Friday, February 26, 2010

Most Rev. Ramon Arguelles, DD, STL

Archbishop

Archdiocese of Lipa

MONTEMARIA

Montemaria, a promontory located in Barangay Pagkilatan,

Batangas City, still marked in the map as Matuko Point, was almost unheard of before late 2006. On January 7, 2007 Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, after a High Mass on the very site, laid the cornerstone of a projected huge statue of Mary, Virgin of the poor.

Thenceforth Montemaria, as name and place, became famous the world over. With such renown, the province of Batangas obtained still the added distinction of being a blessed place. All this became possible due to the presence of the world renowned healer priest, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Suarez, native of Botong, Taal, Batangas, who becoming a Canadian Citizen was ordained priest for the religious congregation called Companions of the Cross, a diocesan group from Ottawa.

After three years, in which many were expecting and inquiring

about the promised huge Marian image to be already in place, Fr.Suarez on February 4, 2010 at 0807H texted me: (sic) “Gud am po. I try to col u po to let u know that the board and da donors are unanimous in not building the shrine in mtmaria a condition that congressman mandanas is asking. I need to talk to u person about da development soon.” This fact was actually announced the previous night, during a concert at the Meralco Theatre. Thereafter it was made public that the last mass in Montemaria would be on February 14, 2010. Someone texted me on February 15: (sic) “Hve u heard that Fr Ido was escorted & whisked away by PNP aftr his Mass ystrday. Call & txt threats r recd....”

The news of the pullout was met with diverse reactions, mostly

negative especially against Dodo Mandanas and indirectly against the Archdiocese of Lipa. Text exchanges indicate a great deal of perplexity resulting among many, including Batangueños. The forthcoming elections did not escape being linked with the stunning declaration. Some say that he (sic) “saw one tarpaulin by d road of Dodo w/ a hole in d eye”. Dodo is Congressman Mandanas about whom it is also said: (sic) “Matutuwa si Bokal Berberabe”.

I myself cannot get away from queries. My only declaration is: “Fr. Suarez and his groups, both the Companions of the Cross as well as the so-called Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation (MMP), came without our inviting them. We accepted them with open arms trying to help them in some difficult problems. Now that they unilaterally declare their leaving Montemaria and the Archdiocese of Lipa, we cannot stop them. Let it be clear that we do not send them away.”

Questions continue to be raised. As the current shepherd of the Archdiocese of Lipa, I must give my views on how things developed.

Let me narrate the following:

1. I met Fr. Ido for the first time when he was introduced to me by Fr. Rodem Ramos sometime in 2006. He offered help for the construction of the Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace Church in Antipolo del Norte, Lipa City. The new parish is being gradually formed by Fr. Rodem. Fr. Rodem says Fr Suarez promised to help, but so far the help has not come as yet. Fr. Suarez also contributed an significant amount for the Masteral course of several archdiocesan priests studying educational management at the La Salle - Taft. We are deeply grateful for that help.

2. At one point in 2006, Fr. Ido through Fr. Rodem signified his desire to establish himself in the Philippines by applying to become a member of the Lipa Archdiocesan Clergy. I told Fr. Ido that the Archdiocesan Clergy is hesitant to accept priest-applicants, even fellow Batangueños, coming from other seminaries, because their formation often makes difficult their integration into the local clergy. I suggested, instead, knowing that he was ordained as priest as a member of the Companions of the Cross, that the said institute come and establish itself in the Archdiocese. I planned to put them somewhere between the new Holy Trinity Parish and the boundary between Batangas City, Taysan and Lobo. Initially their presence would assure ministry to the poorest in the province who would be relocated there, made into a community provided with livelihood opportunities. I considered the community and future parish in the area to be entrusted toMary, Virgin of the Poor (I am familiar with the Virgin of the Poor's apparition in Banneux, Belgium in 1933). Fr. Ido seemed impressed by the idea. He would know the Virgin of the Poor of Banneux, Belgium only early 2008. I was the one who gave him the idea of Mary, Virgin of the Poor.

3. In January 7, 2007, I was invited to concelebrate with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales the Holy Mass and blessing of the cornerstone of the Virgin of the Poor image and Basilica which would rise on the location. The Virgin Statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty. For the first time I reached Matuko Point and admired the beauty of the place. At that time, I was not asked to speak, as the local archbishop. Many noticed that. I would have expressed my agreement to the plan because of other poor who will benefit from the project.

4. It turned out that Fr Ido and Congressman Mandanas met. That meeting’s casualty was my proposal for a future Church for the poor in another area. That was shelved due to the Mandanas offer. Congressman Mandanas offers five hectares for the proposed shrine. Dodo Mandanas was the author of the word Montemaria which thenceforth replaced the name Matuko Point.

5. In mid-2009 Dodo Mandanas saw me to give a proposal, without touching on the five hectares set aside for Fr Ido's project. He says he would set aside around ten hectares for further religious site development, owned by ‘members’ but administered by the archdiocese. I realized that Mr Mandanas and Fr Ido's group had a falling away. Nevertheless Dodo Mandanas did not withdraw his pledge to donate the five hectares. I held the “arrangement” with the archdiocese in abeyance. Certainly the archdiocese cannot accept the administrative role of business projects, especially that which connotes exclusivity. (With the withdrawal of Fr Ido,s plan, this became moot and academic, Dodo avers.)

6. Many questions come from the local clergy and from other people regarding the project. Late October in the USA I was asked about Montemaria. I was with Filipinos soliciting help for the huge statue. With so many questions, after talking with the superior of the Companions of the Holy Cross who I though planned to visit the Philippines around February 2010, I made up my mind to call a general meeting of all concerned to discuss the situation at that time. Knowing there were diverse plans regarding the place most of which I am the last to know, I hoped to unify all ideas and develop a master plan for the whole area. I expressed to many that Montemaria might be the fulfillment of the dream of the late Cardinal Sin in the eighties to build “A Holy Land of Asia”.

7. The set February meeting came. Interested persons were

present, including my acquaintance from Southern California who heads the Montemaria Foundation (fundraising) in that area and the local superior of the Companions of the Cross who was assigned to represent the Superior General. The discussion focused on the donated five hectare lot which has not been turned over yet. There were many allegations which were gradually but not adequately explained. The core of the dialogue was why the donation papers have not been given yet. From what I understand the Foundation has yet no juridical personality (no SEC approval). The Companions of the Cross too has no juridical personality in the Philippines. Meanwhile Congressman Mandanas seeks also tax deduction based on the donation. Fr Totit Mandanas repeated what he has already previously explained to all, that only the Roman Catholic Archdiocese can satisfy both needs. The meeting adjourned with the Foundation saying they would discuss and decide on the matter. I gave them two weeks to decide setting a February 15 meeting in Parañaque. This meeting was rescinded when on February 4 early morning I was told on text that the Foundation decided to leave Montemaria behind and the project would be moved to Cavite, where San Miguel Corporation through Danding Cojuangco and Ramon Ang

is reported donating, more than eighty-six hectares. Anybody in the place of Fr Ido and his associates will understandably

find the better offer attractive. Batangas, especially in that Pagkilatan area, cannot donate that huge property. Long before, the place was destined to become an ecotourism center. The Foundation was reported eager to buy the needed portion around the donated zone at a low price. Batangas City's real state value is among the highest in the country. We congratulate Fr Ido and his companions for obtaining such large space in Cavite which even much earlier has already been envisioned to become ‘THE NEW JERUSALEM’.

Montemaria will remain in Batangas without the grandiose

plans. After all Dodo Mandanas was the one who coined the

word MONTEMARIA to replace the old name Matuko Point.

Batangas / the Archdiocese of Lipa may not have been the ideal place for the magnificent project. But we welcomed it when it came to us. We ask forgiveness if our generosity and openness was too limited. Forever will we be grateful to the Foundation and to Fr Ido for being patient with us and making us share immense blessings all these past three years. We cheerfully received them when they came; we consider it our loss now that they go. We wish them all success for their worthy endeavor for God and the Blessed Mother, Virgin of the Poor. #UB

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