EDITORIAL STAFF

Rev. Fr. Roberto O. Gaa

Moderator

Sem. John Reyman S. Dabuet

Editor-in-Chief

Sem. Richard Anthony A. Lim

Sem. Mark Ian V. Abu
Sem. Gerald M. Moscardon
Sem. Keith R. Buenaventura
Associate Editors

TABLE OF CONTENTS Sem. Ryan Tristan O. Digan

3 | GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE
Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
4 | CLINICAL AND PASTORAL EDUCATION
Holiness Through Wholeness
5 | SUMMER APOSTOLATE: CATECHISM
From Knowing about God to Knowing
God
6 | PARISH APOSTOLATE
The Little Details of Love
7 | 30-DAY RETREAT
Beloved
8 | ENTRANCE DAY: GAUDIUM 2024
Lord, Here We Are!
9 | COMMUNITY ELECTION
Becoming a Servant-Leader
10 | APOSTOLATE SEND-OFF
Apostolate Mission-Sending: A Call for
Boldness and Joy
11 | SOLEMN INVESTITURE
Binihisan ng Awa at Pag-ibig
14 | FAMILY AND APOSTOLATE DAY
Kagalakang Mula sa Puso
Business Manager
15 | 25TH ALUMNI HOMECOMING
The Joy of Priestly Life Sem. Jobert Martin S. Gatmaitan
Circulation Manager
16 | PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON
Sem. Roldan B. Baliano
THE NEW EVANGELIZATION V
Photojournalist
Love at First (and Last) Sight
Sem. Renz Marion C. Cunanan
17 | PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON Lay-out Artist/Cover
THE NEW EVANGELIZATION V
“Moved with Compassion… Feed the
Multitude”
CONTRIBUTORS
18 | OPENING OF PALAKHASSAN 2018
Healthy Body, Holy Body Rev. Fr. Roy Rexelle M. Decena
Sem. Mark Ian V. Abu
19 | COMMUNITY NIGHT OUT Sem. John Paul S. Adia
Sem. Edgar R. Calma
Bringing HASS Together
Sem. Ivan Joseph F. Feniquito
Sem. Rodel D.O. Aclan
20 | FILIPINO DEBATE Sem. Justin G. Gatus
Pagtahimik Bilang Tugon Sem. Gerald M. Moscardon
Sem. Carmelo V. Pocdol
21 | ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY Sem. Keith R. Buenaventura
An Entry to Jerusalem Sem. Peter Collin C. Crisostomo
Sem. Glicerio T. Tano
22 | THEOLOGY TRIDUUM 2018 Sem. Lester John D. Cabais
Setting the World on Fire! Sem. Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco
Sem. Roldan B. Baliano
23 | Needed: A Form of Government Sem. Renz Marion C. Cunanan
Rooted in Gospel Values Sem. John Reyman S. Dabuet
Sem. Ryan Tristan O. Digan
Sem. Jobert Martin S. Gatmaitan
Sem. Richard Anthony A. Lim

EDITOR’S NOTE As you read through the articles and

Rejoice and Be Glad!
We greet you, as Pope Francis did, in his recent Apostolic
Exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate, for we present to you, with
great joy, the First Semester Issue of Dakilang Tanda for the
Formation Year 2018-2019.
Themed Gaudete et Exsultate: Called to Be Holy in the
Ordinary, we center on the said exhortation by the Holy Father
and the invitation to strive for holiness in the simple and
mundane.
pages of this newsletter, you will find
accounts of events in Holy Apostles Senior
Seminary for these past months, with
relevant reflections of seminarians and
priest formators. For a greater appreciation
of the theme, we have also cited snippets
of the Apostolic Exhortation, as it applies
to certain events and to our own vocation
and formation in the seminary.
May you be blessed while reading
Dakilang Tanda.

2 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018

GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE
Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
A s a freshman in the seminary
formation, I look up to our
priest formators with reverence and
awe for I see them as persons who
achieved some form of grace, some
form of blessing from God, to live in
a different way. Set apart for God, I
say, priests exude what we term as
holiness. I have always asked myself,
as someone aspiring to be a priest:
Will I ever achieve that too? One
day, I reflected on the task I do daily
for our Eucharistic Adoration. I sit by
assignment on the front pew near the
aisle of our chapel and my daily task is
to open the spotlight for the exposed
Blessed Sacrament. Sometimes, I
would be in perfect timing turning on
that spotlight. Sometimes, I would be
too late in pushing the switch for I was
distracted or focused with another.
Then I wondered: Is there holiness in
this ordinary task I have?
A few days ago, I have listened to a
homily which brought a new light to the
word “holiness”. According to the priest,
the term holiness in Greek refer mostly
to the gods. Being holy is an attribute
of being flawless and majestic, as with
the Greek gods of mythology. He, then,
contrasted this with the meaning of
holiness in Hebrew, which was much
deeper. According to him, being holy
is an attribute of man belonging wholly
to God, despite the imperfections of
his humanity. The latter definition just
made holiness as something man can
attain, something man can take hold
of. The priest, then, had this question
to ask: “Are we afraid of holiness?”
The simple Christian definition for
holiness is being set apart for God. It
refers to a life becoming an offering for
the Lord, the Father, the Master. But for
many Christians, holiness is something
that ordinary people can never attain;
for, akin to the Greek definition,
holiness is only for those who dedicate
much of their lives to God. Moreso,
for them, it may be only for the saints
and holy men and women the Church
so declares. For many, holiness is like
Sem. John Reyman S. Dabuet
an unreachable star. So, they either
become hopeless or simply afraid of it.
Thus, these Christians live their lives
according to how the world calls them,
not to how the Lord calls them. The
world calls them to strive for the greater
things in the world: money, power, lust,
vanity, material possessions, etc. The
Lord calls them to strive for the one
great thing in heaven: holiness – a life
offered back to God. As a Christian,
where do you see yourself? What do
you strive for?
This year, Pope Francis provided
us a timely Apostolic Exhortation to
help bring us back to what we should
really be striving for. He gave us
Gaudete et Exsultate (GE), which is
Latin for “Rejoice and Be Glad” (Mt
5:12), the line that he used to open
the whole discussion. The exhortation
expounds on what Jesus told his
followers especially when persecuted
for his sake. Through the document,
believers and readers get a glimpse
into the heart and mind of the Holy
Father, especially on how he views
holiness and how it applies to our lives
in today’s world.
Holiness, according to Pope
Francis, is the most attractive face of
the Church because the Holy Spirit
raises up “signs of his presence
which help Christ’s followers” (GE #9).
Because it is the face of the Church,
each of us is called to “Be holy, for I
am holy” (Lev 11:44; 1 Pet 1:16).
The Second Vatican Council clearly
says: “Strengthened by so many and
such great means of salvation, all the
faithful, whatever their condition or
state, are called by the Lord – each
in his or her own way – to that perfect
holiness by which the Father himself is
perfect” (GE #10).
Pope Francis says holiness is
achievable to each in his or her own
way. St. John of the Cross tells further
that God’s life is communicated
“to some in one way and to others
in another” (GE #11). This means
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
holiness is uniquely attainable by
ordinary persons. Yes, even you and
me! Every Christian, every member
of the Church, is called to holiness for
this is what the Lord wants us to really
strive for.
“To be holy does not require being
a bishop, a priest, or a religious. We
are frequently tempted to think that
holiness is only for those who can
withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend
much time in prayer. That is not the
case. We are all called to be holy by
living our lives with love and by bearing
witness in everything we do, wherever
we find ourselves. Are you called to
the consecrated life? Be holy by living
out your commitment with joy. Are
you married? Be holy by loving and
caring for your husband or wife, as
Christ does for the Church. Do you
work for a living? Be holy by laboring
with integrity and skill in the service
of your brothers and sisters. Are you
a parent or grandparent? Be holy by
patiently teaching the little ones how
to follow Jesus. Are you in a position
of authority? Be holy by working for
the common good and renouncing
personal gain” (GE #14).
Gaudete et Exsultate brings
me joy and hope because it affirms
that a simple and ordinary person
like me can also dream of achieving
and reaching holiness. My simple
task of turning on the spotlight for
the Blessed Sacrament may be an
ordinary task, but if I perfect it by doing
it daily with love and fervor, then I do it
extraordinarily. It may even be my own
little step to holiness. How about you,
what can be your little step to holiness?
Here in the seminary, I see ordinary
activities like playing sports, cleaning
the establishment’s rooms, preparing
for liturgical celebrations, practicing
songs for worship, dining together,
or having brotherly conversations
done with excellence and distinction.
I recognize that individually and as a
community, we are walking our own
paths to holiness.
3
Clinical AND Pastoral Education
HOLINESS THROUGH WHOLENESS
Sem. Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco

“For priestly formation the importance of human formation cannot be sufficiently emphasized. Indeed, the holiness
of a priest is built upon it and depends, in large part, upon the authenticity and maturity of his humanity.” (Ratio
Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, 63)

R ecognizing that the ‘human

formation cannot be
divorced from growth in spiritual,
intellectual and pastoral life’
(Updated Philippine Program for
Priestly Formation #26), the Holy
Apostles Senior Seminary ensures
that its formands undergo the full
nine-week program called Clinical
Pastoral Education (CPE).
CPE sets the ground for training
hospital chaplains who provide
emotional and spiritual support to
the patients. This includes patient
visitations, inputs and group
processing where the participants
are ushered into knowing themselves
more deeply.
One of the things that I appreciate
in the processing is that aside from
being confronted with a participant’s
personal issues, I am also made to
reflect upon my self more and to be
open to personal discoveries and
realizations. I was also led to a new
4 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
and fresh perspective about my own
issues.
The patient visitations during
the CPE provided insights and
reflections that were not only helpful
in addressing my issues but also in
appreciating life and humanity more.
I had expected that my visitations
would be a source of consolation, if
not hope, for the patients whom I
visited, but it turned out becoming
a source of inspiration and
encouragement for me. There were
patients who edified me with their
conviction about God’s love for them
and by their faith and hope even
amidst their sickness and sufferings.
During the visitations, I
discovered that I had poor self-
confidence such that approaching
and talking with patients become
difficult for me. Overcame by the
thought that the person I was going to
visit are not in their best dispositions
(either because they, themselves are
sick, or they have a sick loved one.),
I felt reluctant and uneasy. As the
days passed by, I learned that it was
not the case. Amidst their condition,
most of them were welcoming and
warm. Many patients were actually
happy to be visited and prayed over
by the chaplains. I have realized
that my ministry as an associate
chaplain was far more important and
that shielding myself from fear of
rejection was simply a manifestation
of my issue on self-confidence.
I testify how human formation
programs like CPE is valuable,
not only to my ministry but also
to my desire to live a holy life. The
fruitful experience has given me
another practical lesson: if I let my
weaknesses and issues stand in the
way of my ministry, I would miss
opportunities to love and to be of
service.
Summer Apostolate: Catechism
From Knowing about God to Knowing God
Sem. Keith R. Buenaventura

“What we have heard, what we
have seen with our eyes, what we
looked upon and touched with our
hands concerns the Word of life - we
proclaim now to you, so that you too
may have fellowship with us; for our
fellowship is with the Father and with
his Son, Jesus Christ.” (cf. 1 John 1:1-3)
life. I also remember the kids who,
amidst the summer heat, went to the
parish and prayed the rosary. It was a
humbling experience to see them line
up and offer flowers to the Blessed
Mother after I had given them
instructions and short catechism
about Mayflower devotion.
covered courts, and told them who
God is, according to my knowledge
in catechism, they entrusted to me
their many gripping experiences of
the work of God in their lives. This
is not just the God that I have read
about, nor the God that I have put in
a footnote in my research papers, but
the God whom I have seen, touched,

T hese words from the

beginning of the First Letter
of Saint John are a fitting summary of
And the most memorable
experience I had during my parish
apostolate was to give pre-baptismal
and heard - through the lives of
parishioners. The experience of being
sent like the apostles is indeed an
how I spent my summer apostolate catechism to parents and godparents experience of communion with God
in one of the parishes in my diocese. of the children to be baptized. It was in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
During the whole Easter season, I was a challenge to inculcate in them the
sent to serve and be a catechist at graces this sacrament gives to infants
Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Brgy. and to encourage the parents to
San Andres, Cainta, Rizal. practice their faith with their children
by constantly attending the Mass
Rev. Fr. Roy Crucero, the parish and availing the other sacraments of
priest (an alumnus of San Carlos initiation for their children. The more
Seminary), welcomed me on my first I spoke to them, the more I realized
day by giving two challenges. He said, how challenging the task that lies
“Brother Keith, as you get acquainted ahead for the Church.
here in the ministry of a parish priest,
I only ask from you two things: first, My encounter with the
that you may become close to Jesus, parishioners from all walks of life has
and second, that you may help me been a great help in my formation as a
lead the people closer to God.” priest-in-process. As I journeyed with
them in their chapels, houses, and
I felt the tasks given to me were
daunting, but this proved me wrong
when I finally experienced teaching
catechism to the parishioners. I
joined the families in contemplating
God’s mercy and hospitality just like
Jesus’ call to Zacchaeus, as I led them
in the blessing of their homes. I was
one with the grieving relatives in
reflecting on the Church’s teachings
on death, heaven, purgatory and final
judgment with emphasis on God’s
call to repentance and His promise
of mercy. I also encouraged the many
drivers to pray as I blessed their cars
and motorcycles. I read to them a
short Scripture passage about Jesus,
the Way to salvation and eternal
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary 5
Parish Apostolate
THE LITTLE DETAILS OF LOVE
Sem. Justin G. Gatus

“A community that cherishes the little details of love, whose members care for one another and create an
open and evangelizing environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying it in accordance with
the Father’s plan.” (Gaudete et Exsultate, 145)

Fr. Regnel Fuertez, an alumnus of HASS is the parish priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish, Calulut, City of San Fernando and the apostolate director for the
indigenous peoples in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga.

L ast

Archdiocese,
summer’s
apostolate
San
within
parish
our
Fernando,
Pampanga, gave me the opportunity
for encounter with our indigenous
brothers and sisters. I was tasked
to lead them in the Bible Sharings
for nine days as they prepared for
their Fiesta. Tatay Tony Santiago, a
54 year-old Aeta, who lives together
with his two daughters, his son-
in-law, his nephew, and his four
granddaughters welcomed me in
their humble home. Living with
them had been truly heartwarming
because of their appreciation of
daily experiences in life. In various
moments, I was a witness to how
they would really enjoy their meals
together despite whatever food they
had on their table. They were also
generous in catering to seminarians
because for them, hearing the word
of God daily is a rare experience and
6 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
so they treasure and cherish it in their
hearts. After dinner, we would just
gather outside their house and share
stories as we bask under the moon
and the stars. They are filled with
joy and contentment in the “little
things” that they have. Even though
they do not have much in terms of
material wealth, they are rich with
their profound “Jesus experiences”.
Their simplicity in life gives them
more opportunities to be attentive
to the “little details” by which
God has been good and generous
to them. I feel that this type of
abundance, which is more of their
love and gratefulness to God, has
also been the source of their natural
hospitality and warmth towards
visitors like me. Tatay Tony told me,
“Keng egana-ganang tatanggapan
tamu king bie, masanting ya man
o e masanting, dapat tayang
pasalamatan ing Ginu king keyang
grasya at pakalulu!” (In everything
that we receive in life, whether it be
good or bad, we should thank the
Lord for allowing us to experience
his grace and mercy.)
Sometimes, it is in the simplicity
and ordinariness of life that we
actually get to meet Jesus. This I
had proven true during my summer
apostolate. My apostolate exposure
gave me an appreciative and grateful
eyes and heart for the blessings that
God continues to bestow on me
in my seminary formation. These
remarkable experiences with a
simple but life-giving indigenous
community had deepened my
appreciation and gratefulness to
the little details of love which Jesus
showers us in our daily lives.
30-Day Retreat
I must admit that there were
times I found my prayer life
very frustrating. There were times
when I felt like having no desire
to pray or that praying gave me no
consolation. Thus, the idea of a 30-
day retreat, which would almost
entirely be spent for prayer and
meditation was quite intimidating to
me. “How can I pray continuously
for 30 days?”, I asked. “What could
be in store for me in this retreat?”
Finally, last April 5 to May 7,
2018, I experienced this spiritual
exercise. The external preparation
was demanding but the most
important preparation was my
own disposition; my interiority. It
required me to be more open to
God and to submit myself totally to
BELOVED
Sem. Rodel D.O. Aclan
the processes of the retreat.
The 30-day retreat, as part of the
formation program at Holy Apostles
Senior Seminary, aims for the
participating seminarians to deepen
and strengthen their commitment
to the priestly formation. By God’s
grace, commitment to the vocation
has become stronger and clearer.
How? What happened there? The
answer lies in what I have realized
and concretely felt during the retreat
- God loves me unconditionally
despite and inspite of who I am.
This was a significant realization
because my commitment to follow
Jesus and to choose Him, even if
it would mean suffering for Him
and because of Him, would not be
possible if such commitment was
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
not rooted in the love of God.
However, much of the fruits
of the retreat could only be
harvested after the retreat itself. My
commitment in loving will be tested
by sufferings and difficulties. It is
choosing to be humble even when
persecuted, maligned and ridiculed
for the sake of Christ. It is when
my life becomes more and more
oriented to loving, honoring, and
revering God that I could say that
the fruits become evident.
The 30-day retreat for me has
only one agendum and that is for
me to realize, as vividly as possible,
that while a sinner, I am beloved,
above all, by God.
7
Entrance Day: Gaudium 2024
LORD, HERE WE ARE!
Sem. Renz Marion C. Cunanan

“Rejoice and be Glad!” (Gaudete

et Exsultate, GE #1)

I can vividly remember my

jubilant reaction when I read the
first line of the letter that I received
from Holy Apostles Senior Seminary
last April. That particular week, having
received the good news that I will be
part of the First Year Brothers (FYB)
being accepted the First Semester of
Formation Year 2018-2019, I was
filled with a roller coaster of emotions.
I was happy for having been successful
in the admissions process. I was a bit
sad thinking about the things I will be
leaving behind soon. I was nervous and
anxious about the uncertainties of what
I will be facing in the seminary. I was
excited for whatever is to come. “Lord,
truly, you have blessed me. Now, here
I am!”

We, the First Year Brothers, were given more than one month to prepare all our requirements and personal needs.
During this period given us, I remember that I continued to discern whether to enter the seminary or not. I continued to ask
myself: “Am I ready for the seminary life? Will I be able to let go of the life I have now, and the things that I hold dear?”
At the edges of the busy schedule preparing what I needed to, which involved resigning from work, purchasing clerical
polo’s, giving quality time to family and to friends I may not be able to see for a while; I remember thinking about those
important questions and then offered them back to God. I have made my decision anyway. I am entering Holy Apostles
Senior Seminary. All I have to do was take courage. “Lord, truly, you have blessed us. Now, here we are!”

On May 27, 2018, I finally met the five other men who, like me, had heeded the call to the seminary life. It was a grace-
filled day when we entered HASS in celebration of the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity because as we go through the process
of the formation, we know that we will be guided by the Triune God. It was the day when we took the first step into the
halls of HASS as officially, senior seminarians It was the day our batch, which we eventually named Gaudium 2024, was
assembled. Joining me that day were: Roldan B. Baliano and Ryan Tristan O. Digan from the Archdiocese of Davao, John
Reyman S. Dabuet and Richard Anthony A. Lim from the Archdiocese of Manila, and Jobert Martin S. Gatmaitan from the
Diocese of Imus.

I will always treasure the moments that ensued during the Entrance Day: the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the
short fellowship with our family and friends, and the parting liturgy. Bidding family and friends our goodbyes and giving
embraces led us all to tears. One by one, we entered the seminary main door, walked towards the chapel, and finally and
symbolically, the door was closed.

My life has been made anew after that. I have a new identity – a seminarian with new priorities and goals. To discern the
will of the Lord and to be formed for servanthood – these shall be our main goals for the months to come in the seminary.
We may have come from various fields of expertise, different dioceses, and diverse backgrounds, but we are now united as
Gaudium Batch 2024 to come and see if Jesus truly wants us to be priests someday. As for me, I will continue to thank God
and boldly go where he leads me. “Lord, truly, you have blessed us. Now, here we are!”
8 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
Community Election 1st Semester
BECOMING A SERVANT-LEADER
Sem. Carmelo V. Pocdol

T he participation and development of every seminarian in fostering a

dynamic community life is vital in the formation of priests-in-process. To
realize this goal, it is imperative to grow as a servant-leader in the community.

Last June 10, 2018, the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary community was blessed
with a new set of servant-leaders. The Community Election was conducted in the
context of prayer to remind every seminarian that each committee or position
or office is a ministry where one could serve and grow as a member and leader
of the community.

For the 1st Semester of the formation year 2018-2019, the following are the
committees with their respective coordinators:

COORDINATORS

Community Coordinator Justin G. Gatus

Assistant Community Coordinator, Ryan Tristan O. Digan
Ecology and Laborandum Coordinator
Liturgy Coordinator Peter Collin C. Crisostomo
House Coordinator and Laundry Manager Lester John D. Cabais
Music Coordinator Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco
Finance Coordinator and Kitchen Coordinator Rodel D.O. Aclan
Arts and Programs Coordinator Renz Marion C. Cunanan
Food and Health Coordinator John Reyman S. Dabuet
Sports and Recreation Coordinator Jobert Martin S. Gatmaitan
Vocation Coordinator Keith R. Buenaventura
Pastoral Coordinator Glicerio T. Tano
Academic Coordinator and Library Coordinator Carmelo V. Pocdol
Documentation Coordinator Roldan B. Baliano
Computer and IT Manager Richard Anthony A. Lim
Alumni Coordinator and Spirituality Secretariat Gerald M. Moscardon

CLASS BEADLES

First Year Renz Marion C. Cunanan

Second Year Lester John D. Cabais
Third Year Glicerio T. Tano
Fourth Year Carmelo V. Pocdol
Fifth Year Rodel D.O. Aclan
Sixth Year Ivan Joseph F. Feniquito

On the following day, June 11, 2018, in the celebration of Holy Eucharist
presided over by Rev. Fr. Roberto O. Gaa, the seminary Rector, together with the
other formators- Rev. Fr. Roy Rexelle M. Decena, and Rev. Fr. John G. Barro, the
brothers were blessed and were inducted to their respective coordinatorship.

The continuing response to the call to be docile, to be generous with our

time, skills, and talents, to be available for service, and to be co-responsible in the
programs and projects of the seminary is necessary in enhancing an integrated
life. These call has many demands and our respective humble responses will help
produce the servant-leaders God is asking of us to become.
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary 9
Apostolate Send-off
Apostolate Mission-Sending: A Call for Boldness and Joy
Sem. Glicerio T. Tano

A postolate, as one of the pillars of formation at Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, exposes and immerses the
seminarians to various pastoral situations like the parish, institutions, urban poor communities and those in
the peripheries to bring the Good News to them. Last June 16, 2018, the community witnessed the Mission-Sending
Ceremony where seminarians renewed their commitment to the apostolate and officially received their apostolate
placements. Our respective apostolate areas are the locus where our Philosophy and Theology take flesh. Through
our presence, we hope to bring Christ to the people and to meet Him in the people we encounter. As workers and
collaborators in the Church’s Mission, it should be clear to us that what we are doing is not our work but Christ’s. He
is the One who lives in our hearts and brings joy to the people through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - the driving
force in and for every mission. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us towards boldness (parrhesia) in our witnessing
to and for Christ. As a disciple of Christ, our source of courage is not ours but from the One who sent us in a mission.

One thing that keeps us going in the mission is that we share joy and hold on to the love of God. As priests-in-
process, may we always be faithful to our apostolate, inspire people to share their joys to others, and have an intimate
communion with Christ through a life of prayer and complete dependence on God.

The seminary is very blessed to be assisted by these following parishes and institutions in the Pastoral Formation
of the senior seminarians: Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Pasay City), San Jose Manggagawa Parish(Manuguit, Tondo,
Manila), Ascencion of our Lord Parish (Sucat, Parañaque City), San Juan De Dios Hospital (Pasay City), Santa Clara
de Montefalco Parish (Pasay City), Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (Pasay City), Our Lady of the
Assumption Parish (Malate, Manila), Santo Niño Parish (Pandacan, Manila), Ina ng Laging Saklolo Parish (Punta,
Santa Ana, Manila), and Christ the King Parish (Proj.7 Quezon City).

The Holy Mass and the Rite of Mission-Sending was presided over by Rev. Fr. Roy Rexelle M. Decena, the
Director for Pastoral Formation.

10 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018

Solemn Investiture 2018
Binihisan ng Awa at Pag-ibig
Sem. Lester John D. Cabais
“Today, we are clothed with the
cassock even as God knows that we
are imperfect. But we are invested
with the garb not because God is
trying to cover up something in us.
The soutane can never conceal
our woundedness. It does not hide
but rather reveals to us something
grand: that God’s love embraces us
completely. This is mercy! Beneath
the soutane is a man who received
much compassion.”
-Message delivered during the
Solemn Investiture 2018
T unay na pinagpalang araw
ang ika-1 ng Hulyo, 2018
sa dahilang ako, kasama si Sem.
Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco (Diyosesis
ng Balanga) ay tumanggap ng
biyaya ng Pagsusuot ng Sutana.
Labis ang aming kaligayahan at
pasasalamat sa Diyos dahil sa
natatanging kaloob na ito matapos
and unang taon ng paghuhubog
sa Holy Apostles Senior Seminary
(HASS).
Mahalaga na may binabalik-
balikan tayong mga tagpo sa ating
paglalakbay. Ito ang nagpapaalala
sa atin kung paano at saan tayo
nagsimula. Bilang isa sa mga
mahahalagang milestones sa
buhay-seminaryo, naging katuwang
namin ang mga kapatid na
seminarista upang maisakatuparan
ang pagdiriwang. Ang Banal na
Misa ay pinamunuan ni Reb. Padre
Arnel Calata, Jr. kasama si Reb.
Padre Daniel Voltaire Hui, mga
bagong ordenang pari mula sa
pangkat Epiclesis 2016. Nakiisa
din sa pagdiriwang ang mga paring
tagahubog ng HASS na sina Reb.
Padre Robbie Gaa, Rector at
Dean of Academics; Reb. Padre
Roy Rexelle Decena, Dean of
Seminarians, Pastoral & Vocations
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
Director; Reb. Padre John Barro,
Director for Spiritual Formation
at Batch Moderator; at si Reb.
Padre Joselito Valencia, Resident
Confessor.
Ang pagsusuot ng sutana ay
isang paanyaya na isabuhay ang
bagong pagkataong nililikha ng
Diyos para sa amin; pagkatao
na pinupuno ng katuwiran,
katotohanan at kabanalan. Bukod
sa pagiging biyaya ang pagsusuot
ng sutana, isang tungkulin din
ito na ibahagi si Kristo sa bawat
taong aming makakasalamuha.
Ito ay isang masayang tagpo ng
paghuhubog ngunit kasabay nito
ay isang hamon para sa amin -
isabuhay ang diwa ng isang lingkod
sa kawan ng Diyos.
Bukod sa pagdadamit sa
amin ng sutana, diwa rin ng
pagdiriwang ang maipaunawa ang
buhay na inaasahan sa amin at
ang buhay na aasahan namin sa
hinaharap. Maaring ito ay payak
na kasuotan lamang na kulay
puti ngunit kakabit nito ay ang
tungkulin na ipakita at ipadama
sa lahat na kami’y isang nilalang
na tinanggap, inako, niyakap,
kinaawaan at minahal ng Diyos sa
kabila ng kanyang masalimuot na
nakaraan. Sa pagsusuot namin ng
sutana, muli kaming niyayakap ni
Kristo at inaanyayahang maging
huwaran ng paglilingkod sa Diyos
at sa kanyang sambayanan. Sa
sutanang ito nakapaloob ang pag-
ibig ng Diyos. Ginawa Niyang
karapat-dapat ang hindi nararapat.
Sa tulong ng Kanyang biyaya, ay
malugod at matapang na haharapin
namin ang mga susunod pang mga
hamon at yugto ng aming lakbay-
paghuhubog.
11
12 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary 13
Family and Apostolate Day 2018
KAGALAKANG MULA SA PUSO
Sem. Ryan Tristan O. Digan
M atagumpay na idinaos ng Holy Apostles Senior
Seminary ang taunang Araw ng Pamilya at
Apostolado noong nakaraang Hulyo 1, 2018. Ito ay dinaluhan
ng mga pamilya at kaibigan ng bawat seminarista mula sa
ibat-ibang diyosesis ng bansa. May mga mag-anak ding
nakilahok mula sa mga lugar kung saan nagsasagawa ng
apostolado ang mga seminarista ng HASS. Naging masaya
at matagumpay ang pagdiriwang na naglalayong higit pang
paigtingin at pagtibayin ang ugnayan ng komunidad ng
HASS, ng pamilya ng mga seminarista, at ng mga katuwang
sa gawaing apostolado.
Ang pagtitipon ay sinimulan sa pamamagitan ng isang
Banal na Misa na pinamunuan nina Reb. Padre Arnel A.
Calata, Jr. at Reb. Padre Daniel Voltaire B. Hui ng pangkat
Epiclesis 2016. Naging bahagi ng misa ang Pagkakaloob
at Pagsusuot ng Sutana sa dalawang seminarista mula sa
pangkat Eucharistia 2023 na sina Seminarista Lester John
D. Cabais (Diyosesis ng Malolos) at Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco
(Diyosesis ng Balanga). Pagkatapos nito ay nagtungo ang
lahat sa Sts. Peter and Paul Gymnasium upang maging saksi
at makibahagi sa inihandang programa, salu-salo at palaro
ng mga seminarista para sa lahat ng mga bisita. Habang
kumakain ay nag-alay naman ng mga nauukol na awitin ang
mga piling seminarista kasama si Reb. Padre Roy Rexelle M.
14 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
Decena, ang Dekano ng mga Seminarista, na ikinatuwa ng
mga nagkatipon.
Tuwang-tuwa hindi lamang ang mga matatanda kundi
pati na rin ang mga bata dahil sa sorpresang mga palaro at
papremyo na inihanda ng seminaryo para sa kanila. Wika
pa ng isa sa mga seminarista, “magandang pagkakataon ang
ganitong mga pagtitipon upang magkakila-kilala ang mga
pamilya at mga bumubuo ng seminaryo.” Bago natapos ang
programa sa gymnasium, idineklara ng Rektor ang open
house. Ito ay ang pagbubukas ng seminaryo para sa lahat
upang bigyang pagkakataon ang mga pamilya na masilip
ang mga silid ng mga seminarista at mga sulok ng tahanan
upang magkaroon din ng ideya ang mga panauhin tungkol
sa pamumuhay at landas na tinatahak ng kanilang mga
nagpaparing mahal sa buhay.
Hangad ng isang mag-asawang panauhin mula sa Tondo
at bitbit ang kanilang apat na taong gulang na anak na lalaki
na makadalo muli sila sa susunod na taon. Anila, magandang
pagkakataon na mamulat ang kanilang musmos na anak sa
ganitong uri ng pamumuhay sa seminaryo na balang araw
ay maaaring sundan din ng kanilang anak. Sa kabuuan,
naging matagumpay at maayos ang ginawang pagtitipon at
ang bawat isa ay umuwi nang may galak sa puso.
25 th Alumni Homecoming
T H E J O Y O F P R I E S T LY L I F E
Sem. John Paul S. Adia

H oly Apostles Senior Seminary celebrated its 25th Alumni Homecoming last July
10-11, 2018 with the theme: The Master, the Servant. The theme is aligned to
the Philippine Church’s celebration of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.

Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, DD, Bishop of Parañaque and a former rector of the
seminary opened the annual gathering with the inspiring lessons he shared as keynote
speaker. To remain joyful as a priest:

Be happy. Despite the fact that there were many things to do into their respective
ministries, our alumni exude the joy which their love for Jesus radiate to every person
they encounter. The challenge posted by Bishop Jess was “What must be done to
proclaim it?”

Count your blessings. Who would imagine that at this point we have a total
number of 86 alumni priests and one of them is a bishop. This is not just a census for
every year’s achievement but rather a concrete manifestation of God’s grace towards
our community.

Walk the extra mile. The Ignatian Spirituality, especially Magis, which our values
were rooted, aims for excellence with distinction.

Choose wisely. It is a reality that the Church, and even the priesthood, was facing
different issues. But despite all these we have the choice to love rather than to hate.

Do all things with love. Priestly ministry is not a ministry of sadness. We continue
to evangelize the joy of Christian life and to live that out is to become a happy person.

In the afternoon of the first day, the Holy Eucharist was presided over by Most Rev.
Mylo Hubert Vergara, DD, Bishop of Pasig, and a HASS Alumnus. The concelebrants
were the 25-Year Jubilarians from the Corpus Christi Batch 1993, namely: Rev. Fr. Joel
Cariaso (Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija), Rev. Fr. Ireneo Renato Naca (Diocese
of Lucena) and Rev. Fr. Erasmus Soriano (Archdiocese of Los Angeles) and Rev. Fr.
Reymundo Gaspar, who was in mission at Belgium, was not able to attend due to
Pastoral commitments.

The other awardees for this year were: Agnus Cum Cor De Iesu Batch 1998 as
20-Year awardees and includes Rev. Fr. Victor Abijay (Diocese of Bayombong), Rev.
Fr. John Barro (Archdiocese of Manila), Rev. Fr. Regnel Fuertes (Archdiocese of San
Fernando, Pampanga), Rev. Fr. David
Concepcion (Archdiocese of Manila),
Rev. Fr. Leo Caingles (Diocese of
Malaybalay), and Rev. Fr. Orlindo Ordoña
(Diocese of Pasig); the Ruah Batch
2003 as 15-Year awardees includes
Rev. Fr. Ernesto David (Archdiocese of
San Fernando Pampanga) and Rev. Fr.
Jun Estoque (Diocese of Kabankalan);
and the Kerygma Batch 2013 as 5-Year
awardee includes Rev. Fr. Gilbert
Romulo (Diocese of Parañaque).

To reach 25 years in the ministry is

a milestone but it is not just the number
of years that reminds us the root of Holy
Apostles Senior Seminary – Omnia in
Christo (All for Christ).

GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary 15

Philippine Conference on New Evangelization V
LOVE AT FIRST (AND LAST) SIGHT
O ne of the questions that daring
young people often ask when we
speak before them about vocation is: “Had
you been in love?” In this year dedicated for
the clergy and consecrated persons, perhaps
with great daring and boldness, I shall also say
that at one point (or rather at many points) in
our lives, we had! We had experienced Love-
-being loved and the urge to love, not only
“love at first sight” but beyond!
Within the story of every priest, religious
or consecrated person, lies an overarching
Love story. In fact, in the personal story of
every baptized, is a story of the God who has
first loved us and continues to love and urges
us to love. From the beginning, God already
has each of us in his mind. We are never out
of His sight. He never excludes us from his
loving gaze. Since God has first loved us (cf.
1 John 4:10), love is now no longer a mere
“command”; it is the response to the gift of
love which God draws near to us.1
God is calling out to our hearts, and
we could hear his voice in every story of
the Bible. Our biblical heritage is replete
with stories of real people being called for
a specific life purpose like the patriarch
Abraham (cf. Gen 12: 1-9, 15:1-6, 18:1-14,
22:1-18), the leader Moses (cf. Exodus 3:1
– 4:9), Jacob (cf. Genesis 35:1-13; 27: 1-27;
32:23-32), the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah
1: 4-19), the young Samuel (cf. 1 Samuel
3:1-18) and the celebrated King David (cf.
I Samuel 16: 1-13). In the New Testament,
1
BENEDICT XVI. Deus Caritas Est, 1.
2
BEN CAMPBELL JOHNSON, Hearing God’s Call: Ways of Discernment for Laity and Clergy. Cambridge: Wm. B. Eerdsman
Publishing Co., 2002.
3
FRANCIS. Message for the 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 26 April 2015.
4
Fil Andersen in The Transformation of a Man’s Heart edited by Stephen W. Smith, pp.89-102.
16 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
Rev. Fr. Roy Rexelle M. Decena
we also see the marvelous things God had
worked in the lives of the handmaid Mary
(cf. Luke 1: 26-38), the Twelve Apostles (cf.
Mark 1: 16-20; Matthew 4: 18-25; Mark 2: 13-
17; Matthew 9: 9-13) and Paul (cf. Acts 9:1-
31). They give us the means to understand
that call and to respond in faith. Common
in these calls are the fact that it was personal
and specific; they were called “where they
are;” the content of the call bears a certain
“proposal” or a “project” to be accomplished;
there are “possibilities” or “prospects;” and
the call is not so clear such that “pauses” are
necessary as a personal “position” or decision
is expected afterwards.
God is calling out to our hearts, and we
could hear his voice in our “today.” God may
call us in various ways: perhaps beginning
with an idea that suddenly emerges in our
consciousness; or through another person’s
affirmation of a gift we have been given; or
through a text in Scripture we have read or
heard; or by coming face-to-face with human
sufferings as others experience them; or
through our own human pain; or through
inner stirrings of the soul; an experience of
restlessness or quest for meaning; or through
a rather gentle way, a natural and undramatic
engagement; or simply through an invitation
by another to share in an existing ministry.2
Some also go through a life-changing event
or encounter and the person is left no longer
the same after such experience.
At the core of every Christian vocation
is a basic movement which is part of
5
Ibid.
6
PAUL VI. Gaudium et Spes Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 7 December 1965.
7
Cited in Spanish translation: Cristo en los Pobres, Madrid, 1981, 37-38 in FRANCIS, Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on
the Call to Holiness in Today’s World, 107.
8
JOHN PAUL II. Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2001.
the experience of faith. “Belief means
transcending ourselves, leaving behind our
comfort and the inflexibility of our ego in
order to center our life in Jesus Christ.”3 Every
call is an “exodus towards Christ.” These great
men and women invite us by their lives “to
listen for the voice, to hear it, to believe it,
and to trust it enough and to act on it.”4
At the root of every vocational journey
is the Emmanuel, the God-with-us, who
shows us that we are not alone in fashioning
our lives. He walks with us and he weaves
with each of us a marvelous tale of love.5 It is
our task then to discover the presence of God
in our individual stories and see how we are
being transformed and moved to understand
that “man cannot fully find himself except
through a sincere gift of himself.”6 God has
conceived to create something big in each of
us. Long before we were born, he had thought
of us and loved us and planned something for
us. It may sound unlikely or foolish at first
but if God can fashion a tiny seed, give it life
and become what it is intended to be, then he
could do so with me. In every person lies the
deepest calling of becoming the person God
created him or her to be.
Whatever calling we might embrace,
that specific life call should be geared towards
fulfilling what God wants for us. It must be a
response out of love and for love and must
be lived as a life of love. St. Teresa of Calcutta
said, “God bends down and uses us, you and
me, to be his love and his compassion in the
world … He depends on us to love the world
and to show how much he loves it …”7
Love, after all, is the “DNA of the children
of God” and the “holy vocation by which
we have been called.”8 We find ourselves
returning to this Love and the experience
of being loved over and over again. It is also
the key in our generous response and in
being sustained in our commitment. At the
end of our lives, we will only be measured
by one yardstick. That yardstick is love. Our
vocation, the life that we choose in love and
allow to be blessed by God, becomes our road
and stairway to heaven. From our first and
until our last sight, may we truly live out our
vocation to love.
Philippine Conference on New Evangelization V
MOVED WITH COMPASSION… FEED THE MULTITUDE
Sem. Edgar R. Calma
“We do not strive to be holy just because we are ordained. We do not
strive to be holy because we are nuns or brothers. We strive to be holy
because we are baptized. We should strive to be holy from the moment we
were baptized.”
+ Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila
H is Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, echoed the call of Pope
Francis to holiness and drew inspiration from the One Priesthood of
Christ during the plenary talk that formally opened the Philippine Conference
on the New Evangelization (PCNE) V.
In the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, the Holy Father
identified this “holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those
parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women
who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who
never lose their smile…holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those
who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence” (GE, 7).
During the opening talk, Cardinal Tagle urged the clergy and the
consecrated persons “to be inspired by the dynamism of holiness that
many unsung heroes of the faith manifest to us…holiness of life we see
among simple mothers and fathers, the simple janitors, the simple cleaner
in the canteen, the laundry woman who suffers in order to send her child to
school.” It is a kind of holiness being sought and lived out in the ordinariness
of life among the simple people around us in the most familiar occasions
of our lives. It is a holiness of daily and personal encounter with the Good
Shepherd, and with the multitude. It is a holiness rooted and centered on the
obedient and faithful Son, Jesus Christ, the High Priest, where the gift of the
ministerial priesthood is concretized in the genuine service of the common
priesthood. A holiness that is docile to the will of the Father.
This year’s PCNE coincides with the celebration of the Year of the
Clergy and Consecrated Persons as declared by the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines. Some of our Bishops, priests and nuns from
the different dioceses in the country attended the first day conference which
inaugurated the five-day event.
Days for the Clergy and Consecrated Persons
The first two days were focused on the topics “Sharing of the One
Priesthood of Christ and Formed after the Heart of Christ, the Good
Shepherd.” These two days were specifically intended for the Clergy
and the Consecrated persons to give more time and opportunity for
prayer and reflection, information for continuing formation, group sharing
and a Shepherd’s heart conversation with Cardinal Tagle for interior
transformation. Fr. Albert E. Alejo, SJ, gave his reflections on the capacity
to be compassionate for those who suffer and struggle in life. His guiding
questions were, “Who are my multitude? How do I feel about them? How
well do I know them?” A very personal, up-close and intimate conversation
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
with Cardinal Tagle and five distinguished men and women from the
clergy and the consecrated persons, namely: Msgr. Esteban Lo, LRMS;
Msgr. Jerry Bitoon; Sr. Cecilia Grace, LJS; Fr. Mario Alberto Pacheco,
MCCJ and Sr. Patricia Fox, NDS happened on the second day. It was
truly inspiring that gave us a new perspective of the nobility of human
spirit shared by the guests in their life’s context and how one is truly
formed after the Heart of the Good Shepherd.
Clergy, Consecrated Persons and Lay Faithful Together
The third-day welcomed the participants from clergy, consecrated
persons and the lay faithful with a praise concert that truly warmed the
hearts and spirits of everyone. But our hearts were ignited and kindled
with tears during the Heart to Heart Conversation with Cardinal Tagle
and five well-known guests from the clergy and the lay faithful. They were
Fr. Chito Soganub; Sr. Lucia Olalia, SJBP; Bishop Cornelius Sim; Ms.
Samira Gutoc; Ms. Sabsy Ongkiko and Ms. Antoinette Taus. Moreover,
our hearts were moved with compassion and fed with love because of
the life stories and experiences of these extraordinary individuals. They
have exemplified in the ordinary events of their lives the true meaning of
compassion and service rooted in the redemptive love of Christ. Fr. Chito
Soganub is an outstanding example of how his life as a servant leader
and true steward of God’s flock has willingly offered and surrendered his
life to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Gathered, Nourished and Fed
While the last two-days were filled with insightful plenary and
feed talks as well as various concurrent sessions that centered on the
topics Personal and pastoral conversion for a true and faithful yes and
Missionary discipleship and servant leaders like Christ respectively. The
highlights of these two days were focused on the challenge of pastoral
and missionary transformation in our present context. The different
talks available for the participants covered a multitude of relevant topics
on facing moments of crisis, hope and radical conversion. Discerning
one’s vocation, rediscovering one’s spirituality, genuine responses in
addressing issues of poverty, drug addiction rooted in compassion,
and holiness through engagement and missionary discipleship were
only a few of the interesting and engaging topics included in this year’s
concurrent sessions intended to feed everyone’s hunger for solidarity,
discipleship and witnessing in this age of new evangelization.
PCNE’s “moved with compassion…feed the multitude”, has
truly gathered the ordained, the consecrated and the lay faithful in a
continuing understanding, deepening and contemplating on the Word
who is Jesus Christ, Himself. The reflections of Cardinal Tagle during
the conference synthesis was centered on Jesus who was moved with
compassion and fed the multitude. Jesus saw the needs of His disciples
and the needs of the crowd. He saw the scarcity of the resource, and
saw the hunger of the people. Jesus continuously challenges and invites
each one, especially in this year of the Clergy and the Consecrated
Persons, to their call, to actively respond by bringing whatever gifts and
talents one possesses to the hands of Jesus. And as servants, we need
to go back to the source who is Jesus, the One moved with compassion
and will continuously feed the multitude through the Church and His
servant leaders configured in His heart.
Indeed, the five-day event, has been a very creative, innovative,
timely and out-of-the-box response of the Church in the Philippines to the
call of the Holy Father to reach out to the peripheries and together with
our people discover a whole new world of possibilities in proclaiming,
witnessing, knowing and encountering the Risen Christ in the very fabric
of lives and facets of our culture, context and present condition. It has
moved and inspired many of us to imitate the compassion of God, our
Father, for we were all truly blessed. It has awakened and renewed
the zeal and ardor in us to continue responding to the call as we all
share in the mission of Christ to feed the multitude through His mercy,
compassion and unconditional love.
17
 PalakHASSan 2018
HEALTHY BODY, HOLY BODY
Sem. Jobert Martin S. Gatmaitan
P alakHASSan, the much-awaited
sports event at Holy Apostles
Senior Seminary kicked off on the eve
of the feast of St. John Marie Vianney,
patron of priests. The seminary’s
annual sports festival is guided by
the theme, “PalakHASSan 2018:
Paghuhubog sa Kabanalan, Kalusuga’y
Pinagyayaman”. The joyous event
started with a parade of team colors
from the roof deck to the Sts. Peter
and Paul Gymnasium. In a very colorful
program that transpired in the gym,
the community initiated once again
the lighting of the unity flame and the
raising of the PalakHASSan unity flag
along with the Bukluran flags, symbols
of camaraderie and friendship among
the seminarians, staff, and formators of
HASS.
Rev. Fr. Roberto O. Gaa, Rector
of HASS, challenged the community
in his opening message: “Bakit tayo
nagpa-PalakHASSan kasama ang ating
mga ka-bukluran? Kasi doon din natin
makikita bilang simbahan, na tayo
bilang pari ay di lamang namumuno
sa mga kasiyahan, tayo rin ay
nakikipagtrabaho at nakikisalamuha
sa mga tao. Kaya sana ay mapagtibay
nito (PalakHASSan) ang inyong
samahan sa bukluran, at pati narin sa
community”
It was followed by the most
awaited part of the event, The
Cheerdance Competition showcased
18 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
the teamwork and creativity of the four
Buklurans in their unique and energetic
interpretation of the theme. Mr. Oliver
Almadro, head coach of the Ateneo
women’s volleyball team, was joined by
Ms. Lynette Mae Lomantas, Executive
Secretary of Lorenzo Mission Institute,
and Ms. Ma. Melinda Villaraza,
Operations Officer of Solidaritas
Credit Cooperative in judging the
performances. The Bukluran of St.
Matthew was declared the cheerdance
champion while Buklurans of St. John,
St. Mark, and St. Luke took 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th places respectively. The night
was capped through a simple fellowship
and a volleyball exhibition game. With
the cheerdance competition already
concluded, the ball has started rolling
for the other PalakHASSan events
dispersed throughout the year.
Pope Francis, in Gaudete et
Exsultate, emphasized the call to live a
life of holiness. Sports has a significant
role in this pursuit, for holiness is not
just about spiritual nourishment and
perfection. Our bodies are essential
instruments in living out holiness today
and in our future ministry. As priests-
in process, it is a constant invitation
to nourish and take good care of our
bodies and souls. Our bodies are tools
in doing our mission. Our bodies are
a gift from God that must be given
importance. The PalakHASSan 2018
is a reminder and an invitation to be
healthy both body and soul.
Community Night Out
Bringing HASS Together
H oly Apostles
Seminary continues to
emphasize the value of community
Senior
living as one of the pillars of seminary
formation. To celebrate the gift of
community, the priest-formators,
seminarians and staff flocked to
Quezon City to dine out and to watch
a musical play afterwards. ‘Rak of
Aegis’ – a Filipino musical play staged
by the Philippine Educational Theatre
Association (PETA) was on its sixth
run in bringing to life the famous
songs of the band ‘Aegis’. Interestingly,
the realities of life in a common set-
up of informal settlers living together
are incorporated in the songs such
as Ulan, Luha, Christmas Bonus and
Sinta. The characters’ ‘comic’ struggles,
‘drenched’ tragedies, ‘unwavering’
hopes and ‘colourful’ dreams blends
with the show of resiliency, creativity
Sem. Mark Ian V. Abu
and ingenuity of facing life’s hustles and
bustles – traits which are very prominent
to us Filipinos.
The play also portrayed common
dynamics in the community and in the
family. Because of daily encounters,
people in the community come to
know each other deeply. They are able
to extend support and lend help to
each other when needed. So, when
life does not go smoothly, as the main
problem in the play was the incessant
flooding, members of the community
unite out of sheer concern so that a
particular goal may be achieved. The
play vividly portrayed what Filipinos
term as damayan and bayanihan. They
have also shown that relationships
within a community may grow deeper
than any flood that may come. The play
also depicted that misunderstandings
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
naturally come within the family, yet,
because of the love reigning at home,
these problems are conquered and are
easily resolved. Openness and trust
are keys for better family living amidst
the many challenges that arise in this
set-up.
Programs, like the Community
Night Out, increase the sense of
belongingness to one another not only
with the brothers but also with the
formators and staff. Above anything
else, they play a vital role in helping
the priests-in-process become more
mature in the sense of being one with
the people – an important function
required for a priest for him to be able
to develop, sustain and enhance the
community of believers that will be
untrusted to his care in the future.
19
Debate in Filipino
PAGTAHIMIK BILANG TUGON
K augnay ng pagdiriwang ng Linggo
ng Wika, idinaos din ng Holy
Apostles Senior Seminary ang taunang
Debate sa Filipino noong ika-20 ng
Agosto 2018 sa Silid-Tanghalan ng San
Lorenzo Ruiz. Ito ay nilahukan ng Pangkat
Gaudium 2024, kung saan naging sentro
ng talakayan ang pagpapatibay ng
proposisyong: “Ang pananahimik ang
siyang tugon ng Simbahan sa mga pag-
uusig.”
Ang Debate sa Filipino ay gawaing
pang-akademiko kung saan hinahasa
ang kakayahan ng bawat isa sa
pakikipagtalakayan, pananaliksik, at
pagbibigay ng makabuluhan at may
prinsipyong argumento. Ito rin ay daan
ng pagbubukas-kamalayan at pakikilahok
ng mga seminarista sa mga pangyayaring
kinakaharap ng bansa at ng Simbahan.
Ang mga miyembro ng magkabilang
panig ay naglahad ng kani-kanilang
kaisipan at paninindigan sa argumento
patungkol sa pangangailangan,
praktikalidad at kapakinabangan ng
isyung pinag-uusapan. Ang mga grupo
ng Sang-Ayon sa nasabing proposisyon
ay sina Sem. Renz Marion C. Cunanan
(Arkidiyosesis ng San Fernando,
Pampanga), Sem. John Reyman S.
Dabuet (Arkidiyosesis ng Manila), at Sem.
20 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
Sem. Roldan B. Baliano
Ryan Tristan O. Digan (Arkidiyosesis ng
Davao). Sa kabilang banda ang grupong
Di Sang-Ayon ay binubuo nina Sem. Jobert
Martin S. Gatmaitan (Diyosesis ng Imus),
Sem. Roldan B. Baliano (Arkidiyosesis ng
Davao), at Sem. Richard Anthony A. Lim
(Arkidiyosesis ng Manila).
Bilang tugon sa nasabing
proposisyon, ang grupo ng Sang-Ayon
ay nanindigan na marapat lamang na
katahimikan ang maging tugon ng
simbahan sa kabila ng mga pag-uusig
sa kanya sapagkat anila, ito ay naayon
sa katuruan ng Diyos na nagsasabing
“Mapalad ang mga gumagawa ng paraan
para sa kapayapaan, sapagkat tatawagin
silang mga anak ng Diyos” (Mt 5:9). At
dagdag pa nila, yaon rin di-umano ang
posisyon ng mga Obispo sa kanilang
inilabas na liham noong Hulyo. Sa
kabilang dako naman ay pinangatawanan
din ng mga Di Sang-Ayon ang kanilang
sinabi na marapat lamang na mag-
ingay ang simbahan at gumawa ng
mga hakbang upang tuligsain ang
ginagawang pag-uusig sa kanya ng iilang
tao sa pamahalaan sa kadahilanang ang
simbahan ay nagpapahayag lamang ng
katotohanan na naayon rin sa kautusan
ng Diyos na nagsabing, “ang paniniwalang
walang gawa ay patay.” Sa huli, ang
argumento ay naging daan upang kami
ay mahamon sa aming tugon bilang mga
nagpapari. Pananahimik man o hindi, ang
mahalaga ay magkaroon ng mapayapang
hakbang ang Simbahan na maibahagi at
maipahayag ang katotohanan sa ating
pananampalataya.
Bilang isa sa mga kalahok, bagaman
ito ang unang pagkakataong nakasama
ako sa isang opisyal na debate,
pinagtibay nito ang aking pakikipag-
ugnayan at pagkakaroon ng maayos
at makabuluhang pakikipagtalastasan.
Nakatulong din ito na mapagtibay ang
aming ‘batch spirit’, sa pamamagitan
ng pagtutulungan, pagdadamayan at
pakikiisa sa mga pangangailangan upang
makagawa ng magandang argumento
at maisakatuparan nang maayos ang
debate sa Filipino. Sa pamamagitan
din ng gawaing ito, ako ay hinamon na
magkaroon ng kamalayan at kaisipang
aking mapaninindigan habang aking
ipinaglalaban at pinaglilingkuran ang
Simbahang umiibig lamang sa Diyos na
kanyang Hari.
Isa ring maituturing na biyaya
ang magawaran ng pagkilala bilang
Pinakamahusay sa Pananalumpati
kasama ang aking kaklase na si Sem.
Ryan Tristan Digan bilang Pinakamahusay
sa Pakikipagdebate.
Admission to the Candidacy
AN ENTRY TO JERUSALEM
Sem. Peter Collin C. Crisostomo

T here is a sense of excitement and curiosity in

clarifying when a family or a friend receives an
invitation for the Rite of Admission to the Candidacy
to Diaconate and Presbyterate. “Ilang taon pa ba?
Oordenahan ka na? Ito na ba yun?” were just some of
the reactions I got as our batch Misericordia 2022 was
preparing for this milestone in our formation. “Not yet
but in God’s mercy and perfect time we are hoping it
will come.”

Last August 27, 2018, the memorial of St. Monica,

Sem. Keith R. Buenaventura (Diocese of Antipolo),
Sem. Peter Collin C. Crisostomo (Diocese of Malolos),
and Sem. Glicerio T. Tano (Archdiocese of Cebu),
were admitted to the Candidacy to the Diaconate and
Presbyterate. The rite was held at Holy Apostles Senior
Seminary’s Mary Queen of Apostles Chapel.
The word ‘admission’ is commonly understood as “a
declaration” or “an entry.” For a seminarian, receiving
the gift of the Admission to the Candidacy of Diaconate
and Presbyterate means a declaration of belongingness
to his diocese, and that the diocese recognizes him as
its seminarian through the Local Ordinary. Likewise,
this event signifies his entry to the larger community
where he will be serving soon.
In the Apostolic Letter, Ad Pascendum, Blessed Paul
VI emphasized that the new rite replaces the practice of
having a tonsure as an expression of detachment from
worldly things. In this rite, the one who aspires to the
diaconate and priesthood, publicly manifests his will
to offer himself to God and the Church, so that he may
exercise a sacred order.
Our batch leaps up with joy for this gift from God.
Despite our unworthiness, our faults, and failures, He
showed His mercy upon on us. God has looked upon us
with divine compassion (cf. Gaudete et Exsultate, 82).
He did not abandon us. He allowed us to realize that he
is in our midst during the day of our admission through
the Bishop of Antipolo who ministered the rite of our
admission. Most Reverend Francisco M. De Leon,
D.D., during his homily, reminded the congregation
that being admitted is a very serious matter and that
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
it should lead us to become holy seminarians and
eventually holy priests. We are all called to be holy by
living our lives with love, and by bearing witness to it
in everything we do, and wherever we find ourselves.
(GE, 14)
Our journey as a batch is also challenged through
the homily of his Excellency. He wants us to live out
our batch name by being God-centered and having joy
in serving others. He also suggests that we should be
fruitful in prayer and be more discerning as we go on
step further. Most of all, we should love the Church
whom we are serving now as seminarians and whom
we will serve as future pastors someday. All of these
are possible as we step further in knowing God, in our
own “Jerusalem”, through studies and formation. It
continues to be a big challenge and hopefully, through
God’s mercy, we will be able to go through them.
“This call from the Lord must be discerned and
understood in the daily signs that reveal God’s will to
the prudent. God’s grace moves and helps the ones he
chooses to share in the ordained priesthood of Christ,”
said the Bishop in the liturgy. This challenges me to be
more submissive and more discerning about my words
and actions. Having been duly admitted as a seminarian
of the Diocese of Malolos, this milestone prepares me
now to enter another phase in my vocation journey and
embrace all that of serving God and His flock entails.
21
Theology Triduum 2018
Setting the World on Fire!
“Holiness is parrhesia: boldness,
an impulse to evangelize and leave
a mark in this world.” – Gaudete et
Exsultate #129
I nspired by the recent
Apostolic Exhortation of
Pope Francis, the San Carlos
Graduate School of Theology
launched its Theology Triduum,
a three-day celebration of the
theme: “Parrhesia: Pass Beyond
the Familiar, Set Out Anew!”
focusing on the 2019 celebration
of the Year of the Youth designated
by the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines.
This year, the annual gathering
of theology students focused on
obtaining information, discussing
issues and sharing experiences on
how to be bold and passionate in
ministering to the youth.
The first day commenced
with an input by keynote speaker,
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio “Ambo”
David, DD. Bishop of Kalookan.
He led the students to reflect on
the Apostles James and John, sons
of Zebedee, and their desire to be
great. There is nothing wrong to
seek greatness for we are made
in the image and likeness of the
Great Creator. It is our vision of
greatness that we need to purify.
As Christians, if we want
to leave a mark in this world, it
requires death to self – “kenosis”.
It is no longer us that is important
but Jesus in us that emanates
through our words and deeds,
and that requires boldness –
22 DAKILANG TANDA | Volume XX No. 1 October 2018
Sem. Gerald M. Moscardon
“parrhesia”. As Bishop Ambo puts
it, “parrhesia ay handang mahulog
ng may kahulugan.” He also reflected
on fire as a symbol of parrhesia. “I
have come to the earth to set it on
fire.” (Luke 12:49). Jesus himself
preached and ministered with
boldness and zeal. And like Jesus,
we are called to set the world on
F.I.R.E.
F-ERVOR. We are called
to possess apostolic fervor in
ministering to the youth who faces
issues like depression, bullying,
suicide, homosexuality, addiction,
and absentee parents. During the
second day, young women from
The Lord’s Flock Charismatic
Community gave their testimonies
of their experiences of these issues
that brought awareness to their
world and sobriety and challenge
to us priests-in-process. How do we
respond to the “hidden” cries of the
young people?
I-GNITE. Once our hearts
ignite with the burning passion
and zeal for the Church, it is bound
to consume us. As formands, we
have to be consumed by the desire
to make Jesus known even now.
After hearing the testimonies from
young people, the students went
into concurrent sessions called
“Nuggets” where these pertinent
issues of the youth were further
discussed and deepened through
the sharing of insights, reflections,
experiences and challenges to see
how we can enter and make Jesus
present in their lives.
R-EVEAL. Fire not only
consumes, it reveals a lot about
us – our weaknesses. Bishop
Ambo warned us on the blocks
to parrhesia and he highlighted
mediocrity as the enemy of the
ministry of priesthood. The
problems of the Church are right
in front of us demanding our
attention and response. We should
not buckle under its weight and
fall into the trap of minimalism,
complacency, and fear.
E-MBOLDEN. It takes
courage to give oneself to others.
It takes compassion to understand
the pains of those who are lost. It
is only through the Spirit that we
can have this fire that emboldens.
It is the same fire that can make
compassion contagious. On the
last day of the triduum, priests and
lay partners gave their testimonies
in their own ministries - Fr. Bobby
dela Cruz of Sanlakbay (ministry
to drug surrenderees), Fr. Juvelan
Samia of the Salesian Youth
Movement, Fr. Eugene David of
Courage (ministry to persons
with same-sex attraction), and
Ms. Jojie Recelis, a counselor from
the Center for Family Ministries.
Through their ministries, we saw
fruits of parrhesia.
The words of Rev. Fr. Enrico
Ayo, Dean of Studies, summarize
the experience of the Theology
Triduum and also serve as a
challenge to us priests-in-process
and as a Church – synodality,
synergy, kenosis!
 ‘NEEDED: A FORM OF GOVERNMENT
ROOTED IN GOSPEL VALUES’
F ederalism is defined as a system of
government where the powers are
distributed between the national or central
government and the constituent units
such as the state or regional government
and its local units. In this form, the states
or regions have sufficient autonomy over
their respective government units.
The Vicariate of Sts. Peter and Paul
of the Archdiocese of Manila organized
two symposia on Federalism and Charter
Change as part of a series in its issue
advocacy initiatives. The first forum was
held last August 21, 2018 at St. Andrew
Parish with Atty. Christian Monsod.
Another forum was held at the National
Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus last
September 17, 2018 with former Senator
Jose Lina. As a former Senator and
Governor of the province of Laguna, Mr.
Lina exposed the repercussions of the
proposal to the autonomy and productivity
of local government units.
Mr. Lina compared the present form
of government to the proposed federal
government. According to him, at present
we have a unitary form of government
with two levels: national and local. The
national government has the responsibility
over all national concerns. While the
local government manages the affairs
of provinces, cities, municipalities and
barangays. In the Federal form however,
there will be three levels of government:
the federal or national government,
the regional government, and the local
government. In each regional government
or state, there will be a similar layer
of bureaucracy just like in the national
government.
The advantage of having a federal
form is that the power is decentralized.
It ensures the autonomy of the local
governments. In terms of taxes collected,
each local government retains the 70%
of its income and remits only 30% to the
federal government. In this aspect, there
will be an increased budget for the local
governments to craft and implement
programs and projects for the general
welfare and benefit of its constituents.
The disadvantage however is that, it
can cause division in the country. It may
Sem. Ivan Joseph F. Feniquito
increase regional discrepancies in wealth,
resources, and services. Another is that in
the transitional government, there might
be changes in the electoral process. In
the study done by the Philippine Institute
for Development Studies, it is estimated
that the cost for this change would range
between 44 and 72 billion pesos due to
the increase in the size of government
bureaucracy. The government needs
to produce 130 billion pesos for the
transitional government. Obviously, the
main source for this needed fund would be
met by imposing additional taxes.
The former senator added that there
are actually many forms of federal system
of government and it depends on the
need and what will fit the country. There
is no exact template or mould. To him,
the present government system in the
Philippines on closer analysis, already has
the touch of federal system. There is no
urgent need to change the present system
because decentralization, local autonomy
and the principle of subsidiarity are the
hallmarks of a federal system which are
already present in the existing form. The
basic principles are already embedded in
1987 constitution. The legislative bodies
just need to come up with laws that will
implement the tenets of said constitution.
The Church, today, takes by being
the voice of conscience offering “morally
suasive” thoughts aimed objectively at
educating the people on the merits and
demerits of Federalism. The Church
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE: Called to Be Holy in the Ordinary
must lead the people of God to form and
use conscience in our day to day lives. I
realized that as a priest-in-process, I must
not be ignorant and indifferent towards the
problems and issues besetting the nation.
There might be times that people in the
community will seek counsel and we need
to answer questions about the problems of
society. As a future pastor, I must be ready
to give counsel to the people around me
if ever they would ask about issues like
this. I may not be an expert, but at least
I can provide them with guidance and
moral compass and give assurance that
my involvement will always be rooted in
God with the desire to act for the common
good.
The symposia gave us a wider
perspective about Federalism and its
effects to our nation. Do we really need to
have a shift in the form of government from
unitary to federal? This must be studied
very well. I believe that what is needed is
that the leaders of our country must first
be grounded in the Gospel values before
trying to push for changes like these.
What we need now is a full and honest
implementation of the current Constitution.
Also, the creation of laws rooted in the
teachings of the Church; the principles of
human dignity and human rights, integrity
and truth; participation and solidarity; and
that of the common good. The form of
government and the actions of our leaders
must seriously take into consideration
what is for the common welfare and the
protection of our country’s sovereignty.
23