Makati Medical Center holds Medical Mission in San Fabian

30 October 2009 – San Fabian. The medical team of the Makati Medical Center held a medical mission for the people of San Fabian last 30 October 2009. The whole day medical mission was held at the Archdiocesan School of San Fabian. San Fabian was one of the hardest hit towns by Typhoon Pepeng. Typhoon Pepeng inundated several barangays and displaced thousands of residents. There were two (2) casualties reported in San Fabian during the Great Flood.

The Makati Medical Center team was composed of 80 medical personnel including 40 doctors. The medical mission started at 8:00 in the morning and ended at around 4:00 in the afternoon.

There were more than a thousand patients treated and given free medicines by the medical team. Patients came as early as 6 o’clock in the morning.

The parish provided free food and drinks to the patients during lunch break and while waiting for their turn to be treated by the doctors.

The medical mission was a gift to the people of San Fabian by Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas, DD, the new archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. He coordinated with the Makati Medical Center for the much appreciated and valued medical mission.

The Parish ANTABAY Team (the Social Action Apostolate of the Parish) coordinated with the medical team.

To the Makati Medical Center Medical MissionTeam: Mabuhay po kayong lahat! Balbaleg ya salamet ed sikayon amin!

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To see more pictures of the Makati Medical Center medical mission in San Fabian, please click HERE and HERE.

Babasaen: Solemnidad na saray Sasanto

ONONAN BABASAEN Pu. 7:2-4, 9-14

Say libro na Puyan so mangipaparontal na saray nayarin nagawa diad kasamputay panaon: saray sasantos, saray matuor ya mananumbok nen Cristo, so akaalagey diad arapan na trono na Dios ya akasulong na ampoti tan maneemben na sangay palmera a simbolo na impanalod kasalanan tan patey.

Babasaen ya inaon ed libro na Puyan

Siak, si Juan, anengneng ko met ya ontatagey a nanlapud bokig so sananey ya anghil a walad sikatoy timbri na mabilay a Dios. Inkelyaw tod saramay apatiran anghil ya initday Dios na pakayarin manderal na dalin tan dayat, "Ag yo ni dederaley dalin, o say dayat, o saray kiew, anggad ag ni amarkaay muling da ray aripen na Dios tayo." Insan nibagad siak so bilang da ray amarkaan: sanlasus, apataplo tan apat a libo a nanlapud amin a boleg na saray totood Israel.

Kasumpal to ya, anengneng koy balbaleg a dagop na katoowan ya anggapoy makabilang lapud karakel da. Nanlapu rad amin a bansa, tribu, totoo, tan salita. Manalalagey irad arap na trono tan samay Kordiro. Akakawes iray ampoti tan sankabembenan da ray palapa na palma. Ineyag day maksil, "Say kilalaban manlalapud Dios tayo ya akayorung ed trono, tan say Kordiro!" Inmalagey ya amin iray anghil a walad kaliber-liber na trono, saramay mamatakken, tan saramay apatiran mabilay a pinalsa. Dinmakmomo rad arap na trono tan angigalang irad Dios. Inkuanda, "Amen! Anggad angga komun a kayaryay Dios tayo so dayew, galang, kakabatan, pisasalamat, tanduro, pakayari, tan biskeg! Amen!"

Tinepet ed siak na sakey ed saramay mamatakken, "Siopa ra tay totoon akaampoti, tan iner so nanlapwan da?"

"Ag ko amta," ebat ko. "Sikayoy makaamta."

Inkuantod siak, "Sikara yay totoon akaliktar ed baleg a kairapan. Inorasan tan pinapoti ray kawes da ed dala na Kordiro."

Salita na Katawan.

EBAT A SALMO

E/. KATAWAN, SIKARA YAN TOTOO SO MAMPIPILALEK A MAKANENGNENG ED LUPAM.

1. Kayaryay Katawan so mundo tan amin a logan to; kien toy dalin tan amin a manaayam ed dalin. Inletneg tod aralem a danum diad dalem na dalin tan inlira tod dalem na dayat iray pundasion to. E.
2. Siopay manepeg ya onkalab ed palandey na Katawan? Siopay nayarin onloob ed masanton Timplo to? Saray totoon malinis so gawa ra tan say kanunotan da, ag ira mangigagalang ed saray diriyos, tan ag da isisipan so ag da nagawaan. E.
3. Say Katawan bindisionan tan ilaban to ra; say Dios ibawag to ran anggapoy kasalanan. Sikara yan totoo so onsisingger ed Dios, tan oonlad arap na Dios nen Jacob. E.

KUMADWAN BABASAEN 1 Jn. 3:1-3

Babasaen ya inaon ed ononan sulat nen Juan

Nengneng yo so ontan lan panangaroy Ama ed sikatayo! Diad kabaleg na panangaro to atawag itayon anak na Dios-tan saya et tua. Ag itayo kabat na sankamundoan, ta say sankamundoan ag to akabat so Dios. Inararon anak, sikatayo natan so anak na Dios, balet aliwa nin malinew no antoy pagmaliwan tayo. Anggaman ontan, amta tayo a diad ipawil dia nen Cristo, magmaliw itayon singa sikato, ta nanengneng tayo diad dilin inkasikato. Balang sakey a wala yan ilalo tod Cristo linisan toy panagbilay to, a singa si Cristo et malinis.

Salita na Katawan.

ALLELUIA
E/. Alleluia. Dago kayod siak, kuay Katawan, amin yon nakekesawan ed panaawit yoy ambelat, ta pampainawaen ta kayo. E/. Alleluia.

IBANGHILYO Mat. 5:1-12

+Babasaen ya inaon ed masanton ibanghilyo onung ed kinen Mateo

Anengneng nen Jesus a dakerakel iray totoo, kanyan linmad nipokdul a pasen tan inmirung diman. Dinago na saray disipulo to, tan onyay imbangat tod sikara:

"Maliket iray mamibirbir na pankaukolan dad maispiritu ran bengatla, ta kayaryan day Panarian na tawen!
"Maliket iray maneermen, ta ligliwaen iray Dios!
"Maliket iray mapaabeba, ta tawiren day dalin ya insipay Dios!
"Maliket iray mampipilalek a manumpal na linaway Dios, ta iter tod sikaray pampilalekan da!
"Maliket iray mapangasi, ta kasian iray Dios!
"Maliket iray malinis so puso ra, ta napinengnengan day Dios!
"Maliket iray manggagaway polaing na mareen a panoolup da ray katoowan, ta ibilang iray Dios ya anak to!
"Maliket iray napapairap lapud panusumpal day linawa na Dios, ta kayaryan day Panarian To!
"Maliket kayo no sikayoy pabpabaingan, parpairapen, tan pagpaogesen na totoo lapud disipulo ta kayo. Manliket tan manggayaga kayo, ta balbaleg so tumang yod tawen. Onya met so impampapairap na totood saray propita ya akaonan nambibilay nen sikayo."

Ibanghilyo na Katawan.

LAPAG A PIKAKASI:
Padre: Lapud totoo itayoy Dios ed sayan mundo, pankakasakeyen tayoy pikakasi tayo ya mitekep ed amin da ray sasantos ed tawen para pankaukolan daray totoo ed anggan enerman.

Say ebat tayo: Katawan, dengel mo ray pikakasi mi.

1. Tapian say Simbaan, ya sikatoy maliket ya Ina daray grupo ray sasantos, et naawit to ray amin ya anak to ed nanarian na Dios; mikasi itayod Katawan.
2. Tapian amin daray totoon maong ya impanlinawa et naawit day matuan bilay tan magnayon ya kareenan lapud pananundon na dala nen Cristo; mikasi itayod Katawan.
3. Tapian saray napapairap lapud katuaan et nituloy day matunong a dalan na saray sasantos; mikasi itayod Katawan.
4. Tapian diad panag-awat tan panangibagat ed Eucharistia et naalmo tayo met komon so pakapinabang ed saray sasantos tan onggawan sasantos; mikasi itayod Katawan.
5. Para saray maniinagem, saray masegsegang, saray olila tan napapaolian ya ugugao, saray inmawet ya makasalanan, tan saray akasagmak na makasinaguem iran inkagawa tan para kimey tan getma na parochia tayo; mikasi itayod Katawan.
6. Tapian saray akauna ed sikatayo et niakar la ran magano ya makapinengneng ed Dios; mikasi itayod Katawan.
7. Para saray pilalek tayon nagamoran. (nunoten ira); mikasi itayod Katawan.

Padre: Ama, na kasantosan tan gracia, ibagat mi rayan kerew-kerew mi ya akitekep ed pikakasi na Virgen Maria tan saray sasantos ya sikaray nanmatalek ed panangasim ya nanengneng ed masanton impanbilay da. Amen.

Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag visits San Fabian

25 October 2009 – San Fabian. The image of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag came for a one-day visit to the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr last 25 October, Sunday.

The visit came after the calamity of 9 October 2009 which inundated all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan affecting almost 105,960 families or about 529, 802 persons.

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas asked the Dominican community of Manaoag to coordinate with the different parishes to facilitate the visit of the sacred image. Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas said, “Our people needs hope. Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag can give that. I claim it.”

The visit in the parish of St. Fabian coincided with the end of the novena to the Our Lady the Most Holy Rosary. The October is celebrated in the parish as the Rosary Month. At the end of the mass in the afternoon of Sunday, the sacred image of Our Lady of Manaoag was carried in a procession around the town proper. Hundreds of devotees joined in the procession honoring our Lady of Manaoag.

To see more pictures of the visit of Our Lady of Manaoag to San Fabian, please click HERE.

Longors Proper holds Barangay Visitation with a wedding

24 October 2009 – San Fabian. Brgy. Longos Proper welcomed the sacred images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Divine Mercy for a week as part of the Barangay Visitation from 17 – 24 October 2009.

A wedding was celebrated during the farewell mass held on the last day of the visitation. There were also 12 children who received the Sacrament of Baptism.

The images were brought to Longos Parac-parac after a long procession.

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To see more pictures of the Visitation in Longos Proper, pleas click HERE.

Continuing Relief Operations

18 October – San Fabian. Relief operations and services have been going on for the past days since the Great Flood struck San Fabian last 9 October. Ten of the hardest barangays have been visited by the Social Action Apostolate (ASAP) team of the parish. As of today, almost 2,000 families have received help from the ASAP of the parish. Eight thousand individuals have been given relief goods.

The Parish of San Juan Bautista, Pinaglabanan, San Juan City sent a truckload of relief goods, including rice, canned goods, noodles, clothes and medicine. They also gave school materials to replace the writing paper, pencils and ballpens that many of our school children lost during the flood.

The convent and the garage were transformed into relief operations center of the parish.

The relief goods being handed to those affected and displaced by the flood of 10/9.

(Pictures courtesy of Sem. Estephen Espinoza)

“Pasasalamat kay San Juan Bautista”

15 October 2009 –San Fabian.

It was on October 9, Friday dawn when floodwaters in 32 towns and three cities in Pangasinan were initially seen rising fast due to the swelling of major rivers, notably the Agno River, initially from the continuous rains unleashed by Typhoon Pepeng. It was aggravated when the San Roque Multi-purpose Project (SRMP), reputed to be highest rock-fill dam in the south east Asian region and the second highest in Asia, began spilling its excess water at the lower stream of the Agno River through its six spillway gates by 26 meters at 3 a.m. (from the Sunday Punch) By the end of the day the 90% of the province was inundated by flood waters causing untold pain and suffering to our people.

The Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, (San Fabian, Pangasinan), of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan was not spared by the calamity that devastated Pangasinan. The Bued River rampaged through San Fabian and eroded large tracks of land, including 25 houses erected in Barangay Binday. The floodwaters submerged houses in some barangays, particularly in Brgys. Lekep-Butao, Taculit, Angio, Longos Central, Parac-Parac and Proper. Many did not expect the waters to rise so fast. In some areas, their houses were inundated in less than thirty minutes. Many had to spend more than 24 hours, without food and rest, on the rooftops of their houses. The rampaging waters made rescue efforts more difficult.

About 60% of San Fabian was underwater. There were thousands who were affected, that the Evacuation Center of the town was filled. It could not accommodate all of them. The woes of the evacuees were compounded when floodwaters reached the only evacuation center of the town. The parish opened and welcomed the hundreds of evacuees who filled up the parish Church, the Parish Center and the Catholic School.

We have been struck by a calamity, and wounded by the onslaught of devastating floodwaters. But we also have been loved much by so many people who have gone out of their way to help us in our need. We believe we are blessed, in spite of this tragedy that had befallen us. We are blessed because there are people who have shown so much love and generosity. You are here in our hearts, and with you we will rise. We will prevail. We shall overcome.

To the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Pinaglabanan, San Juan City, our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to you all. To Fr. Frank Ungria, Jr., the parish priest, a native son of San Fabian, to his Parochial vicar, Fr. Mike Kalaw, to the members of the PPC and to all of you: MARAMING SALAMAT PO sa TULONG at PAGMAMAHAL! We believe that God in His unfathomable mercy will reward you a hundredfold!

Fr. Mike Kalaw, the Parochial Vicar of St. John the Baptist with the brother of Fr. Frank Ungria, Jr., the parish priest.

The members of the Mother Butler Guild of San Fabian Parish helped in repacking the truckload of relief goods.

Relief Operations under way

14 October 2009. Five days after the Great Flood that inundated 90% of the province of Pangasinan, including the 28 parishes and chaplaincies of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, the Archdiocesan Social Action (ASAP) has started its relief operations. The Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City has been transformed into its Center for Relief Operations.

Since 10 October 2009, Sunday, relief goods have been pouring in for the relief operations in the Archdiocese. They have not yet stopped. Most of these relief goods and packages came from individuals and groups from Manila, and from Bataan. Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas, DD, the in-coming Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, has issued an appeal for the relief needs of the parishes that were greatly affected by the floodwaters which submerged Pangasinan for four days.

Generous and Selfless Donors

The Community of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA) or more popularly called as the EDSA Shrine, was one of the very first groups to give to the Archdiocese. The EDSA shrine community responded very generously and selflessly to the appeal of Archbishop Socrates Villegas. They sent in four truckloads of relief goods which included rice, canned goods, bottled water, clothes and slippers, noodles and more than a thousand pieces of bread.

Other groups who sent are the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan of Ateneo, the Order of Malta, Ms. Mila Drilon and Mr. Larry Murillo who sent in 200 sacks of rice.

The Diocese of Balanga where Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas is presently the ordinary donated one truck load of relief goods. Ms. Elvira Go and company sent in their relief goods on 11 October, Sunday. She personally accompanied the truck that brought in the goods and made a personal visit to the flooded areas especially in the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr.

“Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Calamity Fund”

Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas, DD, has opened an account where donations can be sent in for the relief and rehabilitation of the most distressed areas in the archdiocese. Cash donations can be deposited with Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) Account No. 8081-0001-32 under the account name “Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Calamity Fund” for peso deposits only. The Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate is already making plans and programs to help the farmers whose crops were destroyed by the flood waters as well as for the rehabilitation of those who lost their houses.

10,000 Families

The Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate (ASAP) through the different ASAP parishes has reached out to almost 10,000 afflicted families of the Archdiocese. These massive relief efforts would not have been possible without the selfless and generous hearts of donors. Truly, God cares! And He cares through people with loving and caring hearts!

San Fabian underwater!

10 October 2009 – San Fabian. The waters have receded in the church and in the poblacion. Floodwaters have also receded in Brgy. Lekep one of the 18 barangays of San Fabian which was under water since 8 October 2009. Waters in the area reached the rooftops of houses. Many of the residents who could not be rescued had to stay on the rooftops until the waters receded. Those who were able to leave stayed in the evacuation areas. Several families went to the Parish Church. They came back to Brgy. Lekep only in the morning of Saturday, 10 October. They found their houses covered with mud; their palays, ready for harvesting, still underwater, and properties buried in mud.

San Fabian was one of the towns in Pangasinan devastated by Typhoon Pepeng. Incessant rains and the waters from San Roque dams contributed to the unprecedented flood in the town. The town was completely isolated as roads going to the north were flooded especially in Brgy. Tocok. The Cayanga Bridge overflowed and the roads going to Mangaldan and Dagupan City were made impassable by the flood waters.

The parish church, the Parish Center and the Archdiocesan School of San Fabian became emergency evacuation centers when the Sports Center, the town’s evacuation center, became overcrowded. The place was reached by waters at the height of the flood.

The parish welcomed about 50 families during the first night of the flood. More came the day after especially residents from Longos Central, Longos Parac-Parac and Brgy. Lekep-Butao started to arrive after they were rescued. Brgy. Sagud-Bahley also experienced flooding as deep as five feet. The waters at the Public Market was chest deep.

Twenty houses were washed away by the rampaging waters of the Bued River in Brgy. Binday on Thursday night. The waters started to erode the river banks at around 11 o’clock in the evening. In one hour, twenty houses were lost in the river. Binday South has lost to the furious current, given more force and power by the unregulated and continued illegal quarrying operations in the area.

Binday South. The road that leads to the rampaging river. (Picture by Bro. Estephen Espinoza)

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To read more of the San Fabian Flood in pictures, please click HERE.

Quarrying Activities cause Massive Erosion in San Fabian

What was once a road. A road in Brgy. Binday was destroyed after it was washed away by the rampaging waters of the Bued River lat 3 October 2009. The above photo shows the concrete wall washed out by the river. It shows where the river was before the erosion of the road and farm lands.

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5 October 2009 – San Fabian. The irrigation canal that is bringing the much needed water for the several hundred hectares of Barangays Anong, including Baraoas, Cabaruan, Binday, Aramal and Angio was finally destroyed by the strong current of Bued River. The strong current also destroyed some rice lands ready for harvesting. The massive erosion also moved the river bed about 20 meters inland.

An officer of the National Irrigation Administration who were at the scene of the destroyed and eroded irrigation canal said unless the quarrying activities being done at the Bued River be stopped, erosions of agricultural lands and houses will continue. In a statement made by the Municipal Agriculturist of San Fabian during the 10 September 2009, forum on the quarrying activities sponsored by the Parish, around 30 hectares of arable lands have already been lost due to erosion precipitated by the continuous quarrying activities.

The result of the September 10 forum was the signing of a petition addressed to the Governor Amado T. Espino to stop the unregulated quarrying activities in San Fabian. The letter was signed by hundreds of parishioners and concerned citizens. The letter was handed over to the provincial government last 28 September. It was received by Mr. Raffy Baraan, the provincial Administrator.

It was also learned that the Sangguniang Bayan of San Fabian passed a resolution (Res. No. 60-S-2009) requesting the provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) to temporarily stop the quarrying activities. The resolution also affirmed that the quarrying activities have caused heavy damages on farm lands and properties. The resolution was authored by Kgd. Saturnino C. Distor, and approved by all the members of the council.

The farmers affected by the destruction of the irrigation canals were now very worried. Their palays are in a stage when they need more water. But with the destruction of the canals, they do not know how they can salvage their harvest this year. Last year, these farmers were not able to plant because of the lack of irrigated water. Binday Dam collapsed at the height of Typhoon Cosme. Binday Dam is providing irrigated water to more than 1,000 hectares in San Fabian and the nearby townS of San Jacinto and Manaoag. Around 2,701 famers benefit from Binday Dam. It was found out that the destruction of the dam was caused by the continuous quarrying activities at the Bued River.

A Statement of Concern was issued by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, regarding the quarrying activities. It was ready in all the masses last 20 September 2009.
The famers are afraid that they will face another difficult year. They are crying for one thing: Stop the quarrying activities!

No more flowing water. The irrigation canal which used to be overflowing with water at this time of the year has dried up. Famers from four barangays of San Fabian are facing the destruction of their palays because of the continued quarrying activities.
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To see more pictures of the erosion caused by the quarrying activities, please click HERE.

Tempra-Gulig holds Barangay Visitation

5 October 2009 – San Fabian. Barangay Tempra-Guilig welcomed the sacred images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Divine  Mercy from Brgy. Sobol last 26 September. The Visitation was to last until 3 October, Saturday. But the Typhoon Pepeng lashed out Northern Luzon, including Pangasinan last Saturday. The farewell liturgy and the transfer of the images from Bgr. Tempra-Guilig to Brgy. Lekep-Butao was thus cancelled because of the bad weather conditions.

The visitation in Brgy. Lekep-Butao was extended for another two days. The transfer of the sacred images was held on 5 October, Monday at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, presided over the liturgy. The sacrament of Baptism was received by 12 children after the Holy Mass.

A procession bringing the sacred images to Brgy. Lekep-Butao was held in spite of the rains.

A Youth Encounter seminar and the Adult Formation Program were held during the week-long visitation.

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To see more pictures of the Visitation in Brgy. Tempra-Guilig, please click HERE.

Pre-Cristo Rey Celebrated

4 October 2009 – San Fabian. The Vicariate III celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King is a month away, and in preparation for the big event, the parish celebrated a pre-Cristo Rey celebration.

The celebration began at 3 o’clock in the afternoon with a procession. The Blessed Sacrament was carried in the procession by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest. The Knights of Columbus accompanied the Blessed Sacrament throughout the procession which lasted for about an hour. The rains of Typhoon Pepeng which was making a landfall in Cagayan at the moment the procession began stopped.

A Benediction followed after the procession. The October Rosary devotion preceded the Holy Mass.

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To see more pictures of the Pre-Cristo Rey celebration, please click HERE.

The Lay Ministers of Holy Communion (EEMs)of the Parish

4 October 2009 – San Fabian.

“May Bukas Pa”

(by Msgr. Oscar V. Cruz, DD, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. Taken from his blog, Viewpoints)

A rescue worker carries the body of a child that drowned in flooding brought by tropical storm Ketsana in Marikina city, east of the Philippine capital Manila, on September 27, 2009. (JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images)

”Huwag damdamin and kasawian.
May Bukas pa sa inyong buhay.
Sisikat din ang inyong araw.
And landas mo ay mag-iilaw.”

As people condole with those who lost their dear ones and sympathize as well with them in losing too their already little assets, the above song is not only significant but also very relevant. They suffered much and continue to suffer more on account of the recent devastating typhoon. They shed many tears. They harbor much sorrow. They feel great lost. But, may bukas pa.

“Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan.
Mayroong ligaya at lumbay.
Maghintay at may darating na bukas.”

The well known and much heard song thus speaks of the following fundamental truths: There is the world reality that is a mixture of joyful and sorrowful events. There is human life that has its happy times and saddening days. There is man who is assured of a promising tomorrow after a lamentable today. So, may bukas pa.

“May bukas pa sa inyong buhay.
Tutulungan ka ng Diyos na may lalang.
Ang inyong pagdaramdam, idalangin mo sa Maykapal.
Nasa puso mo ay mawala ng lubusan.”

Thus it is that there is God Who is for man. This is why prayer is man’s strength and God’s weakness. God is not only all-knowing but also all-able. It is so easy for Him to reverse human misfortune. It is so natural of Him to cleanse the human heart from suffering and pain. Hence, may bukas pa.

Oratio Imperata (Mandated Prayer)

(Prayer by Most Rev. Oscar V. Cruz, DD, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan)

OH, GOD OUR FATHER:

IN FAITH WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PATERNAL CARE OVER US, YOUR SONS, DAUGHTERS AND CHILDREN. IN HOPE WE TRUST IN YOUR DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF GIVING US WISDOM AND COURAGE AS WE FACE THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE. IN LOVE WE INVOKE YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE DURING THESE DIFFICULT DAYS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN OUR DEAR COUNTRY.

OURS IS A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR ONCE AGAIN REMINDING US THAT OURS IS AN IMPERFECT WORLD, THAT HEAVEN IS NOT ON EARTH AND THAT NATURE EVERY NOW AND THEN TELLS US NOT TO ABUSE HER. OURS TOO IS A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE FOR CALLING UPON YOU WHEN WE ARE IN NEED AND DESPERATION BUT FORGETTING YOU IN FAVORABLE TIMES AND PLEASING OCCASIONS. OURS AS WELL IS A PRAYER OF PETITION AS WE SAY:

GRANT ETERNAL PEACE TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES. EMBRACE THE CHILDREN WHO DIED IN THEIR INNOCENCE. HELP THOSE WHO ARE HURT AND CURE THOSE WHO ARE SICK.

ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO SUFFER THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTIES, AND TO ONCE AGAIN STAND UP AND REBUILD THEIR FUTURE.

BLESS ALL THOSE WHO EXTEND THEIR HELPING HANDS TO THOSE IN NEED OF FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING, WHO SHARE THEIR TIME, TALENTS AND RESOURCES WITH OTHERS.

INSPIRE MORE PEOPLE TO BE MEN AND WOMEN FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS, CONVINCED THAT THE MORE THEY ARE FOR OTHERS, THE TALLER THEY STAND BEFORE YOU.

SPARE US PLEASE FROM OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS AND DEVASTATIONS IF THIS BE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND FOR OUR OWN SPIRITUAL GOOD AND GROWTH.

AMEN AND AMEN.