PUVeP News

Viva, Santa Gertrudes!

The St. Gertrude's Day 2008 was celebrated on March 17, 2008 at the Santo Niño Allotment Garden in Lapasan. This annual activity, which is conducted in honor of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint for gardeners, aims to strengthen the spiritual formation of all stakeholders of the allotment garden program, to enhance community building to foster the bondage between the allotment garden associations, the local government units and Xavier University.

This year’s celebration started with a Holy Mass facilitated by Fr. Fredberto Ranan, SSJV of Jesus Nazareno Parish at the garden site which ended with a floral offertory to the Saints’ painting by the gardeners. This was followed of the official flag raising ceremony of barangay Lapasan attended by all employees as well as councilors from the barangay. Hon. Antonio S. Olango, barangay chairman, warmly welcomed all participants who hailed from the different allotment garden associations of Cagayan de Oro, CLENRO of the city government as well as Xavier University.

In her message, Ms. Estrella Borja, Associate Dean for Social Outreach of Xavier University College of Agriculture, congratulated the allotment gardeners for their achievements and assured the continued support of the College for the program. Fr. Josenilo Labra SJ, Director of SEARSOLIN, gave an inspirational talk and encouraged the participants to continuously work together to achieve sustainable community development.

Ms. Marcela D. Aggarao, entomologist of PUVeP, shared about the life of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, who was born at Landen, Belgium in 626 and died at Nivelles, in 659 at the age of thirty-three. Gertrude was appointed abbess of a Benedictine monastery at Nivelles when she reached twenty, tending to her responsibilities well, with her mother's assistance, and following her in giving encouragement and help to monks to do missionary work in the locale. Saint Gertrude was known for her hospitality to pilgrims and her aid to missionary monks from Ireland. Her feast day of March 17 is observed by gardeners, who regard fine weather on that day as a sign to begin spring planting.

Ms Lisa Gonzales of SEARSOLIN offered a special “Prayer for the Gardeners” http://www.poofcat.com/pray18.html , which was jointly translated into vernacular by Ms Gonzales and Ms . Roquesa "Khessa" Eduave of CLENRO (see below).

Mr. Jun Figueroa, representing Dr. Bella Monse from the Health & Nutrition Section of the Department of Education, had a talk on proper sanitation and hygiene and distributed the so-called “Essential Health Care Package” to the participants. Different vegetable and flower seeds were also given to all gardeners.

Marlon S. Butac, a Grade VI pupil of the Balulang Elementary School, delighted the crowd with a wonderfully delivered version of the “The Impossible Dream”, the favorite song of Fr. William Masterson SJ, the founder of XU College of Agriculture. The activity ended with a sumptuous fiesta meal which was jointly prepared by the St. Nino allotment gardeners with assistance of Barangay Lapasan and PUVeP.

More pictures of the this year's and previous St. Gertrude Day celebration can be found at our St. Gertrude de Nivelles website.,

PAG-AMPO SA USA KA HARDINERO

Sta. Gertrudes de Nivelles

March 17

Salamat sa akong tanaman, Ginoo ug sa matag lisong gamay

nga miturok ug namulak sa hilabihang ka anindot,

aron mopuno sa tiunay nga panginahanglan sa akong kalag.

Salamat sa katagbawan nga akong nakaplagan, Ginoo

nagluhod ako nga mapasalamatton kanimo, alang sa kahimayaan

sa akong tanaman , nga usa ka panalangin gayud gikan kanimo.

Nakita ko ang Imong gugma nga mianinag diha sa matag bulok

sa bulak nga nibuswak, ang kasilaw sa bangaw sa imong kaambong sa matag higayon

Matag gamay nga piyoos sa bulak nga nalimin sa tinulo sa hamog,

nagapasabot ug saad sa Imong gugma, nga giamuma

sa maigang nga adlaw sa ting-init nga gikan sa kahitas-an.

Mapasalamaton ako sa inanay nga ulan, nga nagapabuhi sa uga nga kalibutan,

ug nagapabugnaw sa hangin ug kadahunan sa kakahuyan

ug nagahatag sa bag-ong kinabuhi sa matag usa kanamo.

Nagapasalamat usab ako sa hinay nga huyohoy nga nagapalihok

sa matag bulak ug naga paagni sa mga alibangbang

ngadto sa kinatibuk-an nga similyahan.

Nangamuyo ako, Ginoo sa Imong panalangin sa akong gamay nga luna

hinaut nga kini mag mabungahon pinaagi sa giya sa Imong kamot.

Salamat sa kalipay, Ginoo, nga akong nasinatian

uban ning akong pagluhod, ug sa matagbulak nga nibuswak

timailhan sa panalangin nga imong gitugyan kanamo.

AMEN

Back 17.03.2008.