Nagtitios alagad bakong miserable an Pasko 2006

by Msgr. Gilbert A. Garcera, H.P.

Kan ako nag-abot digdi sa Bikol hale sa Manila, kadakul akong nadangog na inagrangay kan mga tawong nadanyaran kan bagyong Milenyo asin Reming – “An samong Pasko sa taon na ini mamundo huli ta mayo pa kaming kuryente”; “Mayong kahulugan an sakong Pasko huli ta sagkod ngonyan dai pa nakukua an bangkay kan samong tugang na natambunan kan baybay asin mga gapo na hale sa Mayon”; “Grabe talaga an pagtios ngonyan..”; “Mayo na kami nin atop...”; “Mayo daw kaming keso de bola... maluya an Pasko sa taon na ini.”

Kadakul na mga tawo an igwa kan siring na reklamo. Dai ta mapapasipara an pagtios kan mga Bikolano. Haros gabos na tawo digdi sa Bikol, mayaman man o pobre, namamatean an pagtios huli sa bagyong nakaagi. Alagad dawa na ngani siring an kamugtakan nin ibang tawo, an buhay bakong miserable kun an mga pangyayari sa satong buhay igwa nin kahulugan asin an naka-aging bagyo nagdadara sato nin mga pagpagamiaw.

Miserable an buhay nin sarong Bikolano kun an saiyang pagtios dai naka-ugat sa Diyos na “uya sato” – si Jesus an satong “Emmanuel” – “God who is with us.”

Si Papa Benedicto XVI nagsabi: “The deepest cause of suffering is the very absence of God (DCE,31). Nagmamawot ako na an satong Pasko sa taon na ini 2006 bakong miserable huli ta mayong kahulugan an buhay o kaya dai minimidbid an Dios sa tahaw kan siring na kamugtakan. Logod an satong Pasko dawa na ngani pano nin pagtios magdara nin kagaya-gayahan na gikan ki Jesus na namundang para sato.

(Msgr. Garcera is a native of San Miguel, Magarao, Camarines Sur. He is the National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies of the Philippine.)

A season of faith, service and love

by Mrs. Emma Villaraza

In this season of our Savior’s birth, we are challenged to live the Christmas spirit of faith, service and love. I pray that everything that has happened to us may strengthen our faith in God and may it pave the way for the fulfillment of the ultimate and beautiful plan God has laid down for each of us. May we selflessly continue helping and supporting those who are in need especially the victims of the recent natural calamities like the typhoon “Reming.” In service to our fellowmen, may our hearts be filled with great joy and love.

Merry Christmas and a Grace-filled New Year to all!

(Mrs. Villaraza is the Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council. She is also the President of the Confraternity of St. Anne of Magarao Parish.)

Balaog nin Diyos

by Msgr. Juan N. Buentiempo,P.C.

Sarong dakulang kaogmahan na ngonyan namundag an bagong ‘newsleter’ kan satong parokya!

Huli sa kaskas na pag-asenso kan teknolohiya ngonyan na panahon, pwedeng sabihon na an paggibo asin pagpaluwas kan papel na ini huri na. Alagad, huli man ta an mayor na katuyohan kan paggibo kaini iyo an pagpahayag asin an pagpabalangibog kan kahadean nin Diyos, dai ini mahuhuri huli ta an mensaheng dinadara iyo an Marahay na Bareta nin satong Kagurangnan.

Kaya, an PROBATICA: An lugar ni Santa Ana sarong dakulang balaog para sa parokya nin Magarao. Ini man an satong magayon na dolot sa Mahal na Diyos na namundag ngonyan na Pasko. Sa pag-abot kan papel na ini sa saindong mga kamot dara an mensahe na an Diyos man nanggad uya, namomoot sa sato, sa tahaw nin gabos na pangyayari sa buhay.

Uminagi pa sana an makukusog na bagyo na nagwalat nin dakul na destroso. Alagad, padagos an buhay nyato! Ini nagpapasabot na umagi man an kalamidad asin trahedya sa sato, anoman na problema an mag-abot, padagos an Pasko. Mayo man nanggad makakadaog sa espiritu kan pagkamundag kan satong Kagurangnan. Huli ta sa selebrasyon na ini, dakulang kayamanan an satong inaako – an pagkamoot nin Diyos na ihineras sato gabos.

Maogmang Pasko!!!

(Msgr. Buentiempo is the Parish Priest of St. Anne, Magarao since year 2000.)

Editorial: "Diyos sa tahaw nin pagtios"

by Erwin Blasa

Kan nakaaging duwang bulan, niradas an Kabikolan nin duwang makusog na bagyo, Milenyo asin Reming. Sa Magarao sana, sobra sa sangribong harong an nagkagaraba. Sa ibang parte kan Bikol, asin huli pa kan mudflow sa Albay, ribong buhay an nawara, gatos na tawo an nalugadan, dakul na harong an nagaba, mga uma asin infrastractura naraot, nagkakapira an naghelang, nagutom, namundo.

Alagad, bakò nang bago an mga trahedya asin kalamidad para sa mga Bikolano. Kan nakaaging mga taon, dakul nang makusog asin maringhat na kalamidad an uminagi. Alagad, an mga Bikolano nakanuod nang atubangon an mga ini. Dakul an mga danyos, alagad an buhay padagos!

Sa trahedyang ini, dakul man an napukawan sa pagtubod. Mga tawo dai lang minaagrangay sa Mahal na Diyos, kundi man minaduda na sa karahayan nin Diyos. Haen an Diyos? Kun an Diyos orog na marahayon, tano ta tinutogotan Niya na mangyari an mga ini: dakul na aki, mga matanos, nagpapakabanal nadadamay sa kasakitan?

Sinasabi na dawa yaon an katiosan sa pagsakit, igwa man ini nin mga karahayan: ini pwedeng sarong pagprobar kan pagsarig sa Diyos, ini pwedeng magtao nin pagdisiplina, asin ini man pwedeng sarong misteryo nin pagkamoot nin Diyos.

Bilang misteryo, an imahen nin Diyos mahihiling sa mga tawong nagmamaigot. Kan nakaaging bagyo, dakul na mga matinaong tawo, organisasyon asin grupo an nagpadara kan materyal na suporta, nagkakapira an personal asin boluntad na nagtabang, asin orog pang dakul an nagdolot nin mga pamibi.

Ngonyan na Pasko, magin gibo ta man lugod an magtao nin gaweng-herak para sa mga tugang nyatong nangangaipo, tanganing mahiling ninda na si Jesus uya man nanggad sa sato gabos.

Reming’s wake at Christmas

by KENEE SAMBO

Christmas is the most popular and most celebrated Christian holy days in the Philippines. The origin of the celebration of Christmas as well as the dates on which it is observed was rooted deeply in the history of the early Church. We do all know that Christmas season commemorates the birth of Jesus. We can certainly say that Mary gave birth to his Son Jesus, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem.

At present, the celebration of this season is an amazing variety of traditions around the world. We can tell that Christmas is near because of the rush and bustle of the holidays. Decorations like garlands hanging on walls and the colorful lights that glitter in Christmas trees give color in the celebration of this season. Social gatherings such as Christmas parties and reunions could never be out of the way. For some people, Christmas would not be complete without the gifts they give and receive. Thus, Christmas is really a source of happiness for lots of people.

But sad to say that the true meaning of Christmas was only truly realized in the hearts of the few. With the dreadful event that happened in the province of Albay and in the near provinces of Camarines Sur due to super-typhoon “Reming” that had left many people dead, some were wounded, some families homeless, some had nothing to eat and drink and the others suffered from illness.

In our eagerness to wait for Christmas season, we may wonder why God sends us “Reming” and the other calamities that we had experienced and we are encountering right now. I think God is telling us that there are so many things we have to ponder on for a moment than preparing for the traditional Christmas celebrations that we are used to. Today, because of the tragic event that happened, may we seek the answer to this question -- What is really the true meaning of Christmas? This is a recurring question often heard year after year especially during Christmas season. It looks a little strange that as popular as this season seems to be, we continually ask this question.

During this whole busy season how many times do we stop to reflect on the One to whom we have to give reverence? Jesus is clearly the center of all these celebrations. Luke 2: 7 says, “And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” How simple it is to think that the Son of God was born in a stable surrounded by farm animals. The wonder at the simplicity of the expression of the infant child that has nothing of its own to survive will forever change the world. Jesus became human and suffered for the salvation of all humanity.

We in turn have the responsibility not only for ourselves but also for our community. May our celebration of this Christmas season be inspired by the lives of those people who are in need. Let us make this Christmas a season of sharing, love, hope and joy as we all celebrate simply this most important event of the year.

Brgy. Sta. Lucia nagfiesta

by JUDY BELLEZA

STA. LUCIA, Magarao – Kan Disyembre 13, an mga parokyano kan barangay nagselebrar kan kapistahan kan saindang patrona, si Sta. Lucia, sa paagi nin Santa Misa.

Pinunan an paggiromdom sa kaaldawan kan patrona sa paagi kan mga minasunod: siyam na aldaw na Banal na Misa sa kapilya kan barangay kada ika-4:30 nin hapon; an pagnobena; asin an pagprusisyon kan imahen ni Sta. Lucia. Sa siyam na banging paglibot kan imahen ni Sta. Lucia sa bilog na barangay, dakul na mga residentes an nakisumaro minsan ngani madiklom an kabanggihan sa kawaran nin supply nin kuryente huli sa nakaaging bagyong si ‘Reming.’

Sa homiliya ni Msgr. Juan Bientiempo, an kura paroko kan Magarao, pinamidbid niya sinda “Agatha,” “Euthiquia,” asin “Lucia.” Si Lucia nagin Santa huli sa saiyang makusog na pagtubod sa Diyos asin sa saiyang pagigin sarong Kristyano. Dawa anong pasakit an gibohon saiya dai nanggad mababari an saiyang pagtubod. Si Euthiquia, an may helang na ina ni Sta. Lucia, narahay huli sa debosyon ni Sta. Lucia ki Agatha.

Sinabi pa ni Msgr. Buentiempo, “Lugod magin arog kita ni Sta. Lucia – pusog an pagtubod sa Diyos na dawa anong kasakitan o kalamidad an mag-agi, satuya ining malalampasan.”

An Barangay Pastoral Council sa pamamayo ni Ms. Arsenia S. Tocloy asin an Sta. Lucia Youth Organization sa pamamayo ni Pascual Patrick A. Belleza boot na ipaabot an dakulang pasasalamat sa gabos na nagtarabang na magin maogma an selebrasyon kan kapistahan.

“Perdón” held after the typhoon

by JASMIN SANTOS

DEC. 4-6, 2006, Few days after super typhoon “Reming” hit the Bicol region, Magarao parishioners had a simultaneous “Perdón” in all baranggays every 9 o’clock in the evening.

“Perdón” (Spanish term meaning “forgiveness”) is a traditional communal penitential procession. It was done to ask the grace of personal and communal conversion from the sins committed, to pray for recovery of all the victims of the typhoon, and to ask for the continual blessings of stronger faith and trust in God in the midst of tragedy and calamities.

In the exhortation read in the liturgy, the readings shed light on the meaning of suffering and on how to respond to it in Catholic and Christian way.

It is the first recorded and well-attended Perdón in Magarao held simultaneously in all barangays for three consecutive nights.

'Reming' ravages more than 1000 houses

by Kenee Sambo

SUPER-TYPHOON “Reming” ravaged 1,324 houses in Magarao.

Few days after typhoon “Reming” hit Bicol Region, Msgr. Juan Buentiempo, parish priest of St. Anne Parish, Magarao, Camarines Sur, requested the parish pastoral council to conduct an immediate survey of damages in all barangays.

The breakdown of the totally damaged houses in 13 barangays are as follows: Ponong, 239; Carangcang, 169; San Isidro, 169; Sta. Lucia, 144; San Juan, 130; Bell, 93; San Francisco, 81; Monserrat, 72; San Pantaleon, 70; Casuray, 67; Sta. Rosa, 57; San Miguel, 23; and Sto. Tomas, 10.In addition, the parish hall and the two parish kindergarten classrooms were all unroofed.

This report was submitted to the Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI). The CASAFI then sent sacks of rice as donation. These and other relief goods from generous sponsors were soon gathered and distributed to the barangays. The typhoon has indeed left many damages on buildings, business establishments, and agricultural products. Around a thousand of people died and are still missing in Albay, particularly those who reside near the foot of Mt. Mayon due to the major mud flow and heavy flooding.

“Reming” reached signal number 4 according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on November 30, 2006. The height of the typhoon came in the afternoon of that day with its strong wind and heavy rains.

"Pamasko ko sa tugang ko"

by AYLA LUNAR

MAGARAO parishioners brought gifts every Misa de Aguinaldo to give support to those who were greatly affected by the typhoon “Reming.”

The Christmas gift-giving program held from December 18 to 24 was initiated by Rev. Msgr. Juan N. Buentiempo, P.C., the parish priest. Following the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) declaration of year 2006 as a Year of Social Concern, Msgr. Buentiempo said, “This is the best time to answer to this call – to give help to those in great need, especially those parishioners whose houses were totally devastated by the typhoon.”

The two super typhoons, “Milenyo” and “Reming,” that struck Bikol region within the span of two short months brought a lot of damages. In Magarao itself, more than 1000 houses were totally damaged, the survey of the Parish and Barangay Pastoral Council shows.

Despite these damages, the parishioners still relived the spirit of giving by offering used, old and new things like clothes, household wares, rice, food and toys. The parish priest adds, “They can bring anything, their extra things at home or even their garbage. I am sure these things will still be useful to other people and they will even make them happy. The garbage of one is a treasure to another... Everyone has an opportunity give -- elders, youth and children.”

The collection of offerings was done during the offertory of the mass by little children from different barangays. In collecting the gifts, the children who represented those parishioners in great need pushed old carts which symbolized the houses which were damaged. Msgr. Buentiempo ends, “This is a concrete act of showing our love to our neighbor this Christmas.”

Bagong papel kan parokya, uya na!!!

by AYLA LUNAR

ILULUNSAR sa Enero 7, 2007, Domingo, Kapistahan kan Epifania an “PROBATICA: An lugar ni Santa Ana,” an opisyal na papel kan parokya ni Santa Ana, Magarao, sa Misa alas-7:30 nin aga sa simbahan.

An paglunsar asin pagpublikar na ini gikan sa kabotan kan kura paroko, si Msgr. Juan N. Buentiempo. An katuyohan kan bagong papel sabi ni Msgr. Buentiempo iyo an “pagpahayag o pagpabalangibog kan Marahay na Bareta ngonyan na panahon kan pag-uswag kan teknolohiya; tanganing ipalakop asin ipaaram an mga importanteng aktibidades, notisya asin impormasyon sa mga parokyano, asin para sa pagsaray kan mga mahalagang rekord asin dokumento kan parokya.”

Sa mga pinagpilian na magigin ngaran, minawot ni Msgr. Buentiempo na apodon ining “PROBATICA: An lugar ni Santa Ana” na magsisirbing rekognisyon sa mahal na patrona kan parokya na si Santa Ana, an ina ni Birhen Maria.

“Inaasahan ko na magin matagumpay an gigibohon na paglunsar asin magin dakulang Xtabang ini para sa mga parokyano,” an sabi kan kura paroko.

Ano an Probatica?

An Probatica “iyo an eksaktong lugar na natutugdokan kan harong ni Santa Ana asin kun saen ipinangaki si Birhen Maria.” (See Erwin Blasa, An Buhay ni Santa Ana, Naga City: Ina nin Bikol Foundation, 15-16.) Pinili an ngaran na ini para sa opisyal na ‘newsletter’ kan parokya huli ta sa papel na ini isinasaysay an mga pangyayari asin mga paghorop-horop sa ngonyan na panahon sa harong ni Santa Ana sa Magarao. Minamawot na sa pagbasa kan mga parokyano asin debotos ni Santa Ana kaining Probatica asin sa pagkaaram kan mga aktibidades kan parokya, orog sindang makisumaro sa Kristyanong komunidad kan banwaan nin Magarao.

PROBATICA An lugar ni Santa Ana is published every month and circulated in the town of Magarao, Camarines Sur, and in areas with Magaraoeño communities.

Business Information:
St. Anne Parish
San Isidro, Magarao
Camarines Sur 4403 Philippines
probatica@gmail.com
sta_ana_magarao@yahoo.com
(054) 474-4118

Publisher: Msgr. Juan N. Buentiempo, P.C.

Editor: Erwin B. Blasa

Writers & Staff:
Uldarico Omambong
Kenee Sambo
Ayla Lunar
Judy Belleza
Jasmin Santos
Anna Louise Santos

Lay-out: Dianne Escobiñas
Photography: Boyet Tanubong
Cartoonist: Raffy Zuñiga