“I could not help but say in my heart, truly, the Word of God, the Dabar Yahweh, is a living Word, a Word that is alive, a Word that has its own life”, emphasized ST PAULS Creative Director Fr. Dominador G. Guzman, Jr. SSP as he opened the 2nd St Paul National Bible Quiz on September 15, 2011 in this fair at SMX Convention Center. He cited that the novelty of this year’s encounter, organized in partnership with PRIMETRADE ASIA, was the launching of theme song, “Chase, Heed and Be the Word,” the computerization and digitalization of its conduct in coordination with Asia Pacific College IT Resource Center, the Special Round with which students do not just answer basic information about the Bible stories but also about practical messages the readers perceived upon reading the bible and the interactive portion where the audience got to answer Bible Trivia questions.
After three rounds of questions and entertainment portions rendered by performing artists winners were announced. They received P50,000.00 cash, a netbook for their school, a gold Blessed John Paul II statue crafted by Pauline Artist Fr. Armand Tangi, SSP, a grand champion trophy, individual medals and gift packs.
In contrast to the previous year's 87 teams from 66 schools and parishes, this year’s contest attracted 280 teams from 138 schools and parishes all over the country. “Indeed, there is hope in our young people as the late, now Blessed Pope John Paul II, believed and preached,” as Fr. Guzman, SSP further put it.
TEN (10) new titles, two of which are of Paulines, Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP and Blessed James Alberione, SSP were launched two days later at the SMX Meeting Rooms of the Book Fair. These new books, Mary, Virgin and Mother by Fr. Felipe Gomez, S.J., Proclaim! by Fr. Ramil Marcos, MA. STL., On the Way to the Cross by Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP, I Was Created to Love God by Fr. James Alberione, SSP, When Your Spouse Isn’t Yours Anymore by Fr. Jude Isidro Acevedo Rebaldo, Healing Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation by Ilsa Reyes, When God Calls by Alejo Villanueva, Jr., The People’s Choice by Ed Villacorte, Witnessing Jesus by Msgr. Ruperto Santos, DD, STL, Straight from the Heart (Filipino Edition) Kaagapay sa Pagdarasal by Fr. Mario Jose Ladra and Nine Days with Saint Joseph also by Msgr. Rupert Santos, DD, STL, who also is this year’s writer of 365 Days with the Lord Bible Diary were presented to the audience in a three part presentation interspersed with audio visual presentations (AVPs), musical and choral reading renditions of performing and theater artists Liesl Batucan, Jef Henson Dee, Wenah Nagales, Brian Tibayan, June Canicosa Hebrew, Tenor Raymond Roldan and Soprano Mar Jeannellebihag Roldan under the direction of Ms. Clotie Gealogo Lucero of the Theater Department of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
After the closing remarks of the SSP Provincial Superior Fr. Jose S. Aripio, SSP, book-signing of the authors and the cocktails followed. During the fair, however, these authors were also invited to grace and sign their books at ST PAULS Booth Nos. 14-17 where the seasonal products PANDASAL 2012, 365 Days with the Lord 2012 and Blessed John Paul II Devotional Calendars were exhibited.
With a theme, Words Without Borders, the bookfair was formally opened on September 13 at five o’clock with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Ruben Areño, SSP and was also closed with a Eucharistic Celebration the following Sunday.
