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