The Wise Friar

Venerable Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes:  Tagapagtatag ng Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena Si Francisca de Fuentes, anak nina Simon de Fuentes at Ana del Castillo y Tamayo ay isinilang sa Maynila noong taong 1647.  Siya ay isang insulares  sapagkat siya'y may purong dugong Espanyol subali't sa Pilipinas ipinanganak at nagkaisip. Nang nasa wastong gulang na, siya ay ipinagkasundo ng kanyang mga magulang sa isang maginoo at sila’y nagpakasal.  Ngunit halos isang taon lamang ang kanilang naging pagsasama sapagkat maagang binawian ng buhay ang kanyang kabiyak.  Nabiyuda sa edad na 20 taon at hindi biniyayaan ng anak, ginugol ni Francisca ang kanyang panahon sa pananalangin at sa  pagtulong sa mga mahihirap at mga may sakit. Sa isang pangitain, nagpakita sa kanya si San Francisco at Santo Domingo at nakita niya ang kanyang sarili na nagpatirapa sa harapan ni Sto. Domingo.  Itinuring niya itong isang palatandaan mula sa langit kung kaya'...

Mo. Ma. Rosario P. Arroyo (1884 - 1957) Foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Molo Source: https://opmolosisters-phil.org/ The latter part of the nineteenth century was a time of political unrest and uncertainty. The Philippines was trying to break free from the hands of the colonial power that has controlled the country and its people for almost four hundred years. The spirit of patriotism was beginning to ignite the hearts and minds of the Filipinos and the threat of an imminent uprising from various corners seemed inevitable and was gaining popularity and strength like a surging wave.  The same spirit of restlessness not for the world but for the salvation of souls, will ignite Madre Sayong's heart to work for the coming of God's reign here on earth.  In the backdrop of this political and economic unrest, Madre Rosario Arroyo also known as Madre Sayong, was born.  She was born on February 17, 1884 in the town of Molo, Iloilo.  She was the only daughter in a b...