Dominican Hagonoeño continues Philippine TV Lenten Tradition

KAKATHA News Events 2013

Dated: March 29, 2013

Rev. Fr. Erasmo "Sonny" Gonzales Ramirez, O.P. (San Jose) has been the pioneer producer of the TV program "Siete Palabras" since the 1980's. This production is still on going and is being shown on television every Good Friday yearly.

QUEZON CITY - Siete Palabras has been a Philippine Lenten tradition simply because it is the remembering of one of the most important event in the history of the Church, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. This has been done in churches around the Philippines, a reflection before the Veneration of the Cross done at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the traditional belief when the Savior died on the cross. 

    In light of this celebration, the Dominican order wished for this to be stressed during the celebration of Semana Santa (Holy Week) by means of producing a program for which the people may be able to listen well to the Word of God through reflections, which is primarily preaching, the Dominicans' charism. A Hagonoeño priest, Rev. Fr. Erasmo Gonzales Ramirez, O.P. also known as Fr. "Sonny" has been the pioneer and producer of this program for 29 years now. According to the Varstiarian, Fr. Ramirez led the first Siete Palabras airing under "Sharing the City", a program of the Banahaw Broadcast, Inc. After a year, the reference mentioned that the Order of Preachers took responsibility of the program production. In the 1990's the Dominicans headed the production and by then the friars were also able to give reflections to the lay faithful besides fellow lay who are being invited by the order.

   In the last 2013 program, there were seven Siete Palabras preachers: Rev. Fr. Enrico Gonzales, O.P., an Obando native, Fr. Filemon dela Cruz, O.P., Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., Fr. Tamerlano Lana, O.P., Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P., Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. and Fr. Rudolf Seño, O.P. Interviews by the Philippine Daily Inquirer quote that the program has now been in deal with GMA 7 network and airing Philippine television from 12 pm to 3 pm. It is also aired on radio at the Catholic radio network, Veritas 846 AM. The Dominican media board has said that the program has been pushed to also use new media and has thus done so for this present year.

   This tradition will live on as long as people are able to stand for it. A huge thanks is given to Fr. Sonny Ramirez for his efforts for building such a means for preaching. KAKATHA News Admin