Buwan ng Wika: the Davao Seminary way

With the theme, “Filipino: Wikang Mapagbago”, St. Francis Xavier College Seminary located at Catalunan Grande, Davao City, as an academic institution, culminated the celebration of “Buwan nang Wika” last August 25, 2017. The said event that transpired, signifies that the seminary fathers, together with the seminarians, faculty and staff, valued so much the importance of this very special event.

Celebrated annually, the event began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Rev. Fr. Orlando Angelia, the rector of college seminary, and concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Urbano Pardillo, the dean of academics of college seminary, and Rev. Fr. Dioscoro Saniel, the procurator and assistant spiritual director of college seminary. During the homily, the presider emphasized the significance of knowing the language of God, which is love because God is Love. Also, quoting the words of St. John Paul II, “man’s first vocation is to love,” and to love is not about the feelings or the sentiments of the person, but it is about willingness, because the person who loves, wills to love.

After the mass, the program proper immediately followed. In the program, there was a competition with different categories such as “Pagbigkas nang Tula, Likhawit, Deklamasyon, and Extemporaneous speech in Tagalog”. During the program, the seminarians were stunned and amazed, as they witnessed some of their colleague showcased their hidden talents, and abilities in each category of the competition. After the announcement of winners, our Dean of Academics Rev. Fr. Urbano Pardillo gave his closing remarks that concludes our morning activities. In the afternoon, at exactly 2 o’clock, the activity, named Laro nang Lahi, took place. During the game, the faces of each seminarians’ manifest that they have enjoyed so much playing the parlor games with their co-seminarians.

In fact, one of the seminarians, named Christian James Ordaneza from VDLR Parish-Toril, said: “playing those games enlivens my childhood memories.” Also, Sem. Raphael Henrich Vicente, a fourth year seminarian, commented that, “the parlor games do not only enable me to reminisce my childhood days, but it also petrifies our camaraderie as one family and brothers in Christ.” Then, we concluded our afternoon activities with the pronouncement of winners and giving of awards.

To sum up, with the whole day celebration of the culmination of Buwan nang Wika, we, the seminarians, were able to appreciate the beauty of being a Filipino, a Filipino who loves and values his own language. Therefore, loves and values also his identity, as Rev. Fr Orlando Angelia said, “celebrating Linggo ng Wika is about knowing our identity and loving our own culture as Filipino people,” for we uphold that our language is an essential part in our identity as Filipinos. Thus, the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, are a living reminder for us to love and value our own language. (Sherwin Jay Arquiza)