The 5th BEC National Assembly

The 5th BEC National Assembly was held from November 20–24, 2023 with the theme: BEC as the way to a Synodal Church. It was attended by 9 bishops, 215 clergy/priests, 26 nuns/religious sisters, 271 lay delegates representing 77 dioceses. The 5th National Assembly adopted the Synodal framework of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences in the Philippines:Step 1 – Journeying together
Step 2 – Looking around us and within us
Step 3 – Discernment in the light of faith
Step 4 – Offering our gifts
Step 5 – Undertaking new pathways

• Read more

Chairperson

Most Rev. Jose Rapadas III, D.D.

Bishop Members (regional)

Luzon
Most Rev. Valentin Dimoc, D.D. (North)
Most Rev. Jose Bantolo, D.D. (South)
Most Rev. Sofronio Bancud, SSS, D.D. (Central)
Most Rev. Reynaldo Evangelista, D.D. (Southwest)
Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D. (Southeast)
Visayas
Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, SDB, D.D (West)
Most Rev. Emmanuel Trance, D.D. (East and Central)
Mindanao
Most Rev. George Rimando, D.D. (North and South)

Bishop Consultants

Ex-Officio members of various CBCP Commissions
Most Rev. Jose Colin Bagaforo, D.D. (Social Action, Justice and Peace)
Most Rev. David William Antonio, D.D. (Liturgy)
Most Rev. Most Rev. Daniel Presto, D.D. (Catechesis and Catholic Education)
Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, D.D. (Biblical Apostolate)
Most Rev. Nolly Buco, D.D. (Canon Law)
Most Rev. Jose Palma, D.D. (Culture)
Most Rev. Severo Caermare, D.D. (Laity)
Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon, D.D. (Youth)
Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, D.D. (Family)
Most Rev. Valentin Dimoc, D.D. (Indigenous Peoples/Ecology)

BEC Regional Coordinators

North Luzon – Rev. Fr. Florentino Escalona (Nueva Segovia, Vigan)
Southwest Luzon – Rev. Fr. Benjie Ledesma (Archdiocese of Manila)
Central Luzon – Perfecto Pusung Jr. (San Fernando, Pampanga)
Southeast Luzon – Rev. Fr. Jose Raphael Tolentino (Lucena)
South Luzon – Rev. Fr. Michael de la Rosa (Libmanan)
Eastern Visayas - Manolito Ardimer (Cebu)
Western Visayas – Fr. Rommel Falc Palivino (Bacolod)
Mindanao – Victoria Anghag (Davao)

Priest, Religious, Lay Consultants

Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Raluto, Ph.D., S.Th.D. (Diocesan Priest)
Rev. Fr. Randy Jasper Odchigue, Ph.D., S.Th.D. (Diocesan Priest)
Rev. Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario, CM, Ph.D., S.Th.D. (Religious Priest)
Rev. Fr. Earl Allan Cura, CICM, Ph.D. (Religious Priest)
Estela Padilla, Ph.D. (Lay)
Pablito Baybado, Jr., Ph.D. (Lay)
Fides Del Castillo, Ph.D. (Lay)

Executive Secretary

Msgr. Manuel Gabriel, S.Th.D.

Funding and Finance Unit Coordinator

Aurora de Vela

Program Coordinator

Benigno Oliveros Jr.

Networking Staff

Alicia Cuison

Office Secretary

Rosario Florendo

The 5th BEC National Assembly

The 5th BEC National Assembly was held from November 20–24, 2023 with the theme: BEC as the way to a Synodal Church. It was attended by 9 bishops, 215 clergy/priests, 26 nuns/religious sisters, 271 lay delegates representing 77 dioceses. The 5th National Assembly adopted the Synodal framework of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences in the Philippines:Step 1 – Journeying together
Step 2 – Looking around us and within us
Step 3 – Discernment in the light of faith
Step 4 – Offering our gifts
Step 5 – Undertaking new pathwaysJourneying Together – The 5th BEC National Assembly was the culmination of a four-year journey amid the challenges of the COVID–19 pandemic and natural disasters, and the call for a Synodal Church. It was a difficult journey but it opened up new opportunities and pathways.Looking around and within us - Most Rev. Jose Cabantan, D.D., Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro and former CBCP-BEC Chairperson traced the journey of BECs through the years toward being a commission. The assembly was also an occasion to launch the book Basic Ecclesial Communities: Historical Narrative, as well as the research project to honor BEC pioneers, heroes, and martyrs.Discernment in the light of faith - CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David delivered a recorded message on Reflections on the Synod of Bishops and Challenges to the BECs in the Philippines. Dr. Estela Padilla of Bukal ng Tipan and the lone Asian woman representative to the October Synod of Bishops delivered two talks: Sharing on the Synodal Journey of BECs in the Philippines and Discerning the Theological Foundations of a Synodal Church in the BECs in the Philippines. There was also a roundtable sharing by BEC regional coordinators on the synodal journey of BECs during the past four years.Offering our gifts – There were 12 concurrent workshops that covered the different facets of BEC work:1. Basic Faith Encounter: Experience of a Church as Communion, Mission, and Participation2. BEC's Sustainability Through the Word and the Eucharist3. Pastoral Management towards a Synodal Church4. Organization Development, Community Organizing, and Strategic Planning in the Pursuit of BEC as a Synodal Church5. BECs and Communities of Indigenous Peoples Co-Journeying as Advocates of Earth’s Sustainability6. BEC's Journey at the Service of Human Promotions: Human Rights Education, Political Education, Conscientization, and Faith-Formation7. BEC's Journeying with the Youth, Schools, and the Digital Communities8. BEC's Participation in Family Life Evangelization, Women Empowerment and Pastoral Care for Migrant Families, Victims of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking9. Maximizing BEC's role in the Promotion of Integral Stewardship10. Collegiality, Co-responsibility, and Subsidiarity in the Participation of Mandated Religious Organizations, Renewal Movements, Transparochial Communities, and Ministries vis-à-vis BECs11. Creating a “Culture of Encounter and Research” and Utilization of Systems and Digital Communication12. The ongoing and continuing pastoral accompaniment of BECs: The role of seminaries, religious communities and houses of formationUndertaking new pathways – The different regions met to plan and agree on the thrusts and stresses and the new pathways that they will undertake for the next four years and concretize their learnings and statements of commitment during the assembly.The 5th BEC National Assembly ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Most Rev. Charles Brown, D.D., Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. This was followed by words of thanksgiving and awarding of certificates of gratitude by Monsignor Manuel Gabriel and the reading of the Statement of Commitment of the 5th National Assembly delegates