyred, his name was reported among those who died in the faith,” said Luspo.

Cardinal Vidal had called Calungsod a Cebuano, as he was part of the Cebu diocese at the time of his death. In the 1600s, the diocese included the whole of Visayas, Mindanao and the Marianas Islands. He was also the one who revealed that the young catechist would be known as “San Pedro de Cebu.”

Luspo clarified: “Everybody now, from Cebu, Iloilo, Bohol, is claiming he comes from his own province. But we should not quarrel over that. There was only one Visayan Jesuit mission at the time, the Cebu mission. Even if his name is Saint Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the Cebuanos should be historically opened enough to admit that the Cebu there doesn't mean the only town or city of Cebu but it means the entire region.  Bohol and other islands are always reported under Cebu.”

“If you are considered a saint,” added Luspo, “you are saint with universal appeal. Saints are not supposed to be nationalistic figures that tend to be divisive in the long run. Saints are people who have gone above the call of nationality in order to answer the higher cause of the Universal church. Therefore, I am not convinced that the promotion of saint is based on regionalist or ethnic ground. It should be all for the glory of the universal church.”

In his homily during the beatification, Pope John Paul II called on the youth to emulate Calungsod. “From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to His call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist,” John Paul said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Pedro Calungsod is a model of purity and faithfulness for the youth.

If walls of Loboc Church could talk, I am sure it has many stories to tell about the young martyr.

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Primitiva Ontong: Prayer is powerful

Good News!  3^rd district Rep. Arthur Yap was spotted at Ilijah Retreat House of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City. It was learned that Rep. Yap turned-over the check worth 500,000 pesos to Bishop Leonardo Medroso for the rehabilitation of the roof on Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church in Loboc.  Also spotted were Fr. Andy Ayco and Fr. Felix Silagan.

Rep. Arthur Yap turns-over the check to Bishop Leonardo Medroso for the rehabilitation of Loboc Church. Also in photo are Fr. Felix Silagan and Fr. Andy Ayco.

The seed money is from Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s personal fund to be used solely for the repair of the roofing of the Loboc Church.

Sen. Enrile asked Rep. Yap of any worthy projects he could finance for the 3rd district. Rep Yap thought of beautifying the Loboc Church which is a national historical monument and a tourist attraction. Senator Enrile's son, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, who is eyeing a Senate seat in 2013, also helped follow up the release of the check.

Aside from the P500-thousand for the repair of the Loboc Church roof, Rep. Yap and Senator Enrile are now working on the inclusion of about P200-P250 million in the national budget for the rehabilitation of the whole Loboc church. At 374 years old, the Loboc Church has showing its age.

Bishop Medroso was touched by the generosity of the donation facilitated by Rep. Yap.

On the other hand, the town of Loboc might get bigger firetrucks from Japanese donors tapped by Rep. Yap in an effort to ensure all towns in the 3^rd district are well-equipped in times of emergencies.

Rep. Yap explained that he would facilitate requests for assistance from any mayor for that matter, not only Mayor Leon Calipusan of Loboc. Rep. Yap said he is very willing to be of help to any mayor who needs assistance, whose town has not received any assistance from DILG and PCSO yet, and Rep. Yap is now facilitating acquisition of firetrucks and ambulances from Japanese donors.

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The Coolest Capitol Figure. For many years, as a cashier, financial adviser on financial matters during the time of then governor now second district Rep. Erico Aumentado and now assistant provincial treasurer of the provincial government of Bohol, Primitiva Jamodiong-Ontong, still perfectly fits that enduring title (if you haven’t noticed, she has amazing hairstyles most of the time).

Primitiva "Priming"Ontong

Unlike most of her colleagues and contemporaries, Priming, the endearing monicker of Primitiva (“it means ‘native’ but I still love my name”), is retaining that sweet and wholesome aura about her, perhaps because she harbors no frustration nor bitterness in heart. 

Yes, Priming’s being cool is natural and, no, her “sweetness” is not a put-on. Everybody, close friends and complete strangers alike, call her Maam Priming with affection. 

As an assistant provincial treasurer, Priming said that her position is a very challenging job. “I take good care of our money. It’s supervisory but our office has the final say to control the cash.”

Asked how she copes with stress, “I just relax and sleep.”

Living a healthy lifestyle, her diet includes fish, vegetables and fruits. “I have carrot, cucumber and radish juice I drink 30 minutes before breakfast. It’s good for the health! I also drink more than 8 glasses of water every day.”

This much is known to many, Priming is a Marian devotee. She has at least 8 favorite saints and angels. “They are St. Anthony de Padua, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Benedict, St. Augustine, Sta. Monica, St. Gabriel, St. Michael and St. Rafael.”

Prayer is powerful. Ask Priming. 

“I always pray with joy.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to 'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.' I recite 7 Glory Be in honor of the Holy Spirit, 15 Our Father prayer given to St. Bridget of Sweden.  I assist the mass daily as my devotion,” shared Priming. “Before I go to sleep, I pray to thank the Lord. I pray for my family and friends. Before, I go to work, I have to pray to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment and I give five minutes to read Our Daily Bread.”

with members of the God the Father of All Mankind...

There have been many clichés about like-minded people banding together. With the same interests, they reach similar goals faster and enjoy the process, too, because they have each other to share the journey with. So, Priming is joining the God the Father of All Mankind group, started by the Italian nun, mystic, and visionary, Mother Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio (1907–1990).

“Doy Leo, God the Father told Mother Eugenia that ‘All those who call Me by the name of the Father, even if only once, will not perish, but will be sure of their eternal life among the chosen ones.’”

Incidentally, Catholics mark the first Sunday of August every year as the feast and day of consecration to God, the Father of All Mankind. Sunday is the last day of the traditional octave or eight days of prayer and daily consecration to the Father of All Mankind, that began last July 31.

A concelebrated Mass will be held at the Cogon Shrine during the consecration and feast of God the Father of All Mankind on Aug. 5 at 9:30 a.m. Activities leading to the feast will include octave prayer at 7 a.m., followed by a Holy Mass. All devotees are invited to attend. 

To know more about Priming, Bared asked her to complete some questions: 

I hate people…who are matapobre, one who looks down on poor people.

I avoid people….  who are gossip mongers. Kana jud Doy Leo mga tsimosa, intrigera, they spread fire!

My greatest pleasure is…entertaining clients with a genuine smile. I am happy to help other people especially the poor.

My worst moment is…when I was rushed to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties.

My biggest fear is…I commit mistakes and I am not able to ask Jesus to forgive me for all my sins and I will go to hell! Knock on the wood, palayo lang jud! 

I pray for…good health and happiness for myself and for the people that I love. I also pray for the salvation of all souls in purgatory so that they can go to Heaven. 

The most important person in my life is....my husband! I love him. 

If I were to be reincarnated as an animal I would be… a sheep. It symbolizes innocence and loyalty. It is also a symbol of  simple goodness we bring to life when we have the desire and affection to do good for others and to be good ourselves.

My most traumatic experience was... I had a car accident. The car just skid off the side of a cliff. That time, I had my five year-old daughter with me. I thanked the Lord because we were safe!

I deal with gossip by…first, I avoid gossip, then by praying to God for strength. Doy Leo, gossip can create an unpleasant atmosphere at work. So, I don’t like tsismis while working. 

Am I afraid of growing old?...I don’t afraid to grow old. I thank the Lord for the gift of life. Pero naa gud beauty secrets pud.(Laughs) 

My favorite memory verse is....John 15:7. It says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for.”

My most memorable miracle was…about my daughter who is a CPA. She was hired to work in Singapore but was denied entry at the Singapore Immigration. My daughter texted me to pray for her while she was also asking the Lord to change the mind of the immigration officer. At that very moment, after praying, the Immigration officer granted her entry. My daughter is still working at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Singapore. 

I lose my temper when...Doy Leo, masuko ko pag-ayo pero mawala ra dayon kung makapray ko. 

I am happiest when...I can help other people. 

I am saddest when....I see trouble in the office. 

My ultimate goal is...to be with God in heaven. 

What I like about myself… My heart beats for the poor people.

What I don’t like about myself….I am a worrier. Dali ra ko maguol, usahay emotional. When I started to worry, I pray to the Lord. It creates internal balance and stability. 

Face-to-face with God, I’d tell Him…Thank You, God and I love You.

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