DILAAB UNITY RETREAT

To say that the preceding week was great” or tremendous seems an understatement.

The retreat at CBCP/NASSA (National Secretariat for Social Action) retreat house in Tagaytay was certainly the highlight of the week. There were about 45 participants, 24 of these coming from Cebu coming mostly from the corporate world, business, two rock musicians, and Dilaab staff. The retreat house at Brgy. Asisan afforded a very green alternative to the pollution of urban living. We were only the retreatants and the facility is quite affordable. Food was good. Bishop Tagle came around 10:30 am. He shared on the kingdom of God as synonymous with fullness of life. The good bishop's humility, sharp intellect, quick and comic wit, coupled with true to life stories, brought the house down and our spirits soaring, so to speak. Bishop Tagle ended his talk by connecting the Kingdom of God with human development; to accept the kingdom is to become more human. This was an affirmation of what Dilaab stands for. A good Christian must also strive to be a good citizen.Cesar Binag, his wife, Agnes, and their four boys performed a song for us " What a friend we have in Jesus" as we heard a testimony from him and Samson Tucay of how the spirit is changing lives among policemen. After supper, Nasud Ko" ("My Nation") was performed by Alaine Agadier who composed the music. To wrapped up the whole day since it connected love of God and country another dimension of the Kingdom of God. As we watched the sun rise, our spirits were likewise raised in prayer. An idea to pray a common prayer at 9 am daily (the time of Pentecost) came to fore. Had a prayer mountain experience Sunday at 5:30 am. The spiritual exercise would have been more meaningful had we walked some distance from the retreat house. After lunch, an impromptu poetry (tula) reading session was led by Heidi Mendoza. The remnant, mostly from Cebu, decided to go around Tagaytay on a jeep. Bad choice for a vehicle which turned out to be a smoke belcher. Visited Peoples Park in the sky. Fog envelope the place including the statue of the Mother of Fair Love, a rather apropos patroness in a rather romantic place. Words fall short of the spiritual reality we experienced, a veritable Pentecost. Some words to describe the event as shared by some participants include:"connecting, restoring, rejuvenating a heart to heart experience with our Lord through his fascinating children gathered around proclaiming His word now, i know why we were sent here, I have reawakening of my senses and to act upon its sense of responsibility to support good governance promote peace and bring hope what a journey it has been humbling, Spirit filled communing, inspiring, challenging, solidifying, uniting, a dawning, enlightening, illuminating, revealing, willing, learning, laughing, crying, and loving four day journey experience; Thanks and Praise to God. The experience gave us a glimpses of a nation being built through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is as if one was meeting long lost friends whom one meets for the very first time.

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There is hope.

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DILAAB TEAM AT VLS SUBIC

Things are falling into places. Thanks be to God.

The seminar was a dream come true. In our five batches of participants in the PNP Values and Leadership School in Cebu, enlisted personnel often urged us to include officers in the program. Now we were sharing before such group. We were quite struck by the positive disposition and a sprirituality that was exhibited by the officers considering thay were only on their 8th day into the 30-day training.

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VISIT TO BARUG! MAASIN

God continues to affirm our humble efforts in social transformation. He even grants us our hearts' desire.

The two archangels Gabriel, ("man of God" or "God is strong") and Raphael, ("the remedy or healing of God") whose feast we celebrated, provide a most consoling presence for us. Had a seminar/forum with potential volunteers in the graft and corruption effort in Maasin led by Fr. Garnet. They want to do something. Yet, we have to start with self awareness, before we can move on to ingenuity, love, and heroism (as the book, "Heroic Leadership," tell us).

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God bless us all!

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TRAINING ON FUND-DEVELOPMENT

Their smiles communicate joy and hope in the Lord. Some highlights:

Anbern, our fund-development staff (a first time for us and just recently organized), departed for Manila for a two-day training on fund-development with a group focused on teaching a non-profit organizations this vital element. God’s providential care provided Anbern with a place to stay (provided by a Dilaab supporter) around 7 buildings from the venue. With only 6 participants (more were expected), Bern had a chance to really interact and raise questions. She learned that such work is fundamentally about relationships. She also got in touch with someone who is providing us with a database software (SQL) and other high-tech help. Praise the Lord!

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GOV. "AMONG ED" PANLILIO VISIT TO CEBU

Much preparatory work went into talks before various groups and the visit of Gov. "Among Ed" Panlilio of Pampanga. An ocular visit also occurred in a place that holds future promise for the Dilaab Foundation. Brainstorming sessions continued regarding the bold new frontiers of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the area of corruption-intolerant work. "Among" Ed Panlilio arrived. No VIP treatment. Very simple person.

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YOUNG HEROIC CHRISTIAN PROFESSIONAL AND ENTREPRENEUR GATHERING

22 September 2007 was full with two fora, one with the Young United Professionals (YUP) of Barug! Pilipino; the other with the representatives from government, business, and civil society/academe. YUP had representatives from various parts of the Visayas, and also from the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN). At the morning forum, representatives from local schools came. They launched a Lifestyle Check Tipster project. The YUP stayed on until the following day with a joint statement regarding corruption intolerance. A tri-sectoral forum in the afternoon became a very exciting one, with many persons commenting and raising questions. An elderly man said he had attended with some doubts since he thought there was no new thing he could learn. He said he was mistaken. A Christian united front was emerging even as a participant said he was not the religious type.

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PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES: CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND CSR

Again the conflagration of hope is truly palpable.

Fr. Melo gave a talk last 13 September 2007 before one of the break out groups during the National Convention of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. It was entitled "Practices and Challenges: Catholic Schools and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Those who attended were in charge of the outreach programs of the CEAP. Some of our challenges included: promotion of CQ (conscience quotient), not just IQ, EQ, or SQ in Catholic schools; involvement in a nationwide synchronization of heroic Christian citizenship in terms of focusing on one little act of good citizenship monthly; etc. Our team also promoted the music album "Nasud ko" ('My Nation") to the delegates. It was very well received, even by non-Cebuanos. There is need to construct a website for sustaining e-contact with participants.

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