By Fr. Ditto Gueco, SDB
Provincial secretary, FIN
Pampanga, the Philippines, January 20, 2016 - With help of many friends of Don Bosco and after a lengthy process of discernment within the FIN province, the Rector Major with the consent of his Council authorized the requested re-opening of a 'new-old' Salesian presence of Bacolor (Pampanga) in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Philippines North, FIN on January 20,2016.
Many Don Bosco Past Pupils, benefactors and Salesians were involved in this re-opening process. Also the archbishop of San Fernando Mons. Florentino G. Lavarias does supported return of Don Bosco to Bacolor in this terms: "... I express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for your presence in the Archdiocese of San Fernando and give my consent for the reopening...".
The history of Bacolor Don Bosco Academy goes back to the times of the Servant of God Fr. Carlo Braga (who died in Bacolor in 1973), when the Salesian Aspirantate was operating in this place. Large numbers of the Filipino Salesian consider Bacolor as their Mother-House. Due to the eruption of nearby volcano and consecutive natural disaster the whole setting was abandoned and lately sold in 2004.
Since next May 2016 the Bacolor School will be operated under supervision of the Province FIN with a large group of our Lay Mission Partners. Former Salesian Aspirantate is now located in fast growing population of this industrial area. Within five years there is a possibility to re-open also a Salesian religious community that would take care about the primary and secondary school educative and pastoral ministry. The closest Salesian community is about 30 km of distance in Pampanga.
