Metro Infanta Foundation

While it's true that I received Quezon's prestigious award (upon the nomination of Amb. Rudy Arizala) in August, I did not go to the Philippines in July and August for that purpose. The real reason for my trip: I was on a mission for St. Thomas More to continue to promote "Stewardship as a Way of Life."

I was supposed to return to the states Aug. 3, but received word from Awards Committee member Dading Arizala July 30 that I have been chosen as one of the Medalya honorees and asked if I might be able to extend my stay. Thanks to my pastor, who without hesitation gave the go-ahead , I was able to extend my stay.

More than a year ago Father Andrew Kemberling and I presented the first conference on "Sustainability of the Church of the Poor through Stewardship." My visit in July was a follow-up visit to the Cebu conference to see the progress of parishes that have embraced stewardship as a way of life. Stewardship encourages a grateful heart by giving to church and other charities in thanksgiving for all that God has given.

St. Thomas More's successful stewardship program, which Father Andrew and I have been sharing in the United States and abroad, has found some success in the dioceses that participated in the conference. Father Andrew hopes that my visit will generate a substantive report to present to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in January 2005. CBCP president Archbishop Fernando Capalla, who met with me while in Manila, extended an invitation to Father Andrew and me to address the plenary assembly July 11 in Manila, but due to conflicts in scheduling Father Andrew could not accept the invitation.

While in the Philippines I visited parishes in various dioceses including the Prelature of Infanta, the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Diocese of San Fernando, La Union, Vicariate of San Jose, Oriental Mindoro, the Archdiocese of Cebu, as well as various congregations including the Discalced Carmelite Friars, O'Carmelites, Camillians and ACT. In addition, I served as speaker and general resource person on stewardship for Catholic Association of Schools of the Prelature of Infanta (CASPI).

For Metro Infanta Foundation I also had meetings, among others, with the following:

• Infanta Central School and local government officials and a special meeting with Gov. Wilfrido Enverga. to discuss the Gabaldon Project.

• AGTA community in General Nakar. Metro Infanta has funded one of its programs.

• Lyceum of the Philippines, to evaluate the Arizala Scholarship program.

My visit in July also gave me the opportunity to visit Metro Infanta on a number of occasions, including the birthday celebrations of Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona and Bishop Julio Labayen.
In the next few editions of the website I will give more details on my mission and others.
Sept. 1, 2004