Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

30 July 2010 – San Fabian. Ten months after Typhoon Pepeng washed out their lands and destroyed their homes, the twenty-four families of Binday South, San Fabian, Pangasinan can once again look at their future with hope. Ten months ago, they had lost almost all their properties; had very little hope; their future seemed dark and uncertain.

For the past ten months, some have been living in makeshift structures they call their homes. Others have made a part of the barangay hall their home. Kind neighbors and relatives have taken some of them.

Hope has been rekindled.

The Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, with the Franciscan Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (FMJPIC) headed by Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, has given them this  hope: a land where they can put up their house, and rebuild their lives!

The housing project will be built in a land owned by Mr. Franco Gachallan. A 2,500 sq/meters area from the said lot was acquired by the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, and the Franciscan Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (FMJPIC). Materials for the houses will be provided by FMJPIC, while the labor will be provided by the beneficiaries. Each family shall have a 100 sq/meter lot, and about 50 sq/m area for their house.

A formation program as well as a sustaining livelihood component will be introduced to the 25 families.

The group of Fr. Joel Sulse visited the site. A Mass was celebrated together with the families. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest and Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, celebrated the mass.

Fr. Joel Sulse is also the parish priest of Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati.

The beneficiaries have started clearing the land in preparation for the building of their homes.

Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, inspecting the site for the Housing Project.

The clearing of the lot by the heads of the families.

Bro. Tony Supremido with the people listening intently to Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, explaining the nature and the processes of the housing program.

Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM

A potluck! Good lunch shared by the families.

4 July - Malasiqui, Pangasinan. The 3rd Archdiocesan Congress of the Divine is set on 17 July 2010, Saturday at the Parish of St. Ildephonse, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

 A letter of invitation was sent by Rev. Fr. Estephen Mark R. Espinoza, the Spiritual Director of the Apostles of Divine Mercy in Malasiqui, to all the parishes and chaplaincies in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan informing them of the upcoming event.

The first Archdiocesan Congress on the Divine Mercy was held in the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, last 22 June 2008. The Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan hosted the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on 4 April 2009. The annual congress is attended by hundreds of devotees of the Divine Mercy.

The theme of this year’s congress is centered on “Divine Mercy and the Cenacle”.

Fr. Estephen Espinoza in his letter gives the following schedule:

Registration at 8AM; Bible Enthronement at 9AM.

Fr. Enrique V. Macaraeg, the Parish Priest of St. Ildephonse Church, will welcome the delegates. A Short Drama featuring the devotion to the Divine Mercy will be portrayed by the youth of the Parish of St. ldephonse.

The introduction to the whole congress will be delivered by Fr. Estephen. The first talk will be given by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza on “Divine Mercy and the Eucharist”. Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, will reflect on “Divine Mercy and Confession” for the 2nd talk.

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD will celebrate the Mass at 2,30 PM.

Delegates are advised to bring their own snacks and lunch for the occasion.

Mrs. Celia V, Lambino is the President of the Parish of St. Ildephonse Apostles of the Divine Mercy.

20 June 2010 – San Fabian. Caritas- San Fabian, a component of the Social Action Apostolate of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, in cooperation with Terra by Footprints of Dagupan City, held a two-weekend seminar on Basic Reflexology. The seminar attracted 47 participants in the parish. It was facilitated by Ms. Cristina G. Reyes, Trainor of Terra by Footprints.

The Basic Reflexology seminar was given to provide skills to the parishioners and offer opportunities for work to the participants.

During the Graduation Exercises held at the end of the seminar, Mr. Ponciano Catipon, the TESDA Provincial Director, in his speech to the graduates, said that the most of the graduates of the Basic Reflexology are already employed or are offering home-services. He noted that massage therapists are in demand especially in the province. He said that with the seminars being provided by TESDA, “We can fight poverty in Pangasinan.”

The Basic Reflexology came after Caritas-San Fabian sponsored a five-weekend, 10-day sessions on Basic Hairdressing.

4 June 2010 – Binday, San Fabian, Pangasinan. Residents of Brgys. Binday, Anonang, their supporters and sympathizers staged a Rally near the Binday Dam to manifest their concern with regard to the on-going rehabilitation project being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH).

During last year’ onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng, a greater portion of Binday, notably Sitio Binday South, was destroyed by rushing flood waters. Twenty-One houses were destroyed, and more than 5 hectares of farmland were eroded and destroyed during that calamity.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was one with the protesting residents in asking the Department of Public Works and Highway to present a comprehensive plan in the construction of the flood control dike along Bued River. The Social Action Apostolate of the parish through Bro. Antonio Supremido, the ASAP Parish Coordinator, has been coordinating closely with the residents and officials concerned regarding the said action of the residents.

The residents of Brgys. Binday and Anonang were worried that the construction of the said flood control dike located at the downstream of the Binday Dam could  easily be destroyed by the strong waters rushing coming from the upstream of Bued river.

Engr. Renato Milan, the Provincial Administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, said that the residents do not want a repeat of the disaster that happened to them which destroyed their houses and the irrigation canals resulting in less harvest for them.

Mr. Juan Juguilon, Jr., the Municipal Agriculturist, expressed his apprehension that failure to properly rehabilitate the Bued River will result once again in the destruction of the Binday Dam.

The concerned officials of the Barangays Binday and Anonang and the municipality of San Fabian as well as the affected residents are demanding that they be consulted in the rehabilitation project as they know more about the “life” of Bued River.

A mass was celebrated by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, near the Binday Dam, before the Rally was held.