History
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN NOVITIATE AND PRAYER HOUSE
When the new Augustinian Province of Sto. Nino de Cebu began its existence on January 15, 1984, it has in its possession only two formation houses: the Guadalupe Monastery in Makati City, which housed the College Seminary, and the newly constructed San Agustin Center of Studies (SACS) in Quezon City (a gift of the Mother Province, the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines to the new Augustinian Province), which housed the simple professed friars of the new Province. At the outset, and begging for consideration, was the need to construct a separate Novitiate House, which at that time, from 1984 to 1988, was sharing a space with the simple professed friars at the San Agustin Center of Studies. As early as 1984, the dream of having a separate Novitiate House was already conceptualized in the Novitiate Formation Program of 1984. The concept gained impetus when it was officially endorsed to the Provincial Council by the community of the San Agustin Center of Studies in a letter dated January 12, 1985. However, the lack of financial resources and the other priorities of the Province laid dormant that concept for four years.
During the Second Ordinary Provincial Chapter of the Province, held on April 4 to 9, 1988 at the San Agustin Center of Studies in Quezon City, this concept would soon be realized. The Provincial Council approved for its construction. The selected site for the construction of the Novitiate House was the Province’s lot property in Barangay, Mohon, Talisay, Cebu (then only a municipality). The more than three-hectare property was already home to two structures: the Sto. Nino de Cebu Parish on one end and the Sto. Nino de Cebu Monastery of the Augustinian Contemplative Sisters at the other. The Novitiate House would be built in the middle of the property but more adjacent to the Monastery. On July 26, 1988, the Provincial Council created an Ad Hoc Committee composed of the Prior Provincial himself, Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA, the Provincial Treasurer, Fr. Bernardo Coleco, OSA and the current Master of Novices, Fr. Rosalio Paderog, OSA. They were tasked to plan and organize the construction of the Novitiate House.
After the initial preparations, the blessing of the cornerstone of the building was held on September 24, 1988 with no less than the Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and the Prior General of the Order, Rev. Fr. Martin Nolan, OSA doing the honor. Present were the entire general Council, numerous Major Superiors of the Order who were attending at that time an international conference of the Order of St. Augustine at San Agustin Center of Studies from September 18-23, the Council of the new Augustinian Province, Augustinian Sisters, benefactors and friends. Construction works immediately began. The cost of the construction was estimated at two million and five hundred thousand pesos (P2,500,000.00). Worthy to note that, perhaps amidst the excitement of constructing a separate Novitiate House, an important document was overlooked, i.e., the canonical approval of the General Council for its erection. This was immediately rectified with the sending of a request to the General Council for its approval. The canonical approval dated February 3, 1989 was received, thus making the Novitiate House a canonically erected formation house and community of the Order
On May 4, 1989 (feast of St. Monica), the official books of the Novitiate Community were opened. And on August 26 of the same year, the new Novitiate Formation House was blessed by Cardinal Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal. The first community was manned by two friars: Fr. Rosalio Paderog, OSA as Prior and Master of Novices and Fray Efren Obja-an, OSA as Treasurer and Procurator. Four novices composed the first batch (1989-90) who completed their one-year novitiate formation there. They were: Sisinio Paderog, Reynaldo Reloj, Allan Canoneo and Romeo Rabusa. Unfortunately, only one (Sisinio Paderog) would later make it as a solemn professed friar and a priest of the Order. With the help from the earning communities of the Province, an added structure (the basketball court) was constructed, which served also as a tennis court.
The third Ordinary Provincial Chapter of the Province in 1992, effected a change in the status of the Novitiate Community. The Chapter approved the merger of two communities in Mohon: the Sto. Nino de Cebu Parish community and the Novitiate community, with the Novitiate as the surviving community. It was given a new name, the San Agustin-Mohon Community. Aside from formation apostolate, the new community composed of Fr. Elias Jerome Mesina, OSA as Prior/Master of Novices, Fr. Anselmo Erazo, OSA, as Parish Priest/Treasurer, Fr. Alfredo Jubac, OSA, as Procurator, Fr. Arlon Vergara, OSA (preparing for mission in Korea),
Fray Leo Jallorina, OSA, and Fr. Armando Dayao, OSA, members and the novices involved themselves in parish works as well. Additional feature to the building was the installation of marble tiles on the first floor. Aside from formation responsibilities, the subsequent term (1996 – 2000) with Fr. Armando Dayao, OSA as Prior/Master of Novices, Fr. Sisinio Paderog, OSA as Treasurer, Fray Emeterio Lazo, OSA as Procurator, Fr. Rodolfo Sicio, OSA as Parish Priest and Fr. Medardo Durmiendo, OSA as member introduced two new ventures for the community. First was the creation of a new multi-purpose cooperative, named ‘Agustinong Kamangagawa sa Pagkakaisa at Pag-unlad Multi-Purpose Cooperative’ (AKAPPMUCO). Its aim was to
organize the workers of both the Novitiate House and the Parish and to promote in them the value of cooperation as a way of life in order to improve their social and economic well-being. Second was the start of the Sto. Nino Candle House. As an income generating enterprise, it was conceived to provide additional income to the Novitiate Community. The target market was the candle needs of the Basilica del Sto. Nino. Until now, this enterprise has grown to provide additional income to the Province and a substantial subsidy to the Novitiate House.
The succeeding term (2000-2004) witnessed the reinstatement of the Sto. Nino de Cebu-Mohon as a separate community. Thus, the new members of the Novitiate community, namely, Fr. Edgardo Lazo, OSA as Prior/Treasurer/Master of Novices, Fr. Baltazar Belocura, OSA as Secretary and Fr. Noli Detoyato, OSA as Procurator were unburdened with the pastoral obligations in the parish and concentrated themselves mainly on formation work. Fr. Mamerto Alfeche, OSA, who resigned as Parish Priest of Guadalupe, Makati after one year due to health reason, joined the Novitiate Community as member of the Formation Team. During this time, an additional wing on the friars’ area was added to the structure to provide additional rooms to friars assigned there.
From the years 2004-2016, the following friars were assigned there:
1. 2004-2008: Fr. Fernando Cleopas, OSA as Prior/Master of Novices, Fr. Renchie Senoro, OSA, as Treasurer, Fray Jose Lopez, OSA as Procurator and Fray Leo Jallorina, OSA member.
2. 2008-2012: Fr. Donato Ellezar, OSA as Prior/Master of Novices, Fr. Dominador Besares, OSA as Treasurer, Fray Efren Obja-an, OSA as Procurator (later replaced by Rev. Basilio Sugataon, OSA when the latter was assigned to the Generalate Community), Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, OSA as Spiritual Director and Fr. Melchor Mirador, OSA member.
3. 2012-2016: Fr. Candido Saladaga Jr., OSA as Prior/Procurator, Fr. Jose Seidel, OSA as Master of Novices, Fr. Dominador Besares, OSA as Treasurer and Fr. Medardo Durmiendo, OSA member.
Your Attractive HeadinThe year 2016 marked a significant change in the status of the Province’s Novitiate Formation House. Responding to the request of the Major Superiors and Delegation Superiors of the different circumscriptions belonging to the OSAAP or Order of St. Augustine in the Asia-Pacific, the Prior General elevated the status of the Novitiate House into an inter-circumscriptional novitiate for the Asia-Pacific region. It was renamed the Asia-Pacific Augustinian Novitiate (APAN). With the OSAAP members pooling their resources, the structure was extended to accommodate a bigger number of novices. Ten more rooms for the novices, two rooms for the formators, a spacious conference room, an individual conference room, a working room, a sacristy, a store room and a recreation area were added. The chapel also underwent expansion and renovation. It was officially opened on July 3, 2016 with the acceptance by the Prior Provincial of the Cebu Province, Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., OSA, of the first batch of twenty one (21) formands from four circumscriptions, namely the Cebu Province, Province of Australasia, Vicariate of the Orient and the Delegation of Our Lady of Grace (India). The occasion was graced with the presence of Fr. Anthony Banks, OSA (Asst. General for the Asia-Pacific Region), Fr. David Austin, OSA (Prior Provincial of Australasia), Fr. Peter Casino, OSA (Vicar Superior of the Vicariate of the Orient). Also installed were the new set of formators, namely, (from Cebu Province) Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, OSA as Prior, Fr. Jose Seidel, OSA as Master of Novices; (from the Vicariate of the Orient) Fr. Robert Rafael Dael, OSA as Assistant Master; (from the Province of Australasia) Fr. Jepser Bermudez, OSA as Assistant Master. Others assigned there for the term 2016-2020…
… included Fr. Alfonso Sefurifa, OSA (Procurator), Fr. Elias Jerome Mesina, OSA and Fr. Benjamin Unabia, OSA as members. Their term was extended until 2021 because the COVID pandemic prohibited the movement of personnel.
With the resignation of Fr. Jose Seidel after one year as Master (2016-17), Fr. Jepser Bermudez took over for two years (2017-2019). He was followed by Fr. Joel Beronque, OSA (from Cebu Province) who was Master of Novices for five years (2019-2024). Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA took over as Prior of the Community in 2021 up to 2024. Together with him were the following: Fr. Joel Beronque, OSA as Master of Novices/Treasurer, Fr. Leonard Realiza, OSA as Procurator, Fr. Romanico Canon, OSA, Fr. Raul Cabugao, OSA, Fr. Jasper Valmores, OSA and Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, OSA as members (all from Cebu Province). Under their care, the kitchen, refectory and the social hall underwent face lifting.
The Augustinian Novitiate and Prayer House (ANPH) is already thirty-six (36) years old. And since it became the Asia-Pacific Augustinian Novitiate APAN), eight batches of novices from the different circumscriptions of OSAAP have undergone their Novitiate formation through it. The present set of formators (for 2024-2028) are the following: Fr. Elias Jerome Mesina, OSA as Prior, Fr. Dipi Kattathara Peter, OSA as Master of Novices (Vicariate of Our Lady of Grace, India), Fr. Jasper Valmores, OSA as Treasurer, (later replaced by Fr. Benjamin Gamos, OSA), Fr. Arvin Salceda, OSA as Procurator. Two more members were added: Fr. Michael Sequio, OSA and Fray Efren Objaan, OSA. They aim to continue the tradition of imbibing to our formands the Augustinian spirit of community life and service for the growth of the Order of St. Augustine and of the Church in this part of the world.
Prepared by: Elias Jerome P. Mesina, OSA
(Main Sources: the Provincial Archives and my own recollection)
