Carrmel News - Mar-apr 02

CARMEL NEWS A Bi-monthly Publication of Carmel Philippines

PHILIPPINE COftTilISSARIAT REGIONAL CONUENTIONS 2OO2 Luron Regional ConYcntion opcn3 scries ol conYcntions Opening the series of regional conventions this April was the Manila Regional Convention last April 3-5, 2002 at Titus Brandsma Center. All friars, student friars, co-workers, TOC delegates and associates attended the convention except for the third day, intended only for friars and associatessince the discussion revolved around the dynamics and life of friars. Preparations were made through the various committees delegated for specific tasks. The Secretariat was in charge of the registration and documentation (Normie Lacanilao and Jofti Villena). While the Liturgy committee was tasked to prepare the opening and closing liturgies for the three-day event [Bros.Amel Glodobe, Rico Sabanaland Fr. TotoJaranilla, O. Carm]. The second day of the convention concluded with a Socialization Night or the Socials/Ice Breaker committee planned for the programme by Fr. Aris Escobal, O. Carm and Rhayan Lee. The official timekeeper was Bro. Eman Vallega, O. Carm. All these preparations were spearheaded by the SteeringCommittee headed by Frs. Tim Jusayan, Marlon Lacal, O. Carm and Noel Valencia with the latter two functioning as the over-all facilitators. Moreover, centers/communities wrote their plan reports in advance, as part of the preparation, since these were used in the discussion and group sharing sessions. This three-day convention was mainly to see, assessand reflect on what has happened in the implemen-

center/communities, results of implementation, perceptions of people and communities, development of members and recommendations for the intensification of goals. Strong emphasis was given to individual members contribution, relationship, and endeavor in relation to work and personal growth as well as the relation to the Carmelite mission, communities and various concerns of the Commissariat. turn to next pageog

What's I

n tl Participants Regional Conventions in Action! tation of plans in the local communities during the first one-and-a half-year of the triennium. Also, to identify the facilitating and blocking forces in the processof implementation; undertake unification on the concept of community and people as a critical element of the Carmelite mission; and, suggest concrete recommendations for the intensification of the Carmelite mission and goals. Discussions and group sharing revolved around the following content areas:three-year plan of action of the Philippine Commissariat and regional

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UisayasRcgional Conucntion The recently concluded Carmelite Visayas Regional Convention was hosted by EscalanteCommunity last April 17-79,2002.lt was participated in by 42 delegatescomposed of 8 friars, 9 associatesand 25 lay people, representingthe lay community in Cebu and the ParishPastoralCouncils of St. Francis of Assisi Parish-Old Escalanteand Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish - New Escalante.The first day opened with a liturgy preparedby the committeeheadedby Fr.Paul.The two facilitators,Mr. Noel Valenciaand Fr.Marlon Lacal,O.Carm. presentedthe stressof the three-year program of the Philippine Commissariatin order to situatethe participants into the whole flow of the convention. The main objectiveof the convention was evaluation of the one and a half yearsprogram of the Commissariat. The first workshop drew attention to individual reflectionswith guide questions.The results were shared to

the small group followed by the plenary. The second day was a workshop on the different apostolates of the Carmelites. The end of the second day was highlighted with a gathering at Cabli Beach.The third day, which was attended by friars and associates,was held at Tubod Karmelo. Important resolutions pointed to more openness of each member in the community, improved prayer life, more participation of every member in decision making, finding ways and means to generate funds for the Commissariat, improved time management, more attention to |PIC work, and looking orr.rrard to the summi.g rp of work in the different parishes as a basis for a renewed parish program. llindanao RcAional Conucntion Concluding the convention series was the Mindanao Convention held last April 24-26, 2002 at the Sacred Heart Parish, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

ett-nssociates meeting held last April 6-8, Z002atOur fne r L a d y o f M t . C a r m e l P a r i s h , E s c a l a n t eC i t y , N e g r o s Occidental carried the theme: "Contemplation and Service Among the People". Associateswho attended were Nol and Angging Van Vugt; Aloy and Wenwen Ranoco from Mindanao. From Cebu came Hein and Moring Neulen and Len Negapatan. Jan Lansink and Titin Afrora failed to attend for health reasons. From the host community of Escalantecame Franz and Inday Koerkamp, Linda Barairo, Saling Ombion and Herman Wekking together with his wife, Evelyn, who expressedthe intention to be reintegratedas a Carmelite associate. The main focus of the plenary sessionswas the assessment of associates'performance since last year's gathering at San Alberto Formation Center in Cebu City, together with the community priors last April 5-6,2001. Discussions were also on organizational matters like consolidation and expansion. Attempts were made to develop a formation manual for Carmelite associates,set to be finalized next year. a

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Attendees reacheda total of 45 participantsplus the Council. Participantswere from the four parishes:San Francisco,Bahbah-Prosperidad, Patinay and Rosario.Among them were representativesof the Parish Pastoral Council (11),Carmel Youth (10),Pastors (5),Schoolrepresentatives(2),TOC (5), Friars (5), Associates(4), College Seminarians(2) and Postulants(2). M a j o r i s s u e sw e r e d i s c u s s e d , although settlementof other vital concern was again turned over to the parishesfor further clarificationsand discussions.Problemsdiscussedwere from among four major areas:TOC, CarmelYouth,parish and school. Recommendations werealsogiven with emphasismore on formation educationand in the implementation of new approaches,fund sourcing, parish support to the four major areas, integrating Carmelite charism on C h r i s t i a n e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e sa n d defining the level of autonomy and decision-making.

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The All-Associates meeting was attended by the Superior, Fr. Tony dela Cruz and a Council member, Fr. Toots Buenafe, who is also the prior of Escalante community. Both shared valuable insights, which guided the associates in setting directions. One unique feature of this year's associates'meeting was the gathering of their children for a visual arts workshop on the theme: "Me and My World". The objectiveswere: to establishbonding among children of Carmelite associates, and be more aware of one's self and social realities thru art expressions. Two wonderful artists, Shawie and Jarvs of Silliman University were invited as workshop facilitators. The joint gathering of Carmelite Associatesand their children opened with a creative liturgy and was closedwith a Tayada at Kable Beach. On both occasions,the friars of Escalante community actively participated and everyone celebratedwith joy! Funds for the joint gathering of associatesand their children were pooled from the Commissariat, local communities, associates'counterpart and CMC. a

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. TOTOIARANILLA r ALAINBATASABAS Editoiat Board: MARLON tACAt ' EDGERLOCK . Lay-out Artisf: JOFTI VILLENA EncodenNORMIE TACANILAO O CONtTibUtOTSJ T PE"TER . DIGOYBAUTISTA . WENGRANOCO . i TOOTS BUENAFE KRAMIf,I JUDECABATLERO . r . AYARANOCG.BERNARD ROOSENDAAT UNDABARAIROPETE MANILAG NIMFATANGCUANGCO : a

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......ThisCenter, in memory of Titus Brandsma, Carmelite, lournalist, Aman of Goil, Witness against Nazism and Eacism, Aman, zelousfor the poor, is a place of commitmentand education for the Carmelitefamily in the Philippines, anil for groups anil iniliaiiluals inspiredby the heritageanil spirit of Carmel, the exampleof Titus Brandsma, anil the gifts of Asian culture, to deaotethemseloes to the struggle of the Filipino People, for justice, peaceanil the preseroation of Creation", These words form the second part of the Scroll buried towards the end of 1991,by Prior General Fr. JohnMalley, in the concreteniche at the foot of the Titus Brandsma stafue at the entranceof the Center.

A few months later, on March 1,3,1992,Jaime CardinalSinblessedthe Titus BrandsmaCenter.Itwas the beginning of the Open SpaceMinistry: seminars, workshops, retreats, recollections and fora, a resting place for transient Filipino and foreign guests, occasional liturgies and ecumenicalservices;coursesin Spirituality,weekly hour of silencewith meditationon iconsor mysticaltextsand an hour of Zen-meditation. It was alsoa humble start a few yearslater in 1998 for the media program. ']..3, On March 2002 Friars and Staff of the Titus BrandsmaCenter commemoratedthe 10 years Open Spaceministry with a simple dinner and a short Program. A total of 110,753guests,mostly belonging to the NGOworld, religiousgroups,the Carmelitefamilyand a good number of foreign exposurists,were registered in the Centerduring its 10 yearsoperation. We wish the Titus BrandsmaCenter many more years of fruitful Open SpaceMinistry in the midst of an overcrowdedcity.

TitusBrandmsaAward -PhilippincsGonuencs Finalfury llcmbers The organizationalmeeting of the Foundation last Februarv was followed by the meeting of tn" final jury membersof the TBAwardPhilippines this March aspart of the preparation for this year's Award ProPer. The meeting was held last March 22, 2002at Victoria Plaza, Davao City. In responseto the proposal of Ms. Carolina Malay, board member, the search was geared towards journalists of the South who manifestedacts of bravery in their continuousstruggle for TRUTH. Developing this agendafurther, the Board agreedto choose Mindanao-basedmedia practitionersto give more credibility to decisionsto be made later on and included a Moro on the jury team.Thesejury membersare not only respectedin the media industry but have a deepergrasp of the

Finaljury memberof TBAward-Philippines (L-R)Fr.Ed Tanod-tanod,Ms. RufaCagocoGuiam,Fr.MarlonLacal,ReyCaigoyand TootsBuenafe

i s s u e o f t h e p e a c es i t u a t i o n i n Mindanao. jury members include: Fr. Ed Tanod-tanod,CEO of Notre l)ame BroadcastingCorporation(NDBC); Ms. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam,Director, Centerfor Peaceand Development Studiesat Mindanao StateUniversity; Ms. GraceRebollos,Director, P e o p l e ' sC e n t e r f o r P e a c ea n d DevelopmentInitiative at Western Mindanao State University

(Zamboanga), and member of PeaceAdvocate Zamboanga;Frs. ReyCaigoyand ChristianBuenafe, O. Carm, Carmelitefriars. The Jury of the TBAwardPhilippines 2002is composed of a five-personteam, with two membersof the Philippine Commissariat of the Order of Carmelitesas appointed by the Commissary Provincial-CommissarvCouncil. The other threejurors arbrespected media practitionersin the country. Membersof the jury are tasked to assessand evaluate the top five media productions in each of the two categories:Outstanding Print and BroadcastJournalists. Both Jury and the Preliminary ScreeningCommittee shall base their assessmenton the following criteria:relevanceto the spirit of the times;substance;presentationand style;courageouspursuit for truth.