| |
|
| |
main page
Posted:
March 30, 2006
The month of March
2006 falls on the Lenten Season, a time of
fasting and penitence traditionally observed by
Christians in preparation for Easter. As far as
I can recall, the length of abstaining, during
which observant eat sparingly, was established
in the 4th century as 40 days according to Rev.
Fr. Maurino “Boy” Legazpi, former Saint Stephen
Parish Priest. Now, fasting specifically to meat
food is observed every Friday from the day after
the Ash Wednesday which starts the Lent.
This period
reminds us of our spiritual functions as an
individual to ourselves, to our fellowmen and to
our community. It gives us a recollection of our
misdeeds and the trials that caused us to forget
our religious values. When my good friend Jenny
said, “Narigat ti biag”, I said, “Yes, it is”. I
became aware of that reply more gratifying than
any word to fulfil. The course that the Lord
leads us regularly give the impression to cause
us think that we took a wrong path. Most of us
then thought and believe that if we are in the
right way, God’s righteousness will always give
us a life untamed by problems.
Remember
that no hardship bring about hopelessness to us
if we understand the Lord’s purpose for letting
it.
-
March 1, 2006, the Roman
Catholic Church observed Ash Wednesday, the
first day of the penitential season of Lent,
so called from the ceremony of placing ashes
on the forehead as a sign of penitence. Saint
Stephen Parish usually conform this custom
during the weekdays mass in the morning but
this time it was in the afternoon (after
classes and works), an idea of Father Leo
Inofinada, the officiating priest. It was
practically understood because many attended
this event. Ashes obtained from burned palm
branches of the previous Palm Sunday are
blessed before mass on Ash Wednesday. The
priest places the blessed ashes on the
foreheads while reciting over each one the
following formula: “Remember that you are
dust, and unto dust you shall return”.
-
Coronation Rites: March 3, San
Esteban South Central School Post Valentine
Celebration, Mr. and Miss Valentine 2006,
March 7, San Esteban National High School Mr.
and Miss Foundation Day, March 15, Apatot
Community School Mr. and Miss Education Day,
March 24, San Esteban Academy Golden
Anniversary, Mr. and Miss SEA 2006. These
schools from our town conducted popularity
contests to fund projects for their
institutions. This kind of endeavour
contributes to the development of education
and facilities among our local schools
satisfying deficiencies of our national
government.
-
As we are on the Lenten Season,
Church activities are prioritized here in our
town. On March 11, there were 125 High School
students from all over our town who received
the Sacrament of Confirmation. In
Christianity, this is a sacrament admitting
baptized people to full membership. Before,
the rite was administered immediately after
baptism. Since the Second Vatican Council, it
is now further delayed until early
adolescence. Confirmation is effected by the
laying on of hands and anointing with
consecrated oil. This ceremony at the Saint
Stephen Parish Church was performed by the
Most Reverend Ernesto Salgado, Archbishop,
Nueva Segovia of Ilocos Sur.
-
June Bride? Well, a different
MARCH! Nine lovely couple received the
Sacrament of Matrimony in a Mass Wedding last
March 18, 2006 at the Saint Stephen Parish
Church. The minister for the sacrament of
matrimony is not the officiating priest, as is
usually thought, but the bride and groom
themselves. It is believed that the bond that
this sacrament creates between two baptized
people cannot be dissolved. The Church teaches
that the purpose of matrimony is to foster
mutual love and procreation.
-
BARANGAY TO BARANGAY NATIONWIDE
CAMPAIGN: “PUKSAIN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1
DENGUE”.
The Municipal Health Office of
San Esteban or Rural Health Unit (RHU) as
commonly called, headed by Municipal Health
Officer, Dr. Annie A. De Guzman is initiating
strategies to prevent if not eliminate the
occurrence of Dengue, one of the most dreaded
vector-borne diseases today because last year
there has been a dramatic increase in cases
and deaths affecting mostly the children in
Ilocos Sur. For the past 10 years, the disease
is still prevalent in the region and cases
have been noted in urban areas especially in
congested population. The onset of the rainy
season signals the increase availability of
breeding sites for the dengue mosquito vector.
Discarded tires, tin cans, bottles, clogged
gutters and other containers become filled
with water providing favourable sites for the
aedes mosquito to lay eggs and
breed. Previous records have shown that the
rainy months correspond to the peak of dengue
transmission, thus increasing dengue cases and
deaths. The RHU is hereby enjoined to set off
an anti-dengue larval campaign at the
barangays in coordination with the local
government unit mobilizing key leaders in the
community to undertake the clean-up, disposal
of unnecessary containers and proper
management of domestic water containers. They
organized a dengue brigade at all levels of
the health group and the lowest level is every
barangay in our town with the following
composition: The Barangay Captain of each
barangay as the head, the RHU Staff as the
organizer, Ansad and Cabaroan – Mrs. Magdalena
Ayson, Cappa-cappa – Arthur Barrey, Apatot –
Mrs. Melanie Cubar, Villa Quirino and Bateria
– Mrs. Juliet Gacuan, San Rafael and San
Nicolas – Kelly Baldonado, San Pablo and
Poblacion – Mrs. Ruth Ismael, the Barangay
Kagawad who chairs the Committee on Health of
each barangay, the Day Care Worker of each
barangay, a DSWD Representative and members of
the Socio-Civic/Religious Professional
Organizations. Barangay officials are
encouraged to activate and mobilize the
barangay brigades to do the house to house
elimination of breeding containers. The number
of houses covered each day and the number and
types of containers disposed are to be
recorded. All houses within the barangay are
covered. This program urgently intensified the
elimination of breeding sites and containers
before the rainy season.
I had a great
time with Dr. Rudy and Imelda Esperanza Europa
and children, Randee, Rozel and Romel during
their short visit here in P.I. Tata Rudy, Nana
Melda and I attended for the first time a
concert during the last night of the wake of
their mother, the late Julia A. Europa which is
not common to us here. I believe that this kind
of service was introduced by the Joces Funeral
Homes, a newly established interment parlour in
Ilocos Sur. Randee, I learned a lot of things
from you during our conversation at the pink
house. Yeah, life is really short and we differ
from what we affect it. Let’s just make the most
of it. Cheers! To Rozel, regards to your uncle
Ducky… (Duckie?). And to my Bro Romel, lizards
are really treacherous to you here in S.E. But
it cures asthma. Read the book “Witchcraft”. I
hope and pray that you will have a longer
vacation again on December. Again, my
condolences and greetings of a blessed Lenten
Season to you and your family.
Hello to Manang
Rachel Europa Fernando and to all our
acquaintance from Oregon. Manang Kaye and our
friends here had a lovely evening at the pink
house. Godspeed!
jamming at pink house
This is all for now folks!
I’M PROUD TO BE A SAN ESTEBANIAN! EBAN NAK! EBAN
TAYO! AGBIAG!
eAFTERTHOUGHT at
arthzbarrey06@yahoo.com
for your suggestions and comments.
Joy Vergara Clouston
|
|
|
>>>
<<< |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Contact
Us |
| Home
Base: Bremerton, |
| Washington,
USA |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
