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The Theme for the celebration is “TFP Journeying and Renewing Commitment as Partners with the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) for their Right to Self Determination.”
The invitation from Kidapawan Bishop Romuo dela Cruz and the TFP Coordinator, Fr. Peter Geremia, states that Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg, national chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP), Butuan Auxiliary Bishop Zacarias Jimenez, Mindanao chair of ECIP and Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo have already committed to attend the celebration.
Quevedo was the Bishop of Kidapawan when the TFP was born. His successor bishops, who were also invited to attend the silver anniversary celebration, were Bishop Juan de dios Pueblos, now Butuan Bishop and Bishop Romulo Valles, now Archbishop of Zamboanga City. Bishop dela Cruz succeeded Valles.
The 25th anniversary is “an occasion to thank all who have contributed to this venture of witnessing the Good News of Jesus among the most neglected communities in our Diocese. It is also an occasion to reflect together and to ask the Spirit to guide us in the steps ahead,” Valles and Geremia said.
Part of the program will be “history through cultural presentation” by the “tri-people youth and children from Columbio and Sitio Tungaw, Magpet.” IP leaders and partners who have consecutively served the Lumad communities for at least 15 years will be given plaques of recognition and appreciation.
Each organization or parish is expected to offer a cultural presentation or a symbol to introduce their delegation.
The evening program will be a solidarity program. (MindaNews)