Initially there were 21 participants, unfortunately 2 backed out. Two of the participants were servants of the Lord, Fr. Roque C. Villanueva and Sr. Ma. Alicia Gibaga, from the Mother Rita Community.
The seminar was sponsored by the San Andres Parish Outreach Team from the neighboring town of Masinloc, composed of the following:
Spiritual Director: Father Willy Monsalud
Lead Couple: Kuya Fidel and Ate Letty Mara
Asst. Lead Couple: Kuya Reg and Ate Virgie Maldia
Speakers: Kuya Mike and Ate Terry Eclarinal
Kuya Jun and Ate Juaning Barnachia
Kuya James and Ate Nita Dave
Kuya Percy and Ate Sol Exala
Kuya Joey and Ate Mila Morabe
Support staff of Masinloc PREX Outreach Team
From PREX Seed up to PREX No. 9, speakers were all from San Andres Parish. By the time we reached PREX No. 5, they conducted seminars that will form the Candelaria Speakers Bureau so that one pair of speaker at a time will be infused in their group and eventually we will be left on our own.
Although we have been attending seminars for speakers, not a single pair was able to join their Team until PREX Seminar No. 10 came. For this seminar, the San Andres Team cannot handle it for they have an outreach seminar elsewhere.
Fr. Roque decided to form the whole slate of speakers from Talk 1 up to Talk 10. We were requested to choose our Talk and develop it and later have it fined tune. We then had a dry run.
On the day of the seminar, all of us were nervous for we fear we cannot be as good as our mentors. Fortunately, some support staff from Masinloc were there to guide us on how to handle the seminar, of course, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
When there was a rotation of Diocesan Priests, Fr. Roque was transferred to Sta. Cruz. He was replaced by Fr. Ian Maniago who fully supported in continuing the holding of PREX Seminars in the parish. At present, our Parish Priest, Fr. Rico P. Fagela, is also in full support of the PREX activities.
From PREX Seed it grew and we now have 41 batches. A total of 1011 graduates, some are actively participating in the different committees of the parish.
In 2006, it was agreed upon by the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), that PREX Seminar be done on a quarterly basis.
PREX No. 41 seminar was held last January 26, 27, & 28, 2007 at the Candelaria Central Elementary School Teachers Association (CCESTA) Hall through the kindness of their School Principal Connie A. Peñaloza and its District Supervisor, Dr. Ester T. Roque.
PREX Secretariat is also thankful to the St. Vincent's Academy, through Sr. Rosita Racoma, Spc, for allowing us to use the school grounds in almost all PREX Seminars. SVA have been a part of PREX Family from the time it started in the parish.
Our next seminar, PREX No. 42, will be held on April 13, 14, & 15, 2007.
The only thing we haven't done yet is to do an outreach seminar!
PREX OFFICERS AND SPEAKERS
Chaircouple:
Kuya Nards and Ate Amen Paz Ednalino August 1999 to February 2000
Kuya Noel and Ate Dina Cabalfin March 2000 to March 2002
Kuya Ayo and Ate Ruby Sales April 2002 to 2007
Kuya Mon and Ate Edna Bagasina 2008 to present
Original Batch of Speakers:
Talks 1, 6, & 10 Parish Priest
Talks 2 & 9 Ate Nitz Eclevia and Kuya Egay Sagun
Talk 3 Kuya Carding Edquilang and Ate Adel Barrera
Talk 4 Kuya Ayo and Ate Ruby Sales
Talk 5 & 7 Kuya Andrew and Ate Leah Mora
Talk 8 Kuya Tom (+) and Ate Luz Morado (When Kuya Tom and Ate Luz moved to Manila, Kuya Mon and Ate Edna Bagasina took over their talk.)
Talk 8 Kuya Mon and Ate Edna Bagasina
At present, together with the original batch, we have added new speakers:
Talks 4 Kuya JR Aquino and Ate Beth Ebilane
Talks 7 Kuya Albert and Ate Rita Aquino
WHY WAS IT ORGANIZED
PREX was introduced to the parish to renew our catholic faith since it is a conversion experience. PREX is a rediscovery and a strong recall into belonging to our church. This is one way of learning that the parish is not a “We and They” relationship, but a family living and loving one another.
OBJECTIVES
PREX attempts to achieve the following:
1. To respond to the search for the direction and approaches towards strengthening and deepening the life of the parish.
2. To give the parishioners a true taste of our dignity as member of the body of Christ (the Catholic Church).
3. To begin a commitment to belonging to one another as church.
4. To develop down to earth spirituality in response to the search for meaningful way to experience God’s presence in our lives.
5. To call people in evangelization – to bring the reaching of Vatican to the grassroots to prepare our people for bringing the good news in all level and make it now.
6. To unify the parish and all the movements therein.
In line with these objectives, the weekend seminar will focus on the rediscovery of:
1. Our relationship with these who gave us the faith.
2. The reason why we wish to keep the faith.
3. The directions we jointly suppose to pass the faith to others
FIRST DOUBLE WEDDING OF PREX
On November 6, 1999,the double wedding of Kuya Jun and Ate Baby Echon and Kuya Raf and Ate Gie Botor was solemnized by Fr. Roque C. Villanueva at the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. Their wedding was also the date of PREX Seminar No. 3 for the weekend of November 5, 6, & 7, 1999. They were members of the sponsoring class.
Kuya Jun and Ate Baby Echon, Kuya Raf and Ate Gie Botor
slicing their wedding cake
Kuya Jun & Ate Baby Echon Kuya Raf & Ate Gie Botor
May 1, 2008
TWO-DAY PREX SEMINAR
PREX No. 45, held on December 29 & 30, 2007, was the first batch to experience our 2-day PREX Seminar with the consent of our Parish Priest, Fr. Rico P. Fagela. This was held at the St. Vincent's Academy. This was followed by PREX No. 46 held on April 12 & 13, 2008.
It was a good thing that Fr. Rico gave in to our request to compress the 3-day seminar to only 2 days. It has lessen the risk of backouts. No more Friday night boring lecture. We made Friday our recollection day and polishing up for the next day's seminar.
PREX No. 47 will be the next seminar to be held on June 7 & 8, 2008.
