Filipinos in Toronto, Canada, especially the Bicolanos there and devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, will have a chance to view the film “Ikaw ang Pag-ibig,” when it is shown there on March 24 and 25. The film resolves around the religious conversion of a dysfunctional family through the intercession of Our Lady of Penafrancia—“Ina” to the Bicolanos.
Directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya, the movie stars Ina Feleo, Marvin Agustin, Jomari Yllana, Jaime Fabregas and Eddie Garcia.
Bernadette Dabu Sta. Maria, a regulated immigration consultant in Ontario, will gather the Filipinos for the film showing and supervise the selling of tickets (call 6905-2640242).
Carmelita Dabu, who is based in San Francisco, is the licensee.
Her mother, Josefa Alvarez vda. de Dabu, 99, donated the $3,000 for the film screenings on March 24, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., at Vellore Village Community Center (c/o St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada); March 25, 2 and 5 p.m., at the Filipino Center of Toronto (Rizal Hall), 597 Parliament St., Toronto.
Contact persons are Floro Dabu Jr., tel. 905-231366; Nora Taculad, tel. 416-7403801; and Bernadette Sta.Maria, tel. 906-2640242.
Beneficiaries
The movie “Ikaw ang Pag-ibig” was produced by the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres headed by Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, OP, with the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Star Cinema.
Beneficiaries of the movie are the Altersheim home (German word for “another home”), which provides hospice care for sick priests; Daughters of Mary hospice care for the nuns; and Parish of the Black Nazarene in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.
Organizers of the Canadian showing are Bernadette Dabu-Sta. Maria, Floro Dabu Jr., Nora Dabu-Taculad, Albert and Elen Roffey, and Elenita Dabu-Roffey.
Church of the Transfiguration
Fr. Archie Cortez, prior of the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC), will lead and guide pilgrims to Mount Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured in the presence of James, Peter and John, and where he conferred with Moses and Elijah.
The tour is part of a “journey of faith” to the Holy Land, which begins on April 20 from Manila to Amman via Qatar Airways.
Fr. Arche will celebrate Mass in the Church of the Transfiguration.
Being Easter month, the pilgrimage includes a trip to Galilee, where one can find the Church of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle when He changed water into wine. Here, couples will take the chance to renew their wedding vows. For more details, please text Sally at 0908-5015267 or 0906-2395166.
Adam’s Travel pilgrimages
Adam’s Travel president Mamerth Banatin said during the recent 19th Philippine Travel Expo that the agency’s pilgrimages have been guided by very inspiring and engaging chaplains. The pilgrimage tours of the Holy Land, Jordan and Egypt will be led by the following priests and their schedules:
Msgr. Allen Aganon for March 28; Fr. Eugene David for April 17; Fr. Efren “Momoy” Borromeo (healing priest) for May 5; Fr. Patrick Calimlim for May 17; and Fr. Rick Balongag for May 21.
Marian pilgrimage
For the Marian pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima, with trips to Padre Pio, Santiago de Compostela or St. Therese of the Little Flower, the chaplain is Fr. Sonny de Armas for May 16.
For Eastern Europe, which will cover pilgrimage sites of St. Faustina of the Divine Mercy, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Pope John Paul II, the guide-priests are Fr. Orlie Jimenez for April 11, and Fr. Lambert Legaspino for May 12.
Tourist trips like the best-seller Romantic Journey of Europe are scheduled April 1 and May 8. For details, call Michael Angelo Tuazon at 5211651 or or 5223876, or text Anna at 0908-5919908.
Day of the Unborn
In 2004, Proclamation No. 586 made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared March 25 of each year as the “Day of the Unborn” in the Philippines.
As in other countries, this day is devoted to praying for the souls of the vast number of babies forbidden to live and partake in this world. It is a day when all people of good will should rededicate themselves to advocate that societies around the world include every unborn child within their understanding of the human community. It is a day for people of faith to pray for the eradication of abortion from the face of the planet.
New Rector
Blessings to Fr. Aris Sison who will be installed by Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco as the new Rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in New York St., Cubao, on March 25 at 6 p.m.
Fr. Aris will mark his 25th year as a priest on Sept. 19.
Tomorrow is the feast of St. Joseph, my patron saint. Let us pray to St. Joseph to protect our country from dissension and despair. Amen!
