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By Rodrigo S. Victoria
Naval, Biliran - The two-day celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Filomeno G. Bactol, D.D. starts today (Monday) October 16, 2006.
The schedule of activities for today based on the released official schedule of activities of the silver anniversary include the arrival of guests and visitors in the morning and this will be followed by a forum/reflection in the afternoon on "Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC): An Instrument of Renewal for the Clergy" by Monsignor Jose Marie Delgado, PC and another reflection by Fr. Marvyn Maceda on the "BEC: The Naval Experience"
The official venue site of today's activities will be held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center located at the back of the Naval Cathedral.
The evening of today's schedule will be highlighted by the BEC Fiesta sa Nayon where the different BEC members coming from the different clusters in the province of Biliran will attend.
In the following day, (Tuesday) October 17, 2006, considered as the D-Day of the silver anniversary of episcopal ordination of Bishop Bactol, a pontifical concelebrated mass will be held at the Naval Cathedral at 9:00 in the morning where this will serve as the highlight of the two-day activity.
The pontifical concelebrated mass will be officiated by Bishop Bactol himself while the Homily will be done by one of the visiting bishops in attendance together with the clergies coming from the different dioceses in Eastern Visayas.
In a short biography released by Fr. Marvyn Maceda, Chancellor of the Diocese of Naval, it was learned that Bishop Filomeno G. Bactol who was born in Carigara, Leyte on November 29, 1939 has started his priesthood when he was still 29 years old since he was ordained priest on April 6, 1968 at Sacred Heart Seminary Chapel in Palo, Leyte by Most Reverend Teotimo Pacis, C.M., D.D., Bishop of Palo.
In said document, it was also mentioned that the episcopal ordination of Bishop Bactol was officially done by Most Reverend Bruno Torpiliagni, D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines on October 15, 1981 in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Palo, Leyte.
His silver anniversary of episcopal ordination was made on the 17th day this month since October 15 which was the original day of his first episcopal ordination fell on a Sunday, a regular mass day.
It is likewise stated in the document that before he was appointed as bishop of Naval on November 29, 1988 and was later installed on March 8, 1989 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, Naval, Biliran, his previous assignments include as Assistant Parish Priest in Sto. Ni�o Church, Tacloban City in 1968, procurator, professor, prefect of discipline at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte in 1968 to 1972, director of Holy Cross Academy in Carigara, Leyte in 1972 to 1975 and as rector of the same seminary from 1975 to 1985.
His other services include as member of the Board of Diocesan Consultors of the Diocese of Palo in 1970 to 1989, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of Diocese Palo in 1973 up to 1975, Vicar General from 1981 to 1989 in the Archdiocese of Palo and as Parish Priest of Santo Ni�o Church in Tacloban City from 1984 to 1989.
It was learned from the event organizer that aside from the Very Important Personalities (VIPs) within and outside the region who will attend the two-day 25th anniversary of Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Filomeno G. Bactol on October 16 to 17, 2006, several bishops from the different dioceses in region 8 were highly expected to attend like retired Palo Auxilliary Bishop Pedro Dean, Bishop Emmanuel Trance of Catarman, Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Borongan, retired Calbayog Bishop Maximiano Cruz, retired Catarman Bishop Angel Hobayan and Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Maasin City. (PIA-Biliran)
By Lanie Pitao-Tupaz
Naval, Biliran (17 October) - Having served the people of Naval as parish priest for quite a long time, the vicar-general of the Diocese of Naval, retired Rev. Msgr. Silas Florencio wished Bishop Filomeno Bactol more best years for the people in the diocese of Naval.
In an interview with PIA staff during the dinner served served at the Naval Institute of Technology here in Naval, Biliran, for the 25th anniversary of episcopal ordination of Bishop Bactol, Msgr. Silas appreciated him for being first to convoke the first synod and the first to launch the Basic Ecclesiastic Community (BEC) in the diocese.
The BEC which tries to eradicate drug addiction, fraternity hazings, prostitution, abortion, family squabbles, and other undesirable vices has already reached the remotest barangays whose participation includes the youth in the entire diocese of Naval.
Shortly after his installation as bishop of Naval, Bishop Bactol founded the Cathedral School of La Naval, the only catholic school in the province of Biliran , under the management of the Religious Sisters of Mercy.
The school first admitted high school students and later on expanded its admission to elementary pupils. The elementary department of the Cathedral School of La Naval is now on its fourth year of operation with the primary aim of instilling religious and moral values among the youth who are the future leaders of tomorrow.
For Msgr. Bactol's eight years as bishop of Palo and 17 years as bishop of the diocese of Naval, the entire diocese of Naval, together with the bishops, clergies, and nuns in Region 8 and those who came from as far as Sarawak, Indonesia, offer October 16 and 17 as an act of thanksgiving for his episcopal mission.
Also the people offer these days for the protection of the patroness of Naval, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, who is popularly known for saving the people of Naval from the ruthless Japanese soldiers during World War II.
By Lanie Pitao-Tupaz
Naval, Biliran (17 October) - Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, special principal sponsor of Bishop Filomeno Bactol in his episcopal ordination 25 years ago, came to Naval, Biliran, to attend his silver anniversary celebration of episcopal ordination.
In her speech before the bishops, clergies, nuns, and parishioners, Mrs. Marcos emphasized the miraculous powers of God for those who religiously ask for His help and blessings.
Mrs. Marcos recalled the day they were ousted from the palace for their years of exile in Hawaii Their destination that day was unknown to her and their family. All she thought was that they were to leave the palace for Ilocos, the late President Marcos' hometown.
In packing their belongings, the first thing she took with her was the image of the Sto. Ni�o, the patron saint of her birthplace, Tacloban City . The image of the Sto. Ni�o stayed with them in Hawaii and it was the Sto. Ni�o whom she asked for all the strength and courage to face the gargantuan trials she and her family are facing.
Since their ouster in power in 1986, Mrs. Marcos said, they face hundreds of cases not from individuals but from governments and super powers. However, she and her family remain strong as they were. This she attributed to her strong religious faith.
Mrs. Marcos even pitied his friends involved in those cases along with them who passed away along the process.
Somehow, she is still very thankful for the intercession of God for giving her the strength to face all those trials and got acquitted in most of them.
Moreover, she has high hopes for a peaceful community within the entire diocese of Naval with Bishop Filomeno Bactol.
by: flor Jackson
Naval, Biliran (17 October) - The day, Tuesday, October 17, 2006 is a very memorable occasion for His Excellency Most Reverend Filomeno Bactol, Bishop of the Diocese of Naval as he celebrates his silver Episcopal ordination anniversary here in Naval, the capital town of Biliran province.
The town of Naval was set in a festive mood since yesterday as preparations were set for the grand affair today and as the bishops, the clergy and the religious sisters and other guests from all over Eastern Visayas and from other places as far as Dumaguete, Iloilo, Manila to include guest priests from Sarawak, Indonesia started arriving to join Bishop Bactol on this occasion�
A welcome dinner party at the Naval Institute of Technology (NIT) gymnasium was tendered to honor Bishop Bactol on the eve of the big day, and to welcome all the guests which include Msgr. Pedro R. Dean, Archbishop Emeritus of Palo; Msgr. Angel Hobayan, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Catarman; Msgr. Leonardo Medroso, Bishop of Borongan and Msgr. Jose Mari Delgado, Rector of the St. Vincent Seminary in the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo who are attending the celebration..
The evening was also graced by the former First Lady of the Philippines, Madame Imelda Romualdez Marcos who was elegantly dressed in her blue terno.
She was accompanied by Mrs. Luz Mate, former fist lady of the city of Tacloban, former Congresswoman of Masbate Luz Bacunawa, Mrs. Lily Montejo and Mr Odon Sabarre, artist in residence of Region 8 and a ballet dance scholar to Russia sponsored by Mrs. Marcos - all are close friends of Mrs. Marcos and of Bishop Bactol.
Local officials of the province were also present led by Mayor Gerardo G. Espina, Sr.
A cultural presentation was arranged by the priests from the diocese of Naval together with the religious sisters, faculty and students of the Cathedral School of La Naval to honor Bishop Bactol and to entertain the guests.
Part of the activities of the cultural night was a video presentation highlighting the life of Bishop Bactol since he entered the seminary, became priest - until his Episcopal ordination and his appointment as bishop of the diocese of Naval up to the present.
Messages given by his close friends and other religious personalities were likewise shown in the video presentation and all they could wish for the Bishop is good health, more success and fulfillment of his dreams in his chosen vocation.
For his part, Msgr. Pedro Dean, expressed his thanks to Bishop Bactol publicly for his cooperation during his stint as Archbishop of Palo.
He gave this piece of advice to the honoree as he said "you welcome worries, disappointments, burdens because these humps in life are not to give you problems but to ask you to go slow so that you can reach the peak of fulfillment of your life as bishop and as servant of God.
"I hope you can reach the golden years of your episcopacy", he said.
Meanwhile, the silver Episcopal ordination anniversary of Msgr. Filomeno Bactol, Bishop of Naval today was highlighted with a Pontifical concelebrated mass.
The mass was attended by six bishops from region 8 to include Msgr. Pedro R. Dean, Archbishop Emeritus of Palo; Msgr. Emmanuel Trance, Bishop of Catarman and Msgr. Angel Hobayan, Bishop Emeritus of Catarman; Msgr. Maximiano Cruz, Bishop Emeritus of Calbayog; Msgr. Isabelo Abarquez, Auxiliary Bishop of Palo; Msgr. Leonardo Medroso, Bishop of Borongan and some 100 priests from all over region 8 and other parts of the Visayas area to include the priests from the diocese of Naval as concelebrants with Bishop Bactol, the honoree, as the main celebrant.
Bishop Medroso who was the homilist, described Bishop Bactol, who has no other ambitions in life but to serve God as a priest and bishop, is a very simple person who makes every bishop's meeting and gathering alive further saying that he is dearly missed whenever he is not around because of his bright ideas and skills in planning.
"The honoree is keen about discipline and he always work hard for the good of the community - trabaho lang walang personalan" Msgr. Medroso further said.
Earlier, after the processional, the message of Archbishop Fernando Filoni, D. D. Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines was read congratulating Bishop Bactol and wishing him to sustain more years of his episcopacy.
Likewise, the message of Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican City l was read in Italian language by Fr. Benjie Pantas, pairsh priest of Caibiran in Biliran province and in the Cebuano dialect by Msr. Silas Florencio also of the Diocese of Naval.
The Pope sent his warm greetings to the honoree and told him to continue guarding his flock as he moves on in his journey.
He appreciated the honoree for his very fruitful stint as Rector of Palo Seminary.
Before the Pontifical concelebrated mass ended, Bishop Bactol who has no other ambition in life but to serve God as a priest and bishop, delivered a message thanking all his guests for their valued presence on said occasion.
"I am speechless", he said as he paused for a while and started saying thank you to the six bishops in Region 8 present, the priests from the different parts of region 8, Visayas area and from Indonesia, the religious sisters from various congregations and other distinguished guests which include former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Congresswoman Remedios Petilla of the first district of Leyte, Former Mayor of Tacloban City Uldarico Mate and his wife Mrs. Luz Mate, and Naval Mayor Gerry Espina. (PIA-Biliran)