i YAHWEH ang

Official monthly publication of the Bukas-Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community– San Pablo District
March 2009

11 COUPLES JOIN ME WEEKEND CLASS NO. 39

E leven couples responded to God’s invitation to a
Spirit –filled encounter with the Lord during a
marriage encounter weekend last February 27-
March 1, 2009 held at the BLD Covenant House,
Dasmariñas, Cavite. The ME Weekend Class No. 39 was
organized by the BLD-North Sector. The Pastoral Team
was led by Rev. Fr. Thor Villacarlos, BLD-SPD Spiritual
Director who presided over the conferences and teachings
on Friday & Saturday. Rev. Fr. Richard Buenaventura took
over the role of Fr. Thor on Sunday. The presenting
couples were Remie & Boy Hernandez and Afin & Nancy
Ramos. The successful candidates were Jojo & Jenny
Acuña, Jun & Malou Apurado, Mon & Violy Aven, Boy &
Irene Epino, Darwen & Myrna Gorgod, Vhin & Mitch
Hernandez, Leo & Malou Hernandez, Mckoy & Mary Ann
Lara, James & Meth Mendoza, Boy & Joy Nataño and Phil
& She Zialcita. They will be guided by incoming shepherds
Gabby & Joset Ramos. Jim & Emyrose Mejia was the
Admin Couple during the weekend with Eric & Babes
Ramos serving as instrumentalists.

Community Disciplers Meet for

Teaching on Community

H
ow can we make our Community a more loving BLD Community is not a perfect community; and that we all
and caring community built on trust? have our wishes for a more loving and caring Community.
Everybody agreed that there is much room for
This was the question posed by Pastoral improvement after a lengthy review of the BLD teaching on
Steward (PS) and teaching facilitator Vini Cadiz as the Community. PS Vini went through the key aspects of what
disciplers of the District came together to attend the first makes for a vibrant Christian community: Caring for Each
scheduled teaching for disciplers last 22 February 1:00 pm Other; Bearing with one another; Sharing with one another;
at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Brgy. Pulo, Cabuyao, Submitting to one another; and Serving in the Lord’s
Laguna on Community 1. Formation Stewards Paul & Vineyard to bring about the Kingdom of God. The talk also
Charity Zafaralla led the opening prayers and FS Charity dealt with the imperfect community and identified the
gave the overview of objectives, desired outcomes, and communitarian sins that build walls within community to
general schedule of the whole Discipling Program, divide us.
hopefully culminating in October. Many commented that after going through the teaching
The key question:” How can we make our Community a again (after at least 7 years ago when they first attended
more loving and caring community built on trust?”, was the teaching on the CMP1), they have experienced and
posed as all of the attendees have long realized that our (Continued on page 6)
Remembering Tito Roger...
Reflecting on the life of Tito Roger from where I write,
he reminds me so much of St. Joseph, whose feast we will
celebrate this March.
It is said that the word “dream” appears in the New
Testament only five times, and four out of those five times
the word is used in reference to Joseph the carpenter. In all
these cases, he is always being persuaded to do exactly
the opposite of what he was planning to do.
Tito Roger must have been immensely living up and
enjoying his bachelorhood while running a profitable
insurance firm from Majayjay, Laguna, and marriage was
farthest from his mind. Then the angel of the Lord asked
him to marry Tita Ludy Eala.
Not that Tita Ludy was embarrassingly pregnant, like
the Virgin Mary, but the call of the Lord for Tita Ludy was to
found a family that will be consecrated to the Lord -- and
it’s about time too, her friends and relatives would
comment.
And as St. Joseph went ahead and took the Virgin Mary
as his wife contrary to his original plan, so did Tito Roger
give up his bachelorhood to take Tita Ludy as his bride and
pursue the Lord’s purposes for them to start a family. And
Tito Roger’s life was never the same again. So was St.
Joseph’s.
And then the angel told St. Joseph to move his business
to Egypt to protect the child from the evil King who meant
to eliminate a potential competitor to his crown. Despite
being already settled in his business and comfortable in his
homestead, Joseph packed up and obeyed the command
from the Lord. In like manner, Tito Roger, despite being
quite settled in his ways and comfort zone, opted to
relocate to College, Laguna to live in the home of the
Ealas and found a family.
After getting comfortable and settled in Egypt, the angel
asked Joseph to suddenly move back to Nazareth, to start
the final phase of what would be St. Joseph’s last mission
for God. The call to Tito Roger came just as he was getting
settled in their married life, having sired two kids JR and
Joel, his insurance business flourishing and a rising
political career.
The call came in the form of an invitation to join the
Marriage Encounter Weekend # 143 by the Bukas Loob sa
Diyos Covenant Community. Together with Ben/Jovy
Revilla; Joy/Maremi Ramos and Gerry/Julie Sison of the
College Community, they hied off to Baguio that November
in 1988. And their lives were never the same again.
Tito Roger and Tita Ludy went on to become
covenanted disciples of the BLD Community that they
helped establish in Los Banos, which grew on to become
the BLD District of San Pablo. Tito Roger and Tita Ludy
faithfully served God through their BLD community as LSS/
ME sharers, community teacher, ministry coordinators, LSS
shepherds, and Word Sharing Circle shepherd. They also
served the STCJP as Extraordinary minister of the
Eucharist and proclaimer of the Word, catechist and Pre-
Cana counselor. Tito Roger’s drive to serve God was
extended to His people when Tito Roger was elected
Sandigan March 2009
By Vini Cadiz
repeatedly as Kagawad of the Barangay Batong Malake,
which he served with distinction and a proactive stance
rarely seen in public servants.
The Gospels do not record a single word spoken by St.
Joseph. Tito Roger, likewise, was a man of few words; he
is more of an action man. If ever, he always had the last
word with Tita Ludy, even if it was mostly “Yes, dear.” He is
a good man, indeed.
In the Gospels we only read of gestures and one explicit
reference to St. Joseph: vir justus – a just man. And since
he was not a judge, it really means he was a good man.
And all of us who have known Tito Roger and those whose
lives he has touched, we know that he is a good man – a
good father to JR and Joel, a good and handsome husband
to match svelte Tita Ludy, a good and caring brother in the
BLD Community, a good and honest businessman, a good
and devoted public servant.
Tito Roger, like St. Joseph, transformed the tasks and
mission given him by God into something sacred and,
because of that, allowed miracles to be performed in their
lives.
Tito Roger Resubal joined our Creator last 25 February
2009 – Ash Wednesday. And in solidarity with his family,
we look forward to the coming 40 days of Lent full of hope,
till we commemorate Easter and the Resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ -- in whose resurrection Tito Roger
pinned all his hopes and his life, knowing he will rise again
with Christ, in Christ.
MISSION TEAM GEARS UP FOR
SE WEEKEND NO. 2 IN MULANAY
T he second Mulanay-BLD Single’s Encounter Weekend
will be held on March 6-8, 2009 . It is estimated that 60
participants will answer the Lord’s invitation for a deeper
and more intimate relationship with Him coming from the faculty
and students of PUP-Mulanay, graduating high school classes of
the different high schools in Mulanay, particularly the Parish
Catholic School of St. Peter and other out-of-school youth of
Mulanay. The mission team will be led by our Mission Parish
Services Coordinators, Danny and Lala Atienza, representing
our Mission Steward, together with the composite team from the
Single’s Ministry of the North & South Sectors of the BLD San
Pablo District. The Mission Team will leave at 6am on Friday
March 6, 2009 which will take them to a 5hr-200km journey
towards the calm and friendly town of Mulanay, Quezon. Food
and accommodation for the entire weekend shall be provided for
by the generous and very hospitable people of Mulanay headed
by it’s equally most accommodating parish priest Fr Jing
Caparros and his assistant Fr. Nino. The gasoline and other
miscellaneous expenses for this mission were solicited from our
generous friends and brethren in our community. Truly the grace
of the Lord is more than sufficient for all the works in His
vineyard. The Mission Team exhorts everyone to pray for the
success of the SE Weekend. (Danny Atienza)
Page 2
 BLD-SPD NORTH SECTOR UPDATES

Photos above show the members of the Mission Homestead of the BLD-San Pablo District North Sector celebrating
Valentine’s Day with the elderly at the Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and the Abandoned in San Pedro,
Laguna. This is in keeping with their promise to the elderly residents of the institution to visit them on a quarterly basis.
Indeed, what a way to celebrate God’s love by putting God’s word into action—”Whatever you do to the least of my
brethren, you do unto me..”.
Sandigan March 2009 Page 3
 BLD-SPD BARES PLANS FOR VISITA IGLESIA
What is Lenten Season without the traditional “Visita
Iglesia”? Thus, the BLD-SPD South Sector recently bared its
plans to hold a unique Visita Iglesia in the Ilocos Region on April
3-5, 2009. This Lenten activity promises to be different from
other such activities as it was designed in such a way that it will
be a compendium of cultural, historical, educational and spiritual
enrichment - calculated to bring every participant to a new kind
of “high”. It is primarily for BLD members and their friends
across communities.
Following is the itinerary in capsule form:
Thursday, April 2: Bus arrives at the parking lot, UPLB
Administration Building at 9:30 p.m. and leaves at 11:30 pm.
Friday, April 3: Arrives in Manaoag, Pangasinan, 6:00 am.
Overview mini –lecture (Station 1). Leave at 7 am. Arrives
Agoo, La Union, 7 am. Breakfast at Jollibee (KKB). Our Lady
of Charity Minor Basilica (Stations 2 and 3). Lecture in and out
of the Church. Leaves at 9 am. Arrives Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur,
10:15 am. (Stations 4 & 5). Lecture in and out of the Church.
Free taste of Royal Bibingka in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, 11:45 am.
Bantay Church (Station 6). Lecture again. Lunch in Vigan,
12:42 pm. Tour of Burgos House that keeps a treasure trove of
true-blue, original, authentic samples of Ilocos material culture.
Sandigan March 2009
Saint Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral (Station 7). Baluarte ni
Chavit, a haven of domesticated wild animals like lions, snakes,
deer, small horses, etc. Souvenir shopping at Crisologo St. Leave
at 6 pm. Dinner in Batac (included in the registration fee), 7 pm.
Proceed to PhilRice Dormitory.
Saturday, April 4: Mass at 6 am. Breakfast. Gen. Artemio
Ricarte Monument and Plaza; Sarrat Church (Stations 8 & 9).
Lecture will cover the following: renovated façade, detached
campanile, obliterated sun-god, interior balcony, bridge that
connects church to convent, kangaroo court, torture chamber,
beheading chamber, recycling chamber, etc. St. William’s
Cathedral in Laoag City, 11:00 am (Station 10). Ilocos Norte
Museum. Shopping. Leave for lunch in Batac, 12:45 pm.
Marcos Mausoleum, 2 pm. Back to PhilRice Dormitory, 2:45
pm. Resume at 3:00 pm. Paoay Church (Stations 11 & 12).
Lecture. Malacañang of the North. Calayab Beach, Laoag City.
Dinner.
Sunday, April 5: Mass at 6 am, Batac Church (Stations 13 &
14). Breakfast. Tour of Bangui windmills.
The registration fee for the entire journey is P2,900.00 per
person inclusive of 6 meals (Dinner, Day 1, Breakfast, Lunch and
Dinner, Day 2, Breakfast and Lunch, Day 3), accommodation at
PhilRice Dormitory, all entrance fees, and
airconditioned bus.
Since this is a budget Visita Iglesia, only 44 persons
can be accommodated.
Please take note of the following pick up points or
areas: UPLB Administration Building, Calamba
Crossing (in front of RCBC for those coming from
Calamba and Caltex SLEX for participants coming
from San Pedro.
A 50% downpayment must be made upon reservation.
For more details, please contact Danny Atienza (0917
897 4792), e-mail address: dani.atienza@yahoo.com or
Paul B. Zafaralla (0917 649 9573), e-mail address:
ctzafaralla@yahoo.com.
KASALANG BAYAN (Photo, left). A Mass
Wedding or Kasalang Bayan was held on
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Holy Family
Church in San Pedro, Laguna officiated by Father
Francis Calo. The Mission Homestead Ministry-
North Sector participated in this parish activity by
sponsoring the wedding of Raymond & Tina
Ancheta and James & Meth Mendoza.
Incidentally, James and Meth Mendoza are
graduates of Marriage Encounter Weekend Class
No. 39 held last February 27 – March 1, 2009 at
BLD Covenant House, Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to the newly
married couples! May the Good Lord continue to
shower you with His abundant blessings.
Page 4
Tol, Sandali lang… By Wency Alimagno
‘TOL, alam mo ba na sa pangkalahatan ay mas mahaba ang
buhay ng mga babae kaysa sa mga lalaki? Sangayon sa maru-
runong, ang isa daw sa pangunahing dahilan ay sapagkat halos
wala sa kalikasan ng mga lalaki ang tahasang pagpapakawala
ng sama ng loob sa pamamagitan ng pag-iyak na katulad ng sa
mga babae. Sa halip, ito ay kanilang itinatago at hindi ipinaha-
halata upang hindi mapintasan ang kanilang pagkalalaki. Ito rin
ang dahilan kung bakit sa pangkalahatan ay higit na marahas
ang mga lalaki kaysa sa mga babae. Sa halip na lumuha kapag
galit na galit, na ang tingin ng marami ay isang tanda ng kahi-
naan at karuwagan, mas pinipili ng mga lalaki ang pagkilos na
kadalasan ay marahas. Subalit ito ay kung hindi siya napan-
gunahan ng takot, ng pagsasaalang-alang sa katunggali o sa
mga maaring kauwian ng nasabing karahasan. –At ito ang pa-
hamak sapagkat alam nating ang pinigil na galit ay may kakaya-
hang magpataas ng presyon ng dugo at magpabilis ng tibok ng
puso na sa malao’t-madali’y kikitil ng buhay. Samantalang ang
mga babae’y hahagulhul (na lamang) sa t’wing maaala-ala ang
isang away halimbawa, ang mga lalaki’y mamumula sa galit
dahil sa pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo at bibilis ang pintig ng
puso. At habang ang galit ay namamahay sa kanila, namama-
hay din sa kanila ang pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo at pagsasal
ng tibok ng puso. Mayroon din daw pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo
at pagbilis ng pintig ng puso sa mga kababaihan sa mga gani-
tong pagkakataon subalit kapayapaan daw ang naidudulot ng
malayang pag-iyak, kapayapaang isa sa mga pangunahing
tagapag-alaga ng magandang kalusugan.
SANDALI LANG. Ang ibig bang sabihin ay panahon na upang
ang mga lalaki ay mag-aral kung paano ang malayang pag-
iyak? Tingnan muna natin at baka mayroong higit na magan-
dang mapag-uusapan.
‘Tol, ang ibig ko kasing sabihin ay ito. Ang isa sa mga kahinaan
ng tao ay ang pagkagalit. Katulad ng iba pa, ito ay kasama sa
kanyang kalikasan. Alam natin na bilang tao, maging ang Hari
ng Kahinahunan ay nagalit din (Mateo 21: 12-13). Bukod pa
dito, sa buhay ay hindi nawawala ang napakaraming mga dahi-
lan kung bakit tayo ay maaring magalit. Ang mga dahilang ito ay
kabuntot natin kahit saan tayo naroroon, kahit na anong oras.
Mangyari pa, kahit na nga natutulog na tayo maari pa ring ma-
galit sapagkat napapanaginipan ang mga kagalit-galit.
Hindi masama ang magalit. Narinig na natin ito. Ang ma-
sama ay ang naidudulot ng galit; karamdaman sa nagkikimkim
nito at ang mararahas na kilos na nag-uugat dito. Dahil dito,
kahit saan natin matagpuan ay kitang-kita ang mapaminsalang
bunga ng galit. Mahirap marahil patunayan na ang mga karam-
daman ng marami sa ating komunidad, malala man o hindi, ay
sa galit nag-uugat subalit alam natin na kapag ang isang ka-
patid ay nagalit, na makikita rin sa anyong pagkainis, pagta-
tampo at paghihinanakit, at hindi ito naapula agad, ang susunod
ay ang unti-unting pananawa niya sa mga gawain, pag-iwas sa
mga pagtitipon hanggang umabot sa marahas na kapasiyahang
umalis na ng tuluyan sa komunidad na pinaglagyan ng Pangi-
noon sa kanya. Kung magkaganito, wagi ang demonyo na
s’yang may pakana ng lahat. Ang katotohanan ay nagdudumilat
na ang kapatid na kinaiinisan, pinagtatampuhan at pinaghihi-
nanak’tan ay kinakasangkapan lamang ng diyablo. Sinasaman-
tala ng demonyo ang kahinaan n’ya katulad din ng pagsa-
samantala sa kahinaan mo at kahinaan ko.
Magkakatulad tayo sa kahinaan. Katulad mo at katulad ko,
lahat tayo ay nadadapa. Ang maganda marahil ay itayo natin
Sandigan March 2009
Love Unlimited By TJ Monserrat
Come back to me with all your Heart!
The Lenten season has started already…
And I started it with a simple silent retreat.
Yep!! That’s right!! I started my Lenten season by attending a
silent retreat by the Verbum Dei missionaries at Quezon City. I
was emailed by my friend and former classmate at Don Bosco
Religious Studies of this activity and I just said “Ok… I will at-
tend” – no questions asked.
For the past few months, I felt the Lord always has his ways
to keep me in check… to always make me a part of something
that would glorify Him… like a recent activity also that I was a
part of: Alay Musika 24 - Love is still the Answer, which was an
activity of Lisieux Music Ministry.
Back to the retreat, we were told that coming back to Him
doesn’t mean you have to sin first or you are bad first or you are
really burdened first before coming back. It is a constant re-
minder to us to always go forward, to be closer to God than be-
fore. And of course being a silent retreat, we have hours and
hours of silence to talk to God. At first, I panicked… I wasn’t
used to the silence around me… and to be honest, I was really
finding it hard to discern if God was really talking to me or not.
At times, I found myself talking a lot to Him. At other times, my
mind wandered. But later on, I felt His smile, His laughter and
the feeling of overjoyed sensation and enlightenment. It was a
great retreat. And then at the end we were reminded to still go
on with the journey of “going back to Him” this Lenten season…
that what we have done in the retreat is real world, reality in
itself… we should just bring it along to the “outside-the-retreat-
house-world”.
That’s why I’m bringing it also to you… You may not need
some special silent retreat to start your Lenten season right…
but what you can do is at least give a “one-day-silent-retreat” of
your own. Just go outside your house with no one with you and
nothing – just a bible and a pen and notebook. Go to a place
where there’s peace and quiet; a place where no one can
bother you (and of course, make it known to your family that you
will be out for a day to reflect… that is enough for them not to
bother you for a while). You may want to reflect on the first
Lenten Sunday readings (which is a timely one also because it
talks about Jesus going to the desert) and start listening, not
talking, to the Lord. You may not hear words like some do, but
you can feel Him always… maybe the cool blow of the wind, or
the warm touch of the sun…
Or if you can find a retreat activity, grab the opportunity and
go there, what is a few bucks to spend compared to the refresh-
ing reward of a retreat right?
So start your 2009 Lenten season with a journey to come
back to Him with all your heart, and as the song goes (and I
know that you will sing along also), don’t let fear… keep us
apart. Trees do bend, though straight and tall… So must we, to
others’ call…
ang isa’t-isa sa pagpapatawaran. Gawin natin ito kahit mahirap
sapagkat ito ang walang pasubaling turo sa atin. Mapapatawad
lamang tayo ng Ama kung tayo ay magpapatawad sangayon sa
aral ni Hesus. “..at patawarin mo kami sa aming mga kasalanan,
tulad ng pagpapatawad namin sa mga nagkakasala sa
amin.” (Mateo 6: 12). ‘Tol, higit sa malayang pag-papaagos ng
luha kung nasasaktan at nagagalit, sa katulad lamang nito tayo
makakatagpo ng tunay na kapayapaan.
Page 5
 WORD for March 2009
Obedience and commitment to Christ is faithfulness to God’s covenant.
ORDER Week #4 (4th Sunday of Lent) [Charity]
Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we do
“Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1: 15b) good works in His name.
Promise: “For by grace you have been saved through
THEMES AND PROMISES faith.” (Eph 2: 8)

Week#1 (1st Sunday of Lent) [Witnessing ] Week #5 (5th Sunday of Lent) [Service]
Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we live Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we
the Gospel. serve Him wholeheartedly.

Promise: “Good and upright is the Lord, thus he shows
sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and he
teaches the humble his way.” (Ps 25: 8)
Week#2 (2nd Sunday of Lent) [Holiness ]
Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we
listen to Jesus.
Promise: “I will bless you abundantly…and in your
descendants all nations of the earth shall find blessings – 2. Be mindful of and faithful to the 8-point and 5-point
all this because you obeyed my command.”
(Gen 22: 17a-18)
Week#3 (3rd Sunday of Lent) [Obedience]
Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we 3. Ask God in prayer how we may be of service to our
zealously obey His commandments.
Promise: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; vineyard.
the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just.”
(Ps 19:9)
Community...continued from page 1
acquired a better grasp of the problems of
Community. The key question thus whipped up a lively
exchange of ideas and strong opinions expressed -- the
need to be rooted in the Word to empower our struggles
to be more Christ-like in dealing with brothers and sisters
in Community were raised. There was strong agreement
on the need for obedience to our covenant and
Community concerns, especially after it was noted that
very few disciplers from the South sector took the time to
attend.
Looking into the lively exchanges, it was striking that
we still tend to look at others who in our perception are
not doing their job properly. Very few raised the need for
looking inwardly to see the need for a positive change in
our own life. Discipline in attendance and diligence in
assigned tasks; prayerful life surrendered to God; zeal to
evangelize; becoming a compassionate person for
others—these remained unspoken and unexplored, but
hopefully in operation in all of us covenanted disciples of
the Community. For these things must first be seen in us
before we can mentor and form disciples out of our
aspirants. (Vini Cadiz)
Promise: “The Father will honor whoever serves me”
(Jn 12: 26b)
DISTRICT DIRECTIONS FOR MARCH 2009
1. Let our repentance be evident in the way we live, and
draw others to believe in the power of the Gospel to
transform us.
pledges that we have made with the Lord in our BLD
Covenant Community and make it our daily guide for
Christian living.
Community, trusting Him that His purposes for each of us
will be fulfilled as we obey and commit to serve in His
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
MARCH 2009
5 March, Thursday, 7:30 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, STCJP.
Sponsors: Singles’ Ministry
7 March, Saturday, 8:00 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, BLD
North, Holy Family Parish, Sampaguita Village, San Pedro,
Laguna.
6-7 March, Singles Encounter Weekend #2, Mulanay, Quezon.
8 March, Sunday, Worship Leaders Forum, 2:00 pm, BLD
South Sector, STCJP.
10 March, Tuesday, DLC Meeting, BLD North Sector.
11 March, Wednesday, DLC Meeting, ;7:30 pm, BLD South
Sector, Cahbriba Pavillion, Los Baños, Laguna
15, March, Sunday, Encounter with Jesus, 8:00-5:00 pm, BLD
North Sector, St. Joseph the Worker Parish Multi-Purpose Hall,
Calendola Village, San Pedro, Laguna.
22, March, Sunday, Salubungan (Acquaintance and
Orientation) Discipling Program, 9 am-12 nn, St. Joseph the
Worker Parish Multi-Purpose Hall, Calendola Village, San
Pedro, Laguna.
22, March, Sunday, Healing Ministry Workshop, 1-4 pm,
STCJP.
27-29 March, Combined MEW Nos. 40 and 41 (Pila and Bay,
Los Baños and Putho), Local Government Academy Training
Center, Los Baños, Laguna.
29 March Sunday, FE Class No. 10 Reunion No. 5, 10:00 am,
Divine Mercy Chapel, Calamba City.

Sandigan March 2009 Page 6