Caceres Priest Awarded

A priest of the Archdiocese of Caceres was recently honored by the Educational Research and Development Foundation Assistance (ERDA) for being its partner in the "unrelenting service to the Filipino youth."

Fr. Felix Barela, the School Chaplain of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College-Naga Campus, the Camarines Sur High School, and the Naga College Foundation, was one of only two awardees of ERDA which named Bishop Artemio Rillera, SVD, DD as its other honored partner. They were awarded last 17 September at the Occupational Safety and Health Center, Quezon City.

ERDA was founded 30 years ago by Fr. Pierre T. Tritz, SJ whose mission is summed by the adage "To allow a child to go to school is to give him Hope."

As school chaplain, Fr. Barela works not only with the school administrations but more importantly with different campus organizations. He is a sought-after resource person for Transformational Leadership due to his very rich experiences of pastoral ministry in remote and very rural parishes. Moreover, he had special studies on Educational Leadership at the Australian Catholic University, Brisbane Campus 2004.

During his foreign mission, Fr. Barela continued his linkages back home, more importantly with Fr. Tritz, S.J.  With him, Fr. Barela continued his Child-rights Advocacy at his home town of Nabua.

In his first parish assignment in Tabgon, Caramoan, he initiated to operate a Pre-School in which the parents together with the Pastoral Council formed a strategic partnership in endeavoring programs and projects for the community. One of the projects was teaching members of the community the link between loving God and protecting the surroundings of Caglago Mountain.

Fr. Barela also pioneered a child sponsorship program, "Patong Tribal Community Development Center" which has been extending services and goods to hundreds of families-in particular those from indigenous communities-in destitute situations along the foot of Mount Iriga.

With the assistance of Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal Foundation, Fr. Barela is currently on the preparatory stage of launching a "FOOD Bank storage and the Studio" that geared towards mobilizing poor children's talents and potentials.