Three Melanesian Brothers at Mission in Philippines

As part of their call is to go out to the ends of the earth and spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ; three brothers from the community of the Melanesian Brother Hood in Tabalia have responded to the invitation of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) church in the Philipines in three year mission to serve as missionaries.  

Brother Andrew Letade and Br. Nickson Dei both from Temotu and Br. Simon Peter Volana from the Central Islands left on 26^th September 2011 and arrived in Manila on the 27^th September 2011 purposely to carry out mission in Palawan, Philippines. The 3 Brothers were stationed at Pulot Household near Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The three Brothers replaced Br. Ezekiel Tema who has completed his 4 years term (2008 – 2011) in the Philippines and return to the Brotherhood Head Quarters, Tabalia, Solomon Islands on the 7^th October 2011.

Following Br. Ezekiel return to the Head Quarters, the three Brothers were then placed into responsibilities to carry on the mission:

1.       Brother Andrew Letade is as the chaplain to MBH, and responsible to organize training program of the Novices as well as Parish Priest of Espanola in the Southern Palawan and Incharge of Palawan Partnership mission.

2.       Brother Simon Peter Volana is Incharge of the station and Incharge of Novices and he is as well linking brother with Diocesan youths, responsible for Panitian Rice Farm. His work is more less as Novice Guard.

3.       Brother Nickson Dei is the Secretary to MBH and Incharge of Pulot vegetable Farm and responsible for the companions in the Philipines.

Alphonse Garimae says three brothers will be teaching, Biblical studies, life and work of Brother hood  to the new intakes to join the Brotherhood there in Philippines. During the first conference of the Brothers and companions in Palawan 3 aspirants were admitted as Novices. The Brothers involves some people to help in the training of novices.  “The vicar Rev. Andres Lumibao is part of the training with Errel and Eric Padrigo giving lesson on agriculture. Rev. Ben Ybera, and Celay will join the training team later”.

“Despite having no proper infrastructure and learning materials, classes had already begun this year with three novices” Mr. Garimae continued.

Mr. Garimae said, Br. Andrew has put together a syllabus that will suit the development and the situation in that country and setting up infrastructures that would cater and provide good and comfortable learning environment for the brothers.

Other plans the three brothers will pilot is to assist the Filipino Brotherhood in setting up own generating income projects to earn income for their own community. Currently they are seeking support from the Melanesian Brothers Head Quarters to buy them a rice milling machine.

The backbone of this mission is to prepare the Filipino Brother Hood to running their own brotherhood community in the future.

Upon completing the first set of the three year program, other three will be on alert should they need further assistance, Mr. Garimae said.

The initiation to support the Melanesian Brothers in Philippines, (Pulot house hold) came into effect after the successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding MOU between the two heads of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente on the 27^th of March 2011 at the National Cathedral of IFI, Manila, Philippines.