Fray Alvin Arig, Fray Johnny Esmilla Jr., Fray Amiel Alvarez, Fray William Arlegui, Fray Jose Marie Portal

 

It was a truly historic moment for the Augustinians of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines - Vicariate of the Orient.

 

Last April 12 2015, the Augustinians formally opened their mission in the region during a mass presided by Most Rev. Prudencio Andaya, CICM, DD in St. Peter's Parish in Lubuagan, Kalinga Province.

 

The mission area was first administered by the CICM ( Congregatio Immaculati Cordi Mariae ) Fathers and then by the SVD ( Societas Verbi Divini ) Father and was turned over to the diocesan priests, its last administrators before the mission was offered to the Augustinians.

 

SOMETHING MORE ABOUT LUBUAGAN

 

Lubuagan is situated in the mountainous province of Kalinga in the northern part of Luzon. It takes 12 hours from Mnaila by bus to reach the area.

 

Considered a fourth-class municipality with nine barangays, it has a land area of 23,420 hectares populated by roughly 10,000 people. Its major source of income is agricultural, mainly coffee and rice, comprising about 30% of its household while another 15% depends on private employment in the provincial capital, Tabuk.

 

Challenges on education and livelihood in Lubuagan are the major reasons for the emigration of its people towards nearby towns. The educational system in this town is only until high school and alongside with the low percentage for livelihood provision allowed a constant exodus of people thereby allowing a consistent population of around 10,000 people for a period of 10 years.

 

As the Augustinians begin their mission, the people of Lubuagan are optimistic and warmly received the new missionaries. Johnny Dickpus, the mayor of the place, proudly narrated to the friars that the culture of Lubuagan is rich and unique and could be better understood whenever the missionaries become immersed with them. He added that it is by living with them that their culture would be appreciated in terms of its traditions, its established norms as well as its government. Local dwellers aslo expressed their desire to cooperate with the friars by being receptive to the manner they would carry out their different ministries but hoped to be involved in every step of the way, carrying out ministries in a gradual and consistent manner allowing harmony among the different tribes of the place.

 

THE AUGUSTINIANS IN LUBUAGAN

 

As a response to the call of the Church to continue her presence in Kalinga and in the view of the fourth vow of the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines, three Augustinian friars accepted the challenging mission of going to Lubuagan: Fray Asis R. Bajao OSA, Fray Roy Remullta OSA and Fray Dante Sardido OSA. 

 

"Optimism." That was the reaction of Fray Asis upon learning that he will be sent to Lubuagan, Kalinga to establish a new mission area under the Vicariate of the Orient. Despite the limited knowledge of the place, its demographic, economic and culutural conditions, Fray Asis willingly accepted to be sent as a missionary to a place which he only knew was on the mountains.

 

During the formal reception rites hedl last April 12 in St. Peter Parish, Fray Asis declared his intention to work with the natives for a strong and fruitful Catholic presence in their place. In the same occasion, Fray Asis said, " Please know that I will be visiting your homes and I hope that there would be a cup of coffee waiting for me in your home." He was referring to the warm traditional expression of the Lubuagans of their hospitality that is offering coffee to visitors.

 

Fray Asis is known for being an experienced parish priest. He has established many chapels in BASECO, Manila as part of his former assignment as the Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Intramuros, Mnaila for nine consecutive years. The Vicariate has faith in him taht he would be able  to establish a strong Augustinian community of lay and religious in the area since it has been his special skill to forge unity and communion among Christ's faithful in his mission area.

 

"No regrets." That was his reported response to a sister who asked him if he regrets saying yes to the mission in Lubuagan, showing a very strong missionary spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fray Roy P. Remulta OSA was also excited in going to the mission area since he knew that he too was built for the mission. It was his different way of mingling with people that made the Lubuagans close to his heart and him to theirs.His humor helped him to get the hearts of both the manags ( old ladies ) and the young ones. He can only express his gratitude to the natives for giving them warm welcome and for promising that they would cooperate with the Augustinians in all the parish activities. Fray Roy also added that he is more than willing to help the Parish Priest and to cooperate with his endeavors for the betterment of the mission in Lubuagan as well as with the local dwellers and their local government. It was remarkable that Fray Roy was able to befriend the town Mayor in just a span of one week. Friendship between church leaders and local government leaders somehow help in a smooth execution of parish activities in the area.

 

Fray Dante Sardido OSA, was the adventurous type among the three. He was so enthusiastic to meet the youth of Lubuagan and he was not dissapointed since his friendliness was not rejected. In just a matter of two weeks, Fray Dante has become famous among the youth. Why the youth? Because Fray Dante believes that the youth will help the church continue to pass on the faith especially when they have already established their own families. He also believes that the youth of Lubuagan maintains the vibrance and gives more color to the life of the Parish. He is the procurator of the house and just as Fray Roy promised to help in the up keeping of the mission area, he also promised to do his share so that they can establish a community of Lubuagans with the spirituality of Saint Augustine. At present, Fray Dante is conducting free summer art classes for the youth of Lubuagan.

 

FUTURE PLANS

 

In his thanksgiving speech during the formal reception of the Kalinga mission, Fr. Asis Bajao OSA laid out his plans for the Parish community. He emphasized that his first priority of the Augustinian community assigned there is the proclamation of God's Word and the administration of the sacraments. Fr. Asis believes that these are the foundations of the success of this mission.

 

After these, Fray Asis enumerate dwhat he wanted to accomplish with the help of the people of Lubuagan. Basing on waht he had also done when he was  aparish priest, Fray Asis said that he plans to have a scholarship program for the underprevileged but deserving young people of the Parish. He also plans to create livelihood programs. One of his biggest plans is the trianing of the volunteers to become servant-leaders capable of bearing witness to God's love to the people of Lubuagan. Another plan is to open up five more chapels in the area in which one would be named, Sto. Nino Chapel.

 

As they start their mission in Lubuagan, our three missionaries have expressed hope that thier missionray venture would be successful. Fray Asis has entrusted the mission in the hands of Mary, the Mother of Consolation. An image of our Mother has been given to the Church and now stands in the sanctuary of the Church. In the words of Fray Asis, our Mother will be the consolation both of the missionaries and the faithful of Lubuagan. It is a gift that the Augustinians know will last for a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article was originally published in the novitiate community's publication, The Inner Garden, 2015 Issue.