On 15 April 2025, the Senior High School Covered Court was transformed into a sacred space as members of the Basic Education community gathered for a full-day Lenten Recollection with the theme, “Coming Home.” Facilitated by Fr Roseller Atilano Jr, SJ, and organized by the Basic Education Chaplaincy Office in collaboration with the Basic Education Assistant Principal for Formation and the Campus Ministry Offices, the recollection became a meaningful pause—an invitation to rest, reflect, and renew.

The recollection aimed to offer faculty and staff a moment to step back from their usual routine and deepen their spiritual connection with God and one another. Rooted in the central narrative of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the retreat invited the community to encounter the richness of God’s mercy through the eyes of the three characters—the wayward son, the resentful brother, and the ever-merciful father.

 

A Journey of the Heart

Fr Ro opened the recollection by grounding participants in the concept of “home”—or tahanan in Filipino—a word whose root, tahan, means to rest, stop, retreat, and even find consolation. He challenged everyone with the reflective question, “Saan tatahan ang puso mo?” (“Where does your heart find rest?”). In Bisaya, he drew on the word pagpamalandaong, which shares its root with landong, meaning shade—a reminder that recollection is a time to seek refuge and shade in God’s presence through prayer.

The day unfolded in three major prayer-reflection sessions, each focusing on one character in the parable.

Session One: The Prodigal Son

The first session reflected on the younger son’s journey of conversion and how it was made possible by the unconditional love of the father. Fr Ro reminded the participants, “We have been loved first,” anchoring the reflection on God’s initiating love and how it transforms. This reflection became the foundation for the day’s first group sharing, inviting participants to recognize their own experiences of returning home to God.

Session Two: The Elder Son

Next, participants reflected on the elder son—his sense of injustice and his struggle with resentment. Fr Ro framed this attitude as “the sin of good people,” noting that self-righteousness and entitlement can blind us to our blessings. He emphasized how the elder son’s inability to rejoice with his brother reveals deeper attachments and inner wounds. The fattened calf, he explained, symbolized our inordinate attachments, which we must learn to surrender. The second prayer period provided space to confront these realities within ourselves.

Session Three: The Merciful Father

In the final session, the spotlight turned to the father—an icon of divine mercy. Fr Ro described the father as the ultimate spiritual model, someone whose compassion is the culmination of the spiritual journey. “All roads lead to the merciful father,” he said, reminding participants of God’s constant desire to welcome us home. Following this session, everyone was invited to compose a personal vow to God—an expression of the insights and movements of the heart awakened during the day.

A Grace-Filled Culmination

The recollection culminated in a solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist. During the mass, some participants, moved by the Spirit, shared their personal reflections and how the day’s message resonated with their own lives. Their sharings, rooted in the prayer points and communal conversations, echoed the deep impact of the recollection.

Dr Pamela Pajente, Vice President for Basic Education, closed the event with a heartfelt message of gratitude. She acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the organizers and the grace-filled atmosphere that allowed the community to experience God’s love anew. “This day has reminded us,” she said, “that in our shared mission as educators, we are first and foremost called to come home—to God, to one another, and to our true selves.”

Coming Home, Together

The 2025 Basic Education Lenten Recollection was not just a pause in the academic calendar—it was a return to what matters most. In a world that often pulls us in many directions, the day served as a gentle reminder that we are all invited to rest in God, to find shade in prayer, and to walk the journey of faith together. Indeed, it was a day of pagpamalandaong, of tahan, and of grace—a sacred homecoming that will continue to echo in the hearts of all who were present.