MANILA, December 6, 2009—Thousands of people in the Biblical Apostolate have participated in the Ilocano Bible Centennial Celebration held at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City last December 2, 2009.

With the theme, “May They Be One: 100 Years of Solidarity for the Word,” this celebration aimed to provide an opportunity for the Ilocano-speaking people to come together as one in worshipping the Lord and expressing solidarity for the cause of the Word of God.

It also served as a tribute to the translators, reviewers and consultants of the Ilocano Bible.

Organizers said that this celebration had indeed been “a time of worship and rejoicing for the gift of the first 100 Years of the Ilocano Bible.”

“Ilocano Ti Biblia,” was the first edition of the Ilocano Bible that was established in 1909. It was revised in the years 1927, 1933 and 1954.

After the revision it was named “Naimbag a Damag Biblia” that was first translated by Godofredo Albano and Peter La Julian in 1983.

This was a product of an ecumenical team of Ilocanos with representatives from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), as well as other independent churches.

This breakthrough paved the way for further inter-confessional translation and revision work on the Ilocano Bible.

Among those who participated in this event were from the provinces of Ilocandia and Cordillera Regions. There were also attendees from the National Capital Region and other parts of Luzon.

Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon and Bishop Nathanael Lazaro, President and Chairman of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), rendered their messages.

Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Bishop Renato Mayugba, presided the enthronement and veneration of the Ilocano Bible.

The Proclamation for the Word was facilitated by Msgr. Andres Cosalan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Baguio.

The discussions formally started with the talk from Bishop Daniel Arichea, PBS Translation Consultant, on the retrospect on the First 100 Years of Scripture Engagement in Ilocano.

Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, on the other hand, discussed the projections of the Ilocano scriptures in the next 100 Years.

Meanwhile, the Ilocano translation teams were given recognition for the development that they have established for the Ilocano Bible.

Culminating the festivity is a benediction/blessing from the Bishops of all denominations that participated. (Kate Laceda)