Welcoming him at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 2 in Manila were the FIN Provincial Superior, Fr Gerardo Martin, his Vice-Provincial Fr Favie Faldas, and Fr Joel Camaya.
After an evening of setting up and getting to know the local Salesians, the following day Fr Martoglio was accompanied on a tour through various works of the Province. The first stage of his journey was the Don Bosco Academy in Bacolor, in the Philippine Province of Pampanga, a large and young work belonging to the Salesians in FIN, started in 2016 and since then managed in a spirit of shared responsibility by lay people. In the highly industrialised area in strong development, the Salesian centre provides a rich educational offer, both primary and secondary, and the Salesians have developed a good Youth Ministry there.
And after getting to know this relevant educational setting in the FIN Province, the Vicar of the Rector Major was also accompanied to the church of San Guillermo in Bacolor, a 16th-century parish, where the image of Our Lady is venerated under the title of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary – a devotion very deeply rooted in the area.
The next stage of Fr Martoglio's journey was Don Bosco Academy in Mabalacat, also in the Province of Pampanga, where the entire educational community, due to the visit of the illustrious guest, had been in anxious expectation for days: the entire campus of the Salesian centre, in fact, had been decorated with banners and posters of greetings to Fr Martoglio, and the young people who study there – at elementary, middle or technical schools – were well-prepared with evocative choreographies.
Hence, when the Vicar of the Rector Major arrived he was greeted with a festive welcoming ceremony, marked by traditional dances such as tinikling, a traditional Filipino folk dance dating back to the Spanish colonial era.
Subsequently, Fr Martoglio celebrated the Eucharist in the school's chapel, a celebration in which he did not fail to thank Fr Martin, the entire Province and the educative and pastoral community for the affection received, and encouraged them in their mutual service.
It is worth noting that the visit of the Vicar of the Rector Major is not only of interest to the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Province, but is a true Salesian Family event: the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Pampanga area also participated in the Eucharistic celebration.
After the celebration of the Mass, Fr Martoglio made himself available for photos with the various groups, and also had the opportunity to talk with some student representatives and with some teachers from the various classes at the centre.
After the already rich morning of activity, in the early afternoon the Vicar of the Rector Major was accompanied by the FIN Superior and the National President of the Federation of Past Pupils, Peter Paul Soliman, to visit another significant Salesian house, the one based in the city of Tarlac. The work, one of the historical presences of the Province, having been started in 1951, today counts a festive oratory, elementary and middle school, vocational school and several chaplains among its activities.
Fr Martoglio was taken around by the Vice-Rector and Economer of the work, Fr Ian Rosal, and also on this occasion he was able to experience the traditional and festive welcome of young Filipinos.
