Charles Basillote (1980-2020)

A week ago (July 8), one of closest friends since Elementary passed away because of this damn COVID-19. It was supposed to be his 13th day at the hospital where he has been conscious and recovering. He was still chatting in our group chat.

And then we saw his brother's FB post.

We will never, ever forget you Charles. I cry all of a sudden when I think back of all the beautiful memories of 29 years. 

Until we meet again.

123rd Feast Day of Don Bosco

Happy Feast Day of Saint John Bosco

to all my Bosconian Brothers all over the world!

I am and will always be proud to be a Bosconian.

Don Bosco in Cebu

Last night and tonight, I went back to my alma mater to visit the relic of our Patron Saint, Saint John Bosco, more popularly known to the world as Don Bosco. The relic consists of St. John Bosco’s right hand carefully preserved inside a sealed case and inserted in the chest of the life-like wax replica of the saint. His face was from his actual death mask. The relic left Valdocco, Italy on April 25, 2009 is on a world tour in 130 countries as pilgrimage in preparation for the saint’s 200th birth anniversary on Aug. 16, 2015.

Yesterday, I went with the L3nians, my former classmates, forever friends, brothers and team mates, and tonight, I went with my wife, daughter and sister, Khai. I was in tears during the Holy Mass because I again heard the mass songs sung only in Don Bosco schools. Last time I heard those songs was during my high school graduation 14 years ago.

It was a spiritual and a once in a lifetime experience since no one knows when the relic of Don Bosco will again tour the world, and if ever, if it'll again drop by the Philippines. It's also a dream come true because I remember looking at the picture of the relic when I was in Grade 5 at Bishop Patrick Buzon's office, wishing that I can someday go to Italy to see the real one. Don Bosco made sure I needed not to leave Cebu to see him.

Thank you, Don Bosco.

Thank you, Mary Help of Christians.

DB Relic Sked in Cebu

The Schedule of St. John Bosco's Relic in Cebu:

December 12, 2010 (Sunday) Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic will be inside the Church

4:00 AM - Morning prayer service in honor of SJB - Relic to be brought to Tampi

5:00 AM - Crossing of Relic f to Bato, Cebu

6:00 AM - Convoy to Lourdes Parish

10:00 AM - Welcome Procession from McDonalds

10:30 AM - Holy Mass, Lourdes Parish, Punta Princesa

1:00 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

7:15 PM - Parish Procession of Relic

10:00 PM - Youth Vigil / Overnight Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

December 13, 2010 (Monday) Don Bosco Technology Center Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic will be in the Jesus, the Adolescent Chapel

5:30 AM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

8:00 AM - Lourdes Kinder Honors St. John Bosco

9:00 AM - Procession to Don Bosco Tech. Center

10:00 AM - Holy Mass Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

5:00 PM - Holy Mass sponsored by Salesian Youth Movement

6:30 PM - Salesian Youth Movement Activities

10:00 PM - Vigil sponsored by Salesian Youth Movement Activities Overnight Veneration

December 14, 2010 (Tuesday) Don Bosco Technology Center

5:00 AM - Veneration is closed for cleaning

8:00 AM - Student Pilgrims (BED) Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

10:00 AM - Mass in Honor of SJB Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic continues

5:00 PM - Mass in Honor of SJB Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic continues

10:00 PM - Salesian Youth Movement -- Vigil Overnight Veneration

December 15, 2010 (Wednesday) Don Bosco Technology Center

5:00 AM-8:00 AM - Veneration closed for cleaning and maintenance.

8:00 AM - BED Schools Pilgrims’ Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

10:00 AM - Mass in Honor of SJB Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

5:00 PM - Mass in honor of SJB Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

6:30 PM - Youth Prayer Rally open to covenanted organizations Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

10:00 PM-3:30 AM - Youth rally open to covenanted organizations Overnight Veneration

December 16, 2010 (Thursday) Don Bosco Technology Center

4:30 AM - Misa De Gallo for the youth with Fr. Lan Guiao, SDB

5:03 AM - Veneration is closed for cleaning

8:00 AM - Student Pilgrims (BED) Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

10:00 AM - Mass in Honor of SJB Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic continues

5:00 PM - Mass in Honor of SJB by Bishop Precioso Cantillas offered by the Alumni Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic continues

6:30 PM - Farewell tribute to SJB; Fireworks Overnight Veneration

December 17, 2010 (Friday) Don Bosco Technology Center & Don Bosco Boys’ Home Veneration of the Relic will be at the Papal Hall

4:30 AM - Misa De Gallo with SJB by the Chapels with Bishop Precioso Cantillas

5:30 AM - Veneration is closed for cleaning

8:00 AM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic by Alumni families and walk-in pilgrims Farewell Para-liturgy for SJB

9:00 AM - Convoy to LILOAN

10:00 AM - Grand Welcome in Don Bosco Boys Home, Liloan

1:00 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

7:00 PM-12:00 MN - Youth Vigil Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

December 18, 2010 (Saturday) Don Bosco Boys’ Home Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Veneration at the St. Vitalis Chapel Don Bosco Youth Center, Pasil Veneration will be in the DB Youth Center Gym

4:30 AM - Misa de Gallo with Bishop Julito Cortes Veneration continues after Holy Mass

8:00 AM - Motorcade to Cebu Cathedral Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

4:00 PM - Arrival of Relic from the Cathedral

5:00 PM - Welcome Ceremonies in DB Pasil

5:30 PM - Holy Mass

6:30 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

7:00 PM - Taize Prayer by the DBYC

8:00 PM - Start of Prayer Vigil by clusters Overnight Veneration

December 19, 2010 (Sunday) Don Bosco Youth Center, Pasil DBFC Lawaan Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic will be at the Social Hall

7:00 AM - Holy Mass for the sick in the GYM

8:30 AM - Children’s Mass

10:00 AM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

2:00 PM - Holy Mass

3:00 PM - Send Off Ceremonies, Procession

4:00 PM - Relic proceeds to DBFC Lawaan

5:00 PM - Welcome ceremonies DBFC Lawaan

6:00 PM - Aspirants Sunday Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Mass sponsored by ADMA

8:00 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic till 10:30 PM

December 20, 2010 (Monday) Mary Help of Christians School, Minglanilla DBFC Lawaan Convoy

7:30 AM - Convoy to Mary Help School, Minglanilla

8:00 AM - Welcome, Holy Mass

9:00 AM-1:30 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

3:00 PM - Para-liturgical Celebration / convoy back to DBFC Lawaan

4:00 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

6:00 PM - Holy Mass sponsored by Association of Salesian Cooperators

7:00 PM-10:30 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

December 21, 2010 (Tuesday) DBFC Lawaan

8:00 AM - SDB Cebu cluster Christmas recollection (viewing is closed to the public)

12:00 PM - Public Veneration resumes

6:00 PM - Holy Mass sponsored by Alumni

7:00 PM-10:30 PM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

December 22, 2010 (Wednesday) DBFC Lawaan

8:00 AM - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

8:00 PM - Holy Mass

9:00 PM-12:00 mn - Veneration of St. John Bosco’s Relic

December 23, 2010 (Thursday) Send-off Lourdes Parish

7:30 AM - Farewell Ceremonies in Lawaan

8:30 AM - Arrival in Lourdes Parish

9:00 AM - Holy Mass / Commitment & Farewell Ceremonies of SDB, FMA, ASC, ADMA, VDB, DAMAS, Alumni & Alumnae, Caritas, selected youth, Benefactors & Friends

11:30 AM - Convoy proceeds to the Airport Lunch by invitation

Proud Bosconian

The relic of Saint John Bosco will be here in Cebu from December 12 to December 23, 2010, and if I have to be absent from work just so I can experience it, I definitely will. I am proud to be a Bosconian, and just hearing this song composed by one of my closest Salesians, brings me to tears.