Inspired by the vision and spirituality of the late Carmelite Bishop Julio X. Labayen, the Reverend Father Jose Francisco Talaban, fondly known as Father Joefran, received the first Bishop Julio X. Labayen Memorial Award in 2021. Although Fr. Joefran received the grant associated with the award (see below), he did not have a public recognition, therefore, did not receive a plaque. This was due to lockdown during the pandemic. On Saturday, August 27, 2022, Fr. Joefran will finally receive his plaque at the Saint Joseph Formation House, 36 Matatag Street, Barangay Pinyahan, Diliman, Quezon City.
Father Joefran is a native of Negros Occidental, from where Bishop Labayen, his mentor, also came. Bishop Labayen’s inspiration and love for and work with the poor, however, eventually led him to join the Prelature of Infanta. In his 22 years in Casiguran as a priest, Father Joefran has been accused of being a communist, just as the late Bishop Labayen was. Undaunted, Fr. Joefran posted on Facebook, “I will continue serving the poor. I will continue to stand and defend the rights of the defenseless. I will be the voice of the voiceless no matter what it takes in taking side with them. They can destroy everything and take away what I have, but they cannot stop me from living out the gospel of justice, hope and love. Loving and working for the poor are essential elements of the mission.”
For more information about Fr. Joefran, please click Bishop Julio X Labayen Memorial Grant – Metro Infanta Foundation
Created by Metro infanta Foundation in 2021 on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee, the award includes a 2,500 USD, 500 USD of which will go to the awardee for his personal use and 2,000 USD for an organization of the awardee’s choice. Bishop Bernardino Cortez of the Prelature of Infanta will present the award, assisted by the Rev. Father Francis B. Lucas, Chairman of the Board.
Metro Infanta Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization in the United States. Founded by Mila Glodava, who grew up in Infanta, Quezon, the Foundation has addressed needs not only in Infanta, but also to the Church in the Philippines and beyond. The Foundation has distributed more than 1.4 million USD since its inception in 1996 and facilitating nearly 500 million USD from funding organizations in the United States directly to Philippine charitable organizations.
The Foundation will open the nominating process for the 2023 Bishop Julio X. Labayen Memorial Award from September 1 through December 31, 2022. The nominee must exemplify Bishop Labayen’s vision and spirituality and his love for the poor and the Church of the poor. Please check the Foundation website, www.infanta.org, September through December for details of the nomination process.
