The official publication of the Student Friars of the Philippine Carmelite Province

Volume 10 | Number 16 | 2016

RISE
AND GiVe
HOPE

editorial

Rise
and R
give
hope

By Augusto Orlindo C. Bartolome II, O.Carm.

ise and give hope is the theme of this

issue of the Brown Prophets. It is
very timely, considering the many
issues our country is facing today. There is
no doubt that we are going through very
difficult times in our country both in the
sphere of moral values and politics.

There is a call for each one

of us to rise, to awake from
our apathy and become agents
of hope. This is not an easy
thing to do. Many
of us seem to
have fallen into
a deep slumber,
figuratively
speaking. We
are too caught
up with the
demands of our
personal life
to even pause

The Brown Prophets

and reflect about what is

happening around us. Howeve
r, the attitude of being
present and aware of what is
happening in our midst
is something we can
learn if we only take
the time to be silent
and listen to the
inner voice of God
in our hearts.
Our Carmelite
rule of life also
bounds us in

allegiance to our Lord, Jesus

Christ. Jesus fought for the
poor and the oppressed. He
spoke out against injustice and
the violation of human rights.
We profess to be followers of
Jesus therefore it is our duty to
do the same.
The articles you will read in
this issue, speak about stories
of rising to challenges and
being agents of hope. We pray
it will inspire you to do your
part, no matter how small, to
help bring about a change in
our society. This is also our
December issue, just in time
for Christmas. Centuries ago,
the Son of God was born as a
humble babe in this world to
usher forth the kingdom of
God in a broken world. His
example is a testament to the
enduring power of faith and
love. Let us celebrate in joy at
His coming. May he be born
in our hearts, for as long as
He is with us, we will never
hope in vain.
Merry Christmas and a
happy New year to all !!!

message

By VERY REV. CHRISTIAN B. BUENAFE, O.Carm.

Prior Provincial, O.Carm. Philippines

To the Brown Prophets of our

Contemporary Times

Prophets were chosen and

consecrated to be messengers
of God who courageously journeyed with Gods people from
slavery to freedom, from inequality to justice, from despair
to hope, from hatred to tender
love. Prophets were tasked and
sent to announce the good news
of salvation and peace, and to
denounce the bad news of oppression, infidelity and injustice.
Prophets were zealous to stand
for what is the truth and fearlessly challenged the powers that
be even at the cost of their lives.
Prophets preached justice and
peace, mercy and compassion,
truth and love of God, and we
are asked to do the same in our
contemporary times. But how
is to be a prophet in the Philippines today?
How can the Brown Prophets joyfully celebrate Advent
when situations of unpeace and
unjust systems prevail in our
beautiful Philippines? While
peace is illusive, the Brown
Prophets hope for peace and
walk the path of peace and harmony in solidarity with the men
and women who are struggling
and building peace based on
justice.
The Brown Prophets are seekers of the face of the Living God
and defenders of humanity and

the whole of creation, they stand

for the sanctity of life for God
is life himself. Hence, Brown
Prophets promote life and defend the basic rights to life of
all; thus, we oppose all forms of
violations of our civil and political rights , and our economic
and cultural rights as well.
Brown Prophets wait, hope
and pray in this season of
Advent that justice, peace,
equality, and freedom in
our land will be enjoyed
by everyone in all
parts of the country.
Our Advent preparation will open our
hearts and usher us to
the mystery of Incarnation as we welcome
Jesus in our hearts, in
our homes and communities, and in our country and the world.
Christmas is the
memorial of
Jesus birth
as he is our
way, our

truth and our life in addressing

the different social issues that
our country faces.
With zealous hearts, Brown
Prophets rise and give hope to
all the people we walk with as
our Christmas 2016 celebration
would be meaningful and a
graceful blessing for all.
May we have a Joyful Christmas and
Peaceful New
Year 2017!
Devotedly in
the Holy
Family
of Jesus,
Mary and
Joseph.

Messages

message

ealth in the
Lord and
Blessings of
the Holy Spirit!

By BR. JOIEZL FERN PION, O.Carm.

SF Coordinator

A challenge to
young Carmelites

2016 will end in about a few weeks from now and it was just like
yesterday that the year began. It just shows us how time flies so fast
indeed in this rapidly changing world. The changes we experience
brought so many emerging developments especially in this new era
of multiculturalism and global economic progress, but one cannot
deny that hunger, violence and division continue to persist in a
world envisioned to be advancing through the years.
that meet the expectation of
This reality is also true to
what the Philippines is until
the Filipino people. At the
expense of human lives,
now experiencing after
violence and injustice
a change in the
became the way
administration
toward national
recently. Though
the new leaders of
progress. What
a sad reality
our country hope
indeed! This
and aim to make
heartbreaking
the Philippines
better in terms
phenomenon
is now
of its economy
and security,
challenging
yet the means
the prophetic
for achieving
spirit of
young Filipino
such dreams did
Carmelites to
not yield results

speak the painful truth of our

experiences and to proclaim
the Gospel of hope that will
shed light to our darkened and
confused reality.
This years theme: Rise and
give hope is our response to
the present call of our nation.
We are called to rise from the
comfort of our formation houses
and wipe the tears shed by
many wives, mothers, husbands,
fathers, sons and daughters who
lost their loved ones during this
period of war against illegal
drugs in the country. As modern
prophets of our time, it is our
task to take part in the struggles
of the families victimized by
extra-judicial killings, of our
indigenous brothers and sisters
victimized by the deprivation
of their ancestral domains,
and of children and young
people victimized by human
trafficking and sexual abuse.
In journeying with them, we
are called to be instruments of
hope to their shattered dreams
and aspirations. We have to
let them know that they are
not alone in their plight. As
bringers of hope, we must
bring into their despairing
consciousness that there is
a God who loves them so
much, who gave Jesus to
Continue to page 24...

The Brown Prophets

message

By REV. FR. ALAINDELON R. BALASABAS, O.Carm.

SF Formator

Health in the Lord

e thank God for such a wonderful year (2016) for bestowing on us countless blessings and graces. For the gift of
persons/vocations to Carmel, which he entrusted to our
care especially the profession of vows of our brother from Papua
New Guinea, Bro. Paul Kaptain Pakao, O.Carm. For the manifold
manifestation of his living presence among us, in each and every one
of us called to be prophets of our modern times. All of us have been
witnesses to all our successes as we live our life in Carmel.

We thank God not only for the

benefits we have received and
all that is good, but also for the
experiences that gives us a sort
of a test, the trials and difficulties both in the levels of personal
and communal. All of us face the
concern of the promise, of which
every one partakes in his role as
a true brother among brothers
living life to the fullest. Every one
has the heart to listen, to understand and to reflect on the message behind all of the asking, the
question what is hope? Is there
hope? Or what lies ahead? Everyone does not remain questioning
but moves towards its concretization through action, communal
action that leads us to a conclusion that we can overcome such
fall if we personify hope ourselves.
We work/involve ourselves
with our indigenous brothers/sisters who are marginalized, we immerse ourselves
in hopeless situations for us

to be agents/instrument of
hope. As St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would
say, When there is
life, theres love, and
when theres love,
there is hope.
And as St. Therese
of the Child Jesus
would say, My
vocation is to
love. We will be
ending the extraordinary jubilee
year of mercy but we
will always remember,
the mercy/love of God
that endures
forever.

All of these trials and

difficulties will pass
by, but what is important is that we
have hope, hope
that is anchored
in the ultimate
Hope in life,
which is God.
Lets give/radiate hope, lets
radiate Gods
love.
Blessings of the
Holy Spirit.

Messages

student-f riars
FY: 2016-2017

Standing (L-R): Br. Momar

Palisan, Br. Josef King Panesa,
Br. Augusto Orlindo Bartolome
II, Br. Paul Kaptain, Br. Leo
Nebril
Sitting (L-R): Br. Marvin
Diongzon, Br. Michael Condes,
Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas,
Br. Nelson Anciano, Jr.
Br. Paul Rey Senturias (not in pic.)

Front (L-R) Br. Joseph Roque,

Br. Christian Marave,
Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas
Back (L-R): Br. Mannie Barlis,
Br. Anecito Rodriguez,
Br. Patrick John Mariano

Standing (L-R) Br. Vinson

Luayon, Br. Marvin Diongzon,
Br. Ritche Salgado
Sitting (L-R): Br. Joiezl Pion,
Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas,
Br. Clark Canillo
Br. Paul Rey Senturias (not in pic.)

whats inside
messages
7
rising to the
challenge of
following god
13

11
hope in the midst
of difficulties

Publisher
Order of Carmelites - Province of Bl. Titus Brandsma (Philippines)
Titus Brandsma Center, No. 24 Acacia St., Brgy. Mariana
New Manila, Quezon City
Editor-In-Chief
Augusto Orlindo Bartolome II, O.Carm.
Contributors

Nelson Anciano, O.Carm.

Clark Canillo, O.Carm.
Miguel Condes, O.Carm.
Paul Pakao Kaptain, O.Carm.

1
peace be with you

in the life of the

young brown 15
prophets
and give
17 rise
hope
from that passage 20
of hope
21 the hope incarnate
inspired by the 23
poor
24 art
news 25
26 a cry for justice
abstract 27

Asst. Editor
Leo Nebril, O.Carm.

Lay-out and page design

Ritche Salgado, O.Carm.
Vinson Luayon, O.Carm.
Momar Palisan, O.Carm.
Josef King Panesa, O.Carm.
Joiezl Fern Pion, O.Carm.

Advisers
Rev. Fr. Alaindelon Balasabas, O.Carm.
Br. Marvin Diongzon, O.Carm.
Br. Paul Rey Senturias, O.Carm.

The Brown Prophets

The Cover

According to a Rappler report

(In Numbers: The Philippines war
on drugs, November 26, 2016,
19th update), since the start of the
Duterte Presidency until the second week of November, there have
been almost 4,900 drug-related
killings attributed to the governments infamous war against drugs.
Many of these victims, however,
have already surrendered, wanting
to come clean.
The cover is a composite of two
pictures, the first is the now famous La Pieta photo of a victim of extrajudicial killing (EJK)
cradled by his wife. The photo was
taken by Inquirers Raffy Lerma.
The other is a Shutterstock photo
of a cross extending to the skies.
In keeping with this issues
theme, Rise and Give Hope, the
cover depicts the need for us, Carmelites, to be images of hope for
people affected by all the injustices
happening in our society.
In this dark time, we are called
to become prophets of hope. We
are not only challenged to denounce the evils of society, but
we are to also provide comfort to
those agrieved by this tragic campaign.
The cross that the people carries, the unjust poverty that drove
them to engage in anti-social activities, are just too heavy for them to
carry on their own. Are we brave
enough to carry their cross with
them?
And so we are challenged to
Rise and give hope.

Table

of

Contents

feature

peace be with you

By Br. Ritche Salgado, O.Carm.

t the time when the

disciples of Jesus hid from their
brothers after his death on
the cross, a strange man
suddenly appeared in the
middle of their company
and greeted them, Peace
be with you, and peace
they received, their fears
were removed and their
missionary passion ignited.
Greetings of peace are common among Jewish people. They
use the phrase Shalom aleichem
( ) which means a
variety of things but pointing to
the holistic meaning of peace.
Shalom is not plain and simple peace, or the absence of war
or distress, but it means completeness, it means happiness,
it means good health, it means
prosperity and so on and so
forth.
When Jesus sent his disciples to spread the good news
of salvation, he asked them to
leave their peace to those who
welcome them. This peace is the
good news of the kingdom, of
liberation from oppression, of
the great jubilee, of the salvation
of Christ.

But have we been bringing the

peace of Christ into the lives of
the people we meet?
The Brown Prophets

How?
After the dictatorial government of
Ferdinand Marcos was toppled by the
people, the government under President
Corazon Aquino opened its doors to the
peoples movement for the possible realization of peace in the country. The national
democratic movement in the country had
been waging a war in behalf of the poor,
oppressed, exploited, and marginalized
sectors since the founding of the revolutionary New Peoples Army in 1969.
However, because of the insincerity of
the Aquino government marked by the
protection given her familys estate, the
Hacienda Luisita, from inclusion in the
agrarian reform and the subsequent massacre of poor farmers right at the doorstep of Malacaan Palace, the peace talks
collapsed.

Peace in the Philippines

Shalom, the peace of God
is something that many Filipinos have yet to experience
despite the almost 500 years of
the good news being preached
in the islands. Ironically, with
the coming of Christianity, hell
was unleashed on the islands as
war, division, oppression, discrimination, and individualism
replaced the communal, simple,
and peaceful lifestyle of pre-Hispanic tribal Filipinos.
Since then poverty remained
to be a major problem in the
country bringing social consequences like criminality, prostitution, illegal drug trade, and
others.
When I stayed with the fisherfolks of a depressed fishing
community in North Luzon, I
was told that the illegal drug
trade was rampant in the com-

munity. What surprised me was

the apathy of the people, only
to realize that for them the drug
trade is what feeds them because
rarely do they get a good catch
that could actually feed their
family.
What kind of society do we
have that drives people into
desperation to the point that
they would resort to anti-social,
unlawful and immoral acts just
to survive?
The peace process
But there is hope.
The recent peace process between the government and the
revolutionary National Democratic Front of the Philippines
(NDFP), hopes for the realization of the peace of Christ, of
shalom in the lives of the poor,
the oppressed, the exploited, and
the marginalized.

It wasnt until former president Fidel Ramos took office that some hope was given
to the peace process. In 1992, the Hague
Joint Declaration was signed. The document defined the substantive agenda for
the talks that included human rights and
international humanitarian law, socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional
reforms, end of hostilities, and the disposition of forces.3
The first major document in the agenda, the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIL), was
signed in 1998.
Sadly, the succeeding leadership did not
take the peace process seriously and the
signed agreements were disrespected and
not implemented.4 The peace talks were
put on hold.

progress and already the negotiating panel have signed a

framework and outline of the Comprehensive Agreement
on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER), adapted from the
proposed draft of the NDFP.
The draft envisioned the following outcomes of the
CASER:
1.Rural equality and development to achieve food
self-sufficiency and security;
2.A sovereign, self-reliant and industrialized national
economy;
3.Protected and rehabilitated environment, just compensation for affected populations, and sustainable
development.
4.Social, economic, and cultural rights of the working
people upheld and discrimination eliminated;
5.Sustainable living incomes for all;
6.Affordable, accessible and quality social services and
utilities;
7.Sovereign foreign economic policies and trade
relations supporting rural development and national
industrialization; and

Right: The author

with NDF Peace
Consultant Loida
Magpatoc.
Bottom: A
participant in an
inter-faith forum
on peace pastes a
paper dove on the
freedom wall to
show his support
for peace. (Mark
Saludes/UCANews).

Recently, however, with the election of

former Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the countrys 16th president, hope
looms for the possible actualization in
reaching an agreement at least for the next
agenda in the peace talks which is socio-economic reforms.
Socio-economic reforms
The negotiations, facilitated by the
Royal Norwegian Government, is making
Feature

8.Monetary and fiscal policy

regime for national development.5
Taking from this, one could
not help but notice that the
intention of the NDFP is not
merely for the glorification
of its leaders, but for the end
of a repressive and oppressive
structure that has for centuries
enslaved many Filipinos and
buried them deep into poverty.
Should the CASER be signed
and made binding, and should
both parties work together in its
implementation then perhaps
it would not be long before we
get a foretaste of the peace of
Christ, of shalom, especially for
our poor, oppressed, exploited,
and marginalized brothers and
sisters.

of sins are vital elements in the

achievement of peace, for, after
all, the lack of peace is brought
about by mans sinful ways. But
what is sin?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sin as an
offense against reason, truth,
and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and
neighbor caused by a perverse
attachment to certain goods. It
wounds the nature of man and
injures human solidarity. It has
been defined as an utterance, a
deed, or a desire contrary to the
eternal law.7

The issue on peace is brought

about by our common sin of
not taking care of the poor,
oppressed, exploited, and marginalized. By ignoring their plea
Peace be with you
for help, we separate ourselves
from God. By leaving them hunJesus himself stood among
gry and homeless, literally with
them, and said to them, Peace
to you. Thus it is written, that nothing, while we feast on our
excesses, we separate ourselves
the Christ should suffer and on
the third day rise from the dead, from God.
and that repentance and forgiveThe extreme poverty experiness of sins should be preached
enced by many Filipinos encourin his name to all nations...6
aged them to organize and fight
a repressive and oppressive sysRepentance and forgiveness
tem leading to a war that lasted
Church people
participate
in a mass
mobilization
in time for the
first State of the
Nation Address
of President
Rodrigo Duterte.
The faith-based
group is calling
for peace and
the resumption
of the peace
talks. (Len Olea/
Bulatlat.com)

The Brown Prophets

for almost 50 years.

Called to be prophets
The recently concluded General Congregation said in its
final statement:
The majority of our peoples
share in the experience of suffering, pain and woundedness due
to the ravages of war, violence,
exploitation and manipulation.
Left to ourselves we would feel
overwhelmed and crushed by
these contemporary challenges. We however look to Jesus
Christ our Lord and Saviour for
inspiration, strength and healing. Jesus, by his life, ministry,
death and resurrection, effected
a revolution of tenderness and
love. He refused to be indifferent, hard-hearted or join in
the heartless exploitation and
manipulation of peoples.... In
response to his tender love we
make a clear preferential option
for the grieved, and anguished,
especially of those who are poor
or afflicted (cf. GS.1) by attending to their cry and walking in
solidarity with them. We are
called to the ministry of evangelization by the witness of our
lives testifying to the fact that

God looks out for every lost

person because he loves and
cares for each one.8
It adds:

As Carmelites, we
are called to follow
the footsteps of our
spiritual father Elijah,
who could not tolerate
the injustice done
against Gods people by
the idolatrous culture
of the time.

In the figure of the

Prophet Elijah we draw
our inspiration of prophecy reaching out to the
halls of power as well as
the peripheries through
his dual passion for God
and the people. Like Elijah
who prophesied from the
intimacy of his relationship
with the God of the Covenant so also must our personal relationship with God
be the foundation of our
mission. In the person of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and Sister, is revealed the image of a contemplative woman
who reaches out with haste to be
of service to others. This example of the Blessed Virgin Mary
challenges us to hear the cry of
the poor. In these inspirational
figures of Carmel we recognize
that each Carmelite is being
challenged to cultivate a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus
Christ and serving him faithfully from a pure heart and a good
conscience (Rule # 2). It is from
this encounter that we can learn
to experience and witness the
call to being wounded healers by
being missionaries of Gods tenderness and love to those who
live in both the geographical
and existential peripheries. We
believe that in going out to the
peripheries we will find Jesus
Christ there ahead of us (cf. Mt
28:10; Jn 4:4).9

As Carmelites, we are called

to follow the footsteps of our
spiritual father Elijah, who
could not tolerate the injustice
done against Gods people by the
idolatrous culture of the time.
Remember Naboth who was

killed by Jezebel just so King

Achab could claim his vineyard?10 Such injustice the Lord
could not tolerate and so he sent
Elijah to express His outrage.
What about the farmers of
Hacienda Luisita who continue
to experience injustice from the
hands of a government who continues to protect greedy landlords? How many more farmers,
indigenous people, labor leaders,
urban poor organizers, student
leaders, religious and church
workers have to offer their lives
before peace is realized?
While Elijah was bold enough
to express Gods outrage over
the injustice done to his people,
are we also bold enough to express resentment over the many
injustices done to Gods people?
While the peace process is
making progress and the hope
for peace a step closer to actualization, there continues to
be a need for prophets to help
protect and ensure its success
because many and powerful are
those who oppose peace.
Peace be upon you, is
Christs blessing to us, and peace

is what we as Carmelites, as
prophets of the modern
times, should bring to those
we come into contact with.
Peace is the message that we
should bring to the poor,
oppressed, exploited, and
marginalized whom we are
pledged to serve. Peace that
is holistic. Peace that means
good health, freedom from
hunger, a comfortable
home, a full life. A peace
that brings hope. This peace
is what we, as followers of
Christ, should defend and
propagate. By doing so we
bring hope to many others
in these troubled times.

Let us support the peace

process. Let us continue our
work for peace.

See John 20:19-21 and Luke 24:36.

See http://biblehub.com/hebrew/7965.htm.
3
See 10 things to know about the
peace talks between the communists and the government
of the Philippines by Mong
Palatino, Bulatlat.com, June
9, 2016, http://bulatlat.com/
main/2016/06/09/10-things-toknow-about-the-peace-talks-between-the-communists-and-thegovernment-of-the-philippines/.
4
Many NDFP consultant to the
peace process were harassed and
arrested, while until today many
farmers, labor leaders, student and
youth activists, church workers
and religious, and mass leaders
were arrested, killed, tortured, and
disappeared.
5
From a facsimile of the signed
document posted in the Twitter account of Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan
Muna), October 8, 2016, https://
mobile.twitter.com/kaloi_zarate/
status/784961803801460736.
6
See Luke 24:36, 46-47.
7
See CCC 1849.
8
General Congregation (OCarm),
Final Statement: Missionaries of
Gods Tenderness and Love, Retrieved from http://ocarm.org/en/
content/ocarm/general-congregation-2016-final-statement on
October 16, 2016.
9
Ibid.
10
See 1 Kings 21.
1
2

10

Feature

vocation

Rising to the
Challenge of
Following God
My Vocation Story

By Br. Paul Kaptain Pacao, O.Carm.

aving been
with the
Order of
Blessed Virgin Mary
for a duration of
seven years. Since
I left the Diocesan
seminary in 2009
and joined the Order
of Carmelite in 2010,
back in my country of
Papua New Guinea.
I feel it is good for
me now to look back
at my vocation story
and the great hope
that sustains me even
up to now.

11

The Brown Prophets

My formation in the
Carmelite way of life has not
always been easy. At first
I was filled with so much
excitement. Father Jun Adeva
a Carmelite priest who was
also my formator in the
Diocesan Seminary showed
me the Carmelite way of life
through our immersions
which allowed us to live in
the midst of the poor people.
Looking back it is this
particular Carmelite charism
which attracted me to join
the Carmelites. But now that
I am here, I can describe my
vocation journey as a roller
coaster ride, with all its ups
and downs. At first, I was
fearful of entering religious
life since it would mean
separation from my family,
but now that I have seen its
value in my formation and
now that I have lived here
in the Philippines for quite
some time. I can confidently
say that I do not regret my
decision and that I now love
and appreciate the Filipino
culture. The obstacles,
hardships, and struggles that
I was confronted with are

means of purification, essential

to my preparation as a future
Carmelite.
My vocation journey is also a
story of joy. I have many happy
and memorable experiences
with my Carmelites brothers in
our many community activities.
Life as a Carmelite is not all
work and prayers. We also give
time for community bonding
activities. Whenever we talk
at the table it gives us time to
laugh and share stories that help
uplift one another.
It is true that I have left a
lot of things to follow God as a
Carmelite and this has not been
easy. I have relinquished my
right as chieftain of our village
in Papua and adjusting to the
Filipino culture is not a walk in
the park. When I first arrived in
the Philippines, I was required
to take Philosophy studies at the
University of San Carlos in Cebu
which was also challenging, but
I am happy that through Gods
grace, I passed that course with
flying colors. In the midst of
all these I am thankful to my

brother Carmelites and all the people from our respective communities
who have helped me adjust and bore with me in my difficulties. To you
my brothers and sisters, thank you, for all the care and understanding.
What sustains me now, and gives me hope is my faith in God and
strong zeal to serve Him, in the midst of the people, especially the poor
and marginalized. I can say now that I am here in the Order, that I
have found peace. No more sleepless nights in thinking of my vocation
in life like before I entered the Order. My heart now rests in God and in
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. St. Augustine once said: My heart is restless
until it rests in you O God. From my personal experience, I can say that
is very true.
Indeed the journey of following God is challenging but rewarding.
But walking in faith, focused on your goal and walking that journey
together with your brothers will help you overcome all difficulties.
Gods grace will sustain all who strive to follow Him.

12

Vocation

immersion

Hope In The Midst of Difficulties:

How the poor can teach us

Br. Nelson B. Anciano, Jr., O.Carm. recalls his

immersion at Ruhama Center for Women, an
institution for the abused and prostituted women,
My immersion with the survivors in Ruhama
Center for Women provided a thorough conversion
in me, a conversion from being judgmental to
being uncritical.It was an encounter with God
amidst woundedness and pain.

By Br. Momar G. Palisan, O.Carm.

od has
not called
me to be
successful, but to be
faithful.
These powerful words of
Mother St. Teresa caught my
attention during my 30 day
immersion in the Bukal ng
Kapayapaan Home for the
Elderly and the Abandoned, an
institution under the care of the
Missionaries of Charity Brothers
founded by St. Teresa herself.

is the energy of painful emotions of abandonment. It was an

encounter with people feeling the darkest emotions, but by the
grace of God, I was able to attend to it, to befriend it and to
surrender to it mindfully. That was how I listened to the language
of the heart. A language that words cannot express but only the
heart could. It is where I heard stories of people I considered
sacred because it was through these encounters that God revealed
himself. One day, I asked my dialogue partner regarding things
that would make him happy, and he replied, This conversation
makes me happy; it eases my pain to see someone listening to me.
The words of Mother St. Teresa echoed in my ears, Not all of us
can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.

The immersion became a

continuous journey for me in
seeking out the face of God in
the most painful experiences
of the elderly people. I have
witnessed that more than the
physical pain they experience,

13

Br. Josef King S. Panesa, O.Carm. was

assigned in Guanella Home for Special
Children, an institution dedicated to the care
of the mentally challenged and abandoned
children, It was a challenging, laborious,
discomfort and a heart-rending experience to
see the mentally challenged residents of the
institution. Thus, I was able to realize their
psycho- emotional, sociological and spiritual
needs and therefore empathize with them.
The Brown Prophets

Br. Paul K. Pakao, o.carm. immersed himself in San

Martin de Porres Home for Little Children, In San
Martin I learned and experienced how to be humble and
patient in spite of struggles, hardships and with obstacles
confronted in life.

Br. Leo A. Nebril, O.Carm.

was assigned in the National
Bilibid Prison, he said
Listening to the different
sacred stories of those whom
the society considered as
undesirable members of
the community in the Bureau
of Corrections, taught me
the real meaning of mercy,
a mercy that is not exclusive
but inclusive. It has been
an enriching experience of
compassion, forgiveness
and new hope that I learned
through the different life
journeys of the inmates.

Br. Augusto Orlindo C. Bartolome, O.Carm. had his immersion

in the National Bilibid Prison and recalls, My immersion with the
prisoners in Muntinlupa City taught me the real value of listening
and how to find value in ones life amidst trials, woundedness and
pain. In the end, hope In God is the strongest anchor we can hold
on to, to overcome the darkest moments of our lives.

We realized that in administering to the poor, we learn many valuable lessons like the value of
sharing, of how it is to be lonely, of how it is to be unwanted and unloved, of what it is to be truly
hungry and thirsty. The poor gave us more than what we have given them, they gave us their
grateful hearts.
I remember the words of Pope Francis during his encounter with the youth in Manila, he said
Learn how to beg. Learn how to receive with humility. Learn how to be evangelized by the poor, by
those we help, the sick, the orphans. They have so much to give us.
We would like to thank our respective communities to which we were immersed; for the meaningful
experiences we have had with you; you became a part of our vocation journey.
Immersion

14

In the life of the young

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Photos by
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Br . M ig ue l Condes

The Brown Prophets

Messages

special feature

Rise and Give Hope

In The Midst of
ExtraJudicial
Killings

By BR. LEO A. NEBRIL, O.Carm.

hey are addicts! They are

criminals! They are not
humans! They deserve to die!

These words now become a mantra here in our beloved

country. A country that once became famous because of the
unquestionable determination of her people in bringing back their
freedom from the hands of a dictator. Now our country has become
a cradle of the culture of death because of her present leaderships
campaign against illegal drugs. Proponents and supporters of
this advocacy looks at those who are guilty and even those who
are merely suspected as drug personalities as un-human, that the
only way to handle them is to kill them. From ordinary people to
high- ranking authorities of church and state be it Catholic or those
coming from different denominations, a number of them actually
support this kind of viewpoint.
One of the main reasons that makes this unwritten policy of

15

The Brown Prophets

extra-judicial killings under the

present administration different
from the past administrations is
the large number of its victims.
Many of these extra-judicial
killings were done either by
the policemen or vigilantes.
Based on the police data, from
the beginning of the present
administration when the
president took his oath of office
last June 30, 2016 until the first
week of October there were
already 3, 684 persons killed.
As of October 9, 2016, out of
this 3, 684 there were already
1, 390 alleged drug addicts
and pushers that were killed
by the policemen during drug

operations and 2, 294 were the victims of the vigilante style of killings. Another heart
breaking scenario is that after the vigilantes killed their target they just left them with a
cardboard sign hanging on their dead bodies, with the words Drug Pusher ako, Huwag
Tularan (I am a Drug Pusher, dont imitate me). This cardboard sign now becomes a
part of our daily news. The number of killings earned different reactions and sentiments
from the people of this country. For some they applauded the president for his effort in
eradicating these personalities, these fellows whom the society considered as undesirable
members of the community, but for most they really were against it, because of the value
they place on the the sanctity of life. These pro-life advocates are not against the advocacy
of the president to eliminate the illegal drug trade in the country but they uphold an idea
of the importance of the human life, that killing is not the solution to the problem. The
recent survey regarding this issue shows that 94% of the respondents expressed their
belief that the suspects should be captured alive, that the life of this alleged criminals
is of much higher importance compared to this war against illegal drugs. The question
now for us is which side of the issue are we? Are we the ones who support this Extajudicial killing that already killed many of our brethren or do we support the fight against
illegal drugs, yet still desire to uphold the sanctity of human life which promotes the just
treatment of all human persons whether they may be innocent or guilty of wrongdoing?
The Holy Father, Pope Francis in his video message to an anti-death penalty congress
in Norway, emphasized his opposition to capital punishment. He declared that the
commandment You shall not kill has an absolute value and applies both to the innocent
and to the guilty. He reiterates that this kind of punishment cannot bring perfect
justice rather it fosters vengeance in the heart of the loved ones left by the convicted. To
put greater emphasis on this idea, the Holy Father said, It must not be forgotten that the
inviolable and God-given right to life also belongs to the criminal. This message from the
Pope also applies to the situation here in our country brought by this unwritten policy
on extra-judicial killings.
For his part, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, of the archdiocese of Manila here in the
Philippines, broke his silence by condemning all forms of murder from the abortion of
babies to the killings of alleged drug personalities. As much as he denounced the drug
trade in the country as a way of murdering the dreams especially of the young.
Tagle on August 28 during his program with the Church-run Radyo Veritas pushed the

Special Feature

protection of all lives as he

said buhay ng kahit na sino
hindi lamang buhay ng gusto
nating protektahan (the lives
of anyone, not only the lives we
want to protect).
He added Basta taong may
buhay, kahit sino pa siya, ang
buhay na yun ay sagrado. Alam
ko na ngayon na ang malaking
usapin ay ang nagiging mga
pagpatay sabi pati raw sa mga
hindi guilty, sa mga inosente
pero kahit nga guilty man o
hindi guilty, ang buhay ay dapat
alagaan at igalang. At kung
guilty, bigyan ng
bagong buhay
pagkakataong
makabangon mula
sa lumang buhay.

criminals they deserve to die,

that they are not humans, that
they are undesirable members
of the community, etc. This
notion is contrary to our
Gospel values. Jesus teaches
us through the Gospels (both
of Sts. Matthew and Luke)
how a Good Shepherd values
each of his sheep as He left the
ninety-nine just to look for
the one lost sheep. (Mt. 18:1214; Lk.15:3-7). Moreover He
also challenges those who
want to become His followers,
to embrace His mission that of
calling not the righteous but

stance on this issue, to be silent

no more when faced with the
grave oppression of human
life. It is a call for us to unite
and live out the charism of our
brotherhood, we can be true to
this charism by praying that
this governments vision of
eradicating the drug trade that
destroys our basic Christian
communities and values will
be successful in a manner that
is just and lawful. May we rise
against this specter of death
through our evangelization
especially in bringing back
the conscience of the people,
towards the Gospel
values and the
importance of
the dignity of a
persons life made
in the image and
likeness of God, the
temple of the Holy
Spirit. This is true
not only for the
innocent but also
for the guilty As prophets in
our contemporary society, may
we transcend from the idea of
fanaticism by being a critical
collaborator of the government
especially in its work of drug
prevention and rehabilitation
and to maintain our allegiance
with Christ and in His desire of
mercy and not sacrifice. These
addicts, these criminals are
human and they also share with
the innocent, the inviolable
and God-given right to life. As
God is the author of life, he
alone has the power to give or
take a persons life. By striving to
become true prophets of todays
society, by being consistent to
the Gospel values and by letting
our voices be heard through
our different social actions, we
become true voices and signs of
hope in our society today.

As long as a person has

life, whoever he or she is,
that life is sacred.

(As long as a
person has life,
whoever he or
she is, that life is
sacred. I know
that the big issue
nowadays is the recent spate
of killings which, they say,
afflicts even those who are
not guilty, the innocent but
whether a person is guilty or
not, life should be cared for and
respected. And if a person is
guilty, give him new life the
opportunity to rise from his old
life.)

Along with his emphasis

on the sanctity of life that is
immanent to both the innocent
and guilty, Tagle posts a
challenge especially to those
believers to be consistent in
promoting whole or integral
life and not be selective. This
challenge of the good cardinal is
directed most especially to those
proclaimers of the Word that
their words and actions must
be consistent with what they
preach. It is sad to see one who
preaches the God of life and the
infinite mercy of God and yet
upholds and supports Extrajudicial killings. It is disturbing
to hear from a pastor that the
addicts are criminals and as
The Brown Prophets

19

the sinners, as he emphasized

in his preaching, It is not
those who are healthy who
need a physician, but those
who are sick (Mk. 2:17) to
continue this mission. We can
learn to respond to this in the
light of mercy. The mercy that
is equal to everyone and not
only for the victims but also
for the victimizers. As Jesus
would say, I desire mercy and
not sacrifice (Mt. 9:13). This
mercy that Jesus desires is
not only for the aggrieved but
for the perpetrators of crimes
as well. This is the idea Jesus
wants us to embrace, mercy
that begets mercy.
The challenge for us now,
as Carmelites, as descendants
of the great Prophets and as
prophets in our contemporary
society is to rise and give hope
especially in bringing this
mercy of God into reality. It is
a challenge for us to go against
the current and be faithful
in bringing the message of
the Gospel especially its

literary

From that passage of Hope

By Br. Clark Canillo, O.Carm.

One step setfor a journey in the path of ambiguity

The passage may be a long one, hold onto hope
Full of zest, full of passion, full of unearthing, a
series of strenuous episodes afraid not of a single one of them
They may once...twiceappear in my waypainful yet teaching me to be
strong
A line of anguish and pain at times linger in my face
But hope never left me bowed down even in this sorrowful state
Thoughts of optimism and hope held high raised me,
A rare and mystical stirring kindle the dying ember in my soul
That paves the thorns of this hopeless passage
Let not hope be lost oh my soul as I continue to strive
Disturb me not darkness as I am almost near to arrive
Sorrow and painleaving a glance of goodbye
Feet back on the ground, running the path where He passed by
Giving the newness of life a promise of hope.
Never falter, never fearHope, the passage is close at hand
Reaching the end of that passage is a light of redemption
A harbor of serenity, a haven of tranquility
A summer of joystears swept hastily
Where in the gateways, He lovingly embraces me

Photo credit: Feet by Noel Celis/AFP/

Getty Images. Grabbed from https://
www.theguardian.com/world/2016/
oct/17/duterte-says-children-killed-inphilippines-drug-war-are-collateraldamage. Candle from net.
special feature

18

reflections

The Hope Incarnate

by Br. Joiezl Fern S. Pion, O.Carm.

right
alluring
lights
blinking colorfully
from Christmas
lanterns hanging
from doorposts
of houses; a great
number of Santa
Clause figurines and
glittering Christmas
balls of different
shapes, sizes, and
colors crowd the
shelves of every
department store;
adorable voices of
children cheerfully
singing Christmas
carols in the streets,
these and many
more are what you
can see and hear in
the Philippines once
the ber months
strike the calendar.

21

The Brown Prophets

As early as September one can already sense the spirit of

Christmas lurking in the streets, houses, and buildings all over
the big cities and towns in the Philippines. In parks and several
public places, a series of colorful, twinkling lights coiling around
tree trunks, lamp posts, and fences make the place aglow.
Tunes of Jingle bells, Frosty the Snow Man, and Ang Pasko ay
Sumapit accompany people in their shopping spree in malls and
supermarkets. In televisions, radios and in internet social media,
people are talking about Christmas experiences, preparations,
food, vacation trips, etc. Christmas is a joyful season that every
Filipino looks forward to every year because it is a time for families
to reunite and gather, a time for gift-giving and sharing, a time for
singing and laughing, a time for eating and drinking, and a time
of thanksgiving to God for the blessings received within the year.
Yet, not all Filipinos are given the opportunity and privilege to
celebrate Christmas as fun and memorable as the rest. Some await
the coming of Christmas without food to prepare, without families
to share stories and laughter, without houses to shelter themselves
from the cold, without money to buy gifts and new clothes, and
worse without
hope to live for another year because of
despair, grief,
and so much poverty.

In May 2016, a new president was elected to govern the Filipino nation for another six
years. This person won the office because he holds an image of hope for many Filipinos
for his determination and strong will to change the corrupt system that imprisons the
Philippines from being truly free to become a better and more developed nation. He
promotes a drug-free country by pursuing a war on illegal drugs by heightening police
services and capturing drug users, pushers, and manufacturers for imprisonment and
rehabilitation. However, this illegal drug campaign does not really proceed as justly as
everyone hopes it would, along the process more than a thousand lives of those who
are accused to be involved in illegal drugs were taken brutally and mercilessly either by
the hands of police officers themselves during entrapment operations or by the rage of
unknown vigilantes. What is more heartbreaking in this reality is that those people who
were unjustly killed do not belong to the elite class of society but to the huge percentage
of Filipino people living in poverty and who are striving to survive one day at a time. Due
to these unwarranted killings, many children lost their fathers or mothers, many parents
lost their sons or daughters, and many spouses lost their other half. In short, many families
were broken, dreams were shattered, joy were taken away from them, and hope lost in their
sight at the expense of pursuing what seems to be the greater good. Is this Jesus way of
achieving justice? By killing those who have sinned and depriving them of renewal?
Before we celebrate Christmas, we first pass through the Advent season. During this
four week period we are called to follow the footsteps of St. John the Baptist to proclaim
repentance, forgiveness, and metanoia in preparation for the coming of Gods promise
the promise of giving us His only begotten Son who will bring into the world the reign of
His Kingdom. Advent invites us all to let go of our preoccupations and reopen our hearts
to receive Gods grace of mercy and love as we commemorate Jesus incarnation into the
world. Jesus Christs birth into humanity is the hope that the Father has given to His
children on earth. The hope that assures every one of the love of God that is freely given to
all. A hope that will usher us from our sinfulness and despair into the light of forgiveness
and acceptance. A hope that justice will truly be attained when love and mercy reign in
each others hearts.
Likewise, this Advent encourages young Filipino Carmelites to fight for the right of life,
to side with the struggles of those who are treated unjustly, and to be the visible images of
hope that Jesus assures us through his incarnation, that justice for those who have died
and for those who are still alive will truly be attained in this world if we accompany our
hope and prayer with mercy, compassion and humble service to each other as brothers and
sisters. Life is worth fighting for, because we believe that life is bestowed upon us as gifts
from the God who is alive. This is the hope that we bring to the people a hope that tells
them that there is a God, alive and merciful, who cares for us and who knows our pains,
so there is no cause for despair and hopelessness.

Reflections

22

reflections
Living In
the Inserted
Community

Inspired by the Poor

By Br. Vinzon Luayon, O.Carm.

s part of my formation year in the

Order of Carmelites, as a second year
student of Theology I am now living in
what we call inserted community.
Together with my three brothers
and our formator we live in one the
many slum areas in Metro Manila, in
Lower Gulod Brgy. Sauyo, Novaliches,
Quezon City .Living a simple lifestyle in
the inserted community is such a great
opportunity for me to grow in my calling
as a Carmelite religious because this is the
way I can share my faith, by living with
the poor people. We sleep all together on
the floor with only a single bathroom. We
have no cabinet or drawers and the place
is quite small. Living in such a simple

23

The Brown Prophets

house and in the midst of the poor is also in line with the Carmelite charism of being united with the
minores, those who are considered the least in our society. Jesus was born into poverty, he lived in
poverty and was poor until the day He died. Sometimes it seems that the church has forgotten this.
People in the immersion area live a happy life sharing what little they have, and to see them smiling
everyday especially the children, thats what made my vocation stronger in the face of struggles .These
kind of people gives meaning in what I do and they inspire me.
Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me
(Matthew 25:40).
Jesus not only spoke these words, but he also lived them. The spirit of Gods love for people in
poverty was embodied in his life. There was absolutely no gap between what Jesus said and how he
lived. A devoted follower of Jesus, Pope Francis is proclaiming the word of God, living the word of
God, and showing all of us how to do the same. As I hear the popes message and somehow witness
his life, I can either turn the other way and ignore his words and actions, or I can join him in the
effort to embody the living word. It is not easy but I choose to do so out of faith for the God I serve.
The God who hears the cry of the outcasts in our society.
be instruments of hope by rising
ever since the creation of the
A Challenge... p.3
world God has never abandoned from our comforts and fears and
to us so that we can experience
us and remains to love us despite proclaiming Gods reign of love,
in human form His infinite love, our infidelity and sinfulness. His
justice and peace to our country
and who remains to be with us
promise of giving us everlasting
and to the rest of the world. May
in the Holy Spirit.
life to be with Him has been
God bless us all in our efforts of
fulfilled in the life and ministry
Christmas is also coming
becoming bringers of hope to
of His Son, our Lord, Jesus
at hand. And every time we
Christ. We, as young Carmelites, our suffering brethren. A joyful
celebrate the Christmas season
profess our allegiance to Christ, Christmas and a blessed New
we are constantly reminded that to follow his teachings, and to
Year to us all.

art

By Br. JOSEF KING PANESA, O.Carm.

Reflections

24

news

By Br. nelson anciano, O.Carm.

Hope for the future

The Juniors Seminarians Federation (JSF) had its 31st annual

gathering last September 25, 2016 at the Gymnasium of St. Pauls
University of Quezon City with the theme: Witnessing Gods Mercy,
becoming Prophets of Hope.

25

Responding to Gods
call with hope

After a year of Novitiate Formation, six Carmelite novices

coming from the different provinces of the country as well as
This event was attended by the 1st and 2nd year Carmelite Friars from our mission in Papua New
Guinea had their Simple Profestogether with various brother seminarians and sisters from other
sion of Vows last May 28, 2016.
congregations.
The Six brothers are Br. Paul
It was a fun-filled day. The Student Friars were able to meet other Kaptain Pakao, O.Carm. (Papua
New Guinea), Br. Momar Paliseminarians and juniors from other congregations and was able to
sa, O.Carm. (Koronadal, South
participate in the various activities such as singing and dancing as
Cotabato), Br. Orli Bartolome,
well as listening to the lectures regarding Extra-Judicial Killings
O.Carm. (Antipolo City), Br.
and human rights abuses perpetrated by some elements of the
Nelson B. Anciano, Jr., O.Carm.
Philippine Military on our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
(Naga City, Camarines Sur), Br.
Leo Nebril, O.Carm. (Miag-ao,
The day was concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration. These
Iloilo) and Br. Josef King Panesa
activities were designed to foster familiarity and friendship among
(Tarlac).
the juniors and seminarians and sisters coming from different
The Mass for the Simple Procongregations, through the sharing of talents, ideas and by praying
fession of Vows was celebrated
together in the Holy Eucharist.
at the Chapel of the Spring of
Novitiate House, in TanBe Vigilant: A Peace Rally of hope in the Carmel
dang Sora, Quezon City. Rev. Fr.
Buenafe, O.Carm, the
struggle against Extra- Judicial Killings Christian
Prior Provincial was the main
presider and Rev. Fr. Marlon
and the Evils of Martial Law
Lacal, O.Carm., First Councilor,
was the Homilist.
short program was held wherein
Last September 22, 2016, the
The six Brothers professed the
everyone was reminded of the
Filipino nation commemorated
simple vows of Poverty, Chastity
evils of Martial law principally
the 44th anniversary of the
and Poverty for one year and
the disappearances and the
proclamation of Martial Law
received the ancient habit of the
Carmelite Order. In addition to
killings during the Marcos
by then President Ferdinand
the six brothers making their
regime, as well as a reminder
Marcos. In line with this, the
first profession of vows, eleven
to remain vigilant against the
Association of Major Religious
simple professed student friars
return of Martial law or any of
Superiors of the Philippines
renewed their simple vows for
its elements.
(AMRSP) organized a prayer
another year.
rally which was participated in
The said event was attendIt was also an occasion for
by the Carmelite Student friars
ed
by the respective families
the organizers and participants
together with numerous other
of the professandi, Carmelite
to show their solidarity to the
Friars and Associates and by
religious, civil, labor, student
victims of Extra-Judicial Killings the friends of Carmel. A simple
and activists groups.
and their families. Extra-Judicial meal was served after the Eucharistic Celebration. The simple
Killings (EJK) is a current issue
The participants gathered
profession of vows and the
that haunts our society, as of
at the Archdiocesan Shrine
renewal of vows that took place,
September, 3,600 have been
of Our Lady of Loreto Parish
was indeed a sign of hope for
killed in drug-related police
in Sampaloc, Manila. After a
the future of the Order of Carmelites here in the Philippines.
operations and extrajudicial
short program, the walk then
It shows that even in todays seckillings.
commenced and proceeded to
ularized world, there are those
the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo,
people who with cooperating
This event was concluded
Manila.
with Gods grace, still willingthrough a candle lighting
ly respond to His invitation of
A Holy Mass was celebrated in ceremony, as a show of solidarity discipleship with an open and
trusting heart.
among all the participants.
Plaza Miranda, and after that a
The Brown Prophets

literary

A Cry for Justice and Renewal

By Br. marvin P. diongzon, O.Carm.

Your creation is the source of life, O God,

The tress, rivers, mountains and seas are the reflections
of your infinite goodness.
The Earth is made perfectly beautiful and full of color,
The ingenuity of man is beyond measure.
But what happened now to the world we live in?
It is slowly destroyed because of too much greed!
People and nations are fighting with each other,
What only remains is not pure love but hunger for
power.
Where are you, O God, when we are alone and dying?
Save us from the pit of selfishness,
We are begging for your boundless mercy,
Recreate us with your divine love,
And renew us with the freshness of your unfailing glory.
Before, the vast ocean is a home for stillness and beauty,
Life underneath is a sign of richness and depth,
But what happens now to the many sea creatures?
Their constant extinction leads us into constant
awareness,
Of our irresponsibility and betrayal of trust!
Where are you, O God, in this time of trouble?
We are grieving and in pain,
We want to hear your voice,
Answer us now! Answer us!
O God, we cannot tolerate the ongoing destruction of
your creation,
Yes, it is true that water and air pollution keep
threatening us,
But we believe that is not yet too late,
Just let your divine wisdom be instilled in our hearts,
To remind us that everything is interrelated and
interconnected!
Eveyday, we see violence as part of human reality,
Poor people die because of hunger and poverty,
Human loss is everywhere! Hope is found nowhere!
Where are you, O God, when we need you most?
Are you rejecting us?
Are you abandoning us!
O God, please listen to our wounded voice,

We call upon you, the source of our hope

We know you shall answer and be with us
Your Spirit will enable us to rise again
O God of justice, isnt it that you teach us to walk in
the truth?
But why are many of us still living in darkness?
The heart is full of hatred, it is so hard to ask
forgiveness,
A meaningless life is preferred rather than fighting for
peoples rights and happiness
O God, did you not feel our agony?
Our brothers and sisters die because of extra-judicial
killings!
As a human family, we grieve over the loss of our
loved ones,
Where are you now? Help us to find the truth behind
these killings,
We cannot solve it through the use of our human
ability,
What we need is your mighty power and divine
creativity.
Eveyday, we are deeply suffered from all forms of
human injustices,
Consumerism, terrorism and war are rampant
realities,
We feel unsafe everywhere we go,
Where are you, O God of justice and protection?
Hide us from the pangs of death and destruction.
Where can we find truth, O God?
If we ask it from earthly leaders, they are confused,
It we ask it from them, they cannot truly give it
We cannot depend solely on their ability,
Sometimes, we are overpowered by our human frailty.
O God, in this fast changing and chaotic world,
We want to run to you,
Embrace us with your loving arms,
Say it once more that we are precious in your sight,
Encourage us, O God, to keep on dreaming,
No matter how challenging life is,
Our reward awaits us in the eternal happiness.

Literary

26

abstracts
Thesis Title:
PEACE BE WITH YOU: DAMAYAN
AS A PASTORAL ACCOMPANIMENT
PROGRAM FOR GRIEVING
LOVED ONES BASED ON JOHN 20: 19-31
The research study aims to focus on the inquiry of whether the grieving parishioners of San Isidro
Labrador Parish, Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City perceive the need of accompaniment and what
pastoral accompaniment program can then be drawn to help accompany them, in times of the death
of a loved one.
The research widens the appreciation of the parishioners in their experience of grieving/mourning
through faith in Jesus which can be a basis for coming up with an effective pastoral accompaniment
program that will respond to their needs-be it in the material, psycho-emotional, social and spiritual
aspects. It also intends to deepen the celebration of sacraments related to it. Moreover, this paper
hopes to be helpful in understanding and exploring the role of momentary grieving in intensifying
their deep warmth and affection for their loved ones who have passed away and discover also the
fruits of it in their lives after the moment of grief. By taking the step into the whole grieving process
of the parishioners, this work aims to provide a sound explanation of the experiential and theological
reflection of the experience of loss and newness of the apostles as they were accompanied by Jesus.
To deeply understand the grief experience of the bereaved respondents, the research employs a
case study analysis. It uses the descriptive research method and framework based on an experiential,
phenomenological and dialogical process also known as The Pastoral Cycle. The approach helps to
bring to the surface the different grief and mourning experiences of the bereaved, as well as, their
damay (sympathy) and transformation encounter after the moment of grief. The gathered data will be
obtained through survey questionnaire and focused group discussion.
From a scriptural and theological point of view, the research study seeks its affirmation on the
importance of Jesus accompaniment in ones life by accepting the peace of resurrection. Like the
healing experience of the grieving disciples in the resurrection narrative of the Gospel of John, the
peace of the Risen Jesus may also become the source of healing for those who are living in grief as long
they put completely their trust and faith in him.

abstracts
Thesis Title:
DOCUMENTARY IMAGES AS A FORM
OF NEW EVANGELIZATION
IN THE CONTEXT OF FILIFINO FAITH

Since its commercial introduction in 1839, photography has permeated aspects of human life
as a source and repository of information about human experiences (Wells 2009, 11). Scientists,
journalists, sociologists, psychologists, and artists among others have used photography in expressing
and communicating their ideas. Photography has also served as a medium for scientific pursuits and
for attaining objective knowledge. It has been prized for its precision and for producing empirical
and verifiable facts that can be of use in the natural and social sciences. Furthermore the invention of
photography has been viewed as a culmination of Western visual representation and a breakthrough
in the visual arts. From its conception in the nineteenth century to the postmodern period,
photography has been integrated in various works of art and has been used by many artists as a visual
representation in their artistic creations. As such, some of the issues and problems which scientific
disciplines like Philosophy of art, and Aesthetics address, emanate from photography.
Moreover, in the advent of digital technology, photographys use as a tool and aid for scientific and
artistic pursuits has been changed. As a visual representation, photography is no longer used solely
for remembering but as a tool for communication and self-presentation. In this regard, this paper
explores photography in view of the development of digital technology and its implications in the
church. Particularly, it discusses how digital technology shifted photographys use as a form of selfpresentation through digital self-portraits and documentary photos. Furthermore, this research aims
to contribute on the discussion of documentary images as a new form of evangelization in the context
of Filipino faith.

The findings of the study reveal the need of a pastoral accompaniment program for the bereaved
parishioners in San Isidro Labrador Parish. This articulated need becomes the basis also for the
researcher to come up a new pastoral accompaniment program intended for grieving faithful. The
careful evaluation and assessment on the program may help respond the needs of the community
holistically.

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The researcher recommends DAMAYAN (Dalangin, Akapin, Malasakit, Akuin, Yaman, Akayin,
Nabuhay Muli) as a pastoral accompaniment program that will ensure to respond the needs of
the grieving faithful who lost a loved one in terms of their material, psycho-emotional, social and
spiritual needs. By encouraging the parishioners to be involved in the program through the spirit of
DAMAYAN, the study may help accompany the faithful in their experience of grief towards healing.
The Brown Prophets

Abstract

28

abstracts
Thesis Title:
LIVING OUT CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY:
CEBU LAY CARMEL EXPERIENCE

The Carmelite presence in the Philippines gave birth to many accomplishments. There are so
many groups that have been included in the Carmelite family. One of these groups is the Third Order
Carmelites (TOC). It is one of the biggest group of lay people composed of professors, small business
personalities, government and private employees and others coming from different fields of endeavor.
The TOC has existed for over 20 years in our Carmelite community in Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu, City.
These people are following the Rule of Life crafted by St. Albert of Jerusalem and have dedicated
their lives to it. This is a good sign that Lay people are aware that they are sharers of the mission of the
church, which is to spread Gods Kingdom.
This study uses interview as a method to personally capture the ideas they are sharing. The
researcher conducted a survey among selected members of this group to be interviewed. The
researcher also used focused group discussion to make sure the outcome of the study would be
presented as clearly as possible.
The outcome of this study can be used to clarify the role of the laity in the community and in
the bigger sphere of the church, and at the same time, promote them as they share their unique
contribution, as a fruit of their participation in the life of the church.
Proposals and challenges are also posted by the researcher to help make these lay people live a
stronger, more dynamic faith as a group.

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The Brown Prophets