Every activity we had, every snag in the plan, every help we received, every promise unfulfilled – all the ups, even the downs, they make our resolve stronger. They make our belief even more unyielding. As a venue for cooperation and collaborative efforts, IBFI serves as an opportunity to reach out to those who need it most.

We believe there is hope because we have seen how families in a foreign land can help those in shanties in Bikol. We have worked with individuals who generously share their time and skills in our humble undertakings. We have shared the joy of parents who send their son to school with a much-needed help from our benefactors. We have learned how a simple toy in Christmastime can mean the world to a child. We believe there is hope because indeed, there is.

In May 2005, we joined the Filipino Community of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Simi Valley, CA as it held its annual Flores de Mayo celebrations – a tradition of thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr. Tria celebrated the mass during which the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia was solemnly processed.

We also donated an image of Our Lady of Penafrancia to the St. Mary Chandler’s Parish in Arizona, US through TJ and Rose Cavagnaro.

As we conducted a regular catechesis in the community of scavengers at the garbage site in Balatas, Naga City, we promoted the Marian Devotion. We prayed the rosary and reflected on its message for us.  For many of the mothers, the praying of the rosary gave them renewed strength in the face of their poverty.  We are grateful to Cecile Umali who donated the hundreds of rosary beads that we gave to the families at the site.

From 19 scholars last year, we now have 26. Sixteen are in seminary formation – 8 are enrolled at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, 5 at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary, 3 at University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary. Three scholars are at the Ateneo de Naga University, and three at the Aeronautical Academy of the Philippines at Canaman, Camarines Sur.

In March 2005, four IBFI scholars, namely Abel Francis Olea, Norm Anthony Soriano, Mario Cedilla and Jason Ilano, graduated from the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary and earned a degree in Philosophy.  Olea and Cedilla continued with their preparation for the priesthood. Olea is now at the UST Central Seminary while Cedilla is at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary. Both continue to receive scholarship grants from IBFI.

Dubbed as Send-A-Child-To-School Project, we also provided financial assistance for the schooling of four elementary students, namely: King Cerdino, Erwin Eballa, and two others at Naga Parochial School.

The Education and Scholarship Program is wholly supported by our benefactors here and abroad. They are – Elmer Aspe of Legazpi City, Linda Francisco of Makati City; Nenita Lee of Quezon City; Atty. Francis Papica, Arnel Renolyan and Family, both of Chino Hills, CA; Henry Reyes of Naga City; Ofelia Nuguid of New Jersey; Orlando Group care of Cecile Umali, of Orlando, Florida; Walter and Maria Mendez, Dr. Horacio Lopez, Tomas Fulgentes Jr, all of Simi Valley, CA and Emma Sabido of Los Angeles, CA.

In support of the Education and Scholarship Program, the Filipino American Association of West Connecticut shipped more than two hundred volumes of book which we distributed in January 2005. The books, which included a set of Encyclopedia Britanica, were generally on Philosophy and Theology. Some volumes were on literature, inspirations and general interest. We gave the books to different institutions, namely, the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Holy Rosary Major Seminary, the Daughters of Mary, Caceres Catechetical Center and the Caceres Commission on Communications.

We opened 2005 with a human rights lecture-forum entitled Bikol Development: A Human Right and Social Responsibility, made possible by the endowment from Bikol-USA Chicago. The approximately one hundred twenty participants came from local government units and government agencies, non-government organizations, academe, youth and media. Some participants came from other provinces, namely, Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte.

Regional Director Marlene Rodriguez of the National Economic Development Authority discussed the poverty situation and prospects for development in the region. Director Blenn Huelgas of the Basic Sector Unit, National Anti-Poverty Commission presented the government programs on poverty alleviation. Regional Director Eliseo Copian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development talked on the state of children and youth in Bikol. Atty. Gerardo Pio Martin Borja, Executive Director of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) explained the UN Declaration on the right to development. Mo. Joan Clare Chin Loy, Founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, shared her experiences as she helps Bikol’s poor.

In 2005, we made greater impact in the lives of poor families through our Adopt-A-Family project and our regular values-formation sessions among the community of scavengers in Balatas, Naga City.

Under the Adopt-A-Family, foreign benefactors send financial support to select families, particularly the Franzo and Berzuela Families. We ensure that the families have their means of livelihood, despite the meager income, and that the assistance we extend will not create dependence.

Solidarity becomes an imperative response to the cry of the poor. This can only be possible if there is empathy or pagmalasakit sa kapwa. Both terms etymologically mean “to suffer with the other”.

I welcome the efforts of the Ina nin Bikol Foundation to lend its hand to the poorest of the poor. The vision of the PCP II is to transform the Church through its preference for the poor. A heroic act, therefore, is something that is done in defense of the poor.

We can only transform our society if we develop a culture of solidarity where everyone, including the poor themselves, has genuine care for the poor. Such is the power of solidarity.

Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, DD.
Archbishop of Caceres

For us Christians, however, these events are mere foothills of Picuaria before the high mountain of Isarog, the Passion Week, the greatest week in world history. Within the week, we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry as his concrete decision to die for his people. Ninoy Aquino did the same. Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and Ninoy’s return to the Philippines entailed death, death for the life of the people. Within that week, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, where he will continuously share himself, body and blood to all his followers.  When he washed the feet of his apostles, he gave us the new commandment of love. In that commandment, he teaches leaders not to serve themselves through SOPs, but to serve the society. Then, he showed us the narrow road to eternal life, his passion and death. This is how great the Passion Week is for all of us.

Walk in spirit with Jesus today. You may join the crowd in cheering at him. Realize that the sin that yet is in your heart makes you howl at his blood at the end of the week. If you recall any sin, run immediately to confession. Jesus will preach at temples the following days. Go to your parish, check the schedule for recollections. Listen to him. On Holy Thursday, he will institute the Eucharist. Sit with him at table as he pours out his deepest love and choicest gifts. Join him in his agony. Fast and abstain; join Church activities like vigils and holy hours. Follow him dragged through the night to Caiaphas, paraded off to Herod. Gaze at his bloody scourging and grueling way of the cross. Ask who is willing to be Simon of Cyrene of our day?

The Passion week is a week of many spiritual treasures. We need refreshed eyes of faith to find all of them, lest we tread on them. This is the longest and richest of the weeks. Rejoicing does not begin on a Friday evening. In this week, nobody says “Thanks God, it’s Friday.” This Friday is the most solemn and quiet Friday of the year. No malls, no shops, no bars, no discos. It is the Friday of redemption, when our Lord died in order to save the world and redeem it from sin. Only after observing the solemn afternoon that extends its mourning until Saturday can we really say “Thanks God, it is Easter Sunday.”

This is the story of the Passion Week. It is a long week of sacrifice, but a prelude to eternal happiness. It is the story of our redemption.

Totoong an buhay nyato pano nin pangiturugan. Mas dakulang pangiturugan, mas dakula man an pagkatawo. Alagad, sa balyo kan mga pangiturugan na ini iyo an mga ekspiryensya nin kabiguan. An mga plano napupurnada, an mga pangarap nawawasak. Minsan, an karanasan matindi asin nakakadara nin krisis sa sarong tawo. Halimbawa kaini iyo an biglaan na pagkagadan kan saimong namomotan.

Tano ta nagtutulay sa alambre? Ini nin huli ta kadaklan kan satong mga pangiturugan mga naglalayog sa alapaap, katal sa daga. An mga ini siring sa naghahanap nin gapo na hahamilon tanganing sya magin Darna. O siring sa sarong kandidato sa Naga na nanunuga na kun sya magin Mayor, papaatopan nya an bilog na syudad. Kadaklan kan mga pangiturugan mga bunga nin pantasya.

Igwa man na mga pangiturugan na salungat sa kakayahan asin natura nin tawo. May mga sintunado na grabe an pangarap na magin mga parakanta. May mga gustong maging negosyante pero an lalawgon garo pirming inutangan. May mga lalaki na gustong magin babae. May mga pandak na gustong magin higante!

Igwa man nin mga pangiturugan na salungat sa misyon na itinao nin Dyos sa saiya. Mga estudyante na mas dakul pa an oras sa pagtambay kisa sa pag-adal sa eskwelahan. May mga pulis na imbes magprotehir kan namamanwaan, sinda pa an protektor kan mga drug lords asin jueteng lords. May mga artista na imbes magdrama sa pelikula, nagdradrama sa pulitika.

An ebanghelyo ngunyan dapit sa pagbagong anyo ni Jesus sa Bukid nin Tabor. Huli kan halipot na kamurawayan na nasaksihan ni Pedro, gusto nya nang magtugdok nin tolong harong-harong asin duman na sinda mag-erok. Idto an bukid nin pangiturugan. Alagad, pinukawan si Pedro ni Jesus asin sinabihan na dapat pa syang maglusad sa bukid an idto asin magtukad sa bukid nin pagtios, an bukid na inaapod Kalbaryo.

An Kalbaryo, an pagtios, an pagkabigo mga karanasan nin tawo tanganing mapatanos asin mapakarhay an saiyang pangiturugan. An mga ini nakakadara nin kapakumbabaan asin dakulang tabang tanganing ma-edit, mapakarhay asin mapagayaon an saiyang pangiturugan, pangiturugan na bakong makasadiri, bakong katal sa kinaban, bakong salungat sa saiyang kakayahan, asin bakong tumang sa pangiturugan nin Dyos para sa saiya.

Enot, sisay si Nikodemo? Sya sarong Pariseo asin myembro kan Sanhedrin. Sya nasambitan sa ebanghelyo na nakikiulay ki Jesus matanga nin banggi tanganing makanood. Sya saro sa nagprotesta tumang sa plano na ipagadan si Jesús. An huring dangog saiya iyo idtong pag-andam kan lana na ilalahid sa gadan na hawak ni Jesús asin pag-andam kan kan saiyang lulubngan.

Si Nikodemo madunong asin may inadalan. Ini an dahilan kun tano ta dawa alanganin na oras, boot ni Jesus na makipag-ulay sa saiya. Bakong gayong maogmang kaulay an mga disipulos. Maluya an pick-up ninda. Dikit sana sa sainda an nakakasurat asin nakakabasa.

Alagad, si Nikodemo masusupgon. Ginagalangan sya kan banwaan, alagad takot syang magladlad kan saiyang pagsunod ki Jesus. Sya nagduduwa-duwa. Takot maggibo nin dakulang desisyon. Mas mahalaga saiya kun ano an sasabihon kan kataraed kisa sa sasabihon ni Jesus. Marhay na materyal kutana. Huli kan saiyang kadunongan, tibaad sya kutana an naging enot na Santo Papa. Alagad, dai sya nagbutwa, dai nagpamidbid, dai nangenotan. An saiyang pakipag-ulay ginibo sa banggi. Habo nyang sya mahiling kan saiyang mga amigo sa aldaw. Dakul an mawawara sa saiya.

Sa dai mahahaloy na panahon, malaog na kita sa Semana Santa. Ipinapagirumdom kita kan pangapudan ni Jesús na maging disipulos nya. Ano man na oras, andam syang makipag-ulay sa sato, maging aldaw, maging banggi.

Bakong arog ki Nikodemo, dai dapat kita matakot na magsunod sa saiya. Dai dapat kita masupog na mag-arog saiya.

Sa pagsunod sa saiya, kaipuhan agihan ta man an pagtios, an buhay nin pagsakripisyo. Pasanon ta man an satong krus nin huli ta sa kasakitan maliligtas an satong mga kalag. Sa mga pagpenitensya maliligtas an kalag kan satong kapwa.

Rumdom ko pa kan ako nasa elementarya asin kan enot kong pagbali sa choir. Kan nagmumyusik praktis na, bukas sana ako nin bukas kan sakong nguso, nakapirong pa ngani, sa pagsagin-sagin na nagkakanta. Nasupog akong marhay kan madakop ako kan sakong titser.

Kun sa pagkanta ngani pwedeng magsagin-sagin, lalong-lalo na sa pagsamba. Ini an nariparo ni Jesus kan sya naglaog sa Templo. Tulos-tulos, nahiling nya an pagsagin-sagin kan mga tawo. Nahiling nya pa an pandadaya asin pang-aapi sa mga dukha. Asin dai nya ini natios. Nagkua nin pamakol, asin tumang sa satong imahinasyon kan saiyang kabootan, pinalayas nya an mga pararibay nin kwarta asin tinurumba an saindang mga lamesa sagkog na magkaurula an mga kwarta sa salog.

Ano an totoong nangyayari duman sa Templo? An mga tawo bukas-palad sa pagtao nin donasyon sa Templo. An saindang itinatao katumbas nin duwang bulan na sweldo o dyes pursyento kan bilog na sahod sa sarong taon. An mga peregrino hale pa sa ibang-ibang lugar, dahilan kun tano ta kaipuhan nin mga pararibay nin kwarta. Dai inaako an ibang moneta kundi an Shekel sana. Alagad an mga pararibay mga madaya. Sinda mga parahabon. Ginugulangan dawa na mga dukha na boot man na magtaong donasyon sa Templo. Digdi naungis si Jesús. Digdi naging byolente an satong Kagurangnan.

Ano an tamang pagsamba? Sabi kan sarong monghang makata, an ngirit panluwas na kapahayagan kan panlaog na kaogmahan. Siring man kaini an pagsamba. An mga rito asin ritwal, an seremonya asin liturhiya, mga panluwas sanang manipestasyon kan panlaog na pagsamba sa Dyos. Sa madaling sabi, mayo nin kahulugan an pag-ayuno, an pagdupa-dupa, an pagdara nin burak asin paghadok sa imahen, an pag-insenso asin dakul pang iba, kun bako iyan totoong kapahayagan kan tunay na boot nin tawo na nagsasamba sa Dyos.

Yaon na kita sa katahawan kan Kwaresma. Hagad sato nin Dyos na tawan tang halaga an buhay kan satong boot. An peligrong tawan sana nin halaga an mga panluwas na manipestasyon nagdadanay sa buhay nin mga Kristyano. Nagsasamba alagad nang-aapi nin kapwa. Alagad, ini dapat na bagohon. Pahalagahan an panlaog na pagsamba sa Dyos tanganing maging makahulugan an ano man na gibo nyatong panluwas na penitensya ngunyan na Kwaresma.