Minutes of Hope

  There was a family who had a vacation in the beach. As they went home with their car, they met an accident. Their car fell on the bridge. They were then brought to the hospital. after a while, a police officer came over to investigate the accident. He came from the accident area to ask for information but in his dismay, he could not find any witness. When he went to the hospital, he learned that all the  family members were in coma. "Where can i get some information?" he asked himself. Luckily, he was told that the family has a pet monkey who survived the accident. This monkey is special. He  can communicate to people through gestures. So the police officer looked for an interpreter to communicate his questions to the monkey.  Then the officer asked the monkey, "what were the children doing inside the car before the accident?" The interpreter made some gestures to communicate the question to the monkey. Then the monkey scratched his head and then jumped as if port...

  One afternoon, as i walked through the hallway in our provincial house i saw one of our old priests looking at the sky with his curious face. So i approached him and asked what he's doing while looking at the same direction where he was looking. then he said, "it will rain in 5 minutes." "Oh, really?" i asked. "Yes," he answered. "It will rain in 5 minutes, but i don't know where," he said with serious tone. "It could be in US, in Manila, or anywhere." I just laughed and even after a couple of minutes, i was still reminded of his simple but humorous answer. We don't need big things and ideas to find fun and happiness. even in our hallways, in the streets with people around us, we can always find and make the flavor of happiness, in humor and fun.

  A lmost done! The students and parents in Malakomo, Kuden, Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat gathered as they received the school supplies (notebooks, papers, pencils), clothes and a number of solar flashlights. Thank you to our generous partners in sharing the blessings to our Manobo brothers and sisters. The roofing, the round woods, some bamboo are the materials used in this school for the students and of course some food budget para sa mga IP na nagtrabaho. This is how simple to start a school in this area. Nonetheless, the 38 students will now have the chance to go to school. Thanks to Ronald P Abril, Venz Saniel Abril Rommel Lucero, Allen Seguritan, Janoy Alejandro Tero, Hillary singalivo, rommel lucero, rommel Magadia and Gerard Mundog. May isang school pa na natulungan nyo..to follow ang pictures.. Sa clothes Helen Carvajal, sa school supplies NDMC, sa solar din. Thank you so much kasi this simple generosity will always be remembered. I know God will repay a hundredfold to all of y...

I suddenly stopped when I saw these little children walking along the road. I learned that they will get some water a couple of meters from their place. Then I thought, “what will be the future of these children？” These Manobo children will grow with so little opportunities, so few privileges, and not so brighter future. I was helpless. I wanted to help yet I didnt know how. But when I saw their laughter, I know things will be fine still. I heard that the older ones are studying so they might have a chance to see the world wider. Their mom？ I know she does what is also best for her family. Right now, they might be sleeping in their small place called home. And i know the cold wind is still helpless because of the warmth of their love and care for one another. Hmmm...What else is lacking then？

    Last December 3, 2020, nine (9) OMI novices received the oblate habit as part of their formation at OMI Novitiate Chapel in Tamontaka, D.O.S., Maguindanao. They are the following: Bro. Kelly Mark A. Socias from Calamba, Misamis Occidental, Bro. Ariel T. VIllaflor from Midsayap North Cotabato, Bro. Vince B. Dignadice from Tacurong City, Bro. Illuminado Flauta V from Midsayap, North Cotabato, Bro. Giovanni Paolo G. Donguines from Dasmarinas, Cavite, Bro. Jan Philip G. Cadungog from Libungan, North Cotabato, Bro. Won-Hyou Heo from Seong-nam City, South Korea, Bro. Sung Hoo Kim from Suwon City, South Korea, and Bro. Moon-gi Park from Uiwang City, South Korea.   Among the 9 novices, 5 were young professionals: Bro. Socias was a school teacher, Bro. Donguines worked as a school teacher in Thailand, Bro. Illuminado was an HRM graduate, Bro. Moon-Gi Park also known as Peter was a 1 st  Liutenant Army officer in South Korea, Bro. Won-Hyou Heo or “Paul” was a tourism gradu...

Thinking about the most likely job after graduation normally plays around our minds and Elvira  "Bing" Estela earlier thought that she would work as a civil servant in the city government. A month before graduation however, she filled in the vacancy left by a lady who was recruited for the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Tamontaka, D.O.S., Maguindanao. Bing was then hired in 1980 by the late Fr. Clarence Bertelsman, OMI,  Provincial Bursar of the missionary congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. She began her journey as the Cashier and Front Desk Clerk of the O.M.I. Philippine Province at the age of twenty (20) and retained this post for forty (40) years. Under a total number of nine (9) Provincial Superiors she got to know and serve Oblates of different nationalities and the growing generation of Filipino priests; altogether having varied personalities and idiosyncracies. She saw how the communication system evolved from  a 2-way radio system to the present digita...

 Davao City - Four (4) redemptorist deacons were ordained to priesthood amidts the threat of pandemic last November 23, 2020. The new ordained priests were Fr. Eric Soliven Sevencruz, CSsR from Valencia City Bukidnon, Fr. Jose Lemuel Nadorra, CSsR from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Fr. Kenneth Dan Gallamaso, CSsR from Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, and Fr. Joey Valross Trillo, CSsR from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte .  Most Reverend Abel C. Apigo, D.D. from the diocese of Mati was the ordaining bishop who was also their ordaining bishop during their diaconal ordination last January 2020.  The simple celebration was attended by few people due to the threat of COVID-19. With the strict implementation of protocols, some parents, relatives and friends of the ordinands were not able to join the celebration. Fortunately, the ordination was live streamed in facebook so that those who were not present during the event were able to witness the said celebration.  During his homily, ...

    In the past, during rainy seasons, mushrooms which sprout and picked at the backyards of every houses were the usual scenes. People would collect them fresh and cook to serve as a meal. Now, most mushrooms which are found in the market and stores are being cultured due to the influx of families and houses in towns and cities.  Mushroom culture has been introduced in the country many years ago and is now being practiced by many people to generate more mushroom and additional income. Its huge significance as well as its productivity for market is booming in abroad and even among the locals in the country. Mushroom is commonly identified as vegetable but in reality it is actually a fungus. Its seedling is called spawn. It can be grown in any place even in small areas. It is an easy income for many people since the mushroom only needs at least 2 weeks to be fully grown and sold. Unlike any other vegetables in the market, mushrooms is easy to culture. It only needs some dr...

  The OMI ministry to the Indigenous Peoples based in South Upi, Maguindanao has established eleven (11) Adult Formal Learning Centers in 4 different barangays for 4 years in its implementation. The program was made possible due to the organizing efforts of the OMI IP Ministry office and its ground personnel namely Jerry Datuwata. According to Datuwata, "the program begins with the basic consultation and interest of village leaders and elders who want to learn basic writing. " This formal learning is primarily aimed towards strengthening their traditional leadership, put into writing and to support their traditional indigenous knowledge, skills, practices and spirituality which is part of the general five (5) year plan of the OMI IP MINISTRY. Due to Covid 19 pandemic, the eleven (11) Alternative Learning System (ALS) for IP adults has adjusted its program. Instead of having weekend regular classroom type of learning, they went back to communal farming and vegetable growing. I...

    Tamontaka, Maguindanao – The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Tamontaka, Maguindanao has been one of the most visited places when it comes to family gatherings and meet-ups. It showcases variety of animals like crocodiles, ostrich, wild pigs, deer, monkeys, snakes, and different birds like eagles, love birds, the most entertaining bird mynah, and more.   Fr. Marciano Andres, OMI, the director of the Grotto is the one who manages the place and is still making some improvements for the people to visit and enjoy. Fr. Andres is fond with nature as he facilitates and encourages people to visit the Grotto.   The income of the Grotto is the main resources in which the salaries of its employees depend. The income from the entrance fees is also the means to which the animals are being fed regularly. Generating resources from the entrance fees and a little income from the Grotto canteen were severely affected due to the impact of the pandemic.   Since the time of pandemi...

 Cotabato City - Two (2) OMI priests regularly visit the sick and the dying in the hospitals in Cotabato City amidst the threat of COVID-19. Fr. Ben Gomez, OMI, 82, and Fr. Joel Canonizado, OMI are the hospital chaplains of Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) and Notre Dame Hospital (NDH), respectively.  While the hospitals are likely the most risky places during this pandemic, they are the haven for work and ministry for these two OMI priests in Cotabato City. CRMC and NDH are one of the busiest places when it comes to hospitals. Patients coming from North and South Cotabato come here since they have the most advanced facilities in the area.  CRMC is a government hospital which caters mostly the indigents and the poor who can’t afford medical health services in private hospitals. NDH on the other hand is a private owned hospital by the Dominican Siters. It is the biggest private hospital in Cotabato City with more advanced health facilities with their competent doc...

 Since the spread of the pandemic in the country, many Filipinos especially the poor have lost their jobs and easy access to food. The streets in Metro Manila are spawned with even bigger problem – hunger and poverty. While most average and rich families can afford to buy their own medicines and daily necessities, the poor can hardly put some food on their tables.   Fr. Eduardo “Pon-pon” Vasquez, OMI, a religious catholic priest assigned in the Shrine of our Lady of Grace parish in Caloocan City took the advantage of this dire situation. As parish priest, he initiated the “GRACE” program. The program aims to help families for an easy access for food on their tables through backyard gardening. Also, it provides food for the hungry and poor people living on the streets.   Fr. Pon-Pon is from Bicol before he entered the OMI congregation. He was assigned in different ministries of the OMI congregation as parish priest of San Isidro Labrador in Nuro, Upi, Maguindana...

 Kowloon, Hongkong – The Corona Virus pandemic has never spared even the poor streets of Hongkong. Now, poor and abandoned families are growing in number through the ill effect of Covid19.   In To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, Hongkong, near the Church of Notre Dame parish run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, many poor people have been regularly receiving food aids from the parish.  Led by Fr. Mark Anthony Serna, OMI, a religious missionary to Hongkong together with the young people of the parish, they visit the streets under the bridge of To Kwa Wan to look for poor people and distribute food supplies, mostly to the old and homeless.  Fr. Serna is from Libungan, North Cotabato. After his ordination in Midsayap, Cotabato he received his letter of obedience from the OMI superior general to be assigned in Hongkong OMI province. Ordained in September 11, 2011, he is now on his 9th year as a missionary priest in Hongkong. Now, he is also one of the councilors in th...

       While some people would prefer to look at the Catholic Church as rich and powerful, many still believes that it is a Church with a heart for the poor, a Church with preferential option for the poor, true from generations to generations.         The role of the Church in serving God by serving the poor remains its central arena, the threshold of the Catholic Church’s faith. Yes, the richness and wealth of the Church are often questioned and it had faced numerous negative impressions and understanding from different and various individuals, institutions and some Church denominations, but still the Church does what it was meant to do from the very beginning – to proclaim the Gospel to the poor in service and love.         In the past, the Church, for instance, was not “perfect” when it comes to taking care of the poor. There were times that the Church became the oppressor instead of being the defender of the ...

     The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) has been in the Philippines for more than 80 years. They have pioneered the Church missions living among the Christians and Muslims in Mindanao especially in the areas of Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sulu and Tawi-tawi, “proclaiming the gospel to the poor and the most abandoned.”       The work and mission of the oblates are not entirely the usual and ordinary work and ministry of priests and religious. Aside from running a parish, these oblates are in the mountains living with the Indigenous peoples in Timanan, Maguindanao and Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat. Some of them are in the islands of Tawi-Tawi with the minorities like badjao and sama or with the Tausugs in Jolo, Sulu. They are professors, retreat masters, engineers, doctors, activists, agriculturists, assigned in the Philippines and abroad. They are not the typical priests we know of. They are missionaries. They are oblates.  ...

For months now, the world has suffered from the pangs of COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has never weakened so far as it gets more infections in difference parts of the world. Many people have lost their lives. Many are still in the hospitals and secured facilities for their recovery and other medical procedures. It seems the whole world has bent down to its knees as it continues to battle with the pandemic.   March of this year, the Philippine government imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon which effectively directed to a total lockdown, restricting the movement of the people except for necessary work and health concerns. Additional restrictions also mandated the temporary closure of non-essential shops and businesses and restricting gatherings including Church celebrations.   The Church has never run out of time with regard to celebrations. During the Marcos Martial Law, the Church stood still. It has surpassed its cruelty and the inhuman condition...