My AGMA Story

I delivered the invocation to AGMA (Annual General Membership Assembly) of CASURECO II last October 31, 2009 held at the Civic Center, Naga City. And this is my story.

I received a call inviting me to give an invocation to AGMA on October 31, at 1pm at the Civic Center . I did not know what AGMA stood for. I had no inkling it had to do with CASURECO II. After checking my calendar, I said yes. In today's parlance, it's a "no brainer." I believed my participation is a duty intrinsically related to my priesthood. Judging at a beauty pageant or even a singing contest is another thing.

Later that day, I found out AGMA is related to CASURECO II. I was told the camp of Jane Barrameda would hold the Assembly at CASURECO II while the camp of Msgr. Zosimo "Nono" Sañado would be held at the Civic Center. This confused me. I wondered if there would be two assemblies. A moment later, I thought maybe there was only one and it would be held at the Civic Center.  Perhaps, finally, both camps decided to hold a common assembly. This made me apprehensive about one thing - that they decided to meet head on and I, an outsider, would find myself squeezed in the middle.

On October 30, Fr. Dan Imperial told me that Msgr. Sañado issued a very long memo postponing the General Assembly due to typhoon. The news made my life easy as it ended my speculations.

However, in the evening, I got a call telling me that AGMA would push through and the program would begin at ten in the morning instead. It was then clear to me that I would be giving an invocation to the Barrameda group. But why the Civic Center? I decided to just wait and see. If the weather were fine, I would go and perform my priestly and prophetic duty.

The weather turned in favor of the Barrameda group. The sun was shining and smiling. And so was the Barrameda camp. DWNX was not a big help at all to Msgr. Sañado in giving a better forecast. More than a thousand came and mostly were unfamiliar faces. Shortly after I arrived, Congressman Luis Villafuerte arrived escorted by mayors of the second district. I did not feel the need to go near him. No ceremonial shaking of hands, no photo ops. After the roll call and the declaration of a quorum, I was asked to give the invocation. This is what I prepared and read:

Dyos samong Kaglalang, kami Saimo nagsasamba asin nag-oomaw, kaiba kan gabos Mong linalang.

Kami ngunyan nagpapasalamat huli kan panahon na itinao Mo samo tanganing kami magkatiripon bilang myembro konsumedores.

Hinahagad nyamo an Saimong presensya sa lambang puso nyamo asin sa samong katiripunan. Tawan kami nin kaliwanagan kan isip, tanganing sa samong pag-urulay asin pagdesisyon, samong paurugon, bako an kamawotan kan nagkapirang mayayaman asin makapangyarihan, kundi an ikakarahay kan kadaklan na nagtitios huli sa katikapuhan. Lugod, sa padagos nyamong pakisumaro sa pagtios sa krus kan Saimong aki, kami dai magin buta sa kaipuhan kan mga kasaraditan. Ini hinahagad nyamo huli ki Kristo na samong Kagurangnan. Amen.

I never said anything against the local government of Naga, nor anything against the DWNX Dance Showdown during the Peñafrancia Fiesta. I never said anything against my brother priest, Msgr. Sañado. I went there as I was invited, to deliver the invocation. Then, I left the Assembly even before the Congressman could lambaste anyone in my presence.

Now, DWNX concludes that my comments against the local government of Naga are motivated by my alleged loyalty to Mayor Robredo's archenemy. This display of narrow-mindedness is unfortunate but not surprising. After all, DWNX is a mouthpiece of Mayor Robredo, as the entire world knows.