Walking Together, Seeking Peace
The Local Church of Mindanao-Sulu Journeying in Dialogue with the Muslim Community
(1965-2000)
By William LaRousse
496pp., PhP 490

"Father LaRousse's comprehensive survey of the Local Church's living dialogue with Mindanao-Sulu Muslims highlights in a remarkable way the major events, groups, and personalities of the 35-year perior (1965-2000). Click here for details.

Into The Mountain, hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf
by Jose Torres, Jr.
PhP 275.00, $ 12.95

Best in Journalism! Given by the Manila Circle of Critics in the recently concluded 2002 Awards Night in the Philippine Bookfair.

Into the Mountain recounts the horrifying and heroic experience of the March 20 hostages. It provides the first book-length look into the tragic but ultimately triumphant saga of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf. It also situates the bandit group's brazen terrorism with stories from a former Abu Sayyaf urban assasin, a long-time faith dialogue pioneer... Click for details.

View excerpts in PDF: Author's Note • Prologue • Chapter 4 - The Cloud on the Mountaintop

" "Into the Mountain" is not simply a novelized, cinematized account of a tragic event. It provides a lot of context woven into the narratives. Separately at the end, it also gives a historical background on the terrorist group ("The Abu Sayyaf Chronology") and the island of Basilan ("The Way to the Iron: From the Queen of Spain to Magsaysay’s Doctor-Priest").

I read Torres’ opus last week when it was about to go to press and I had to read from proofs that were slipping from my fingers. Work like this has to be read like a good book should be--with reverence and awe, in solitude."

Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
Click here for her book review.
From the Inq7.net (The Philippine Daily Inquirer and GMA Network Company)
Thursday, August 02, 2001, Philippines

Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, cmf

MARTYR for Peace
MARTYR FOR THE FAITH

the crosses still stand in basilan
a journey with the kidnap victims
PhP125, U$6.95, 64pp

As a tribute to Fr. Rhoel and his companions, the Claretian Missionaries decided to come up with this booklet to keep their memories alive, hoping that their stories will inspire us to live our faith to the full and to continuously work for peace and justice..Click here for details

Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, cmf

MARTYR for Peace
MARTYR FOR THE FAITH

the crosses still stand in basilan
a journey with the kidnap victims
PhP125, U$6.95, 64pp

As a tribute to Fr. Rhoel and his companions, the Claretian Missionaries decided to come up with this booklet to keep their memories alive, hoping that their stories will inspire us to live our faith to the full and to continuously work for peace and justice.

This booklet contains meditative narrations prepared by Fr. Rhoel's Claretian brothers. They know him personally; they have lived and worked with him. This shared experience with Fr. Rhoel and his companions has allowed the writers to narrate the events with deep sensitivity...

The accounts about the fatal trek of the kidnap victims are framed within the Lord's Way of the Cross. Fourteen recollections - corresponding to the fourteen stations - are based on the experiences of the victims. It is the story of Jesus re-enacted today in the life of his disciples. Each account is followed by guide questions for reflection and a short prayer. This sequence is a way to involve the readers in an active search for the deeper meaning of the events and their implications to their faith-life and mission. So this booklet is not only the stories of the victims but also a call, a challenge to each one of us, disciples of Jesus, to bear witness to Him even if it means death.

This booklet has been translated to German language.

Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, cmf

MARTYR for Peace
MARTYR FOR THE FAITH

"He was a simple, unassuming Claretian missionary, but of extraordinary courage," described Fr. Carlos de Rivas, Provincial Superior of the Claretians in the Philippines. That ordinary man of extraordinary zeal, Fr. Rhoel D. Gallardo, was born to Dominador Gallardo and Mrs. Raquel Dayap Gallardo in Olongapo City on November 29, 1965. He made his first religious professions in Isabela, Basilan on May 1, 1989 and his perpetual profession at the Claret House, Quezon City on July 16, 1993. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Quezon City on December 6, 1994.

Fr. Rhoel willingly accepted the assignment in the most difficult and most dangerous mission, which is Tumahubong. He was pastor to the persecuted Christian community of Tumahubong. He was a director of Claret School, the students of which are mostly Muslims. When Claret School of Tumahubong was attacked by the Abu Sayyaf on March 20,2000, Fr. Rhoel did not try to escape, instead he confronted the attackers and tried to defend the people. Thus he was abducted together with some teachers and students. During his captivity he did not waver in his faith and continued to minister to his fellow captives, according to the possibilities of the situation. He would ask his captors, every now and then, of the whereabouts of his companions who were taken away. In the evening he would lead his companions to pray the rosary. He refused to wear any Muslim garb. He refused to worship with his Muslim captors. For all these he was tortured and brutally killed on May 3, 2000.

For Bishop Romulo de la Cruz of Basilan, Fr. Rhoel died for the faith. For may people, he died for peace. For many priests and religious, he is a martyr. The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Christian faith. Thus the death of Fr. Rhoel is a gift to the Church this Great Jubilee Year.