The Holy Spirit Parish: From Seeds to Edifices, First of Three Parts Dona Romana Subdivision, in the late

60s, was just tracts of windswept open space, sparsely dotted with spread-out trees, and covered with tall cogon grasses where multicolored dragonflies hovered over. Fast forward to the early 70s. BF Homes emerged into existence. The 304,348 square-meter land was divided into 684 lots and the streets were cemented. These did not include the roads in Phase I, which had earlier been developed by the Masangkays, their owners. There were houses located far from each other and a makeshift chapel at the very spot where the pelota court later stood and served as a multi-purpose hall for social and religious activities. Pre-Parish Evangelization Phase and Seeds of the Parish (Before 1980) Every Sunday, a group of 40 to 50 closely-knit families came together to hear mass at that multi-purpose hall. Active and devout ladies of the community took turns to invite priests (usually from the Ateneo and neighboring parishes) to celebrate Sunday masses. One of these men of the cloth was Fr. Michael Padua, SVD, Rector of Christ the King Seminary. When the churchgoers number increased, the liturgical celebrations moved to the clubhouse built by BF Homes, Inc. on the same spot where the church now stands. It soon became the venue for the social activities of the justestablished homeowners association. Moving in unison, the community furnished the hall with basic chapel equipment like statuary, altar table, pews and lights. A visiting Sri Lankan priest, Fr. Peter Kuruku Laarchi, offered his services and regularly officiated the Sunday morning masses. Fr. Laarchi shared with five ladies among the frequent massgoers that the chapel needed care and attention. Their reaction was to mobilize a team that would be called the Ladies Chapel Group. Organized on May 25, l975, the LCG took care of the chapel upkeep, mass paraphernalia and provision of a priest to say mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation. That founders were comprised of Annie Meez, Luz Nuez, Lydia Lejano, Beth Yuhico and Fe Sulit; they established their first Steering Committee and chose the Holy Family as patron saint. Mr. and Mrs. Dionisio Roque donated the statue. The BF community celebrated its annual fiesta on the first Sunday after Christmas. In the LCGs organizational structure, the community was divided into 12 family blocks, each represented by a chairperson and a co-chairperson, with a steering committee to oversee their activities. Each month a family block took care of the upkeep of the chapel and prepared the sanctuary for Sunday mass. The house-to-house rosary crusade began in 1976 as did the nightly October Block Rosary. The latter always concluded with a Living Rosary at months end, a practice that took root and continued to this day. Bea Ramos

initiated catechism classes with the moral and material support of Lita Alcantara, Ruby Orendain, Cherrie Tupaz, Emma Zshornack, Nita Bernardo and other wellmeaning womenfolk. The sessions were mostly done in the chapel and in one of their homes sometimes. Christmas and Holy Week celebrations were well-attended affairs as were the grand Salubong rite and the Easter morning egghunt. The Ladies Chapel Group initiated the construction of the side extensions of the chapel, funding for which was provided by BF Homes, Inc. The parking lot, the belfry with a 10-foot neon cross and the bronze bell came from a raffle that gave away a 15-inch color tv major prize, the first ever fund drive conducted. During the fiesta celebration of December 29 1977, His Eminence, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, BF Homes main celebrant and guest of honor, announced his plan to establish a new parish for BF Homes and its neighboring subdivisions. Inspired by the announcement, the LCG was galvanized into action and doubled their efforts to prepare for the conversion of the communitys church into a parish. Ruby Orendain, President of the 1978-79 Steering Committee, secured the written consent of BF homeowners for the donation by BF Homes, Inc. of the 2,000-sq.m. church lot to the Archdiocese of Manila and for the establishment of a BF-based parish. A fundraising campaign kicked off on November 12, 1978. It sold 1000 tickets at P100 a pop with a Brasilia VW 78 as grand prize. The ploy proved fortuitous; it netted P55,077.95, an amount that went to the construction of a rectory, a basic church requirement. With the ample collection, the LCG was able to acquire sacred vessels, altar cloths and linen, wooden Lenten crucifixes, and the statue of the Risen Lord used in the Salubong. There was enough left to put up plant boxes and landscape the chapel grounds. At this time, it was deemed difficulit to schedule priests from various congregations to conduct the weekend masses this was solved by the presence of a visiting Japanese priest, Fr. John Nariai, a friend of the Orendains. Fr. Nariai has had a one-year stint with Radio Veritas and was easily persuaded to be BFs resident priest. He also agreed to lodge at the newly constructed rectory and preside over the daily and Sunday masses until 1980, a feat accomplished through the efforts of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the LCG. Canonical Establishment of the Holy Spirit Parish and the Installation of the First Parish Priest (The Early Beginnings [1980-1987] or the Rosales Legacy) Two years after the plan was hatched, the dream became a reality. With the help of Fr. Padua and Msgr. Fidelis Limcauco (then Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Parish in Fairview, which BF Homes used to belong to) and bolstered by the recommendation of the Archbishops Council, the Parish of the Holy Spirit

was inaugurated by Cardinal Sin on Pentecost Sunday, May 25, 1980. The decree attesting to its canonical establishment was dated May 14, 1980. On the same day, Fr. Roy M. Rosales, just a year out of the seminary, was installed as first parish priest to serve the spiritual needs of the parish and its 16 subchapels in 8 subdivisions and villages surrounding it. Among these were: Don Antonio, Don Enrique, Filinvest I and II, Mapayapa I, II and III, Constitution Hills, Barrio Bagong Silangan, Veterans Village, Dona Juana, Gil-Armi, Kapalaran, Capitol Park Homes, Batasan Hills, Isidora Hills and Pook Ligaya. The new parish was bordered by Republic Avenue to the North; Luzon Avenue to the South; Constitution Hills up to Marikina River to the East; and the boundary of Pagkabuhay Parish to the West. Still on May 25, 1980, the good Cardinal inducted into office the officers of the now renamed Ladies Church Group. They were Genia Oliveros, Cora Malinit, Emma Zshornack, Bea Ramos and Pat Gonzales. That year, LCG raised P102,432.33 from their Alay Simbahan Fund Campaign, a budget that covered the cost of the iron grill enclosures and the narra door of the church, the marble works at the altar, the sound system and a red carpet for special occasions. The renovated church was blessed and inaugurated by Msgr. Bienvenido Lopez of Quezon City on January 20, 1981. A few months back, in June 1979, the School of the Holy Spirit opened its doors to its first batch of elementary and high school students. It celebrated the inaugural ceremonies on February 5 and 6, 1980 to coincide with the blessing of the Parish of the Holy Spirit. Sister Celerina Luz, S.Sp.S. of that School would recall the difficult months before the opening of the Batasang Pambansa, the consequent rapid development of Commonwealth Avenue and parents lamenting the drive through the dusty or muddy avenue, thanks to the construction work and the weather. ARAW, the publication of the DRQCBF Homeowners Association, in its May-June 1980 issue, carried the creation of the new parish as its banner headline along with the crowning of three little princesses, a fitting cap of that years Mayflower Festival. Editor-in-Chief Atty. Tony Viray, in ARAWs July Aug. 1980 issue, posited Fr. Roys organizing of the first Parish Pastoral Council to serve the 8 subdivisions and about 17,000 souls in it. The PPC members were: Sis. Alfonsa, representing Constitution Hills; Sis. Annunciata, S.Sp.S., the Principal of the School of the Holy Spirit; Chito Belmonte, President of the DRBF Villagers, Inc. Youth Group; Rene Calvelo, President of the DRBF Community, Inc.; that year's Ladies Church Group Steering Committee; Ruby Orendain, President, DRBF Community Assn.; Rene Palma, President, Filinvest Homeowners Assn.; Baby Ramos, Deputy Barangay Captain, DRBF Homes; Ed Ramos, President, DRBF (Phase II) Youth Assn.; and Tony Viray, Acting Chairman, Knights of Columbus. The publication also announced the three weekend masses.

Teddie Corua, during his term as LCG Steering Committee President, initiated a subscription dinner-dance at the Aberdeen Court dubbed Project Alayan. The ball defrayed the cost of the additional extension of the front wall of the church and completion of the grills. For this, Project Supervisor Engr. Norberto Mohal received a certificate of appreciation from Cardinal Sin on Pentecost Day 1982. Fathers Oscar Florencio, Vittorio Dequilla, Claro Estrada, Jun Villamil, Juanito S. Figura, Jr., Rene Lopez and priests from the Ateneo assisted Fr. Roy in tending to his scattered flock. On April 11, 1982, Barangay Holy Spirit was created with the passage of Batasang Pambansa No. 546, a law sponsored by then Assemblyman Rogelio Quiambao, a resident of BF Homes, Quezon City and a parishioner of the Parish of the Holy Spirit. Its territorial jurisdiction, comprising BF Homes, Granwood, Don Antonio Hts., Sunville (inside Don Antonio), Don Enrique Hts. and Isidora Hills, was segregated mainly from Brgy. Old Balara which covered Tandang Sora up to Bgy Commonwealth and originally covered about 459 hectares and a population of about 79,000. The first OIC was Kagawad Benigno Aquino, but in the first barangay elections of 1989, Kagawad Fernando Alejos won and served as first barangay chairman. Upon his death, Felicito A. Valmocina took over and served for three terms with extensions, totalling 16 years, until he was succeeded by his wife, incumbent Chairman Estrella Valmocina. Sometime in September 1982, a spiritual recollection for household helpers was arranged by the LCG, with Fr. Juanito Figura, Jr. as retreat master. Also, for the first time, a Holy Week Pabasa was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the DMI, a practice continued by Genia Oliveros in her lifetime. In 1984, Joe and Anita Meily, noted Christian Family Movement proponents, conducted a symposium on Parent-Child Relationship. Fr. Roy credits the Ladies Church Group and the Knights of Columbus for much of the projects that were carried out during his term; among which were the original stained glass altar background and tabernacle cover, the construction of the multi-purpose hall cum mortuary and venue of meetings, and similar ones which were funded through rummage sales, dinner-dances, raffle draws and donations from generous patrons. Pastoral Council presidents Tony Viray and Mario Gonzales provided invaluable support. Fr. Roys seven-year stay saw the formation of the following mandated organizations: Knights of Columbus Council No. 7668 on October 5, 1980; Daughters of Mary Immaculate on January 30,1983;

Legion of Mary, Our Lady of the Anunciation praesidium, on March 24, 1984; and Apostleship of Prayer on August 14, 1985. The souvenir program of the 5th anniversary celebration of the parish on May 25, 1985 coincided with the 10th anniversary of the LCG on May 26, 1985 and the blessing of the Parish Hall on June 9, 1985. On February 16, 1986, 27 young boys and girls formed themselves into a choir and named their group the Bethel and Aria Choir; it greatly enlivened the weekend eucharistic celebrations. The choir grew to 70 at one time but the demands of school and work whittled the membership down. In later years, the Charismatic Choir, Grand Choir (there was one then), Golden Voices Choir and the Couples for Christ Choir would append their melodious voices to the group. Sisters Ana Belinda Torreliza and Cristeta Maria Javellana of the School of the Holy Spirit volunteered as organists with the former even teaching the congregation many new songs. In later years, Mila Pineda and Finny Fernandez took over the organ. Towards the end of Fr. Roys term, from February 22 to 25, 1986, the EDSA Revolution took place. After 14 years of martial law, the Filipinos suddenly found their voice and the guts to regain their freedom. With the Blessed Mother in the thick of the throng, on the shoulders of her flock. The night President Marcos fled the country, BF homeowners came out of their houses and joined a frenzied ati-atihan march, banging pots and pans in celebratory merry-making. Corazon C. Aquino took oath as President, delivered a triumphant address before the US Congress in September, and came home to a delirious welcome by her proud countrymen. Father Roys seven-year term ended in August 1987. For three months he was chaplain at the De la Salle University and was off to Rome for further studies. Three years later, he assumed his post as parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Las Pias. Consolidation of the Parish into a Solid Community (The Years of Initial Growth [1987-1991] or the Gungon Legacy) ANOTHER YOUNG PRIEST, Fr. Nestor Gungon, succeeded Fr. Roy in September 1987. By his own account, Fr. Nestie was invited to say mass or provide (his) replacement to at least 34 areas under the parish then. These included the Capitol Estate Homes I and II, Gloria Subdivision, FEU Homes, Central Bank Village, Silverland, Dona Petrona and Luzon Avenue. Fr. Nestie interacted harmoniously with the church people, essentially the Ladies Church Group and the Apostleship of Prayer. Letty Indon, past president of the Apostleship of Prayer, recalls their chapel-hopping days (termed Parish

on Wheels) when they would drive Fr. Nestie to those places every 2 nd and 4th Fridays of the month to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart. Most of the AP members came from Republic Avenue, Dona Juana, Area 6, Don Enrique Heights, Don Antonio Heights and Gil-Armi Subdivision. They comprised the majority attending the First Friday evening mass and the Holy Hour after that. With the construction of the churches in places where the members reside, the First Friday evening mass was discontinued and the Holy Hour was held in the mornings. Street masses were held to propagate devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a joint undertaking of the Legion of Mary and the Apostleship of Prayer. Sister Zenie Limos recalls the children of squatter families (100 at one time) coming in for Sunday catechism classes. They were segregated according to age, each group handled by one Legionary. This went on for some time until the establishment of parishes where the children came from. The Legion of Mary conducted home visitations, in BF and adjoining areas, and asked if the visited couples were married, were their children baptized, or if the children were in need of catechism. They took charge of mass weddings for a time and helped the couples secure the requisite documentation. This period saw the Light of the Holy Spirit Charismatic Group conduct prayer meetings in church every First Friday. These assemblies elicited a good turnout and were capped by a simple fellowship. The group also taught housewives livelihood skills such as sewing, cooking and soap making and sometimes loaned them modest capital to start a microbusiness with. Sadly, however, stringent security measures at the BF gates barred the members from Republic Avenue and areas adjoining BF from coming; the meetings grounded to a halt. But the core group proceeded with their weekly gathering, which began in 1981 and, they are proud to aver, is now on its 29th bountiful year. Initially sponsored by the homeowners association and the Knights of Columbus and later taken over by the DMI, the free medical and dental clinic goes a long way from the time of Fr. Nestie. Charing Manahan recalls that for a long while, only Drs. Nito and Remy Coronel, her husband Romy and herself were manning the clinic; they were later joined by their dentist daughter. Charing shares a fond recollection of the mothers of Fr. Nestie and Fr. Rey inviting them to lunch after a grueling morning of attending to many patients. In later years, Dr. and Mrs. Mar Quicho (from nearby Mapayapa), Drs. Letta Acorda, Geoff and Marichu Battad, Vic and Louella Esteppa. and other civic-spirited physicians offered their services whenever their busy schedules allowed it. Construction of the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was initiated by Fr. Nestie in 1987, with the able assistance of Offie Salas, Tony and Mely Taco and Fred Lansang; it was inaugurated by Cardinal Sin on March 24, 1988. The chapel was built at a cost of P109,200.00, supported by house-to-house

solicitations by the LCG, at the time headed by Alice Ampongan, The chapel funding and subsequent improvement of its interiors, especially the main and side altars, were made possible by generous donors who, Fr. Nestie recalls, welcomed his group into their homes, served them refreshments, and sent them happily off with checks and pledges. One Good Friday procession, the parishioners were pleasantly surprised by the statues of the Santo Entierro, Our Lady of Sorrow, the five images depicting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the replicas of Saints Martha and Veronica donations from generous parishioners during the term of LCG Pres. Rose Caranay, The Ministry of the Word was reorganized, with Alice Ampongan as president, on March 25, 1990, under the by-laws ratified by 30 members; it was approved by Fr. Nestie on May 1, 1990. MOW had been in existence as early as 1985 with Dr. Aurora Bretana as its president. Guest priests who greatly lightened the apostolic duties of Fr. Nestie were Frs. Elmo Fernandez, Danny Perales, Rene Lopez, Vitto Dequilla and Oscar Florencio. Parishioners remember Fr. Nestie as a priest with a good singing voice. There was no church affair where he was not asked to render a song or two, a request he always so graciously accommodated. Four years later, on February 4, 1991, Fr Nestie packed his bags to assume a new post at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Las Pias. Yet another young priest took over where he left off.

4. Building an Edifice for God (The Years of Challenge [1991-1995] or the Bungay Legacy Fr. Reynaldo B. Bungay was installed as BFs third parish priest on February 9, 1991, in rites attended by parishioners, mandated organizations and representatives from the subchapels. The arrival of tall and bespectacled Fr. Bungay was preceded by his reputation as a church builder. Before long, he had his sleeves rolled up to expand the interior of the church, collapse the concrete posts that obstructed the view of churchgoers in the back pews, and erect a wider faade to allow for more standing space. The project was carried out in three phases due to insufficient funds. With Dr. Remy Coronel at its helm, the PPC launched a One Peso Per Autograph signature campaign; it grossed about P280,.000, not a measly amount in those days considering its humble medium. Dr. Nito Coronel took over the reins of the PPC vice his wife and spearheaded a dinner-dance at Hotel Nikko. The term of Genia Oliveros followed

this up with a raffle. On Pentecost Sunday of 1996, Cardinal Sin himself blessed the beautifully renovated Church of the Holy Spirit. A leak in the roof damaged the flooring and walls of the PEA Chapel, requiring major repairs and upgrading. By the same token, there arose a need to refurbish the parish carrozas and procure two marble lecterns and a new sound system. A forerunner of the Mother Butler Guild, the altar committee of Dr. Remy Coronel, was tasked as technical custodian and over-all in charge of the upkeep and maintenance of church paraphernalia. Nineteen ninety-four was a year of devastating lahar flows in Central Luzon. On October 27, 1994, the PPC brought a truckload of relief goods (sacks of rice, canned goods, used clothes and other donations) and distributed them to 200 families in a Bacolor evacuation center. Not long after, the DMI followed through with cash, clothes and foodstuff to a similar center in Porac, Pampanga. Through their Upliftment of Women Workers, the DMI attended to the spiritual needs of women workers in the backyard garments shop of member Mely Taco and in the pizza parlor of Tess Padilla. The free medical and dental clinic for the poor in the periphery of the village continued every third Sunday of the month, as did the quarterly visits to the Molave Detention Center for children in conflict with the law, with a simple fellowship fare in tow and a priest to say mass and catechize. Fr. Rey presided over the grand celebration of the parishs 12th anniversary. Invited guest priests from other parishes took turns to officiate the novena masses while Bishops Josefino Ramirez, Francisco Tantoco, Emmanuel Sunga, Agerico Galang and Cardinal Sin celebrated the fiesta masses. The souvenir program carried the group pictures of the mandated organizations, subchapel councils and the LCG Steering Committees. On the parishs 14th centenary, Bishops Teodoro Buhain and Ramon Arguelles presided over the Sunday fiesta masses while invited priests did the novena masses. Parlor games were played in the parish grounds in the morning and, in the afternoon, marching bands escorted the fiesta procession. They were joined by people from various subchapels, their patron saints atop lavishly decorated carrozas. An award was given to the best-decorated float, in a ceremony highlighted by fireworks and joyful merrymaking. During one Easter vigil mass, a string of running lights descended from the acacia tree in the parking lot onto the pitch dark. The congregation watched awed as the lights burst into flame and made the Blessing of Fire a truly memorable sight.

Fathers Vitto, Oscar and Elmo, Danny Perales and a new priest from St. Josephs Church in Dona Juana, Fr. Rodel San Juan, assisted Fr. Rey in his ministry. According to those who knew him well, Fr. Rey, underneath his seemingly formal facade, is a warm and accommodating man. Pictures of him with parish friends during lighthearted moments attest to this. Before this could be discovered by more of his herd, however, he was transferred to the Holy Family Parish in Roxas District, where incoming 4th priest, Msgr. Marcelino Reyes, came from. The Holy Spirit Parish: Through Years Times Thirty Third of Three Parts Continued Growth and Expansion (The Creative Years [1993-1995] or the Reyes Legacy) WITH AN AGILITY and liveliness that belied his 60-something years, Msgr. Marcelino Reyes looked tailor-made for his role as father of the parish. He beguiled his parishioners with his easy ways and homespun jokes, dished out poker-faced. He was installed by Bishop Ramon Arguelles on Sunday, March 19, 1995, reported to the parish a month earlier and was already present at the February 26, 1995 PPC meeting when its then president, Genia Oliveros, expounded on the councils activities for Holy Week. Monsi, as he was affectionately called, on August 13, 1995 appointed the new members of the PPC, with Digoy Rodriguez as president. Monsi also took note of the crowding at the church parking lot on weekends and had the place widened, creating convenience for the churchgoers. He had an artistic flair that enlivened the church liturgy; he drew dramatic reenactments of biblical scenes during Christmas and Holy Week celebrations of the Eucharist. He loved gardening and preferred that vegetables be planted on the open space adjoining the convent. The Legion of Mary gratefully remembers how Monsi made time to attend their weekly meetings, manifesting in a tangible way his concern for and encouragement of the Legions pro-poor activities. Myrna Dupaya similarly recalls the times when Monsi, chancing upon them counting the liturgical collection, offered them snacks for their effort; the sentiment is shared by AP President Renee Mohal. During the homily, Monsi always exhorted his parishioners to pray the Holy Rosary and warned the faithful of the consequences of not heeding Mama

Marys request to pray unceasingly for world peace. He gave Bible lectures to lay ministers for one hour every evening of the last Sunday of the month, from 8:00 to 9:00 oclock p.m., and invited the others to join in. At a DMI Clergy Day celebration, Monsi was accompanied by his assistants, Fathers Vitto, Oscar, Elmo, Rodel and Joseph. Two years into his term, he took advantage of a study grant on theater arts in London. He would intimate later that, had he known he was not going back to the parish he appreciated so much, he would not have accepted the grant. Monsi still misses the wooded park near the parish and the solitude it offered. 6. Towards Maturity and Stability (The Years leading to the Great Jubilee and the Silver Anniversary [1997-2007] or the Flores Legacy) FR. TOMAS F. FLORES, JR. came to the parish in mid-1997 and served for ten years. He was tall and amiable and, like Fr. Nestie, could carry a tune very well. So much so that church events somehow always culminated with him rendering a song, because of insistent demand. Fr. Tom could paint, too. In his initial years in the parish, he illustrated beautiful icons and important church events and mounted them at the altar. His paintings of angels and other religious figures drew praise from the parishioners. One of them, Osmund Orlanes, was so enamored by his renderings he suggested a public exhibition of them. Always self-effacing, however, Fr. Tom thought the idea far-fetched and demurred. Still, he conceptualized the Altar of Repose with the encouragement of the LCG. During Holy Week, he would give it a novel look. Sadly, however, the advent of digital depictions put Fr. Toms brush and easel to an untimely rest. With Fr. Tom, the monthly pastoral council meetings became bonding time. He introduced to the subparishes, reduced to ten by this time (Area 6, Don Antonio, Don Enrique, Garcia Hts., New Intramuros, North Susana, Sto. Nino, Laura I and II and Villa Beatriz) the idea of rotating the venue of the meetings among them or a freer, fuller ventilation and resolution of concerns. The result was that PPC members got to visit the various chapels and the chance to interact with their counterparts in the sub-councils. The Mother Butler Guild was established in 1999 to formalize what Dr. Remy Coronel and her small group of altar stewards had already been doing for many years. Many guest priests came and went during the term of Fr. Tom, some of which were Fathers Elmo Fernandez, Raffy Cruz, Elmer Jamarolin, Rodel San Juan, Joseph Bouchaud, Gabbie Goullin and Paul Raj. Fr. Raffy built a beautiful church at Don Enrique Heights before he was replaced by the Missionaries of Gods Love.

In January 2001, President Joseph Estradas ouster put Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power. The military withdrew its support for the incumbent with the backing of Citizen Cory, Cardinal Sin and his priests and nuns, and the enraged middle class. Alongside the upheaval, the church, its office and hall underwent repair and renovation, including the construction of two rest rooms. The major part of the project was the construction of a two-story rectory at the back of the church, which became the priests office and living quarters. The parish hall became an exclusive venue for meetings and an occasional mortuary. The new Stations of the Cross, the Pentecost scene atop the main door, and the guardian angels on each side, all in stained glass, were financed by donations, during the PPC presidency of Digoy Rodriguez. The latter took the reins from Genia Oliveros, who was co-terminus with Msgr. Reyes, whose term ended because of health reasons. Zeny Limos took over as lay coordinator, as the position is now called, with the parish priest deemed PPC president. On July 5, 2002, the Holy Spirit Chapter of the League of Eucharistic Guardians, which promotes a 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, was organized under the supervision of Fr. Tom. It is the first chapter in the whole Philippines recognized by the League. In preparation for the Parishs Silver Anniversary Celebration in 2005, Fr. Tom appointed Fr. Vitto Dequilla as Committee Chairman. Forthwith, Fr. Vitto composed a committee for the purpose, which embarked on a massive fundraising campaign to build a multi-purpose hall. This was to serve as a classroom for livelihood skills for brothers from adjacent depressed areas, which were then part of the parish, and as venue for meetings and occasional wakes. Hermano Mayor Flor Orendain led 19 other hermanos in presenting the activities depicting the Seven Gifts and Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Donations to this endeavor grossed a whopping P642,834.54. The highlight of the celebration was the Kalapati Festival, a concept born out of Osmund Orlanes creativity with the barangays stage-management support. Four giant floats carried assorted representations of a dove, all crafted out of odd materials (such as paper, feathers and cut-up metal) and sheer ingenuity. Twenty groups of twenty-plus participants each, body-painted and garbed in feathers, yards of cloth and what-have-you, paraded and gyrated on the streets of the barangay. Pausing at the Holy Spirit Parish parking space, they took a break only to present their painstakingly prepared numbers, as if the street spectacle were not enough. The Board of Judges was composed of Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista, Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Brgy Chairman Felicito Valmocina and a representative from the Department of Tourism; they chose, and handed the awards to, the three best performances. Such was the festivals success that the Quezon City government planned to adopt the Kalapati Festival as its own, to be held every year, in the tradition of the Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara and other cultural revelries.

To ensure the event was ensconced in memory, the Silver Anniversary Committee published a beautiful souvenir program that detailed the history of the parish and featured the mandated organizations and sub-chapels and their activities. During Fr. Toms term, the sub-parishes gradually became churches with only the New Intramuros Village, North Susana Executive Homes, and the Sto. Nino Shrine remaining as chapels. Fr. Tom was reassigned to Christ the King Parish in BF Homes, Caloocan City; a convoy of BFQC friends and parishioners escorted Fr. Tom to his first day at his new assignment. 7. A New Chapter Begins: (The Year of Rekindling the Fire of the Spirit [2007 up to the present]) A day after his birthday in June 2007, Fr. Jerome Rosalinda came to the Parish of the Holy Spirit accompanied by his former parishioners at Our Father Parish in Sauyo. He was installed on August 12, 2007 as BFQCs 6 th Parish Priest in a solemn ceremony celebrated by Bishop Antonio Tobias. The hitherto quiet parish underwent a metamorphosis. It grew animated with PREX Seminars, Bible Studies, Prayer and Life Workshops and construction projects. The latter gave rise to the Ruah (meaning spirit) Parish Center, which boasts of three commodious function halls: the Anima; the Spiritus; and the Cenaculum or Upper Room. The rooms can interchange their functions depending on the size of the crowd or nature of the occasion. An actual realization of the Silver Jubilee Committees project, construction of the Ruah Center was supervised by Engineers Regulo Fernandez and Boni Limos gratis et amore to make certain that the projected P1,232,000.00 cost went only to materials and services, portions of which were donated by kind, mostly anonymous souls. A successful bingo social, spearheaded by the DMI on December 13, 2008, and assisted by Deputy Grand Knight Art Rojas, raised more than P250,000.00; the proceeds completed the Center. Ruah was blessed by the now ubiquitous Bishop Tobias on February 15, 2009, making a thing of the past the problem of where to hold the many meetings of the equally numerous organizations. On top of the structures, what used to be barren and unwieldy ground was transformed into a gratifying garden of trees, shrubbery and flowering plants, an apt spot for the gentle image of Mother Mary to hold sway. While at the entrance to the PEA Chapel, underneath a talisay tree, St. Francis and his avian friends bid passersby welcome. As soon as installed, Fr. Jerome set into motion the creation of the Parish Pastoral Council. The PPC was one of his Six-O priorities: Organization; Objective; Order; Outreach; Ongoing Formation; and Observation of Liturgy.

Boni and Zeny Limos were appointed Chair Couple; later, upon the couples request, they were relieved by Noel and Marilou Tamase. Fr. Jerome introduced many firsts: Palm Sunday began with an earnest procession of palm-waving and praying people of the faith, accompanied by white-clad little girls with angel wings and flowers in their hair singing hossanas in-between prayer stations. The Via Crucis, held every Friday of Lent and during the Holy Week, felt holier. The Via Lucis during the Easter weeks opened the eyes of the faithful to a new and wonderful way of recalling the events following Christs resurrection. The 12 chosen apostles did not only get their feet washed and kissed by Fr. Jerome on Maundy Thursday, they were also granted the privilege of carrying Christs cross as the Passion wended its way around the village on Good Friday. The site of the Altar of Repose would be anybodys guess: enveloped in greenery and muted lights at the parking lot, with soft liturgical music playing; or atop a burning bush with rows of vigil lights; or in the Spiritus Hall with a sea of cushions to kneel or sit on. Last Maundy Thursday, the tabernacle was adrift in a sea of red, enveloped by lights cast by dozens of vigil lamps, some suspended in mid-air, others inside squares piled one on top of another. The 29th parish anniversary celebration, made exhilarating by Bishop Tobias two-day pastoral visit, featured food and sports festivals and an early morning solidarity walk by members of the mandated organizations, representatives of the homeowners association, the Monday Morning Club, Sisters of the School of the Holy Spirit, Daughters of Mary of Providence, down to the tricycle drivers astride their trikes. Saturday eve of the fiesta, Bishop Tobias bestowed on 31 parishioners the Sacrament of Confirmation. At one time, and little known to many, the praying of Lauds and Vespers (Liturgy of the Hours) was introduced to a small group of daily massgoers; this was lain aside for a while, as was the Bible Study, to be resumed at another opportune time. The shared sentiments of the more than 50 attendees of the two out-oftown recollections were nothing short of invigorating. First was to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mediatrix in Lipa, and the second to the Church of Our Virgin of Caysasay in Batangas. The excursions had everybody partaking lunch aboard the air-conditioned buses while listening to Fr. Jeromes backgrounder on the origins of the shrines. The camaraderie was raised to a new high with an exchange of pleasant banter and songs of satiety on the way home. The Paraclete, the official parish newsletter, came out with its maiden issue on April-June of 2008. Editor-in-Chief Auring Lianko guided the quarterly competently and has since disseminated parish goings-on every three months without fail. Ham de la Torre took over the editorship this year; his first edition featured excellent pieces by some of the communitys young writers.

It has long been Fr. Jeromes wish that a Grand Choir dominate, enliven and invigorate the celebration of not only the Holy Day Masses but specifically of the Parish Pearl Anniversary Liturgies. The PREX Choir, which debuted just last Christmas, joined the other choral clusters, with welcome additions from young residents who were to singing inclined. Listening to their Holy Week renditions, parishioners were one in agreement that the minstrels mentor and conductor, John Diocson, of UP Madrigals fame, has done wonders with the warblers. Too, the altar servers are now composed of boys and girls under the Ministry of the Altars and are a heartwarming sight during Mass, a far cry from times when even the lay ministers, because of dearth in their ranks, had to serve as acolytes. While the MOW has been beefed up by a few PREX graduates, it would be well and good if more young people preferred to be proud proclaimers of the Word. A crucial part of the yearlong preparations for the parishs Pearl Anniversary in May this year was the revival of the street Masses to reignite the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This project of the Legion of Mary, ably assisted by Letty Indon of the Cenacle Group, was delegated to the back burner for 20 years. Until that First Friday of March 2009, at exactly 7 oclock p.m., when the first Mass was held after a huge hiatus. Attendance in all the four quarterly masses was encouraging, prompting Fr. Jerome to suggest that it be a continuing undertaking. His latest project, a gift to our Patron, the Holy Spirit, which he hoped to and did - unveil on Pentecost Sunday, is the Pentecost Adoration Chapel, on its new site beside the Ruah Parish Center. The seed money came from the Simbang-Gabi love offerings and the rest, after the groundbreaking ceremonies on February 7, 2010, were pondered to emanate from the generosity of the faithful. They who will be the sole and inevitable beneficiaries of these beautiful edifices long after their proponent is gone. Fr. Jerome, designated Diocesan Chancellor in September 2008, keeps a roster of priest-friends/classmates whom he invites every now and then on special and joyous occasions like the fiesta and Christmas novena masses: Fathers Ding Coronel, Raymond Hizon, Joseph Villamartin, Toti Fuentebella. His regular assisting priests are Fathers Vitto, Thomas Rayen, Sonny Merida, Alvin Balean and Msgr. Marcelino Reyes. It seems like a dream now but mere weeks after his instatement; Fr. Jigs had the following parish vision crafted: A Christ-centered community, united, committed and spiritually renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit with the Blessed Virgin Mary as model

and the following parish mission created: As followers of Christ, we shall continue His saving mission by fostering spiritual growth and providing meaningful liturgical celebration as the summit of Christian life All his efforts have been focused on these guideposts. It has been thirty years in the life of the Holy Spirit Parish, three brief blurs in Fr. Jeromes own. Mighty good, long-short years they have been, and the future promises to be even superior. Indeed, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and Fr. Jigs slowlybut-surely awakening flock of burgeoning believers, how can h/we not succeed?

Published THE PARACLETE (Fiesta Issue vol. 3 no. 2, 3, 4 (2010))