THE DWCU GREETS ONE AND ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 TO ALL DIVINIANS

A BLISSFUL NEW YEAR 2010 …

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” This is the beginning, the meaning and the reason why we have Christmas and why we celebrate Christmas. God in all His goodness and love realized His dream and promise to save us from “the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief”. He saved us from all our misgivings, our weaknesses and divisiveness. This is the season of giving, forgiving and re-uniting. It is the time to be together as one “Divinian Family” celebrating the joy and happiness that this season brings.

As members of this DWCU Academic Community, we wish and we dream that our “Christmas be White”, that “Silver Bells” will be ringing joyfully in our homes, that the Prince of Peace will reign in the hearts of everyone especially during “Silent Nights”. We have that “Whispering Hope” for “Santa Clause to come to Town” led by “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer”. This will happen only when we “Give Love on Christmas Day”. Giving love on Christmas and always is to be “Witness to the Word”! Yes, Christmas is the time of giving, we are called together to give, we are born to give. You are “the Gift”!

Christmas will never be meaningful, memorable and fruitful without the spirit of giving. Indeed, we are happy when we receive something beautiful on Christmas but we are happier still if we give something more beautiful to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. There are those who will experience “Blue Christmas” without you… because they can’t expect to receive a gift during this season, but there are those who will be bluer still because they have nothing to give. Yes, how sad it is when we have nothing to give at all because of pride and greediness – the saddest state of a joyful time. As God gave His only begotten Son to us, let us give each other what God has given. It was the Divine Word who said: “the gifts that you have received, give as a gift”. If we do this, then it is “Christmas in our Hearts”… together we can sing with the Angels… “Glory to the New Born King”… “Peace on Earth and to all Divinians of Good Will!

Together with my confreres, the Divine Word Missionaries  and the Ramos Clan here in Cagayan de Oro City, I wish you all Merry Christmas and a Blissful New Year!

In the Divine Word,

Fr. Dominador O. Ramos, SVD

Result: Table Christmas Decoration Contest

4th Year St. Michael Topnotched in  Table Christmas Decoration Contest

DWCU, Urdaneta. Displayed in the corridors of the St. Augustine Building are eye-catching Table Christmas Decorations enhancing and adding glitters to all Christmas decorations around the campus this joyous season. Organized by Mr. Louise C. Lorian the TLE teacher, all year level

Mr. Louise Lorian

participants submitted their entries to this year’s Table Christmas Decoration Contest where the 4th Year St. Michael’s “obra maestra” won as the Champion. Second to the race was the entry of 1st Year St. Matthew followed by 4th Year St. Francis who placed as the 3rd. 4th Year St. Arnold got the fourth prize while the 5th place was awarded to the 1st Year St. Mark.

Gazing on the beautiful table Christmas Decorations one could not miss the message that the exhibitors want to bring home – Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all! Using recycled and indigenous materials Christmas decorations don’t have to be expensive instead environmentally friendly respecting the integrity of creation. Congratulations to the winners of this contested event most specially to their teacher. Though it has been said many times, many ways… Merry Christmas and a Blissful New Year to one and all!

Table Christmas Decoration Contest Winners

Pasko Para Sa Mga Bata – 2009

“PASKO PARA SA MGA BATA”

St. Michael’s Gymnasium. This morning after the first Aguinaldo Mass, the different religious organizations of the Divine Word College of Urdaneta – High School Department tendered a pre-Christmas treat to about a (100) hundred children living around the City of Urdaneta with a program called as “Pasko Para Sa Mga Bata”. The objectives of the treat is to give joy to the children during this Christmas Season and to train our students to be generous, thoughtful and caring to the less fortunate. The program is a yearly tradition of the DWCU High School Students earlier called “Bigayan”.

Ms. Ma. Lourdes E. Ballares - Emcee

Ms. Ma. Lourdes E. Ballares as the emcee of the program called everybody at 8:30 in the morning to start the activity with an opening prayer led by Jellie Dalangin followed by Gelli Geronimo who intoned the National Anthem. The President of the DWCU welcomed every child, parent, teacher, student and guest who attended the gathering with a short message for Christmas. Attending any celebration, the first thing to do is to greet the celebrant. This is a birthday celebration of the Lord Jesus who became one with the children. Let us recognize His presence today in every child that we share with the joy of the season.

Right after the opening ceremonies the children were called together with their parents to enjoy the morning with parlor games upon the excitement and thrill of each participant. The balloons were flying in all colors and shapes. Some selected religious organization members rendered a biblical play on: The Unforgiving Servant. The story portrayed Christmas as giving, forgiving and forgetting. We are all sisters and brothers, we live in harmony and peace…then on Christmas there will be Peace on Earth!

The Christmas Booths were opened then to the delight of every child going from one booth to another enjoying the different fun that a booth was created for. There was a booth on all balloons, a boot on stamps, a booth on face painting, drinks, picture portrait booth and a booth filled with Christmas toys. Ice cream in cones were served to enhance the bountiful snacks which was followed again by a series of child games until the culmination: the exchange of gifts. Mrs. Marlyn R. Laroco the principal of the High School Department closed the “Pasko Para Sa Mga Bata” expressing her heartfelt gratitude to the children, the parents, students and the advisers of the different religious organizations. Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat at Manigong Bagong Taon sa bawat bata!

The DWCU academic community wish to congratulate the following  advisers of the different religious organizations with their key officers for the job well done:

1. Ma. Lourdes E. Ballares – Moderator of Mission Club
2. Ma. Jessica Sison – President of the Mission Club
3. Agnes B. Valdez – Moderator of the Legion of Mary
4. Jelly Dalangin – Vice President of the Legion of Mary
5. Rodel Nachima – adviser of the Youth Ministry and the Eucharistic Servers

May your generosity, love and concern for the children be a shining example to everyone… May the Good Lord bless you all the more!

PTA FAMILY DAY 2009

THE PTA FAMILY CHRISTMAS GATHERING ’09

THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORD AND THE EUCHARIST

St. Michael’s Gym, DWCU. The Parents-Teachers’ Association of the Divine Word College of Urdaneta celebrated this morning the PTA Family Christmas Gathering opened by the celebration of the Word and the Breaking of the Bread that commenced at exactly 8:30 a.m. The mass was celebrated by the Father President con-celebrated by the Rector Fr. Bernard Teneza, SVD and Fr. Emmanuel Ferrer, SVD the Administrative & Finance Officer. The seminarians of the Divine Word Formation Center headed by our Regent Frt. John  Elliot Moyo, SVD gleefully served as the choir.

MOTHER AND CHILD WHO WON THE TRIP TO JERUSALEM

The real meaning of Christmas was the focal message of the celebration. Christmas is the celebration of the fulfillment of God’s promise.  The whole of  the Old Testament consist of God’s promise to liberate His chosen people from the “darkness of sin and the night of unbelief”. The promised messiah will come, the Emmanuel… God with us! It is the celebration of the Word made flesh…the Divine Word among us. Christmas is more on giving than receiving. Happy are those who receive something special this season but happier still are those who bestow special gifts. The happiest being this season is the God the Father Himself who gave us the greatest gift of all time: His Only Son!

After the breaking of the bread parlor games were played to the delight of the children and their parents beginning with the pre-schoolers followed by the Elementary Department and the High School students with their parents. The family games brought joy, laughter and cheer to the participants as well as the spectators and collaborators. The exchange of Christmas gifts brought the spirit of the celebration to its

THE WINNING CATCH

higher level until it reached its climax in the sharing of the food brought by every family who came for this festive gathering. As the Holy Family was made complete through the presence of Jesus on that first Christmas eve, the DWCU’s PTA Family Day was made complete with the same presence manifested in many ways: by the celebration of the Word, the breaking of the

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIFTS

bread, the harmonious relating with each other and the sharing of the food in AGAPE!

Congratulations then to the officers and members of the PTA for that meaningful, fruitful and memorable Christmas Gathering. We are truly grateful for your love and concern. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to one and all!

THE SVD FATHERS WITH THE PTA PRESIDENT AND MA'AM CORA

SHARING OF GOD'S BOUNTY

FOOD... AND MORE FOOD....

OVERFLOWING ABUNDANCE OF GOD'S GRACE

THE PRESIDENT AS SERVANT LEADER SERVING THE LECHON

SOLEMN FIRST COMMUNION CELEBRATED TODAY

43 ELEMENTARY PUPILS TOOK THEIR FIRST COMMUNION TODAY WITH THEIR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Holy Spirit Chapel, DWCU. Forty three pupils from Grades III, IV, V and VI took their solemn first communion this morning together with their parents and guardians. The celebration of the Word and the Eucharist started at 8:30 with a solemn entrance of the first communicants escorted by their parents and guardians. Ms. Manilyn C. Cayabyab the religion teacher in the Elementary Department patiently worked hard to train the pupils and prepared for this great event with the full support of Mrs. Marina Elizabeth M. Domingo the principal and other concerned teachers with helping hands.

The theme of the celebration was focused on the Gospel “I am the living water and the bread of life” stressing on the importance of the Eucharist in the life of the little ones. Fr. Doms, the celebrant gave his commendation to all the parents and guardians who lovingly fulfilled their duties as they realized the commitment they made when their children were baptized…to bring them all to the table of the Lord when the proper time comes.

One can not deny the joy of each child receiving the the Body of Christ for the first time. Those who were present during the celebration were really touched by the solemn occasion. Indeed the Lord nourished our Little Divinians with His body…the bread of life!

RANDOM SAMPLE OF CERTIFICATES FOR FIRST COMMUNION

(We thank Ms. Roch Baltazar of the Pop Photo Center who provided us with these pictures. These photos bear the copy right of the Pop Portraits – Digital, Urdaneta City.)

DWCU: MISSION ANIMATION AND PROMOTION

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Jose Antonio Guillermo III, Gian Pierre Aquino and Amanda Pacis awarded as top 3 individual Mission Collectors 2009!

Jose Antonio Guillermo III

DWCU Campus, Urdaneta City. The lighting of the second candle of Advent prepared the way for the awarding ceremonies of the winners on the contested Mission Collection for this year. Jose Antonio Guillermo III of Third Year – Genesis son of Jose Antonio Guillermo II and Mrs. Corazon Campos Guillermo of Gracia Village, Urdaneta City made it to the top for this year followed by Gian Pierre Aquino and Amanda Pacis.

On a class to class category we congratulate the III-Genesis together with their class adviser Ms. Teresa R. Pontaoe that came out as the Champion for this year.  I-St. Mark was the first runner up; I-St. Luke became the second runner up; II-Bernadette placed third runner up; I-St. Mathew the fourth runner up and IV-St. Arnold made it as fifth runner up. (Kindly see below the complete list of all sections with their corresponding rank.)

THE CHAMPION CLASS IN MISSION COLLECTION 2009

“The nations will come to its light’’ (Rev. 21:24). This is the theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for the celebration of World Mission Sunday 2009. The Divine Word College of Urdaneta being an institution run by the Divine Word Missionaries actively shares the mandate of the Missionary Church as St. Arnold Jannsen beautifully declares… “His life is our life…and His mission, our mission!”

Amanda Pacis & Gian Pierre Aquino

During the months of September and October, we remember, pray for, and help missionaries – those who go to faraway places to spread the Word of God and to make Jesus Christ the Divine Word known and loved by many. We are reminded of our Christian duty to proclaim the Good News of salvation, through our own unique ways, to others. By doing these little but significant acts of goodness, we too become missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus our Lord.

In his message for this year’s World Mission Sunday, the Holy Father once again stressed the fact that the work of evangelization belongs not only to priests and religious. The Pope writes: “The Universal Church feels responsible for announcing the Gospel to whole peoples and is aware of her duty to continue Christ’s service in the world.’’ As members of the church, the lay faithful specially the members of the DWCU academic community , we are all called to fulfill their role in the work of evangelization.

The Holy Father underlined that as Jesus sent his apostles to proclaim the message of the kingdom, the church must be ready to carry out the same task that was entrusted to the apostles: “Christ calls, sanctifies, and sends his disciples to announce the Kingdom of God, so that all nations may become the people of God… The universal mission should become a fundamental constant in the life of the church. To announce the Gospel must be for us, as it was for the Apostle Paul, a primary and impelling duty.’’

As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, let us respond faithfully and vigorously to this mission of spreading the Word of God. We pray for our missionaries specially the SVDs.

Let us assist them in their noble work of evangelization. Let us also do our part. Through our prayers and acts of love, we can bring the Gospel of Jesus to others. With God’s grace, the nations will finally come to the true light of the world who is Jesus our Lord.

BIDAHAN 2009: NATIONAL YOUTH CAMP

Ms. Abbigail Buccay (BSE-1) and

Ms. Jinky Gumtang (BSCS-1)

attended BIDAHAN 2009

Antipolo, Rizal. The Dean of the College Department Mrs. Leonida D. Javillo sent recently two college students Ms. Abbigail Buccay (BSE-1) and Ms. Jinky Gumtang (BSCS-1) sponsored by the Communications Foundation for Asia (CFA) to attend the BIDAHAN National Youth Camp held at the Assumption in Antipolo, Rizal last November 28-29, 2009.

Abbigail Buccay & Jinky Gumtang

Be the change you want to see in the world!” This message of Mahatma Gandhi has struck a chord among Filipinos who use it to play on the words and call for the emergence of a new “Bida” (Hero).

This has become the rallying call of BIDAHAN: Be the Change 2009 National Youth Camp (B2P2) of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), with whom the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) has joined forces. From the morning of November 28 up to the morning of November 29th, around 1,700 youth leaders from across the country have come together at the Assumption Antipolo to: 1) Celebrate heroism; 2) Build a Community of Heroes; and, 3) Continue the Change.

The Bidahan organizers believe that there is a dearth of real heroes and servant-leaders at the forefront of society. The youth are bombarded daily with images of imagined or imaginary heroes and self-proclaimed or falsely-proclaimed leaders, so they lose their internal compass in choosing the right models to follow. The various activities of the overnight camp are designed to change that by empowering the youth and raising their awareness of the realities of self and society, identifying the qualities of a true leader and engaging in various means to become agents of change. Highlights of the event include presentations, testimonies, focused group discussions, prayer and a midnight concert.

Congratulations to our DWCU’s BIDA: Ms. Abbigail Buccay (BSE-1) and Ms. Jinky Gumtang (BSCS-1)