A dream come true–one laptop per child in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

Lubang Mayor Juan Sanchez is a hands-on town executive who sees to it that the elementary school children in his municipality are equipped with the latest in technology to improve their capacity for learning. So, the “One Laptop Computer Per Child” (OLPC) project was born to benefit Grade 4 pupils of Lubang Central School and Maligaya Elementary School.

One hundred ten XO laptops from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology arrived and was released from the Bureau of Customs on Aug. 26.  The 110 units comprise the second deployment of the pilot run of the Lubang OLPC Educational Program. Recipients of the first deployment of 100 OLPC launched by DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro  on Dec. 6,  2010, are now in Grade 5.

The second deployment, like the first, was funded by purely private donations. This is part of a three-year pilot with the end goal of expanding the program throughout the entire municipality. The formal launch will take place on Oct. 7 with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and  Orlando “Doy” Vea, founder and current chief wireless adviser of Smart Communications, as guests of honor.

‘Nana Cedes’ in Bacoor

September 24 found us attending the fiesta Mass of Our Lady of Mercy (or “Nana Cedes”) at the Holy Trinity Parish in San Nicolas, Bacoor, at 4:30 p.m., with Imus Bishop Chito Tagle as main celebrant.  The parish, with Fr. Totie Bermudez as pastor, covers four barangays and 16 chapels, according to Cris Peñaredondo, a lector of the parish.

‘Nuestra’ in Candaba

The youth in Bahay Pare, Candaba, Pampanga, call Nuestra Señora de la Merced, “Nuestra.” The devotion was brought 300 years ago to Bahay Pare, then a hacienda run by the Hospitalliers of St. John of God.

There were 10 Masses celebrating the feast of the Virgin of Mercy  on September 24, according to Dr. Alvin Balatbat, an intense devotee of the Nuestra. He also told me that an  Archconfraternity of  Our Lady of Mercy will be formed in Matalahib, Tarlac, where she is also venerated.

Family Rosary Crusade is 60

The Family Rosary Crusade, a religious organization founded by Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC, marks its 60th anniversary with a Rosary Rally on Oct. 8, 4-7 p.m., at the open field of the University of Santo Tomas.

Officials from Family Rosary International and Holy Cross Family Ministries in the United States, the parent organization of FRC, will participate in the program, which includes musical performances by José Mari Chan and Chin Chin Gutierrez, personal reflections, a procession and enthronement of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the praying of the Holy Rosary and a Eucharistic Celebration to be led by Bishop Chito Tagle. Visit www.familyrosaryph.org, or call 4330986.

Holy Land pilgrimage

This pilgrimage will lead visitors to Mount Tabor, Tabgha, where the feeding of multitudes happened; Cana and the Church of the Wedding; and Yardenit, site of the baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist. Also included in the itinerary are the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Pray the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa, ending at the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christendom.

Groups of Filipino pilgrims led by Msgr. Rannie Trillana will leave on  Nov. 7,  while Msgr. Jerome Reyes leads another group  on Nov. 5. Those interested may call Adams Express Travel, tel. 5223876, or text Anna at 0908-5919908.

Our Lady of La Leche

The feast day of Our Lady of La Leche or Nuestra Sra. de la Leche y Buen Parto will be celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 11,  at the Harrison Plaza Chapel, 5 p.m. Rev. Fr. Benjie Ledesma of the Church of the Assumption Parish will preside in the Eucharistic celebration. It will be sponsored by the Our Lady of La Leche Movement, whose members have been propagating the spiritual devotion to the breastfeeding Blessed Mother for the past 11 years. Numerous mothers, pregnant and childless women who prayed the novena attest that they have received answers to their prayers.

On this feast day, mothers and expectant mothers are especially invited to attend the celebration. The first nine pregnant women to be present will be given a mini-statue of Our Lady of La Leche. For details, call Baby Gonzales 5313063.

Christian Life Program

The Brotherhood of Businessmen and Professionals will hold a Christian Life Program starting October 5, Wednesday, at the Parish Center of the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati, 7 p.m. Everyone is invited. Entrance is free. For details, text Matt Magpantay at 0915-2066193, or Dindo Ibazaeta  0917-5136667; or call 5700416.

Teresa de Avila play

A play on the life of St. Teresa of Jesus also known as St. Teresa of Avila, entitled “Born for You”  will be presented by the St. Teresa of Jesus Foundation Inc., in collaboration with the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites of the  St. Teresa of Avila Community and the Sea and Sky College in  San Fernando La Union on  October 3 (2  and 6 p.m.) and October 4 (9 a.m. and  2 p.m.) at the AFP Theater in  Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Tickets are  at P200 and P300;  25-percent discount will be given to those buying 20 tickets or more. Written and directed by Francisca C. Quitoriano, the play was first shown in San Fernando, La Union, to benefit seminarians of the Diocese of La Union and the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

This time,  the play will benefit the Teresa de Jesus Foundation, Inc. Home for the Elderly at Kaysakat, Antipolo, and other projects.

For tickets, call 0917-8530904 or 0918-9353852.  Tickets  available at the gate.

San Lorenzo Ruiz feast day

Devotees of San Lorenzo Ruiz from Manhattan, New York, gathered at the St. Margaret Mary Church in Staten Island on Sept. 11 to witness  the enthronement of San Lorenzo Ruiz (that came from Manila). Frank Saulle, a new devotee, received the image in a gesture of commitment to this devotion. Fr. Erno Diaz, founding chair of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry and parish priest, celebrated the Mass.