January 2013 Highlights

Rogate: Unceasing Hope for God’s Faithfulness. The past year seemed heavy—calamities here and there, corruption of hearts resulting in political and economic miseries, and other unfortunate happenings. But the fire of hope is never put out…it continues to warm us…to energize us to move on…especially that the Spirit, the Great Pure Energy dwells in us…as she dwells in Jesus…as she dwells in St. Hannibal…as she dwells in SHEC which continues to work for and with the poor and oppressed, with the undying hope that the Kingdom will eventually prevail…for that is what God has promised (see 2 Pt 3:13, Rev 21:1-5).

Happy Birthday and Blessing-filled Anniversary, Father Dex! Priests who have wholeheartedly devoted their talents, ministries, time…their very beings even, are precious gifts to the poor and oppressed. Without them, Kingdom work might just end up in documents or in vain idealism. With them, the Kingdom is a hope-filled promise to look forward to. With this thought in mind, the communities of SHEC, SHaCC, PABANAL, the SHEC Youth Volunteers(SYV), volunteers and partners-agencies, the Rogationist Fathers, friends and classmates of Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, RCJ gathered last January 11, 2013  at the St. Hannibal Subdivision, Phase 2 to celebrate his birthday and 10^th priestly anniversary.  

Much Thanks, Ate Bench! Happy Birthday, January Celebrants! Kingdom work is a most noble work, for it does not only demand expertise, but also commitment and solid spirituality. Aware of this, the admin and staff of SHEC expressed their thanks and appreciation to Ms. Irminia (Bench) Zabala as she had to bid good-bye to her apostolate at SHEC. Also, the admin and staff greeted the birthday celebrants for the month of January. The twin events were held at the St. Hannibal Training Center last January 16, 2013.

Happy Priestly Anniversary, Father Jggs! Truly, holy priests committed to the Kingdom apostolate are rare and precious gifts to the Church, especially in the Philippine Church who is dubbed as Church of the Poor. To pray and thank the Lord for the gift of priesthood and to pray for holy vocations, the communities of SHEC, SHaCC, PABANAL, the SHEC Youth Volunteers(SYV) , volunteers and partners-agencies, the Rogationist Fathers, friends and classmates of Fr. Orville (Jiggs) Cajigal, RCJ  gathered last January 23, 2013  at the St. Hannibal Subdivision, Phase 2 to celebrate his 7th priestly anniversary. 

Happy Natal Day, Ms. Josie. To show gratitude and to share in the joys of Ms. Josie Karo, the SHEC community headed by Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, RCJ celebrated with Miss Josie her birthday last January 23, 2013. The joyful occasion was held at the St. Hannibal Training Center, Pasay City.

World Bank Chooses SHEC as Model Community for the South-South Exchange on Low-Income Housing. In the recent past, much energy and resources have been poured into housing projects for the poor. Some failed. Many remained as dreams and plain documents. But a few succeeded. These successful ones have been known through their fruits, indeed (see Mt 12:33). And true to its name, the St. Hannibal Empowerment Center (SHEC) has been recognized as an effective catalyst or an efficient empowering organization which uses the community based/driven approach. This strategy involves close and strong tie up, collaboration or partnership between and among the poor community, the government and the private sector in order to achieve a common, noble goal: the betterment of the living conditions of the poor through decent housing programs. As an organization which has showcased outstanding success in this regard, SHEC has been chosen by the World Bank as a model community for the South-South Exchange on Low-Income Housing that was held last January 24-26, 2013. The exchange was meant as an occasion for learning by Bangladesh officials in preparation for the Pro-Poor Slums Integration Project for Bangladesh. Specifically, said officials intended to be acquainted with approaches or strategies which have been successfully employed in the Philippines, of which one is the way espoused by SHEC. Important visitors—who found much inspiration and insight at the SHEC communities, namely the St. Hannibal’s Village, Pasay City and the beneficiaries at Baseco, Manila last January 24, 2012 and January 26, 2012 respectively—were officers of the World Bank, Manila Office (WBOM) and the Bangladesh delegates led by Dr. Khondaker Showkat Hossain (Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works at Bangladesh). Dr. Hossain was accompanied by G.M. Jainal Abedin Bhuiya (Chairman, National Housing Authority), Md. Kamal Uddin Talukder (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works), Md. Sanwar Ali (member, Engineering & Coordination, National Housing Authority), S.A.M. Fazlul Kabir (Superintending Engineer, National Housing Authority), Nazirul Alam (Deputy Chief Architect, National Housing Authority), Md. Anwar Hossain (Senior Assistant Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance) and  Md. Golam Mosaddeque (Senior Assistant Chief, Ministry of Housing and Public Works). With the Bangladesh delegates were World Bank Staff, to wit: Ms. Anna O’Donnell (Team Leader, World Bank, Washington), Ms. Sabah Moyeen, Mr. John Arnold and Mr. Michael Slingsby (World Bank Staff). Members of the World Bank, Manila Office were Mr. Ousmane Dione (Sector Manager, World Bank, Manila), Mr. Christopher Pablo (Urban Sector Coordinator, World Bank, Manila), Mr. Jonathan Price and Ms. Puri Philina Gamon (Consultants).

Supplica. To praise and thank the Lord for all the blessings upon SHEC’s Kingdom workers and beneficiaries, a supplica was conducted at the St. Hannibal Training Center, Pasay City. The activity, which was done last January 31, 2013, concluded the chronicle of SHEC for the first month of 2013.