By Fr. Vester Casaclang, SDB

Pampanga, Philippines, 11 January 2016 - Even before the exhibit was formally opened, an alumnus of the old site of Don Bosco Academy in Bacolor, Pampanga was already raptly plowing through panel after panel of displays depicting the person of Don Bosco and the establishment of his educating-evangelizing family in the Philippines and in Pampanga particularly. The alumnus shared that he could see not only the displays but also the many wonderful memories that were bubbling up in his head – memories of his younger years as a student in Don Bosco Academy. His experience will not be for him alone. This was to be the experience of many other alumni who visited the exhibit at Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga from January 5 to 11, 2016. The exhibit returned that indescribable Bosconian smile to their faces. Then also it was hard to explain how they could tell who, among those who were there, were Salesians. And they asked if their confession could be heard.

I’m sure that even just for these encounters it was well worth all the effort of Fr. Ramon Borja, the Rector, and the present DBA Educative Pastoral Community. And yet what is there to say about the many more people who up until they chanced upon the exhibit, did not really know that Don Bosco was actually a priest working for the young and not a rich landowner; and also that Don Bosco worked to provide the society with good Christians and upright Citizens; and that Don Bosco Academy has been in Pampanga for the past 60 years; and that one of Don Bosco’s priests who lived and died in Pampanga, Fr. Charles Braga, was on the road to sainthood; and that through a continuous video presentation they could see the glowing faces of people who today make up the Family of Don Bosco Academy.

We had good intentions for this exhibit but in the end it was like our humble “fish and loaves” just got multiplied for a greater purpose of Don Bosco’s Lord whom he called as one always “ready to dispense mercy and grace” even in the malls.

VIVA DON BOSCO!!!

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