I am called by my friends and sisters in the community as Anya. In 1989, when I was 22 years old, after teaching for two years in a diocesan school I joined the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
I knew the sisters from the school where I graduated from high school and college: St. Bridget College, Batangas the first foundation of the Good Shepherd Congregation in the Philippines in 1913. The witnessing of the sisters in Batangas to the compassion and mercy of Jesus the Good Shepherd confirmed my desire and longing to serve God as a Religious and to commit my whole life to this Jesus who seeks the lost and the outcast.
I made my first profession of vows in 1992, and my perpetual profession of vows in 1997. Because the majority of my mission involvements were in Education ministry, I was challenged to pursue a Master’s Degree in School Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in School Leadership and Management.
In 2008, I was a school administrator (Dean of College in Batangas). At this stage the Philippines Province struggled to pursue Good Shepherd Partnership as one of our Broad Directions. I wrote a dissertation paper entitled Towards a model of lay empowerment in Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines to help us in strengthening our goal to actualize partnership in mission - at least to start it with our lay mission partners in our education ministry.
This passion of mine for Good Shepherd Partnership deepened as I become one of the members of Good Shepherd Partnership Team (one of our Province Teams) in 2008. In 2011, I joined the Province Leadership Team (PLT) to replace one member – ministry councilor whose term ended in that year. During the 2014 Province Open Chapter, I was again elected for another term as a member of the PLT for 2014 – 2020 and my area of concentration is on Good Shepherd ministries in the province ensuring that our programs and services are prophetic and relevant. This requires thorough monitoring, coordination and regular assessment of our ministries.
In addition to this, together with the WJPIC (Women, Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation) team, my responsibilities now include: (a) being the program coordinator of Ruhama Center for Women – a shelter for women and girls in difficult situations (trafficked, sexually abused, working in prostitution, distressed migrants); (b) in charge of Good Shepherd Retreat House – helps in providing a place for prayer and solitude and eco-friendly environment for Good Shepherd people; (c) over-all in-charge of the Rehabilitation Project for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (d) representing Congregation in Catholic Educational Association in the Philippines as superintendent of 4 Bridget Schools.
As a Good Shepherd sister, I am truly grateful that zeal, the fourth vow I profess is nurtured by the Good Shepherd spirituality and richness of the Good Shepherd heritage that I received especially during my formative years as a religious.
Click here to read interview by N.J. Viehland, a correspondent for Global Sisters Report based in the Philippines -
Q & A with Sr. Maria Ananita Borbon
Senior students from St Bridget's School, Quezon City enjoyed 2 days camping and awareness raising experiences at Good Shepherd Farm, Sariaya concluding with a Cosmic Walk around the Farm
Link Persons on Women, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Province of Philippines-Japan participated in a one day discussion meeting to address structural roots of poverty and injustice
Twenty six people from seventeen different faith-based organizations in Metro Manila participated in a two-day workshop organized by St Mary Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation (SMEIDFI)
Sessions are being held in the Philippines-Japan Province to ensure effectiveness and sustainability of mission and better delivery of services
Province Link Persons held their Annual Meeting for updating and planning to synchronize province efforts to address issues related to Women, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation
To mark the conclusion of the Season of Creation, the Ministry Team, Local Communities, sisters in initial formation and students held a Cosmic Walk around the Good Shepherd convent in Quezon City
In organizing a session, workshop or meeting, who do you look for to facilitate the event? This article may give you some good ideas....
16 participants from many provinces of Asia Pacific responded to the call to learn the skills of facilitation at a workshop held in Ipoh, Malaysia from 31 March to 8 April
Journeying with a parish community on Victory Island since the Typhoon, the Philippine Province contributes significantly to a successful Desalination Project
Sisters and lay Mission Partners in the Philippines celebrate special feasts of Mary throughout the year by contributing to a Feeding Program for urban poor children
In the Philippines, Overseas Workers make a significant contribution to economic strength and wellbeing of families. Sisters of the Good Shepherd run programs which help to safeguard their rights
In Baguio City, Philippines a new environmental initiative transforms tons of vegetable and fruit waste material every week into organic fertilizer
A long established Good Shepherd social enterprise in Baguio City aims to empower young people to break the cycle of poverty through education - and it produces a famous and highly sought jam
Comprehensive overview from the GSAPP team - how Good Shepherd Partnership for Mission is developing in this region
Ruhama Center for girls and women in Quezon City, Manila continues the work of the late Sister Mary Soledad Perpiñan
Good Shepherd Sisters offer a caring and therapeutic environment for women and children working in the sex industry and at risk of trafficking