OCTOBER-FEST Chronicle

While Central Luzon grappled with the muddy aftermath of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, Samar Island, particularly Calbayog City, enjoyed a bundle of blessings that included sunny weather.  Counted also among the blessings were the opportunities and events that made the SCHC staff and personnel busy and alive this October 2009. 

October 8:  The department heads gathered for a team building session led by Fr. James.  The activity aimed to enhance our leadership capability, to liven up in our hearts the purpose of caring for our sick brothers and sisters, and to improve the quality of health care in our institution.

DMC Celebrates God’s Gift of Love and Healing

Davao Medical Center was highly privileged with the visit of Rev. Fr. Ferdinand “Soy” T.  Hernando, M.B., S.T.L., founder-steward of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes (Ezekielians).  He is a healing priest from a congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to healing and renewal and service to the poor and the sick.  Fr. Tex V. Buntol, MI, invited him to celebrate Healing Masses at the Chapel of the Divine Healer.

Fr. Soy presided over three healing masses. The first took place on October 25, 2009 at the chapel.  It began at 9:30 am, with Fr. Tex concelebrating. After the final blessing, Fr. Soy prayed over the congregation.  Able-patients from the different wards were present. People from different communities also flocked and filled the chapel.  The situation was reminiscent of Jesus’ times when people gathered around him and begged for his healing touch.

The Lay Camillian Family of Davao turned six last September 15, 2009.  Guilly Apigo, LCF president, explained that this year’s celebration focused on the care of children needing special attention, particularly cancer-stricken children.

To celebrate our foundation day, we LCF members with our invited friends gathered together at a Mass presided over by Fr. Tex Buntol, MI.  The following day, we headed to Mati with Australia-based Fr. Jojo Eloja, MI, who was visiting Davao as part of his home vacation.  With Fr. Jojo, we visited a center for abandoned and abused children with whom we shared kitchen wares, beddings, clothes, and other goods for their daily needs.  We have been visiting this institution as part of our anniversary celebration for the past four years.

On that same day, we also joined the birthday celebrant, Fr. Bong Pamintuan, MI, in visiting the children in a Special Education School in Mati.  The following day, still with Fr. Jojo’s company, we drove to Waniban Island—an unspoiled island across Masao, Mati. There we ‘forgot’ for a while our busy daily schedules and took time enjoying the beauty of nature and the refreshing waters of a white sand beach.

With the approval of Archbishop Fernando Capalla, DD, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Davao, Fr. Wilson Peñaranda, MI assumed the position of hospital chaplain at San Pedro Hospital of Davao.  He began his ministry there last October 16, 2009, partnering with Fr Leonie España, a diocesan priest of the Davao Archdiocese.

The entry of Fr. Wilson into San Pedro Hospital came in the wake of the request of the hospital administrator, Sr. Carmelita Llanos of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Trinity.  Knowing that the 350-bed capacity hospital cannot do without a second chaplain, she asked Archbishop Capalla for help.  Archbishop Capalla, in turn, advised her to approach the Camillian Fathers, who welcomed her request for assistance and saw it as a God-given call to share Camillian services with more people in Davao.

A religious was needed to materialize the request.   With generosity, Fr. Wilson accepted the chaplaincy assignment, leaving his ministry of formation at the St. Camillus College Seminary.

“Daring Anew to go where you would rather not go” was the theme of this year’s Camillian renewal course.  The theme provided a sense of direction in dealing specifically with the vow of obedience and the Camillian missionary zeal.  The weeklong renewal course was organized by the Secretariat for Formation of the Philippine Province and was held at St. Camillus Pastoral Health Care Center in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

When tropical storm Ondoy, international codename Ketsana, struck Greater Manila Area and Central Luzon last September 26, 2009, it transformed some of the affected areas into a “water world.” The unusually prolonged downpour caused landslides and swelling of rivers that ravaged villages, business establishments and infrastructures and claimed precious human lives.