The Feast of San Pedro Bautista last Saturday, February 6,
2016 was filled with awesome and meaningful moments spent as a community of
Priest, Brothers and Seminarians of Don Orione. Thru the initiative of Fr.
Stan, our pragmatic rector, we attempted to inculcate our young minds into an
educational journey by knowing more the culture and heritage of the Pearl of
the Orient Seas- the Philippines.
Early in the morning, showers and faucets in the lobby were
booked by seminarians who steered themselves preparing for the morning liturgy.
We highlighted the trip by attending the Eucharistic Celebration presided by
Fr. Stan, fdp. After receiving the blessing, the flock of blue men came into
pictorial before the St. Luigi Orione Chapel.
After a long ride from Montalban to the city proper in
Manila, we’ve reached the National Museum who was once tagged to be the largest
national repository of Philippine artistry and textiles displayed in every
stations of the room. There we came into a variety of preserved species of
animals, the famous Manunggul Jar where the bones of the dead were stored,
expensive Ivory and many other things. We have dig into the history of diverse
heritage discovered from the incomparable array of land up to many archipelago
of the Philippines. The richness of our faith was demonstrated also there. The
different carved images of the Blessed Virgin and other prominent saints
venerated from the 16th Century were still preserved. Even the
etymology of things we’ve seen around us, there they explained vividly.
In the beginning, we’ve reached the 1st Building of the National Museum of the Philippines under the drizzles dropped in each heads. When we gone through the 2nd Building, blessings of the Lord, as we say, were heavily poured out by witnessing the strong rain along the Manila roads. The famous “Spoliarium”-the Masterpiece of Juan Luna painted in Europe- welcomed us the time we entered in another building. The concept of Roman Empire dominated along the regions in Europe was portrayed by the artist through oil in a canvas. Again, it was so nice knowing that it has a natural light made by Juan Luna who garnered International Awards for painting. As a community, the seminarians roamed into the museum, taking time to read the captions tagged in canvases. Of course, pictorials were always be injected knowing that it will seldom happen again. The Museum is located near Luneta Park, the national Park where Dr. Jose Rizal-the National hero-was assassinated. It was located in the heart of the town’s busy workplace in Manila, Quirino Grandstand at front where Papal Mass were also held last January 2015 in the feast of the Holy Child. The seminary shared a meal in a simple place with marginalized people sleeping in the pavements and seats wrapped with cartons since it was wet and raining. Third destination was in the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. After a long day of tour at the heart of the city, the community unwinds in the biggest mall in Manila for almost an hour before the home sweet home to Montalban..
Out of happiness, the tired bodies seemed to be charged
with unexplained joy from the time we started the day. The grasses and
daffodils-like flowers of Luneta Park witnessed our laughter playing under the
small rain. Indeed, the camaraderie often measured in moments who continuously
unfolding through time spent. In some facebook posts, Orionine Power were so
trending. By the Divine Providence, good priests are from good formation who
embarked in holistic lifestyle- both spiritual and social- ready to face the
challenge of the new Evangelization. And by this onwards, the men in blue
shirts who recently received the gift of brotherhood and camaraderie proudly
professed the spirit of an Orionine power and a resounding “Thanks be to God!”
to a job well done learning experience.
Sem. Pablo B. Jordan, contributor
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