Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, FSP a long time member of the CATHOLIC BIBLICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (CBAP) was elected Secretary last August 31, 2019 during the 20thAnnual Convention held at Claret School, Quezon City. Sr. Bernardita has been the Secretary of CBAP for twelve (12) consecutive years from 2002-2014.
This year’s annual convention was themed “Bible, Youth & Social Realities. The two-day convention started with Bible Enthronement followed by the Welcome Address and Report of the CBAP President, Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB. Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D., Bishop of Caloocan was the Keynote Speaker. He expounded on the topic “The Preexilic Oracle of Judgement and Its Relevance to the Philippine Church in the Time of Duterte’s Drug War.
After the health break, the participants went to listen to the different speakers of the concurrent sessions:
Fr. Fruto Ramirez, SJ: Melchizedek, a Minor Character of Great Importance in Biblical Theology
Fr. Emilio Valeza: Jun Impas’ the ‘Prodigal Son’: A Study on Biblical Interpretation through Visual Arts
Dr. Abigail Teh: Re-Symbolization in the Aftermath of Cultural Trauma: The Temple Symbolism of Ezekiel 40-48
Dr. Lysander Rivera: All Creation Groans: Re-reading Rom.8:18-22 in the Light of New Cosmology
Dr. Edgar Ebojo: For Adults Only? The Living Text, the Empire and the Tambay
In the afternoon of the first day of convention, Dr. Federico Villanueva talked about, Duterte, the Bible, and the “War on Drugs”: A Biblical Scholar’s Response. After the talk of Dr. Villanueva the members of the CBAP had their Business Meeting and announcement of the new set of CBAP Officers.
On the second day of convention, five speakers presented the following topics:
Fr. Cristino Robles Pine, OFM: Young Jeremiah’s Vision of the Rod of Almond & Boiling Pot #youth #woke #Climate Emergency
Dr. Anicia del Corro: The Pinoy Version 2018: A Historical Perspective
Fr. Randolf Flores, SVD: GMRC in Wisdom Books
In the afternoon, Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF echoed the salient point of the 2019 Catholic Biblical Federation Conference. It was followed by a Teleconference with Prof. Reimund Bieringer who expounded on the topic: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17 NRSV): Toward a korasio-and neanisko-centered Reading of the Bible in the Perspective of the Youth as Embodied Future of the Bible.
Sr. Ma. Antonieta Molina and Sr. Lorena Briones attended this year’s convention as part of the requirements in their Scriptural Themes for Catechetics Subject at Don Bosco School of Theology under Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB.
Biblical scholars of the Pauline Family namely: Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP, Brother Hansel Mapayo, SSP, Sr. Nimfa Ebora, PDDM, and Sr. Bernardita Dianzon were present during the convention.
It was concluded by a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Rogel Abais, SJ.