Philippine Dominican Province to mark 40th year in 2011

Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP during the thanksgiving Mass for the 39th year of DPP.

ONE YEAR shy of reaching its fourth decade, the Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP), or the Philippine branch of the Order of Preachers, recently marked its 39th anniversary with the view to consolidating its relatively still young legacy.

The indigenous Province was founded on Dec. 8, 1971. Before that, Filipino Dominicans were part of the Holy Rosary Province, now commonly known as the Spanish Dominican Province, the original missionary province formed when the Dominicans first came to the Philippines in 1587.

The founding of the Philippine province of the Dominicans was a historic milestone in the history of one of the Church’s greatest religious orders: It recognized the Filipino religious and their capacity to contribute to the Church and her mission.

Book celebrates Bataan history, Tomas Pinpin, and Church heritage

Photo by Jilson Tiu

THE LAVISH coffee-table book, “Peninsula of Faith and Valor: Bataan Through the Centuries,” documents the glorious heritage of the historic province west of Manila, noted for being one of the first to embrace Christianity, aside from producing the first Filipino author and printer and displaying courage and patriotism especially during the Dutch invasion in the 17th century and the Japanese invasion in the 20th century.

Dominicans launch film on St. Dominic to mark 40 years

MANILA, Dec. 8, 2010—Aside from the anticipated quadricentennial festivities of the University of Santo Tomas, the Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP) is also looking forward to another milestone of its existence.

The province will be celebrating its 40th year of existence next year. DPP was founded on Dec. 8, 1971.

To mark the fourth decade of DPP, the province’s media board, headed by Fr. Jeff Aytona, OP, embarked on the first full-length period film project about the life of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers.

Titled “Dominic: Light of the Church,” the film will also serve as DPP’s fitting gift to the Dominican Order for its forthcoming 800th year foundation anniversary in 2016.

“The film is much anticipated because it is the first of its kind. And for us (project staff), it was like St. Dominic was truly with us throughout the entire production,” Aytona, chairman of the Provincial Media Board, said in an interview.

Aytona also believes that in discovering St. Dominic during these times, the father for the Dominicans will still be faithful to his promise: “I will be of more use to you in death than I ever did in life.”

Young Filipinos take voyage of heritage and faith

Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje goes to Cebu

Participants and organizers of Viaje del Galeon.

IT WAS both a voyage of faith and heritage for 300 youthful souls who joined the Viaje del Galeón, Oct. 8-11, as part of the Dia del Galeón (Day of the Galleon) celebrations.


Dia del Galeón, of course, was the first international commemoration of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade that flourished from 1565 to 1815. The celebration was organized by Spain, Mexico and the Philippines.

The youth cruise was notable since the image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) of Antipolo accompanied it. It was the first time for the icon to set sail again after 200 years.


“What you love, you bring along with you,” Msgr. Rigoberto de Guzman, director of the Antipolo Shrine, said in his homily for the opening Mass, referring to the centuries-old Antipolo image. The Mass was held on board SuperFerry 20.
De Guzman underscored that the devotion to the Marian image was one of the most significant legacies of the galleon trade. He also stressed that, to date, the Philippines had remained a “bastion of faith.”

Manaoag shrine offers new facilities, attractions for pilgrims

MANAOAG, Pangasinan, Sept. 29, 2010—With the feast of Our Lady of Manaoag drawing near, pilgrims paying homage to the Virgin will be pleased to see added improvements in the shrine that enhance its prayerful ambiance.

Novena to Our Lady of Manaoag has started last Sept. 24 and will culminate with a procession on her feast day on Oct. 3.


The Manaoag Museum features precious items of the image and the shrine.

The Our Lady of Manaoag Museum, which houses the historic and religious articles related to the miraculous image offers to the pilgrims an extended area for reflection.

La Naval festivities to focus on change

Dominican saints with La Naval

MANILA, Sept. 29, 2010—Focusing on the theme of renewal, the La Naval festivities will kick off on Oct. 1 with the traditional novena and enthronement of the Marian image at the Sto. Domingo Church, in Quezon City.

Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals, OP, Sto. Domingo Convent prior said the focus of the La Naval celebrations—“Tagumpay at Pagbabago” (Triumph and Change) is inspired by people’s clamor for change as seen in the last elections.

“After the elections, people continue to talk about change,” he said in an email. “And this change serves as inspiration and hope to our country.”

Arsciwals explained that “triumph” has always been part of saga of La Naval, citing the epic victory of trade galleons against the heavily armed Dutch armada in 1646 and the success of the People Power I in 1986. 

He added that the feast is intended to remind people that the true change cannot be achieved through violence. Neither can it solely rely on big projects.

Youth cruise marks international Day of the Galleon

MANILA, Sept. 20, 2010—Young people here and abroad are taking a cruise dubbed as “Viaje del Galeón,” on Oct. 8–11, to mark the climax of country’s participation in the first ever international commemoration of the “Día del Galeón” (Day of the Galleon).

Over 300 youth delegates from the Philippines and other countries are expected to board Super Ferry 20, Aboitiz Transport System Corporation’s latest acquisition, to participate in the event. Aboitiz is the main sponsor of the event.

Official logo of Dia del Galeon.

Under the supervision of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the four-day cruise from Manila to Cebu will feature lectures and interactive events, grounding on Filipino culture and the effects of the centuries-old Galleon trade to the Filipinos.

Highlights of the event include a procession of the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, cultural exhibits and presentations, and the “Gabii sa Kapilin,” a night heritage tour in Cebu. The awarding ceremonies for the national essay writing, oratorical, and declamation contests in relation with “Día del Galeón” will also be held onboard the ship.

Youth pledge to help Church in conserving her cultural patrimony

ASKED ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD learned about Filipino culture in the Angat Kabataan Camp 2010, 12-year-old Meryl Guintu smiled and replied: “Experiencing the actual historical sites is quite different from reading our heritage in books at school.”

Guintu took part in the youth camp this month, declared by law as National Heritage Month. It was the first-ever assembly of youth delegates from the 33 churches declared either by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as World Heritage Sites; or by the National Museum, National Historical Institute and National Commission for Culture and the Arts as National Cultural Treasures.

Other youth leaders from all over the country also joined the event.

‘Siete Palabras’on TV: A Lenten ritual, spectacle

In the broadcast coverage this year will be testimonials of faith from multi-awarded movie director Marilou Diaz-Abaya and CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida

Dominican priest delivers his reflection for the Siete Palabras.

NOW ON ITS 15TH YEAR, the “Siete Palabras” at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City has become the key Lenten program on Philippine TV.

The program broadcasts the annual Good Friday sermons by the Dominican fathers of the Santo Domingo Convent on the Seven Last Words of Christ.

In an interview, Fr. Sonny Ramirez, OP, one of the pioneer homilists of the program, said “Siete Palabras” is “most inspiring” because it motivates rather than just entertains its audience.