Chapter Household Dinner with Bishop Antonio Tobias

We had a special guest at our humble abode last December 9. The good ol’ Bishop of the Diocese of Novaliches is back!

It was special because you don’t get to be visited by your diocesan bishop every day or even every year at home for that matter.

But if you think he has any snotty VIP mentality about himself, think again! The Most Reverend Antonio R. Tobias, DD is one of the most down-to-earth persons I have ever met. Outspoken and controversial at times, the straight forward bishop nonetheless, sincerely talks from his heart and has a genuine love for the masses. You may not like his politics but you’ll be disarmed by his simplicity and witty charm.

The first time I met this servant of God was way back in late 2004. I was to fetch him at his residence in East Fairview and bring him to Gawad Kalinga (GK) Ruby. From then on, we’ve had the opportunity to meet him again on several occasions building a good relationship and getting much support from the good bishop when we needed it.

Bishop Tobias visits our home for the first time in April of 2005

My family was honored with his presence when he first accepted our invitation for a simple dinner in 2005. The good bishop even brought us a gift, an embossed metal picture of the Madonna and the child Jesus.

I particularly remembered him liking the uncooked banana (saging Saba) which caught his attention at the side of our dining table.

Since then, he gave us another visit at home before meeting with our CFC leaders, celebrated the Holy Mass during our CFC Unit Christmas celebration at Sitio Ruby and watched our chapter sponsored fund-raising concert at the Good Shepherd Parish.

This time around I invited Bishop Tobias over to dinner to also meet our chapter leaders in Sta. Lucia who were also there at our residence for an informal gathering.

Present time: The good Bishop shares a light moment with my daughter Faith

And with Junior and Joshua

Bishop Tobias leads us in a thanksgiving prayer before meals

Later that night, we were serenaded by members of the cluster’s GKare – Gawad Kalinga’s health program for the poor who were singing carols to raise funds for their projects. Like a stroke of serendipity, the group through Sis. Mean Santos asked me through text (only that morning) if they could sing Christmas carols in our house that night. I said sure and told them that we had Bishop as our guest that night. I could only imagine the excitement and nervousness they may have felt surprised at who was going to listen to their performance.

Experiencing a little night of music – serenaded by CFC brothers and sisters in Gawad Kalinga’s (GK) Health program – GKare

Included in the GKare singing group and a member of

our chapter’s music ministry household was

Sis. Marlene Flores (last woman singing to the right)

who happened to be a relative of Bishop Tobias

That night, we also took the opportunity to present some of our planned chapter activities to the bishop seeking his advice on matters such as baptism, confirmation and church wedding of members in Sta. Lucia.

After a while, obviously exhausted from his busy schedule, Bishop Tobias excused himself from our household to retire tonight and prepare for his medical check up the following morning.

Thank you Bishop for gracing our informal gathering!






The chapter household discussed about forthcoming projects for 2010

Indeed, it was a very fruitful and grace-filled moment at our home that December evening. My family and our chapter household look forward to better and stronger relations with our parish and diocesan leaders. After all, we serve the same loving God!

Merry Christmas everyone!