Parokya San Miguel Learning Center

Parokya San Miguel Learning Center

Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay

Vision:  To build a society where there are good citizens contributing to the social, economic and spiritual development of its people.

Mission: To run a parish pre-school imbued with the spirit respecting other people’s cultures, beliefs and traditions.

On March 23, 2013, several parishioners of Parokya San Miguel were invited to discuss together the possibility of putting up a parish pre-school. This was brought out due to the concern of many Catholic parents whose children they sent to Protestant pre-school in the island. Together with SVD missionaries Fr. Tony Salas, Fr. Felmar Fiel, Fr. Manuel Mijares, the plan to have a parish pre-school was finally materialized.

The parishioners who were invited to be part of the creation of such a learning center are the following:

Kiking Lim Llanos (LGU-Talusan)

Bro. Roland Pontevedra, SVD (Youth Ministry)

Sir Eusebio Momo (DEPED)

Prudencio Anota (DEPED)

Rico Caloňge (DEPED)

Marlyn Caloňge (DEPED)

Jesus Arnoco (DEPED)

Mina Berdin (DEPED)

Flora Esmanel (DEPED)

Jill Dulam (NGO)

Emma Rabon (Retired Teacher)

Carlos Magdula (DEPED)

Romel Rabon (LGU-Mabuhay)

Marigen Rabon (BFP)

Lourdes Ozarraga (LGU-Mabuhay)

Princess Hazel Tolorio (Medical Team)

Annabelle Tolorio (Parish Staff)

Emilyn Saburnido (DEPED)

Mamerto Pagar (PPC)

Ronald Zarate (LGU-Mabuhay)

Val Samonte (LGU-Mabuhay)

Diosdado Omamalin (DEPED)

Julieta Degumbis (Student)

Zenaida Dumapi (LM Ministry)

Being representatives of the Christian community, they are also owners of the pre-school to be erected. From the 23, the Board of Trustees was selected. As a rule, the parish priest (Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD) and the assistant parish priest (Fr. Manuel Mijares, SVD) were automatically members of the Board.

Chairman: Sir Eusebio Momo

Vice-Chairman: SB Val Samonte (deceased)

Secretary: Jill Dulam

Treasurer: Lourdes Ozarraga

Council Members: Emma Rabon and Prudencio Anota

Fr. Mike Layugan Launches Ecce Ancilla Domini

Fr. Michael G. Layugan, SVD will have his book launching on 3 pm of March 25, 2014 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School, KM 4, La Trinidad, Benguet. The book entitled “Ecce Ancilla Domini” tells about the long history of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Honorable Armando Lauro, Vice Mayor of Tublay will host the event. Sister Aurora Codiam, SIHM will give the welcome address.

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Fr. Bel San Luis Talks About DWST 50th Anniversary

SVD Seminary celebrates golden jubilee

by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
March 11, 2014 (Manila Bulletin)

The Divine Word Mission Seminary in Tagaytay City, where I did my noviciate and theological studies in the 1960s, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on March 11-13, 2014.

* * *

On March 9, 1963 the SVD Superior General John Schuette erected canonically the mission house in Tagaytay, and on March 12 the novitiate Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD, who wrote a wide-ranging, intensive history of the seminary, said that the main reason for the transfer of the novices and scholastics to Tagaytay was the lack of space at the Christ the King Seminary compound on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City.

Christ the King Seminary became the formation house of the high school and college departments, collectively called minor seminary. Eventually, the high school was phased out, leaving only the college seminary.

* * *

Since its inauguration, the Divine Word Seminary has produced SVD and diocesan bishops as well as diocesan and religious-missionary priests.

It was not unexpected that Divine Word Seminary, located in scenic and cool Tagaytay overlooking Taal Volcano, would evolve into something like a central seminary, forming a cluster of autonomous affiliated houses of formation, 14 of them: 11 congregations and three from the diocesan clergy.

* * *

In the last 50 years, Fr. Uy says, Divine Word Seminary produced 1,601 fourth year graduates. Of the 552 SVDs, 127 are now in foreign lands, e.g., 28 in the Americas, 25 in Africa and 25 in Asia. The 638 diocesan graduates is a sizeable addition to the country’s diocesan clergy. The religious congregations, some of them new in the country, still gained 411.

Later on new courses were offered like the Certification for Theological Studies which offers excellent courses in Scriptures and missiology and the Alternative Learning School (ALS) which enrols out-of-school youth.

* * *

This school year, the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS) is expected to boost the missiological slant of the seminary.  With its courses designed to broaden and enrich insights of “new evangelization” and “interculturality,” the institute hopes to attract professors and students of Asia Pacific Region to the country as well as members from different religious, missionary congregations, both male and female.

Due to its interconnection with the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, DWIMS is scheduled to grant post graduate ecclesiastical and civil degrees in Missiology.

* * *

The Divine Word Seminary was from the very beginning always considered a mission seminary parallel with Christ the King Mission Seminary.

In 1981, Pope John Paul II stressed the missionary calling of the Philippines: “I wish to tell you of my special desire that the Filipinos will become the foremost missionaries of the Church in Asia.” This repeats what Paul VI said when he visited the Philippines in 1970.

* * *

The Divine Word Seminary with its new Institute of Mission Studies is a clear and concrete response to the wish of the past Popes.

“Fifty years is only a measure of time, but it is intimately connected with the missionary nature of Christ and his Church,” Fr. Uy concludes.