Marist Brothers East Asia Province

08/04/2023

30/03/2023

A GLIMPSE OF THE PROVINCE.
THE ST. JOSEPH COMMUNITY RESIDENCE

The members of the St Joseph Community officially occupied the new accommodation building on March 12, 2023, as planned. This new building has 12 rooms, a big receiving room, a clinic, a doctor’s office, and a prayer room. The other buildings attached are the dining room, a recreation hall, and a reception room with two guest rooms. These named buildings are renovated ones formerly occupied by the aspirants and postulants. The other new smaller structures are the kitchen, the laundry room, the cistern, the powerhouse, and the garage.

The NDDU IBED Lagao school took over the former chapel for its use. This building is presently undergoing a significant facelift. The two-story building formerly known as the library (first floor) and guest house (second floor) has also been fully renovated with repairs on the roof and gutters and has been painted inside and out.

The blessing of this complex will be on March 19, 2023, the feast of St. Joseph itself, after whom the place has been named after.

The members of this “care home” community are Br. Rosendo Yee, 70, the community leader, Br. Eugene Pius Tajo, 87, Br. Wenceslao Calimpon, 80, Br. Teodulo Fernandez, 75, Br. Romulo Porras, 74, and Br. Manuel Uluan, 72.

The Contractor of this project is Arch. Joseph Non, while the designer and project supervisor is Engr. Enrico Mariano, Jr. This project started during the term of Br. Ador Santiago as Provincial and finished during the term of Br. Allan de Castro, the present Provincial.

30/03/2023

THE LOGO FOR MARIST PHILIPPINES TURNING 75 YEARS

The Marist Brothers East Asia Province will launch the whole year celebration of Marist Presence in the Philippines on June 21, 2023. The celebration was meant to commemorate the arrival of the first four American Brothers in Cotabato City, Philippines on June 21, 1948.

30/03/2023

FMSI STAFF VISITS THE PHILIPPINES

From March 15-19, Mr. Andrea Rossi, the Director General of FMSI, and Marcello Romagnoli, the Finance Officer, conduct a field visit to the Philippines. Their intention for coming was to understand in more detail the projects implemented through the FMSI support. During their stay, FMSI aims to promote a learning culture focusing on beneficiary participation, with the overall objectives of improving development, sharing tools and collective experiences of what works and doesn’t work, enhancing skills, and capacity-building. During these days, they will visit their funded projects to meet with project personnel, key stakeholders, and beneficiaries. They will also collect and collate project- specific data and key learning points from their dialogue.
In the afternoon of March 15, Andrea and Marcello, with Br. Crispin, Br. Jeff and Agnes visited the NDEA main office in Tacurong. Dr. Evelyn Dollete, the Executive Director, shared with them the collaborative initiatives undertaken by the NDEA member schools with the Marist advocacy project on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
On their first day in General Santos City, Andrea and Marcello also visited the Marist Province Center in Lagao and had dinner with the Brothers in Dadiangas Community.

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS
March 8: Marist School Marikina, Philippines- A courtesy call and fellowship with the honorable Mayor of Marikina City, Mayor Marcy Teodoro, 1st District Congresswoman Maan Teodoro, Marikina Sports Chief Admin, Dr. Totoy Llabres and District 2 Councilor Jaren Feliciano. It was an insightful exchange as we explored possible partnerships to reinforce Marist School’s link with the community through the LGU and make the school a "key hub," serving more people and ensuring quality education for the youth.

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS:
March 4: NDDU students participating in the Clean-up day and Launching of Living Green Program in General Santos City, Philippines

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS:
March 4: NDDU, Philippines, Br Manny de Leon With the City Mayor Lorelie G. Pacquiao during the Launching of the Living Green Program .- Malinis, Maayos at Magandang Gensan…

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS:
March 4: SJIS, Kuching, Malaysia- Br. Robert and the Young members of Legion of Mary attended the Lenten retreat.

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS:
March 1: Marbel Community- Br. Roy Deita together with NDMU CMRE STAFF facilitated the EDVED 114/107 midterm PASTORAL IMMERSION first sector.

30/03/2023

PHOTO NEWS:
February 25-26: La Valla 200 Volunteers' Preparation and Formation Activity.

30/03/2023

MARIST BURSAR FROM AFRICA AND THAILAND GAINS INSIGHTS FROM IMMERSION IN EAST ASIA PROVINCE.
By: Dr. Alfie Maria R. Custodio

Marist bursars from Africa and Thailand recently completed a one-week immersion program in the East Asia Province in General Santos City, Philippines, from March 5-11, 2023. The program aimed to provide the bursars with valuable insights and knowledge on various aspects of ministry management, financial asset management, and governance challenges.

During the immersion, visiting bursars met with key officials of Marist communities and universities in Dadiangas, Koronadal, and Kidapawan. They engaged in discussions on topics related to asset management, such as schools, social and solidarity works, and income-generating activities for Marist life and ministries. They also learned about financial practices, human resources, quality control, marketing strategies, risk management, organogram, macro responsibilities, and main economic and financial indicators from the recent financial year. The immersion provided the bursars with insights into financial management.
The bursars, who are also Marist brothers, discussed the school/university investment policy, short- term and long-term investments, and the kind of financial products that schools and universities have in their portfolios. They also covered discussions on the main difficulties and challenges in the area of governance. The participants shared their experiences and insights, which were helpful in identifying common issues and potential solutions. In their free time, the brothers could experience the Marist brothers' community life.

The immersion was attended by bursars from the Marist District of Asia, Africa Central East Province (PACE), West Africa, and Southern Africa. It was hosted by East Asia Province Bursar Br. Danilo M. Sevilla, FMS. During the evaluation meeting, the participants shared that they gained valuable insights and knowledge on various aspects and appreciated the sense of empowerment, commitment, and dedication of the lay and mission partners. The immersion provided a platform for bursars to share their experiences and insights, which can contribute to improving Marist ministries around the world.

30/03/2023

Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) Core group, Faculty and Student Representatives Convene in Setting Direction for the Youth Ministry.

The Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) Core Group held its first face-to-face meeting last January 7, 2023, at the Marist Province, Lagao, General Santos City, participated by the committee members led by Br. Ernie Sentina, the chairperson, together with Dr. Wilter C. Friales, Br. Raymond Gallardo, FMS, and Dr. Ivy Yecyec are the group members. Other participants during the meeting were faculty and student representatives from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Notre Dame of Marbel University, and Notre Dame of Kidapawan College.

This Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) Core Group is under the Mission Commission of the Marist East Asia Province. One of the significant highlights during the meeting was the finalization of the structure of the core group and the compositions with the corresponding roles and responsibilities. It was initially agreed that the core group should be led by the chairperson, who will lead the ministry in terms of the planning, implementing, and evaluating of the programs and activities, supervising/monitoring of all the programs of the different committees and shall performing as well tasks as delegated by the Mission commission or by the provincial. He will be assisted by a Co-chair who will assist in delivering the various programs and activities of the Marist Youth Ministry. The committee assigns a secretary to prepare the minutes of the meetings, prepare the communication, keep records and documents, communicate to the different committees as requested by the chair, and perform tasks as delegated by the chair.

It was also initially agreed that the Marist Youth Ministry Core Group has three different areas to focus its programs and initiatives. These areas are Formation, Spirituality, and Mission. Each area has a sub-committee which is led by a focal person, namely, the focal person for the Formation, the focal person for Spirituality, and the focal person for the Mission. The Sub-Committee Members shall then be appointed by each focal person and will become an automatic members of the Marist Youth Ministry Core Group.

Part of the discussion was the alignment of the Marist Youth Organizations in the MYM Structure. The MYO coordinator shall be part of the Marist Youth Ministry Core Group under the Mission Commission of the Province. The coordinator represents the Marist Youth Organizations, such as the SMC club, that actively provides meaningful experiences for the Marist Youth leaders in schools, enriching their Marist spirituality and traditions. The committee is set for the next meeting to finalize the operations manual of the MYM, which will contain the rationale, background, processes, and procedures of the core group subject to the approval of the province.

The meeting was graced by Br. Allan de Castro, the Marist Provincial, East Asia Province, who challenged the committee to continue its will and purpose in coming up with a clearer and better direction for the youth ministry of the province and come up with more meaningful and relevant programs and activities for the growth and development of the youth.