Bursting with energy and enthusiasm, Fr. Bobby launched the Filipino Pastoral Ministry in 1988. Not quite comprehensive and not yet completely adequate  enough to take care of the immigrants’  needs in a foreign country, the  FPM began its mission.

The Filipino Pastoral Ministry became the hub of traditional socio-cultural and religious activities  of the  Filipino residents in the tri-sate area.

Father Bobby’s vision of having  a “Welcoming Church” for the Filipinos  in America where  they could comfortably practice their religious traditions ; preserve  the  Philippines rich heritage,  have at last become a reality.

The Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompeii Church  reached its  16 years of service to the community in 2003.  Father Bobby dedicated 38 years  of his life in the service of God with  intense passion . He worked on his vision  and  mission diligently;  implemented  its objectives within  the framework of the Ministry’s  mission and goals. As Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii Church, he won the hearts of the Church’s majority  parishioners He delivered his homily with intensity and purpose.  He drew over  many  Italian parishioners to come and join the Filipino Pastoral Ministry’s  “kainan” and  religious activities. He created the Filipino Pastoral Council to guide him in his program. He achieved  “unity”  ( to  most was an impossible dream) among the  different  Santo Nino Prayer  Group from  the  different boroughs of New York.   He widely promoted the Good Samaritan Partnership program …reminding... ’ the next thing to having a priest in the family is to adapt one and to have your family   in the heart of a priest…”

He initiated “Mga Happenings sa Village”..the Wednesday novenas to our Lady of Perpetual Help,   the  Flores de Mayo, the Santa Cruzan  and many  others.  He remembered to help the  underprivileged, the  victims of natural disasters and the  needy Seminary students in the  Philippines. Most of all, he showed love for his “kababayans’   He could not be stopped. He did not want to stop.  To him ,the Filipino Pastoral Ministry  at its 16th year of community

service is .. “still young… still searching for a more meaningful  and  fuller expression of the mission and vision. ..although  its steps are  unfaltering, it still  has  a  long  way to go to  achieve its objectives. The cultural,  religious  and educational  needs  of  the Filipinos is the reason for its being… ” He once asked.. ”What do we want  to  do 10 years  from now.? ” Father Bobby was not lacking in benefactors and volunteers for his projects. In his  graciousness,  he carried a high regard  for all of them and was appreciative for all the things  they have done for him.  Feeling grateful, he  has the following to say….   ” how can I stop singing praise of gratitude to the Lord for the wonder, He has done  for us . I could only bow down in prayer and in the silence of my heart say  “Gracias”, “Maraming Salamat”,  “Thank you”. “ I can only promise you my prayer. Rest assured that God Who  sent His Son can never be outdone in Charity. He will reward you a thousand fold.”

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