Calauan, The Philippines, 6 March 2016 - Under the scorching heat of the noontime sun, the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez, SDB, arrived in Don Bosco Calauan, Laguna, 81 km south from Tondo, Manila to visit the confreres working in the periphery. The Salesian Community and the people welcomed Fr. Angel by an array of lively music, colorful dances, Salesian skits and endless shouting of Viva Don Bosco! Don Bosco Calauan, one of the new frontiers of the Philippine North Province, responds to the challenge of the new evangelization. The Salesian Community helps organize more than 7,000 very poor families relocated from hazard zones in the National Capital Region where the people struggle from scarcity of work opportunities, availability of basic needs and various forms of violence. With faith and much creativity, the community step by step establish programs for every one especially the youth. According to some people, from the moment the Salesians came to the relocation sites, they felt new hope and believed that the Lord will draw them from this misery.
The visit of the Rector Major was another big boost to the whole relocation community. Upon arrival at the site, Fr. Angel, together with the whole assembly, prayed to Don Bosco for the relocation community and the Salesians. He then met the Salesian community directly working in the site, acquainted himself about their work and boosted their motivation by saying that "The Lord has sent you here for this people." "Corragio!"
The mayor of Calauan thanked the congregation for sending confreres to help the town to organize these migrants. He manifested the local government's support in all the projects of the Salesians. The bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo, Mons. Buenaventura Famadico, DD, expressed his gratitude and great admiration to the zeal and spirit of he Salesians in spiritually nourishing the life of the relocatees. He also personally thanked Fr. Boy Pablo, rector, for his availability as his confessor.
After lunch, the Rector Major toured the various projects of the ministry. Another highlight is the ribbon cutting and blessing of the new training center complex. He also rode the local tricycle, a three wheeled cart powered by a motorcycle to get an overview of the situation of the residents. Along the way many well-wishers wait along the road where Fr. Angel spent some time to bless and personally greet them. He also visited two chapels where the Salesians say mass for the people, there he encouraged the active chapel animators and some young people to strengthen their bonds as families and never lose hope because the Lord will always be with them in their journey. The Hail Mary was prayed for every meeting, a great sign of the great love and confidence of the people to the Blessed Mother.
After the encounter, the Rector Major headed to Don Bosco Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas, for the 2-day meeting with the the EAO Provincials and Delegates together Fr. Vaclav Klement, SDB, the EAO Regional Superior, Fr. Guillermo Basañes, SDB, the Councilor for the Missions, Fr. Filberto Gonzales, SDB, the Councilor for Social Communications, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, the Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr. Horacio Lopez, SDB, the secretary of the Rector Major.
