Carrmel News - Nov-dec 03

cARltfipL NpWS A Bi-monthly Publication of Carmel Philippines

A Continuingfourncyto Scrvcand GiueLifc... first week of December 2003 Th" I ushered in an exciting time for Carmel Philippines. Deacons Rico Sabanaland Emmanuel Vallega were ordained priests in the Island of Negros. Bro. Rico was ordained on December 5,2003 in La Libertad, Negros Oriental. The next day, December 6th, Bro. Emmanuel was also ordained in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental. It was a joyous occasion as the brothers embraced the next stage of their religious life. Their aptly chosen theme for the occasion "Paghalad... Pag-alagad...Paghatag ug Kinabuhi..." (Offering...Serving... Giving Life..) echoesthe impetus that led them to their vocadon. Bro. Rico's La Libertad ordination was a memorable one. At the San Sebastian Parish Church, the whole community of La Libertad poured out to witness and celebrate Bro. Rico's solemn offering of himself to God's Community as their firstpriest ordained in the parish. The Kabankalan ordination was likewise eventful. The whole Carmelite family joined in the celebration at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Bro. Emmanuel was warmly welcomed as another son of Kabankalan who has given himself to God and His People and to God. Frs. Rico and Emman had their temporary profession on June 1.3, 1999. Tiogetherthey celebrated their solemn profession to the Carmelite Order on ]une 7,2003. They both finished their Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry at the Inter-Congre-

Friars,novices,co-workersof the Commissariat,and membersof the Tertiary acrossthe country joined Frs.Ricoand Emmanuel'srespective families and friends in marking theseeventswell worth celebrating! The Philippine Carmelite Order wishes to thank everyone who helped in making Frs Rico and Emmanuel'sordination memorable and meaningful.

Bro. Rico Sabanal,O,Carm

gational Theological Center - Our Lady of the Angels Seminary Ecclesiastical Graduate School in Quezon City on March 12,2003. Fr. Rico Sabanal was born on December 27, 1973 in Cantupa, La Libertad, Negros Oriental. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology under the Carmelite Collegiate Formation and is now assigned at the Spring of Carmel Novitiate House as Assistant Novice Master. Fr. Emmanuel Vallega was born ']..6, on November 1970 and hails from Azcuna, Kabankalan City. He finished his Liberal Arts degree in Social Sciencesat Kabankalan Catholic College and is now assigned at the San Alberto College Formation Center in Cebu Citv as Vocation Animator.

Bro. Emannuel Vallega,O.Carm

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2OO3 NOVEMBER.DECEMBER

GARMEL ITEWS

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Starting from early 2003to late October,pelikula@titusbrandsma (p@tb) was the "saving grace" of the Tifus BrandsmaMedia Program.Honestly, it was the "most" active program in the whole mammoth of activities of TBC Media. It has been a rewarding year for this "film club", as the committee members - all volunteers would want to call it. These are the people who stand by TBC Media through its trying times eventhough theywouldn't like tobe named. Its wings started flapping at the end of last year when the pelikula committee noticed an unstable attendance.The committee decided to look for possibleways to attract new facesand at the same time maintain the regulars.This was also due to the conviction of the group to offer films, even those uncensoredand unrated to be readily accessibleto a n'ide varietl' of audiences.A "not so" far-fetchedgoal,after the fust film dialogpe sessiorywith the newly constructed website, brochure and regular press releasesinmajorbroadsheetsand Lrquirer Libre, the committee observed a trend. That is, p@tb'saverageattendeesincreasedto an averageof fifty. Not only that, it reacheda maximum of 130at TBC and 274,two consecutivesessionscombined, at the recently concluded stint of p@tb attheUniversity of the Philippines (UP), t,afilm Diliman. With this trend reaching its maximum director (sorry, can't name him) soon called the attention of a film Soup which is within the roaster of p@tb filmassociatesnetwork and even p@tb as well, indirectly thougtU to exercisecaution due to the "illegitimacy" of these groups existence,perhaps a real threat to the film director. From then on, the group becamemore cautious at the same time assuredof p@tb's independence from other agencys'/ institutions' interference.Fr. Bemard Roosendaal,O.Carm explained to the group its nature as a religious ministry and its commitment to academic freedom. Others ceasedto continue but p@tb remains vigilant. All these developments led the pelikula committee to endeavorsoutside thewalls of Titus BrandsmaCenter.Such as the special film dialogue sessions- Thrkovsky's Solaris/ Despentes'scontroversial Baise-Moi (Rape Me), Polanski Film Festival, Gay and Lesbian Part II and the weeklong Sexuality in Cinema - all held at UP Diliman. The group also organized a film critics' forum at BrashYoung Cinema

pclikula@titusbra ndsma SoarcdHighthis 2003 entitled "Battle Royale." Dwelling on the collaboration with UR last December 2-5, p elikul a@titu sbranilsma hrou ght its controversialbest sellersfor the UP audience to devour. This was entitled: UP Film Institute fi.JPFI) presents p elikul a@titusbrun dstna Sneak peeks:Sexuality in Cinema, the X FACTOR. A conservative estimate of audience reach was 500++sincethe otherswere not able to registerbut watched. The venue (videotheque)used was originally good for 70 people only but was tested and accommodatedmore than a hundred viewers. An open forum and "talk-back" sessionfollowed after each viewing. The controversial flicks were: Irreversible, Pola X,Intimacy, RomanceX, Caligul4 Baise-Moi and the rising FrancoisOzon with his X2000Collection of Short Films. All are true to their "controversial" stafure,with their "sexpliciteness".Discussioru evolved on issuessuch as pro to anti-womerl acceptanceof sexualiry porn or vice versa and explorations of desires. More of thesecollaborationsand tie-ups will be coming this 2004.Pelikula@titusbrandsma has agreed with the people of UPFI to organize a monthly film dialogue session in the videotheque every last Wednesday,aside from the regular monthly sessionheld at TBC every secondSaturday. First quarter will be film directors' auteur,First in the row is Ventura Pons, a Spanish director. Moreover, p@tb is planning to collaboratewith other collegesand universities for the special quarterly film dialogue sessionsor a film festival of the 2003BestFilipino Films.Atwice-a-year forum is also being considered,a tie-up of TBC Media and Spirituality programs. Out-of-town film festivals are also in the plans and a fund raising activity featuring an anti-war documentary. Moving beyond the physical manifestations, p@tb is also on its way to reformatting, a deepening of the dialogue sessions.More of the TBC audiencesare gradually opening to the idea of dialogue and have contributed "meat" to the sessions.Issuesconceming women, perversions,sexuality, gender, life, family and relationships are often the main subject of discussions. Though, the group still needs to improve more on this level especially to moderate and facilitate the discussions well especially on Media and Spirituality TBC Media can do even more.Pelikula@titusbrandsma has proven the capacity of the program to do better with what is left within its hands and now it is back with a surprise. Just wait and see!