By Fr. Randy A. Figuracion, SDB and Fr. Honesto Geronimo, SDB

Cebu, Philippines, November 5, 2015 - The Salesians of the Philippine South Province gathered for the Provincial Assembly Day in Don Bosco Youth Center - Pasil, Cebu City on November 5, 2015. It was a day dedicated to cultivate the spirit of brotherhood as a Provincial Community. Majority of the confreres from the different communities of Cebu, Negros, Iloilo, Samar and Mindanao came together to feel that each is a living part of the growing family of Don Bosco in this part of the country.

An input on “Transformation” occupied the morning and the afternoon timetable of the gathering given by Fr. Dennis Paez, SDB from the FIN – interrupted only by the sumptuous lunch prepared by the Salesian Cooperators. This one-day event is part of an on-going journey of renewal initiated by the Commission on Formation through a series of cluster preparation given in Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Its aim is to foster a greater harmony and solidarity among the confreres as prophets of communion.

A well-participated Eucharistic celebrated with vespers punctuated the day celebrated by FIS Provincial, Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB and animated by the Novices. In the early evening during dinner, an advance birthday program for Fr. Provincial was also included. Among the items presented were the traditional Filipino dance of “tinikling and “pandango sa ilaw” performed beautifully by the novices. After the short musical jamming orchestrated by Fr. Cesar Manlosa, Fr. Julius Sanchez and the rest of the Salesian band, Fr. Godo sang his own favorite song. Fr. Anday Satura was the program emcee and game planner of the program.

The evening ended with ball games of basketball, table tennis and table football. The Provincial Assembly Day was indeed an encounter of brotherly friendship that hopefully results in concrete personal transformation that leads to deeper fraternal relationships.