The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod held a get-together at the Quarter Moon, Goldenfields Commercial Complex, in Bacolod City , recently, a press release from the group said.

The group celebrated its seventh anniversary on July 17 last year. It is composed of enthusiasts and professionals who adhere to the old Chinese Nei Jia (Internal Family) art of Tai Chi Chuan or “Grand Ultimate Fist.”

One's quality of life and mind are improved, and inner peace attained, through correct breathing, non-impact/non-injurious physical exercise, and proper diet and health-centered lifestyle, the press release said.

Tai Chi, originally founded for fighting and recently modified as a competitive sport, is now focusing on the health aspect of the art, TCCB teacher, Peter John Yap, said.

Also present at the gathering were Alex Ang, Nick Antonio, Charles Atas, Pepe Chiu, Azer de Asis, and Bill Gomez, Ben Halili, Humberto Lim, James Tupas, Jose Uy Jr., and Stephen Young.

Guests were James Jr., Narciso Alojado, and Dr. Raymund Antonio Maguad, all of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society Inc., the press release said.

Other TCCB members are Letty Chiu, Cathy Friend, Bob Jereza, Rudy Jimenez, Jun Perez, Alex Su and Enrique Tan. The group offers free Tai Chi lessons, and those interested may call Jose Uy Jr. at Tel. No. 434-7664, the press release added.*

back to top

Hundreds flock to Latin Mass

ILOILO CITY – Hundreds of Ilonggo Catholic faithful flocked on Wednesday to the first Latin Mass held here in decades.

Around 700 parishioners of Mandurriao District attended the Latin Mass, also known as Tridentine, held in time for the Feast of the Espousal of the Virgin Mary at the Mandurriao parish church.

Priests from other parishes also attended the Latin Mass. It is the first held in Panay Island since the 1960s after the Second Vatican Council ushered in Masses in the local vernacular, according to Fr. Espiridion Celis, Mandurriao parish priest.

The High Mass was celebrated by three priests: Msgr. Juanito Ma. Tuvilla (celebrant), Fr. Oscar Andrada (deacon) and Fr. Winifredo Losaria (subdeacon). Fr. Renato Cuadras served as the master of ceremonies, according to Celis.

The priests spoke in Latin except in delivering the homily which was in Hiligaynon. Handouts with English and Hiligaynon translation of prayers, responses and hymns were given to the parishioners.

In his homily, Msgr. Tuvilla explained why the Mass was held and the history of the rites of the Catholic Church. He said the holding of the Latin Mass does not mean returning to Latin and doing away with Masses in the vernacular.

The Mass, which lasted for more than two hours, was accompanied by hymns from Gregorian plainchant from Gounod's Messe Solennette in honor of St. Cecilia, Mozart's Ave Verum and Franck's Panis Angelicus.

Celis said the holding of the Latin Mass was in response to a directive of Pope Benedict XVI that provided for the wider use of the Tridentine as was the practice before the reforms instituted by the Second Vatican Council in 1970.

In July 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued his Summorum Pontificum (Of the Supreme Pontiffs) which designated the Latin Mass as “an extraordinary form” of the Roman Rite. The form introduced in 1969-1970 after the Second Vatican Council was designated the “ordinary form.”

The document grants greater freedom to use the Tridentine liturgy. It replaces the Ecclesia Dei of 1988, which allowed individual bishops to establish places where Mass could be said using the 1962 Roman Missal .

Some Catholics have expressed concern over Summorum Pontificum, as they view it as reversal of progressive changes made during Vatican Council II especially on bringing the liturgy closer to the faithful with the use of the vernacular.

Cita Lamprea, 81, a member of the Catholic Women's League and Parish Pastoral Council, said she had previously attended Latin Masses before World War II.

“We understand Latin because we learned and got used to it. Celebrating it in the traditional way is inspiring for us,” said Lamprea.

Celis said hopes other parishes will also hold Latin Masses based on the directive of the Pope.*NPB

back to top