Augustinian communities in Luzon once again gathered in the spirit of fun and excitement last November 26, 2016 as they participated in their annual gathering, “Iisang Samahan ng mga Augustinians (ISA).”
This year’s ISA gathering focused on the theme, “Agustinong PakikipagkaISA sa taong ng Awa at Habag (Augustinian Unity in the Year of Mercy and Compassion).” It was participated by the seminarians of Seminario San Agustin - Intramuros (SSA), the seminarians of San Agustin Center of Studies (SACS), the seminarians of San Agustin Seminary - Guadalupe (SAS), the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC) and for the first time, the Augustinian Contemplative Nuns.
This year’s ISA took place in 2 different places. The first part of the event started in the monastery of the Augustinian Contemplative nuns in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, where the community gathered for the mass and lauds, which was presided by Rev. Fr. Rommel Bongcac, OSA, the Master of College Seminarians of SACS along with Rev. Fr. Jumbim Torres, OSA, J.C.L., Rev. Fr. Genaro Supremido II, OSA and Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Eborda Jr., OSA, all from SSA.
A boodle fight-style breakfast was served afterwards. A buddle fight is a common scene for Filipinos during festivals where they use their hands in picking up the food that was placed on leaves.
The seminarians and sisters also helped in the garden work of the Contemplative Nuns, as they harvested pili nuts and sweet oranges, and helped in planting tomatoes for the nuns. A short program followed the garden work to give thanks to the cloistered nuns for sharing their time with the seminarians and sisters. Several brothers from SSA and SACS rendered songs for the nuns. The nuns also sang Christmas songs for the seminarians and the sisters.
In a thanksgiving message, Sr. Elena Ochiallini, OSA said that they are very happy that they had the chance to participate in the event. Sr. Elena added that she and sisters will continue praying for all the seminarians and sisters for their safety and perseverance in their chosen vocation.
The second part of the event was held at Villa Consuelo Retreat House in Camarin, Caloocan, where the seminarians and sisters had some time reflecting about the recently-concluded Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy and Compassion, and the past ISA gathering in Guadalupe. The seminarians and sisters also had a fun time of playing 'The Amazing Race' around the vicinity.
In the evening, everyone was given the time to meet with each other's prayer partners. This was followed by the presentations of the different communities. Each community showed performances originating from different countries in Asia like the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, India, Japan and China.
The winner of the dance presentations, dubbed as the 'One Asian Night' Presentation, are the ASOLC Novices who performed a Thai dance. The SACS Collegium came in at 2nd place with a showcase of different Philippine festivals and the SSA - Postulants came in 3rd place, performing a 'mini-drama' and dance which featured famous Japanese anime characters like Doraemon and Nobita.
The night closed with the crowning of the new Mr. and Ms. ISA 2016. This year's Mr. ISA is Asp. Poll Makinano, from SACS - Collegium, while Ms. ISA 2016 is Sr. Annie, an ASOLC Vietnamese aspirant.
The ISA, or Iisang Samahan ng mga Augustinians, is an annual gathering of different Augustinian communities where they talk, they laugh, they reflect, they sing, they dance and they have fun.
This year's ISA was an 'ISA of firsts,' with the President and adviser of the body being Augustinian nuns, namely Sr. Siena Egalan, OSA and Sr. Mary Ann Tabian, OSA. It was also the first time that the gathering was held at the Contemplative nuns' monastery in Bulacan.