Our Lady of Remedies Chapel:
Don Enrique Community’s Offering of Love
by Jazmin A. Jocson
In the mid-1970s, the pioneer residents of Don Enrique Heights started to nurture a dream. As the community grew, homeowners fantasized: “If and when I win the sweepstakes, I will build a Chapel at the park.”
The vision remained as nothing more than just a dream — for although the need was apparent, the want was strong, and the inclination overpowering, the realities were more than certain: to construct a Chapel needed resources far too plentiful to assure.
And then, on 3 May 1981, the homeowners, during their monthly general meeting, received a surprise. Mrs. Bienvenida “Vennie” Lumba and Mr. Crisanto Gabriel, virtual newcomers at the subdivision at that time, presented an architect’s perspective of a beautiful Chapel to be constructed at the park. Suddenly, the dream became an attainable vision. Mrs. Lumba’s only request was to have the Chapel consecrated to Our Lady of Remedies. Her request met the acceptance and endorsement of the subdivision residents, who are devotees of the Blessed Mother, and believers of her great powers of intercession.
Mrs. Lumba’s infectious enthusiasm to pursue the project received neighborhood support. A fund-raising campaign was launched. Tickets for a car raffle were sold for P100.00 each. Homeowners, who at that time numbered about 30 families only, readily took it upon themselves to sell the tickets to friends and relatives.
First Mass
On 11 July 1981, the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Chapel were held and officiated by Fr. Roy Rosales, parish priest of the Parish of the Holy Spirit to which DEH belonged then. The Chapel was to be a sub-parish within his jurisdiction. Also, while the construction was being planned, the community initiated the celebration of Holy Mass in the subdivision. The first Mass was held in the garage of the Jocson residence on Don Doroteo Street on 19 September 1981. As the weather permitted, weekly Masses were held at the basketball court, reverting back to the Jocson garage every time it rained. Fr. Roy celebrated the Masses.
Meanwhile, after resolving that the Chapel construction was to be administered and coordinated by a committee independent of the Homeowners’ Association, a special group was formed to oversee the project. Members of the committee were: Mrs. Vennie Lumba, Col. Domingo Zacarias, Dr. Augusto Manalo, Dr. Jose Caballes, Arthur Reyes, Vicente Rolando Jocson, and Delfin Manuel, Jr.
The members of the committee joined efforts to undertake this project. They nursed the Chapel construction step by step, daily supervising each phase beyond the call of their duty. Cris Gabriel, who acted as their coordinator, provided support to the special projects committee by calling for, and in many instances, hosting frequent meetings to resolve difficulties promptly.
Mrs. Lumba, on the other hand, provided impetus by way of spadework, donations, and numerous generosities. Other homeowners organized weekly Bingo socials to raise additional funds.
A roof and a cement floor
Finally, on 17 October 1981, Fr. Roy Rosales said the first Mass at the Chapel — then with just a roof and a cement floor.
Fund raising for the final completion of the Chapel continued through the early 1980s. Various fund-raising activities were held. Donations kept on coming, as if from nowhere.
Finally, in November of 1983, the Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies was consecrated by His Eminence, Jaime Cardinal Sin — a proud and joyous occasion for the families of the community.
After 20 years
After almost 20 years, the original Chapel built by the homeowners started to show signs of wear and tear. The damage was concentrated on the roof, and persistent repairs could not remedy the rain flow from seeping through the interiors. A massive renovation was due.
With the vision and determination of the resident chaplain at that time, Rev. Fr. Rafael T. Cruz, the DEH homeowners were once again inspired not only to repair, not only to renovate, but to build a bigger Church made of higher quality materials.
With the coordination and direction provided by the DEH Homeowners’ Association headed by President Alfonso S. Nepomuceno, and Project Coordinator Brig. Gen. Pascual Melivo (Ret.), and the talents and resources of the community, the project did not take too long to be completed.
On 17 November 2002, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Remedies, the new Chapel was blessed and dedicated by the Reverend Teodoro Bacani, Jr., then district bishop of kal-ma-na and Quezon City North.
Truly, a community’s offering of love.
