Twenty Five youth ministers from all over the Philippines were awarded with the Blessed John Paul II youth ministry awards yesterday, Nov. 18 at the celebration of the Grand Festival Night of the National Youth Day in Cuneta Astrodome.
Bp. Bobet Mallari with Fr. Conegundo Garganta giving the awards. Courtesy: Alvin Lorenzo
They, who have championed the youth and the youth ministry in the country were given the awards for their service, for being an inspiration and model for the next generation of Catholic youth leaders and ministers.
The awarding ceremony was dedicated for the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines that is celebrating its 25th Silver Anniversary this year and declared the CBCP Year of the Youth.
The first batch of awardees were called “the pioneers” for they were the spark that led to the creation of Youth Ministries took place in their own particular fields.
Sr. Maria Victoria Artoz Del Rosario, OND, was the forefront in the Creation of the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference-Youth Council in 1985. She then became the Archdiocesan Youth Coordinator of Cotabato; Fr. Danilo Tolentino Imperial of the Archdiocese of Caceres, known to be the Father of Campus Ministry in Bicolandia. He was also one of the 5 person committee which proposed the ECY. Today, he serves as Program Director of Religion Education in Ateneo de Naga; Most Rev. Jose Crisologo Sorra, Bishop-emeritus of Legazpi, became the first Bishop-Chair of the Commission while Ordinary of the Diocese of Virac. It was his time when National Youth Day was instituted every 16th of December and Youth Councils were established in Dioceses. The Youth Encounter was born during his helm.
The next awardee is someone special for many have benefited from what he had done.
Msgr. Jose “Ping” Borja Molina of the Diocese of Virac is the Father of Youth Enounter.
The next awardees were two lay people who may look old, but their hearts burn for the young.
Jose Socito Tacorda, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (MOP). He is fondly called Bro. Joe or Tatay Joe, became the first Diocesan Youth Coordinator, and was responsible for the MOP to be recognized as part of regions of the ECY, and Maria Teresita Rita Elvina Nitorreda of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines. She had served the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) since the 50’s. She still continues today as the SCAP Executive Director.
“At this point, what can I say? I can say to God be the glory. This is very life giving to me. You see, I gave my age, 80-1… this isn’t a matter of age but service in the youth ministry is in the heart. It makes you live more, love more”, said Titatet (as she is commonly called) in her message after receiving the award.
“At first I refuse because I am not worthy for an award, but I was persuaded because this is for you. This is for the glory of God. This is inspiring to me. This should serve as force to move you forward and upward to serve God and country”, she added.
The next batch of awardees can be called “prime movers” for they were responsible in making the youth ministry move in their respective dioceses.
Most Rev. Leo Murphy Drona SDB, Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo. While Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija, he became the second chair of the ECY. It was during his time when the biggest ever WYD delegation were sent; Fr. Jose Thor Rondillo Villacarlos, Diocese of San Pablo. His formation programs made him initiated the Diocesan Youth Coordinator from 2001-2008 and as QUEMARLABARO Regional Youth Director from 2004-2006; Ronnel Pineda Dela Cruz of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga. He was once the National Coordinator of SCAP, currently the Regional Youth Coordinator of Central Luzon while being the Executive Assistant at the Municipal Office in his hometown in Porac, Pampanga; Ellen Castillo Batisan, Diocese of Cabanatuan. She is notably a cancer survivor.
Other awardees are: Victoria Estoque Anghag, Archdiocese of Davao. The lady who had the prestigious award of Papal Award Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice during the celebration of Diamond Jubilee Year of the Archdiocese in 2009; Charlito Zamora Manlupig of the Archdiocese of Cotabato is the first leader of the MSPC Youth Council and today’s President of the Balay Group, an NGO’s based in Cagayan de Oro City; Fr. Laure Tipay Helar, Diocese of Ipil, the fourth priest awarded. His physical limitations never hindered him from ministering to the young. He formally organized the BALIAKAG (Batan-ong Lihok Alang sa Kaangayan ug Gugma/ Youth Movement Towards Justice and Love); Joel Torres Cruz, Archdiocese of Zamboanga. He is an “honorable kagawad” who in life was a model of Church and community leadership in his own city of Zamboanga.
Together with Danny Boy Ramos Villanueva, Diocese of Antipolo. A young man who just recently organized their on “parangal” for their outstanding youth ministers in his diocese. Once he took the role of Kristo in a cenakulo; Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, Prelature of Infanta. The third ECY chair was then affable Bishop of Malolos. During his time, he organized a regular national gathering of young people which now became the National Youth Day in 1998. It was in his term when National Catholic Filipino Youth Survey and the Kalakbay were made; Bro. Elmer Cobar Rodriguez, Salesians of Don Bosco. For many years, he was in charge of the Training Center, the out-of-school program of the Salesians giving hope to many poor youth. He established the Ampon, poor youth from the provinces who can avail of the 15-month technical course.
The next awardees are pillars of their dioceses in their own right.
Antonio Alex Ayo Manongdo, Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio. He is a multi-talented and an anti-drug advocate and radio announcer who founded the Brevarians in 1999 with the motto, “Bring Every Soul to Christ the King”. As a youth, he got lost in faith but today, he commits his life to the young so that the next generation will not experience what he had undergone; Freddie Hernandez Bernardino, Diocese of Antipolo. He is a diocesan youth coordinator who has a soft spot for children in conflict with the law. On top of that, he is a team member preparing young professionals to be firm in the faith in order to become missionaries; Nestornuevo Dubduban Lansin, Diocese of Surigao, is a head teacher whose forte on formation goes beyond the classroom. He has always been the adviser of the Diocesan Formation Team, organizing and facilitating programs for the youth; Rhoderick Gavero Hernandez, Archdiocese of Davao. He is a multi-awarded youth minister because of his involvement in pastoral advocacies relevant to Mindanao. He is a member of Operation Build-Up and Coordinator of Sagop Kinabuhi in his Archdiocese.
Salesian Society of St. John Bosco-Three of their confreres became National Youth Directors of the NSYA, while others serve as Regional Directors in the places were they were assigned. They opened their doors to national youth events like World Youth Day preparations, Taize in Manila and even during this National Youth Day. They have been running for seven years now the John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conferences; Loreto Salvador San Juan, Student Catholic Actions of the Philippines. He is part of the organizing committee of this year’s NYD and of the Executive Team for this year’s double celebration. He is part of SCAP since high school days in Ramon Magsaysay High School. He rose his rank from leader to Executive Secretary; and Jessica Joy Vasquez Candelaria, Started back in her parish in Las Piñas when she was invited by her parish priest, got involved, fell in love with the ministry and has just stepped down as Executive Secretary of the Youth Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishop’s Conference’s Office of the Laity and Family.
In an interview with National Youth Commission Commissioner Asec. Earl Saavedra, one of the luminaries said that there were many criteria set to choose the awardees.
“First is the minister who initiated the best practices done in their parishes, not just practices but those that possess good initiative and that sustain. Another is that how many were affected by those practices. Finally is the involvement of the society.”
Asked why he accepted the invitation to be one of the judges he said that he had the passion to be in the youth ministry for he was a former seminarian.
“This activity should not be hindered for this is done by a non-payable organization. This awarding promotes a sense of volunteerism. Ideas, values and attitudes of an ideal youth that can serve as a model will be found in those awardees-those people who serve in the Church”, Saavedra said.
Saavedra also said that the youth minister must continue what they’ve started and become an instrument to be seen by the youth in serving the community and God.
Around 70 youth ministers from different parts of the country were nominated, then shortlisted to 25 by five luminaries who were invited to choose the awardees for the John Paul II National Youth Ministry Awards last Oct. 28.
The Recognition Committee was headed by Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga. Other members of the committee were Bishop Gerardo Alminanza, Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro, Ambassador Henrietta “Tita” de Villa, Former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See and presently the National Chairperson for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV), Commissioner Earl Saavedra, Commisioner for Mindanao of the National Youth Commission and the Vice President of the Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association, Mrs. Clarissa Geron-Riva. (Narwin Gonzales/Jandel Posion)
Why Ronald Bocboc is not mentioned here?
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