After a week of enriching reflections and discussions, the Visitors were treated to a weekend rest and recreation at Pico de Loro Beach Resort, in Nasugbu, Batangas, 109 km. south of Manila. In the morning we had the Mass at the St. Therese Chapel of the resort in celebration of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul and it was presided by Fr. Ferdinand Labitag, C.M., Visitor of the Chinese Province. The heavy downpour of rain in the area did not dampen our mood but instead it made our stay in the place more relaxing and rejuvenating experience of camaraderie among confreres in singing, swimming, playing billiards and partaking of delicious food – compliments of our generous benefactor.
Free time was observed in the morning of Sunday. In the afternoon we visited the Vincentian Housing project for the poor in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. Fr. Gerald Borja, CM Director of VMSDFI (Vincentian Missionaries Social Development Foundation, Incorporated) enlightened us about the bamboo technology that was used to build the houses. He considered this project as a concrete response to the challenge of Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si” which calls us to care for the environment and the vulnerable. Currently there are twenty houses already built for families with children with special needs or elderly members. In the near future thirty more houses will be constructed. To finance the project they sought the help of Spring Rain Global Consultancy firm in Philanthropy. In the end one of the beneficiaries shared how grateful he was for all the help extended to them by this noble project. After that the Visitors were invited to go around the village to visit the families.
Then the group went to the Parish of Ina ng Lupang Pangako (Our Lady of the Promised Land), located in the former 13- hectare dumpsite in Payatas, Quezon City. They were invited for a coffee break and while waiting for the mass to start they were serenaded by the beautiful voices of the “Payatas Kids”, our Vincentian student-scholars. The Eucharist was presided by the pastor of the parish in the person of Fr. Michael Sandaga, CM. After the mass we climbed our way up the mountain of garbage now converted into an eco-friendly park with trees and plants planted all over the place. Amazing in the area was that the garbage underneath has produced methane gas which is now transformed into electricity that supplies the community. After a souvenir photo of the place we proceeded to the Vincentian Mission House in Tandang Sora, Quezon City for our dinner as we celebrate the priestly anniversaries and birthdays of some confreres.
Fr. Raimundo Regua, CM
Chronologist – Province of Philippines
