Amelia “Meng” Canlas, who has produced and directed the popular TV program “Seven Last Words” on Channel 13 for the past 26 years, has married Toronto-based Emmanuel “Noli” Vasquez on April 17 at Our Mount Carmel Parish on Broadway Street in New Manila, Quezon City. No less than Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle performed the beautiful nuptial rites.
Both were in middle life.
Love story
The couple’s wedding invitation carried their love story.
Meng relates: “On Jan. 14, 2006, we had a civil wedding at Scarborough City Hall in Toronto, Canada. We caught everyone by surprise with that major decision. But such is life. Nothing happens by chance.
“Today, seven years after we took that leap of faith, at our ‘golden-plus age,’ we decided to seal our commitment with the grace of the Almighty.
Again, we surprised everyone. Some think we are too old for it. Others say it is best to be practical and save the money. A few felt the ‘grace’ is not a sure formula for a lasting union.
“But what really guarantees permanence? What can ensure a successful, happy, forever partnership? None. Not even a piece of paper. For even life itself is not for keeps. So why get married in Church? Because we still believe in love. Because we still believe in seeking divine blessing for this love we share and hope to keep.
“Knowing that ultimately we belong to Him, with deep faith in our hearts, we seek God’s mercy, that He may allow this commitment to make it work for us, for His greater glory.” This column wishes Meng and Noli good health and happiness together.
Desamparados fiesta of Santa Ana, Manila
Several activities have been planned to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de Desamparados (Our Lady of the Abandoned) in Sta. Ana Church, which falls on May 12. Popularly known by the poor and the elderly as “Ang Inang Mapag-ampon” (The Mother who Adopts), the Virgin is the refuge of the mentally ill, abandoned children and the homeless.
For the first time, the church held the “robbing” of the image of Our Lady of the Abandoned on April 23 inside the camarin. While this was going on, the urnacilla, or altar from where the Virgin is seen, was being covered with a curtain. Fr. Willy Benito, OFM, the new parish priest, led the concelebrated Mass at 6:30 p.m.
Book launching
The book “Spiritual Direction and Counseling (Franciscan and Rogerian Perspective),” by Fr. Nello C. Bulawan, OFM, will be launched 3 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will benefit old and sick Franciscan friars.
Father Bulawan is building a center for Franciscan spirituality and spiritual direction and counseling in the south.
Misa Cantada
Misa Cantada will be held May 3, 6:30 p.m., first day of the novena sponsored by the National Museum, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Parish Heritage Board and Parish Pastoral Council.
Main presider is Fr. Andres “Chito” Ranoa, OFM, the chaplain of St. Clare Monastery in Katipunan, Quezon City.
On May 12, the feast of Our Lady of the Abandoned, there will be the Misa Mayor at 9:30 a.m. Main presider is Fr. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, provincial minister of the Order of Friars Minor.
Fiesta theme is “Maria: Larawan ng tunay na pananampalataya: naniniwala, nagtitiwala, tumatalima (Mary: Portrait of true faith, believing, trusting and nurturing).”
The Camarin Caretaker Group is headed by retired Central Bank employee Fely Halili, with Millet Silvestre, Lyn Buenviaje, Nicky Garcia and Ernie Panis as members.
Healing Masses in Quezon
Charismatic healer Fr. Diwane Cacao of the Diocese of San Pablo has been invited by Belen Villaluz to hold healing Masses in Quezon province.
The schedule of Masses: May 6, 3 p.m., Immaculate Conception Parish in Catanuan, Quezon; May 7, 11 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish; May 8, 11 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish in San Francisco town; May 9, 11 a.m., St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Malunay; and May 10, 11 a.m., Conversion of St. Paul Parish in Pitogo town.
Our Lady of Manaoag in Pandacan
The Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Manaoag, patroness of Pangasinan, will be visiting Sto. Niño de Pandacan on Nov. 2-9.
The visit has been billed as a “reconciliation between the Holy Mother and Holy Child” just a few days before the Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish concludes its 300th anniversary and closing of Jubilee Door on Nov. 23.
The visit is called “Tara na sa Pandacan” (Let’s go to Pandacan”). Pilgrims to the Pandacan church will get plenary indulgence.
Pilgrim Mass is held every Tuesday at 12 noon and Sunday, 12:15 p.m. See you there!
Dominicans host conference
The Dominican Province of the Philippines will be holding “Praedicare,” a three-day conference on the conventional and new preaching methods geared to respond to the Church’s call for new evangelization, April 30-May 2, at Institute of Preaching, San Pio V Bldg., Sto. Domingo Compound, Quezon City.
A highlight of the affair is the conferment of the Domingo de Salazar Preaching Award, which is given in honor of the first bishop of Manila, to an outstanding non-Dominican preacher. Its first recipient will be Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, who will preside over the opening Mass of the event.
Conference speakers are Fr. Stephen Cuyos, MSC, a hall-of-famer in the Catholic Mass Media Awards for best website; inspirational speaker and best-selling author Michael Angelo Lobrin; Sr. Mary Epifania Brasil, OP, superior of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii; youth pastor Ryan Tan; and distinguished Filipino preacher Fr. Enrico Gonzales, OP.
Representatives from the Light of Jesus Community and the Philippine Educational Theater Association will also facilitate sessions on preaching and theater, respectively.
For inquiries, call 3544494 or 0916-4136378.
Tribute to Ben Farrales
As tribute to Ben Farrales, founding chairman of Congregacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus, the theme of this year’s Flores de Mayo is “The Colors of Mindanao.” In its 35th year, the event will be held at the SM Mall of Asia on May 5, 4 p.m. Direction by Ogee Atos.