Diocese of Bangued Celebrates 28th Hearts on Fire

BANGUED, ABRA (Abra Today) – With the theme "May they be one; put a Bible in every house," the 28th Hearts on Fire was held on February 7, 2009 at the Divine Word College of Bangued gymnasium as part of the activities of the Diocese of Bangued for the National Bible Week Celebration. The Hearts on Fire is an annual gospel festival held in Abra where students of Catholic and public schools come to compete.

The first Hearts on Fire was first held in 1982 at a small multi-purpose hall of the Divine Word College of Bangued with about 1000 delegates from the different Catholic Schools in the province. It was the answer of the SVD Biblical Apostolate to the national issue of the hunger of the young people to the Word of God. The idea was first raised by Fr. Ludger Feldkemper, SVD in the First National Bible Congress in Manila in 1980. Since then, it has become famous not only in the Philippines but around the world. This year’s Hearts On Fire was participated by 40 public and private schools.

Charles Javier, the diocesan biblical coordinator of the Diocese of Bangued, said that the Hearts on Fire is a means of encouraging families and the young people to discover the Word of God through competitions. These include biblical dance drama, biblical rap, gospel song, biblical narrative, poster-making and bible quiz for students and their families. This year's competitions focused on the Gospel of Mark, Letter of Paul and Acts of the Apostles.

The affair began with a concelebrated Mass presided by the Most Rev. Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, DD, the Bishop of Bangued as main celebrant. In his homily, citing a survey which said sixty percent of Filipinos do not read the Bible, he said each family should own a Bible, and that "we may listen to the voice of God and may it remain in us." He also expressed his hope that the Word of God continues to spread.

A pilgrim dance accompanied the bible enthronement, and there was a penitential as well as offertory dance during the Mass which were presented by students of the Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued (HSAB) and Little Flower High School. The Little Flower High School (LFHS) Guitar Ensemble also played during the mass with their drums, organ and 25 guitars. The special choir of the Little Flower High School together with soloists from Saint Joseph Seminary and Holy Spirit Academy sang during the mass. Servers were seminarians from St. Joseph Seminary.

The PTA Chorale of HSAB elementary department opened the program with the doxology, and a production number was presented by Saint Joseph Seminary before the competitions began. Delegates from SJS, DWCB and LFHS composed the service team which oversaw the entire celebration.


The winners of this year's Hearts on Fire:

Biblical Rap
Champion: Saint Joseph Seminary (Pidigan, Abra)
First Runner Up: St. John High School (San Juan, Abra)
Second Runner Up: Queen of Peace High School-Canan (La Paz, Abra)

Biblical Narrative
Champion: Abra High School (Bangued, Abra)
First Runner Up: Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued (Bangued, Abra)

Biblical Dance Drama
Champion: Heart of Mary High School (Dolores, Abra)
First Runner Up: Holy Cross School (Lagangilang, Abra)
Second Runner Up: St. Paul High School (Villaviciosa, Abra)

Biblical Song
Champion: Holy Ghost School (Tayum, Abra)
Special Prize: Divine Word College of Bangued-High School (Bangued, Abra)

Poster-making Contest
Champion: Kathleen Perlas, St. Mary High School (Pidigan, Abra)
First Runner Up: Jaylord Roxas, St. John High School (San Juan, Abra)
Second Runner Up: Rodrelle Bañez, Abra High School (Bangued, Abra)
Kevilin Billedo, St. John High School (San Juan, Abra)

Bible Quiz – Elementary
Champion: Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued (Bangued, Abra)
First Runner Up: Divine Word College of Bangued (Bangued, Abra)
Second Runner Up: Holy Cross School (Lagangilang, Abra)

Bible Quiz – High School
Champion: Holy Spirit Academy of Bangued (Bangued, Abra)
First Runner Up: St. Joseph Seminary (Pidigan, Abra)
Second Runner Up: Divine Word College of Bangued (Bangued, Abra)

Family Quiz Bee
Champion: Dait Family of Dalit, Pilar, Abra