After almost two years of planning and fundraising, the community of Barangay Trinidad in Tubabao Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, along with the De La Salle Philippines team and the One La Salle Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Project’s Team, finally gathered together for the blessing of their newly-built Holy Trinity Chapel. The blessing took place last August 30, 2018. The program started with the unveiling of the dedicatory marker by Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC, Auxiliary Visitor for Philippines of the Lasallian East Asia District, Fr. Cesar Lenino Garcia OP, former parish priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz parish, and Barangay Trinidad Chairperson, Hon. Gertrudes Abuda. It was followed by the ribbon cutting led by Br. Armin Luistro FSC, President of the De La Salle Philippines, Most Reverend Bishop Crispin Varquez DD of the Diocese of Borongan, Fr. James Abella SJ, the parish priest, and Mrs. Apolonia Godino, President of the Holy Trinity Chapel Pastoral Council.
A Eucharistic Mass was held after presided by Most Reverend Bishop Crispin Varquez DD. In his homily, Bishop Varquez enjoined the faithful to always go to Mass and strengthen their relationship with God because they have a new Chapel where they can nourish their relationship with God, and encouraged the community to do their counterpart to make sure that the chapel is well-taken care of. Bishop Varquez also gave emphasis on the meaning of the green canopy in front of the Chapel which symbolizes the broken chevron of the De La Salle coat of arms which means Indivisa Manent in Latin, or permanently Indivisible in English. He reminded the faithful that the symbol will always serve as a reminder for everyone to remain united and to stick together as one community no matter what happens.
It was then followed by a short closing program of the One La Salle Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Project hosted by Mr. Benjamin Sazon Jr. from DLSZ and Ms. Liza Sumook from Trinidad Elementary School.
Br. JJ Jimenez FSC shared, “Ipinagdiriwang natin ang inyong matatag na kalooban at inyong pagkakaisa. Sana po itong kapilyang ito ay magsilbing palatandaan sa inyong lahat, na ang ating pinakasandigan sa lahat ng sakuna at sa lahat ng bagyo ay ang ating pagkakaisa. Sana sa lugar na ito kayo ay magtulung-tulungan, kalimutan natin ang pagkakaiba-iba, at tulungan lalo na ang mga kasama nating nangangailangan. At bilang isang guro, ay hinihiling ko na tulungan ninyo ang ating mga kabataan sa Tubabao Island. Sila po ay nangangailagan ng inyong pag-gabay at pagtulong. At sana po ang kapilyang ito ay maging daan upang kayo ay magkaisa lalung-lalo na para sa mga kabataan.”
After his inspirational message, representatives from the Barangay council, parents, teachers and youth shared their experiences and thoughts as well about the four-year engagement in their community.
Br. Armin Luistro FSC delivered his closing message after. He shared some lessons that he got from this celebration. “Halos lahat tayo ay nag-alay mula sa ating sarili. Na bawat isa ay may madadala, bawat isa kabahagi… Sana habang lahat ay bago, huwag nating kalimutan ang nakaraan. Sana kung mayroon tayong mga pagsubok sa buhay, lumapit lang tayo sa loob ng Simbahang ito; at atin pong alalahanin na kahit si Yolanda ay walang huling salita. Ang huling salita sa lahat ng ating mga pagsubok sa buhay ay ating Panginoon na nagbibigay ng panibagong buhay sa lahat…at sa Tubabao ay may pintakasi, at pag sinabing may pintakasi, bawat isa may maibabahagi. Yun din ang iuuwi ko, na sa maliit na isla ng Tubabao, mayroong mga tao na kahit sa anong pagsubok sa buhay, kayang-kayang mag pintakasi. At kapag tayo ay nagtutulong-tulong, walang bagyo, walang pagsubok ang hindi natin mababago.”
Br. Armin also emphasize how important Barangay Tubabao is in the lives of the Lasallians. “Mahalaga po para sa La Salle ang Barangay Trinidad dahil kapag kami po ay nanunumpa bilang mga Brothers, ang una naming binabanggit, mahal na Santisima Trinidad, iniaalay ko ang buong buhay ko para sayo, kahit saan mo kami ipadala, pupuntahan namin. Sa susunod po na mag renewal of vows kami, maaalala namin na meron isang Barangay Trinidad na kung saan tinanggap kami ng buong-buo, ng buong puso, ng inyong komuniad. Sana sa pagbisita po ninyo sa kapilyang ito, maalala din ninyo na kaming mga taga La Salle, palagi po naming kasama kayo sa lahat ng lakbayin ninyo sa buhay.”
As his parting message, “Sa katapusan po, maraming maraming salamat. Sa pag-alis po namin sa Tubabao, mas marami kaming natutunan mula sa inyo na hindi mabibili ng pera, na hindi po mawawasak ng Yolanda, at hinding-hindi po namin makakalimutan. Mas marami po kaming baon na galing sa inyong buhay na ibabalik namin kung saan man kami pupunta. Kaya kung pinasasalamatan ninyo kami, mas maraming maraming marami po ang aming pasasalamat sa inyo. Ang Tubabao po ay hindi na lamang maliit na tuldok sa Pilipinas, ang Tubabao po ngayon ay nakatuldok na sa aming mga puso.”
The program was attended by the Diocese of Borongan headed by Most Reverend Bishop Crispin Varquez DD, the De La Salle Brothers, representatives from De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, De La Salle Philippines, Guiuan Disaster Response Coordination, San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Holy Trinity Chapel pastoral council, Chapel pastoral councils of Tubabao Island barangays, Department of Education Guiuan District, Trinidad Elementary School faculty and students, Sangguniang Barangay of Trinidad, members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Guiuan, and the people of Barangay Trinidad.
