i YAHWEH ang
Official monthly publication of the Bukas-Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community– San Pablo District
February 2009
General Emergence
for New Community Leaders Set
O
ur Community Spiritual Director, Archbishop
Angel N. Lagdameo has issued Circular No.
2009-2 dated January 28, 2009, calling for the
conduct of the 2009 General Emergence. The
general emergence, done every three years, is
the process by which leaders/elders of the BLD Covenant
Community are determined.
The leadership positions to be nominated and appointed
are:
Five Servant Leaders in the Executive Council
(ECSL) - who shall be emerged globally as couples and
are Covenanted members of the BLD Districts from the
Archdiocese of Manila, Suffragan Dioceses of Antipolo,
Caloocan, Cubao, Novaliches, Pasig, Paranaque, Dioceses
of Malolos and San Pablo, and the AFP-PNP Military
Ordinariate in Manila. Each of the ECSL shall be
responsible for an Apostolate: Pastoral, Evangelization,
Formation, Mission, or Management Apostolate.
Nine (9) District Servant Leaders (DSL), one for each
of the Full-term District/Cluster, who shall be emerged as
couples within a Cluster and are Covenanted members of a
Full-Term BLD District. A BLD cluster is composed of a
Full-Term District together with its assigned Full-Fledged
Districts and Districts-in-Process.
District Council of Stewards (DCS) of Full-fledged and
Full-term Districts of Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Manila,
Newark (US), Rockville Centre (US), San Pablo, Toronto
(Canada), and Zamboanga.
Each of the Full-fledged and Full-term Districts shall
appoint their District Committee of Emergence
Overseers (DCEO), who will serve as coordinators/
facilitators and tabulators of the Emergence Process, and
whose criteria are as follows:
Integrity – Careful adherence and ompliance to the
process to safeguard all Nomination Forms and
tabulation results;
Transparency and Accountability – While all the
decisions of the DCEO must be transparent, the
confidentiality of the emergence results must be
complete. Pre-mature disclosures of partial results
could cast doubts on the integrity of the process.
Proper documentation of the
entire process must be
made so that results may be
verified if questions arise.
Consensual Decision-
making – The DCEO must
make consensual decisions
on any issue that may arise
in the process of
emergence. Consultations
with the BLD Community
Spiritual Director, the
incumbent ECSL, and the
incumbent DCS are appropriate from time to time; and
Independence and Impartiality – The DCEO,
although appointed by the BLD Community Spiritual
Director and DCS respectively, are deemed
independent and impartial. Only members of the
DCEO shall be present during the tabulation process.
Computer literate– At least one member of the DCEO
must have working knowledge of computer
applications (e.g. Word and Excel) and of
communications through the email.
The DCS has appointed Bert Florido to chair the DCEO
for the San Pablo District. His members include Mark
Saberola, Dani Feliciano and Vic Gutierrez. The
Management Stewards are responsible in preparing two
lists: 1) a Nominators List, and 2) a Nominees List. Both
lists are to be approved by the incumbent District Council of
Stewards (DCS) and concurred by the DSL..
The initial list of Nominators (those who are qualified to
vote for nominees to the DCS) will consist of all active
Covenanted Disciples, who have complied with the
District’s policy of at least fifty percent attendance at
Community Worship/Eucharistic Celebration and Word
Sharing Circles. The initial Nominators List will be
circularized among all Covenanted Disciples of the District
for comments on any omissions or inclusions, within two
weeks before submission to the DCS/ IDCS, for approval
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1)
and finalization. The final Nominators List as approved by
the DCS and concurred by the DSL shall be submitted by
the DCS for Management to the DCEO, for reference and
assignment of Nominators’ code numbers, one (1) week
after circularization.
The initial list of Nominees (to DCS positions) will
consist of active Covenanted Couple-Disciples who are
included in the final Nominators’ List; have remained active
Covenanted members in the BLD Community for at least
three full years (including leave periods), immediately
preceding the Emergence; have served or are serving as
member of the District Leaders Conference; and are
serving either as sharer (Encounter or LSS), worship leader
or as teacher (one spouse serving as teacher shall qualify
the couple).
The criteria for selecting the DCS are:
Compliance with the values, norms, and
culture of the BLD Community;
Evidence of Christian Leadership
(1Pt.5:1-4, 1Tim. 3:1-13, Ti. 1:5-9);
Availability for the performance of
Apostolate functions.
Strong working knowledge of and witness
to the Word of God;
Spirit of Servanthood (humility,
submission to recognized authority,
respect for others, answering the needs
of others ahead of oneself, other
oriented)
The nomination period for our district will be from May
4 to 15, 2009. The same is true for the Districts of Manila,
Malolos, and AFP-PNP . The Process of Emergence for
District Council of Stewards (DCS) of BLD Districts is as
follows:
The BLD Executive Council of Servant Leaders
(ECSL), after prayerful discernment, selects the members
of the BLD District Council of Stewards (DCS) from among
the list of eligible and available Covenanted Disciples
nominated through the process of General Emergence by
all qualified Covenanted Disciples of the BLD District. The
ECSL shall take into consideration both functional and
general ranking of the emergence results from the
Districts, with the latter being given only a secondary
role.
The DCS shall serve and fulfill their functions as a
couple. The term of office of a DCS shall be for three years,
and will commence this July 2009. They may be appointed
to serve for another term of three years. After two
consecutive terms, the members of the DCS must take a
Sabbatical Leave of one year. In the case of the San Pablo
District, Management Stewards Manny & Dina Silva and
Pastoral Stewards Vini & Cel Cadiz have served for two
consecutive terms and are required to take a Sabbatical
leave from all leadership positions in the District.
Our Spiritual Director, Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo
reminds and exhorts us in the conduct of the General
Emergence: “The BLD Process of Emergence is the
process of discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit, who
chooses our leaders. It is not an election exercise or a
popularity contest, nor is it to aspire for a position or in
pursuit of personal ambition.”
He also reminds us to pray and intercede for the 2009
General Emergence by praying the Emergence
Commitment Prayer (see box) during the Corporate
Worship and that each nominator may prepare himself/
herself spiritually in discerning whom to nominate from
among their ranks, guided by both the qualification and
“pastoral” criteria in choosing a Nominee.
As we come in the presence of God to discern who our
next set of leaders will be, let us open our hearts and invite
the Lord to speak to us. May the unity of the Holy Trinity be
in all of us as we join the whole BLD Community of Districts
in completing well the 2009 General Emergence.
(Vini Cadiz)

EMERGENCE COMMITMENT PRAYER

Abba Father, we praise You for You are the source of all goodness and love. We thank You for uniting us, the BLD
members, into a community of love.
During this period of discernment for our next Servant Leaders and District Stewards, we place ourselves, the
Nominees, the Nominators and all those participating in the BLD General Emergence process, under the power and
light of Your Holy Spirit.
Dear Jesus, we especially pray for Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, our Community Spiritual Director, District Spiri-
tual Directors, the Executive Council of Servant Leaders (ECSL), District Servant leaders (DSL), Shepherds of District
Clusters, the District Council of Stewards (DCS), the Community Committee on Emergence Overseers (CCEO) and the
District Committees on Emergence Overseers (DCEOs), that they may be guided by Your wisdom in all the decisions
they make and that they may carry out their emergence functions with humility and compassion.
We unite ourselves with all our brothers and sisters in other ministries, homesteads and Districts of the BLD Global
Community in praying for the on-going General Emergence Process.
We commit to be attentive to Your voice by immersing ourselves in Your Word daily; to fast, pray and offer sacri-
fices so that Your will shall prevail with peace, love and joy amongst us during this important process of discernment for
the new leaders of our BLD Global Community.
Mary, our mother, intercede with the Lord that He may instill in all of us a great desire to be filled with the Holy
Spirit, to yield to His Word, to give freely of ourselves, and to love and serve one another as we seek His wisdom and
truth in this process. This we pray, in Jesus name. AMEN

Sandigan February 2009 Page 2

Tol, Sandali lang… By Wency Alimagno
‘TOL, kumusta ka na? Ikaw ba’y handang-handa
na upang sa loob ng isang taon ay muling gumawa sa
ating komunidad? ---Naitanong ko lang kasi’y, katulad ko,
marahil ay sumasagi sa iyong isipan ang marami, kung
hindi man iilang mga bagay na iyong nadaanan at ayaw
mo ng madaanang muli. Ang ibig kong tukuyin ay yaong
mga karanasang pinagmumuntik-muntikang maging dahi-
lan upang ika’y magpasiya na hindi na muna makikilahok
sa mga gawain o kung magiging marahas ka’y ipasiya
mong tumiwalag na. Halimbawa, ang pamasahe mo ba
pagpunta sa corporate worship ay madalas na kaagaw pa
ng baon ni bunso para sa iskwela? O kaya naman; ikaw
ba, nitong nakaraan ay nasaktan na naman dahil merong
pagkukulang sa kung ano sa kung saan?
Ito ay mga katotohanan sa ating buhay-pagsunod.
Mahirap, hindi ba ‘tol? Dahil dito, laging tukso ang mag-
isip na mababawasan ang hirap kung babawasan ang
pakikilahok, mawawala ang hirap kung titiwalag.
SANDALI LANG. Ganito tayo mag-isip subalit gaano
ba katiyak ang iniisip nating ito na kapag tayo ay nag-
bawas ng pakikilahok ay mababawasan ang hirap at ka-
pag tayo’y tumiwalag ay tuluyang mawawala ito?
Tingnan muna natin ang panahon ng ating encounter
at LSS. ‘Di ba’t sa ating mga narinig na pagpapaliwanag
noong mga panahong iyon ay nakumbinse tayo na
malaking ginhawa ang maidudulot sa atin ng mga naitu-
wid na mali sa ating mga pananaw lalo na ang tungkol sa
ating pamilya? ‘Di ba’t marami sa atin ang nangako sa
sarili na babaguhin ang lahat ayon sa mga natutunan? ‘Di
ba’t gayun na lamang ang ating pasasalamat at napunta
tayo sa BLD? At sa LSS, ‘di ba’t halos lahat sa atin ay
napaluha dahil nabagbag tayo ng mga katotohanang
umiikot sa dakilang pagmamahal sa atin ng Diyos? ‘Di
ba’t naniwala tayo na kailangang suklian natin ang pag-
mamahal na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakumbaba,
pagsunod, pananalangin, pagsamba, pag-aaral at paglil-
ingkod? ---At walang itinuro sa atin na kapag may had-
lang, na kapag nasaktan ay titigilan na ang lahat ng ito.
Wala, sapagkat kung nagpasiya kang lakarin ang buhay
kasama si Hesus ay wala kang pipiliin kung hindi ang
magpasan ng krus (Lukas 14: 27).
Marahil nga, sa marami sa atin, ngayon ay mabigat na
ang krus. Marahil nga, lahat tayo ay nangangailangan ng
pamamahinga. --- At ‘tol, dito tayo dapat maging maingat,
sa kung paano tayo mamamahinga. Magi-inactive? Lay
low muna? Titiwalag? Ang mga ito ang madalas na nan-
gyayari sapagkat sa tingin natin ay sa mga ito tayo mabi-
lis makakakuha ng kapahingahan. Ang mga ito ang pina-
kamadaling gawin. Subalit kaiingat tayo dahil hindi natin
namamalayan ay sinasamantala na pala ni satanas ang
pagkakataon habang tayo ay nasasaktan, galit, naghihi-
nanakit, nagtatampo, naiinis at kahit nga napapagod la-
mang. Pinatitingkad niya ang mga ito upang mawalan ng
pagkakataong mabuhay sa atin ang paanyaya ng Pangi-
noong Hesus. “Lumapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na
nahihirapan at nabibigatang lubha sa inyong pasanin, at
kayo’y bibigyan ko ng kapahingahan.” (Mateo 11: 28).
Sandigan February 2009
Love Unlimited By TJ Monserrat
Love is in the air?
It’s that time of the year… again…
Love is in the air… or is it?
What is this that I am hearing? What is this that I am
seeing?
People lashing out on each other… just because of
money… pride… and other things…
People disobeying, accusing, cheating, disrespecting and
disregarding others…
People looking down on others, having a grudge,
unforgiveness and hatred towards others…
Is this practicing the 2nd greatest commandment of God?
Or are we just out here for ourselves? Defending what we
think is “right” instead of really understanding each other…
Going from one civil court to another, throwing accusations
one after another…
For this month of February, I think my article will be short
and simple…
“Love one another” is starting to be a cliché because of us.
At least once a year this is taught by many, many, MANY,
priests, preachers, pastors, inspirational speakers.… and
yet it still remains as that: a teaching.
How can we call ourselves a community if we don’t reach
out and love each other?
How can we call ourselves a parish if we always look out
for the fault of others and think that we are the righteous
ones?
How can we call ourselves a nation if we continue finger-
pointing?
We cannot produce a positive result with multiplying a
negative problem with a negative, selfish solution… this is
not math… this is reality.
You may say, “Ahhh… I’m still going to mass everyday…
worshiping the Lord every Thursday… going to teachings…
etc… I am still doing the greatest commandment of God:
To love God above all else”…
But what happened to “Whatever you do to the least of my
brethren… you do it unto me”?
The first greatest commandment will not work without the
second… and the second without the first…
This again is a plain and simple call for us… It’s the month
of love. If you love God, prove it by loving others also. Don’t
let it be a cliché. Be the first to love… don’t wait for others
to do it for you. If you want a peaceful community, be the
first to bring peace with your brothers and sisters in the
community. If you want harmony in your parish, be the first
to be in harmony with all the people in the parish,
especially the parish priest. If you want love to overflow in
your family, be the first to give love, even if you are the
unemotional type. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING GOOD TO
HAPPEN, DON’T GIVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
OTHERS… BE THE FIRST TO DO IT… AND
EVERYTHING or EVERYONE WILL FOLLOW.
Love is in the air alright… but the air will not be full of love
without us breathing it out and sharing it.
Ang lahat ng nabibigatan; walang iba kung hindi ako,
ikaw, tayong lahat. Malinaw ang katuruan. Hindi magi-
inactive, hindi magle-lay low, at lalong hindi titiwalag.
Pamasahe ba? Sakit ba? --Ang kailangan lamang ay lu-
mapit sa Kanya. Palagay mo ‘tol?
Page 3
 WORD for February 2009
The authority and word of Jesus Christ heal and renew our life.
ORDER

“Come let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the

Lord who has made us.” Psalm 95:6

THEMES AND PROMISES

1 Feb. Sunday, 2 pm, Teachers’ Forum, STCJP.
Week#1 (4th Sunday in Ordinary Time) [Faith]
Theme: Jesus Christ heals and renews our life when we 5 Feb. Thursday, 7:30 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, STCJP.
recognize Him as the Holy One of God. Sponsors: Intercessory Ministry
7 Feb. Saturday, 8:00 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, BLD
Promise: “I will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell
North, Holy Family Parish, Sampaguita Village, San Pedro,
them all that I command him.” (Dt 18:18b)
Laguna.
Week#2 (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time) [Evangelization] 8 Feb. Sunday, 2 pm, Worship Leaders Forum, STCJP.
Theme: Jesus Christ heals and renews our life
when we receive Him and preach the Good News of 15 Feb. Sunday, 2 pm, INTERCESSORY Workshop,
Salvation. STCJP. ALL ME classes are enjoined to attend!!

Promise: “He heals the broken hearted and binds up 22 Feb. Sunday, FE Class No. 10 Reunion, Elepano
their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) Chapel Calamba City

Week#3 (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time) [Obedience] DISTRICT DIRECTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2009
Theme: Jesus Christ heals and renews our life 1. Live with expectant faith that Christ will fill us
when we reach out to and care for the poor and the with His power and authority to renew our
marginalized. lives
Promise: “Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32: 1) 2. Obey and serve God, set aside our anxieties
and trust His providence.
th
Week #4 (7 Sunday in Ordinary Time) [Repentance]
3. Strive to bring more people to Christ through
Theme: Jesus Christ heals and renews our life our testimony to Christ’s victory in our own
when we lead others to repentance.
lives.
Promise: “Your sins I remember no more.” (Is
43:25b)

So Much to be Grateful and Thankful For

E ven though I clutch my blanket and
growl when the alarm rings each
bedridden
E ven though the routine of my job is
often monotonous, thank You Lord
morning, thank You Lord, that I can hear.
There are those who are deaf E ven though the first hour of my days
is hectic; when socks are lost, toast is
burned, tempers are short, thank You
for the opportunity to work. There are
many who have no work.

E ven though I keep my eyes tightly

closed against the morning light as
long as possible, thank You Lord, that I
Lord for my family. There are many who
are lonely. E ven though I grumble and bemoan
my fate from day to day, and wish my
modest circumstances were not quite so
can see. There are many who are blind
E ven though our breakfast table never
looks like the picture in food
modest, thank You Lord for the gift of life
and family

E ven though I huddle in my bed and magazines, and the menu at times
put off the physical effort of rising,
thank You Lord, that I have the strength
unbalanced and not so nutritious, thank
You Lord for the food we share. There Tita Bell Delgado-Villaflor SPE 8
to rise. There are many who are are many who are hungry.
Sandigan February 2009 Page 4