Janssen Day Celebration DWCB

DAY ONE:
Eucharistic Celebration
On January 15, 2009, at 4 o’ clock in the afternoon, the DWCB community solemnly celebrated the Holy Mass to commemorate the centenary year of St. Arnold Janssen’s death. The mass started with a processional and the dancing of Pallo-ok, a Tinguian dance, by the students of the college department.

Fr. Devassagayam Savariyappan, SVD, the parish priest of San Isidro, Abra, was especially chosen to be the main celebrant of the Holy Eucharist to highlight the importance of San Isidro, formerly Cagotungan, the first mission station of the SVDs in the Philippines .Con–celebrating with him were Fr. Jerome Adriatico, SVD, the Provincial Superior of the SVD Northern Province, Msgr. Nilo S. Peig, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Bangued, Fr. Manolito Baroña, SVD, SVD Abra District Superior, Fr. Cirilo O. Ortega, SVD, the president of the Divine Word College of Bangued and other SVD priests and clergy of the diocese of Bangued.

In his homily, Fr. Deva emphasized the challenges experienced by St. Arnold, which served as his inspiration in putting up the Society of the Divine Word .The first challenge was the great number of pagans and unbelievers in the world at that time. Hence, just as Christ sent His Apostles to bring the Good News to them, so did St. Arnold send his priests to continue this mission as witnesses to the world. Second, was the progressive and unprecedented globalization in the modern period which was adversely affecting the spiritual lives of all men and women that consequently led to the third, which is the loss of faith and Christian values in the world.

In recognition of the diversity of cultures and the places where the SVD missionaries are sent as Witnesses to the Word, the prayers of the faithful were read in different languages from foreign like Dutch, English, French and Nippongo to the local dialects like Ibanag, Tagalog, Bisaya , Itneg and Ilokano.

Before the final blessing, 100 candles were lighted by 100 individuals coming from all walks of life who were and still a part of the missionary work the SVDs started in Abra: sisters, brothers, SVD workers, teachers, employees, students and members of different parish organizations. The lighted candles were brought by these men and women to the altar in recognition of the commitment and dedication of St. Arnold Janssen to witness to the word 100 years after his death. The candles were also symbolic of the 100 years of SVD presence in the Philippines.

The Father Provincial was also asked to give a talk towards the end of the Eucharistic celebration. He was brief in his message. He asked the congregation if they listened to and understood the sermon of Fr. Deva. When they replied ‘yes’ , he said “good… good!” There was nothing more left to say since everyone understood the message of the occasion.


DAY TWO:
Parade Around Bangued and Ground Demonstration
At 7 o’ clock in the morning, the DWCB community, (students, teachers, employees) with the High School and Grade School Parent-Teacher Associations, assembled for a grand parade around the town. After the parade, a ground demonstration of different folk and native dances like the ‘sakuting’ was presented by the teachers and students from the grade school, high school and college departments.

Before the ground demonstration ended, Mrs. Josefina B. Bersamin, chosen as the guest speaker for the occasion, gave an inspirational message to all. She spoke of her life and that of her family as an inspiring legacy of the SVD priests and SSps Ssisters, a legacy she shares with many countless Abrenios. She mentioned that she and her seven siblings were orphaned by their father at an early age. Being the eldest, she and her young widowed mother had to make both ends meet for herself and her siblings. Hence, she became a working student to the SSps Sisters of the Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued so she could go to school for free while her mother washed clothes for the nuns. In her message, she said: “Poverty was a challenge for us to succeed. Due to hard work and perseverance, and also through the help of God and the intercession of Mother Mary, we reached our present status.”

Mrs. Bersamin, who is a native of Bangued spent part of her college studies at the Divine Word College of Bangued. She finished BS Math from the University of Sto. Tomas where she was sent as a scholar by the SVD priests of DWCB. After graduation, she joined the faculty of DWCB college department at the same time served as bookkeeper of the finance office.

At noontime, the DWCB faculty, employees, guests and students happily shared lunch of Ilocano dishes in the gymnasium.

In the afternoon, games of old were recalled and played by the employees, teachers and students. The games included pick-up sticks, kadang-kadang, sack race, patintero, bending, limbo rock, Chinese garter and Maria went to Town. Prizes were awarded to the winners.

While the games were going on, the faculty, employees and students assembled in their chosen corner in the quadrangle to make their own recipe and version of ‘lubi-lubi’.The main ingredients of this native delicacy are kamoteng kahoy or cassava, ube, malagkit or glutinous rice, coconut, sugar or kuya-kuya, (muscovado) and margarine. These are mixed together and pounded and mashed using stone pestle and wooden mortar which were “imported” as far as Dalnetan, Suyo in Pidigan and other barrios. The finished product is a finely mashed mixture of sticky smooth consistency. The joy of lubi-lubi is not so much in the eating but the fun of pounding the ingredients to fine consistency.

The Father President was called to taste and judge which “lubi lubi” made by each department was the tastiest and most delectable.He declared the Administration group as winners. As taste is highly subjective, the verdict was received with a grain of sweet ‘ kuya-kuya’.

The event was immensely a joyful celebration of being together and while remembering the days of old through native dances, games and food. It was indeed a time to recall and renew the old and draw inspiration from the events of the past. Had Father Arnold been a part of the audience or joined in the celebration, or had he been watching from his place in the heavens, we are sure he would have been pleased.

At 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon, the Father President gave the closing remarks and thanked everyone for their presence and participation. Fr. Bing Hiquiana, the DWCB Campus Minister gave the final blessing.