WE THANK OUR DONORS

Bishop Rudy Beltran has not issued a formal letter of appeal in behalf of the victims of mudslides in Kayan Catholic Mission. This is due to the fact that the clergy of the Apostolic Vicariate has not met yet to make concrete plans regarding the victims, especially the surviving families from the incident. But the fact that the Vicariate has opened a bank account specifically for contributions for the victims of the past typhoons means that donations have been coming, and the Bishop thanks these people who have called him sending their sympathies.

On October 8, 2009, a village just a few meters away from the Catholic Church in Kayan, Tadian, Mt. Province was wiped away by a landslide. 35 people died immediatedly due to this catastrophe. On October 10, the eve of their scheduled parish fiesta celebration of the Holy Rosary, Bishop Rudy including 9 clergy celebrated a funeral mass for these dead victims.

"We are aware that we are not the only ones affected by these calamities," says Bishop Rudy. "There are, in fact, more in Benguet and the lowlands. They also need help immediately. We call on those who are donating relief goods to give them instead to those victims. Our people in the Vicariate have been responsive to the immediate needs of the victims, burial of the dead, and relief items for the survivors." He adds. "However, we will be accepting financial donations for the long-term plans of relocating and rehabilitating the families who survived from these calamities," says the Bishop in his interview with the CBCP.

"It is such a blessing to see that despite our people's poverty, they have been generous and quick in giving and sharing what little they have to the victims," says Fr. Tugs de Guzman in his interview with a Radio Veritas correspondent. "What selflessness! I hope others will follow suit," he adds in prayer. Fr. de Guzman is the Chancellor of the Vicariate.

Meanwhile, Fr. Andrew Claver, Mission Rector of Kayan Catholic Mission, with the help of some priests and volunteers, has started the Stress Debriefing of the surviving families, and also, of the Holy Rosary Catholic School who lost their principal, Mr. Lecio Gaoay, and a few students to the tragedy. "We need to do this before we can move on," he says. Fr. Andrew is also the Director of the Catholic School.

Other parishes have been gathering relief goods which include rice, clothes, canned goods and noodles and bringing them to Kayan. There have also been unexpected financial contributions from the BECs of the Vicariate. The Apostolic Vicariate is also cooperating with the Local Government Units in whatever plan they have for these surviving families.

For more financial donations, please see the details on the right strip of this page on how to send in your help.

35 Die in KAYAN Mudslide

On 08 October 2009, a day after its feast of the Holy Rosary, Kayan Catholic Mission lost 35 of its people under a mudslide a few meters away from the Holy Rosary Catholic Church where Fr. Andrew Claver was waiting for some of those very people to evacuate to his Rectory.
"I went to see them at about 5 0'clock," Fr. Andrew recounted. "I even told them to move into the Rectory for the rains continued to pour heavily." "Obserbaran mi pay bassit, Apo." ("We will wait and see for a little while, Father") They told their parish priest. Not very long after Fr. Andrew had gone back to the Rectory, there was sound of earth slide at about 6:15 pm. 18 houses were trapped under a big portion of the mountain that moved down to cover the village by the hillside. Initially, 35 people were feared to be covered alive by the earth, including Mr. Lecio Gaoay, the young and energetic principal of the Holy Rosary Catholic School, together with his wife and children.
Learning about the news, Bishop Rudy Beltran cancelled his appointments for the next days and went to see Kayan Catholic Mission on 09 October 2009. With him were Frs. Bento Tamang, Tugs de Guzman, Manny Samonte, Allen Basilio and Rev. Ricky Samonte. Fr. William Bilag was seen to have visited the Catholic Mission coming ahead of the group.
Meanwhile, Bontoc Catholic Mission led by Fr. John Habawel organized its Parish Council and lay leaders as a "relief operation center" in support of the people of Kayan. Late in the afternoon of 09 October, Fr. John went also to Kayan to see the tragedy.
It was amazing how in the midst of a tragic event, people from the BECs of Kayan, including those from the outside came in droves to help in whatever way they could. Men started making coffins for the victims, while women started cooking for those who were busy excavating the earth. Health workers attended to the dead bodies found, while some were busy manning the information desk. Men, young and old, came with their shovels and tools to help in retrieving the trapped bodies. Children were also seen clearing the streets of mud and rocks.
On 10 October 2009, Bishop Rudy together with the Mountain Province District priests mentioned celebrated a Mass at the gymnasium. At that time, 22 people had been recovered under the mudslide. Fr. Armand Quindo was also in the Mass.
According to Bishop Rudy, assistance from different groups had begun to arrive, including that of Caritas Manila and a pledge from the Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams.

Fr. Caster K. Gonzadan Ordained

Two days after the ordination of Fr. Allen Basilio in Bontoc, another priest is added to the list of clergy of Bontoc-Lagawe. Father Caster K. Gonzadan, of Alfonso-Lista, Ifugao was ordained on 25 September 2009 at his own parish, Alfonso-Lista Catholic Mission.
As early as the morning on the eve of Fr. Caster's ordination, people started butchering 6 cows and 16 pigs, and cooking them for the next day's celebration. By that one could tell how big an affair the parishioners, led by its Mission Rector Fr. Christopher Arellano, had been preparing for.
Seminarians from San Carlos Seminary, mostly Fr. Caster's classmates, including some of his formators came on the eve of the ordination day. Bishop Rudy together with most of the Mt. Province district clergy also arrived on that eve.
Although the storm "Ondoy" was already creeping in, the Ordination was celebrated no less beautifully. During the homily, Bishop Rudy reminded Fr. Caster of the priest's dependence on God's grace and his role as a shepherd of Christ's flock. He explained to the ordinand the meaning of the Rite itself, his promises, and most especially the role of the community in making Fr. Caster a priest "from the people and for the people."
At the end of the ceremonies. Fr. Caster thanked everyone especially his community - friends, former classmates, neighbors and family - for giving all their support to the celebration. His voice cracked in thanking his family for their unconditional love especially as he was a "boy of poor health" who needed special care and attention.
Fr. "Boyet," the name he had been missing to hear since he had left Alfonso-Lista for his seminary formation, recalled how he had been blessed by the presence of his friends and family. He also took the courage in reminding his immediate family that now he "belongs to the bigger family of God" and he was no more solely "theirs" but "shared to others."
After the Eucharistic celebration, there was a big lunch served to all and a program followed.
Meanwhile, the priests immediately started preparing for a meeting on the planning of a voters' education program as a result of the August 2008 Tongtongan. The weather became worse in the afternoon and so people began going back home.
Father Caster is assigned as parochial vicar of Banaue Catholic Mission to assist Msgr. Francis Balacuit.

Fr. Allen C. Basilio Ordained

On 23 September 2009, Fr. Allen C. Basilio was ordained a priest in a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Bishop Rodolfo Beltran at the Sta. Rita Cathedral, Bontoc, Mt. Province. The event, prepared by the communities of Bontoc Catholic Mission which included Bay-yo from where Fr. Allen's mother hailed, was attended by the different Mission Stations but mostly those which were near Bontoc. There was a big delegation from Buguias, Benguet where Fr. Allen was born and a few clergy from the Diocese of Baguio.
In his homily, the Bishop reminded Fr. Allen of his human limitations as a priest. "Taokanto pay laeng," ("You will remain a man") Bishop Rudy told the new priest. But he proceeded reminding Fr. Allen of the priests' need to always be attuned with God as it is Him who has called them.
During the Rite of Ordination, Fr. John Habawel, mission rector of Bontoc Catholic Mission and former Rector of Immaculate Conception School of Theology from where Fr. Allen had graduated, introduced the ordinand to the Bishop in the name of the Mother Church.
After the Mass, the rains started to pour while the people shared the lunch prepared for everyone.
Fr. Allen was announced to become the Assistant Parish Priest of Hingyon Catholic Mission, Hingyon, Ifugao.

Porta Vaga Fellowship

The annual fellowship of the staff of Porta Vaga in Baguio City including our Vicariate Staff and that of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk will be hosted by the Diocese of Baguio on 14 to 16 September 2009.
The first two days of the event which will include a day of recollection, a half-day seminar, and a half-day sportsfest will be held in Maryheights, Baguio City. The culminating event will be held at the Cathedral with a celebration of the Mass followed by a lunch at the covered patio.
This fellowship is celebrated annually to foster friendship among the three local churches of the Cordilleras and as a continuing formation of their pastoral workers and staff.
Please be informed that the Teng-ab Offices will be closed on those days. Business will resume on Thursday, 17 September 2009.