MESSAGE AS THE OUT-GOING CFD NATIONAL PRESIDENT By Prof. Ramon Gitamondoc

My message as the out-going CFD National President

As my two consecutive terms (2010-2013 and 2013-2016) as CFD National President comes to a close, I would like to thank above all our Lord God who despite my nothingness, my sinfulness, and my unworthiness has chosen me to accomplish part of his purpose of leading the CFD organization with the foremost mandate and charism of spreading and defending “the truth which God gave once and for all to the saints” (Jude 1:3). My utmost gratitude also goes to our Lady who always covered me in her mantle of protection and who preserved me from straying into heresy.

Prior to my election as the CFD National President, I have been serving the organization as member of the Board of Governors for also two consecutive terms under the Presidency of Atty Miguel Abas. When Atty Miguel Abas’ fourth term was about to end, he approached me personally and asked me to accept the burden of the office of the presidency. During that time I had neither ambition nor plan to run for president. I was contented with serving the organization as member of the Board of Governors and as the president of the CFD Cebu Archdiocesan chapter. The prodding of Atty Abas and the thought of better serving the organization as National President if given the chance made me consider the possibility of freely offering myself in that capacity. Despite my feeling of inadequacy and anxiety I also trust that God equips those whom He has chosen to accomplish his purpose. In the years of my term as National President the overarching vision which guided my plans and actions was to professionalize the organization. I envisioned the Catholic faith defenders to transform from a loose band of lone-rangers into a cohesive, dynamic, and saintly witnesses to the faith we vowed to defend with our whole mind, our whole strength, and our whole life. I envisioned the organization to expand to all parts of the country, in all parishes and dioceses so that everywhere there will be stout defenders of the faith who will guard the flock of Christ from wolves in sheep’s clothing.

When my second term was about to end I made a soul-searching and discernment on what God still wanted me to do. I know that I am still capable, by God’s grace, to serve the organization in the same capacity if that be his will. On the other hand I also know that within the membership of the organization there are people who are equally competent if not more qualified than me who can lead the organization. During my term I saw many of the things which I have envisioned surely come to its realization but I also realize that there were still many things which needs to be done but were left undone. On the other hand I also know that among the dedicated members of the organization there are also persons who can very well continue what I have started and can do even more for the good of the organization. As the schedule of the 2016 CFD National Convention drew closer I was confident that by this time I was ready to relinquish the office of the National President in order to pave the way for a younger but not less committed and able member of our organization to ascend to the national leadership. I, in fact, asked one person not from Cebu to open himself to the possibility of becoming the next CFD National President. However, things did not turn out as I would have wanted it to be. Other people also had their own plans of returning to the national leadership and who they wanted to be National President. I have already accepted the recent turn of events as part of God’s permissive will. I therefore, would ask all members of the CFD organization to give their support to the present administration in all its administrative directives except for actions which are detrimental to the purity and integrity of the Catholic Faith. Let us continue to pray to our Lord God, who has suffered and died for us, that He will send us leaders who will serve as our guide in the path of truth and model in the practice of virtue and morality.

I now turn my gaze and recollection to those persons who accompanied me in my journey as CFD National President. My heartfelt gratitude goes to our National Honorary Adviser in the person of Reverend Father Abraham Arganiosa who dutifully fulfilled his task of giving spiritual guidance and who to me is a spiritual father and also a friend. My gratitude also goes to Reverend Father Lucas Inoc who accepted the burden of being the National Spiritual Director and his support for the CFD apostolate. I share with Fr Lucas the vision of professionalizing the CFD organization. I also would like to thank Atty Marwil Llasos who has been a living model of what it should be to be a true defender of the faith and who together with Father Arganiosa has advanced the CFD apostolate in Luzon, and for giving his respect and support to the national leadership when it was needed. I would like to thank Bro Alvin Gitamondoc who has been my voice and my feet in his untiring missionary spirit of establishing parochial and diocesan chapters in the Visayas and Mindanao (30+ parochial chapters and 5 diocesan chapters) and I would like to commend his courage of facing the enemies of the faith, both from outside and from within, in public dialogues and debates. I also would like to thank my fellow Board of Governors (2010-2013 and 2013-2016). Among the members of the BOG which I think gave notable contribution to the CFD organization during their term of office are Bro. Wendell Talibong, Bro. Ryan R. Mejillano, Bro. Adam Amper, Bro. Reynaldo Rosal, Bro. Alejandro Purca, Bro. Hector Damaso, Bro. Rey Entila, Bro. Juvenal Alesna, Bro. John Diona, Bro. Woodrow Maquiling, Bro. Ricardo Felizarta, Bro. Jose Gonzalo Ditching, Bro. Zaldy Ocon, Bro. Ramon Sanchez, Bro. Jose Lim, Bro. Gerardo Giva, and Bro. Wennie Mingo.

With a heavy yet grateful heart, I would like to thank Atty Marcelo Bacalso and Bro Socrates Fernandez for the inspiration and mentorship they accorded me during my early years as a member of the CFD organization. If ever I have reached this level as a defender of the faith it is because I was able to stand on the shoulder of these two giants. With sad reckoning will I mention that I happen to be in conflict with Atty Bacalso on the issue of Traditionalism and with Bro Soc on the issue on “God died.” If I had not stood my ground on what I believe to be the correct understanding of the faith then I would have failed them for the one thing both of them taught me was to love and defend the faith no matter what the cost.

Looking forward I will still continue to serve the organization as member of the Board of Governors, although not as actively as before because I wanted the present leadership to take the cudgel. I intend to carry-on the resolution on the correct interpretation of the expression of the faith “God died” as solemnly defined by the Council of Trent and of the title of our Lady “Mother of God” as dogmatically defined by the Council of Ephesus. Now that I have finished translating the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Visayan which I started during the Year of the Faith, I plan to translate the Documents of the Second Vatican Council into Visayan so that the truth contained therein will more accessible to the Catholic lay.

Finally, I would like to thank all my fellow defenders who have always included me in their prayers.

Pro Deo et Ecclessia!

Bro. Ramon Gitamondoc