EAO Regional Conference on the State of Salesian Historiography
Day 4 | Thursday | 7 Nov 2013
For ACCSA Meeting
Lawaan, Cebu (Nov. 4-8, 2013)
Sources of FMA historiography in the Philippines
- sr. Florita Dimayuga, FMA
The historical sources of the FMA in the Philippines have not yet been fully organized. Presently, however, there
is a plan to write a comprehensive history of the FMA presence in the archipelago and in other mission countries
placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine FMA Province.
The existing materials for a scientific historical research that are available in the archives of the Province consist
of the following:
a) House Chronicles (However, even if these are the most comprehensive sources they cannot be the only
focus of any research on the subject. The lack of sensitivity to historical information on the part of our
first Sisters is one main defect of the said material. Our first missionaries and the subsequent
chroniclers were not very precise in recording facts and were wanting in recording names, dates and
events which, on hindsight, would have proved to be very useful material for writing the history of the
FMA presence in the Philippines)
b) Transcriptions of some interviews of living witnesses done for the 50th anniversary of the FMA
presence in the country. (Most of these are handwritten and are compiled pell-mell in one clear book
together with the many other useful and non-useful writings of Sisters.
c) Personal history, documents, CV of Sisters gathered lately by the Prov. Sec. in view of the Necrological
letters sent to the Centre at the demise of the individual Sisters. Some Sisters submitted their
autobiography and some are still in the process of writing it.
d) The Necrological letters of Sisters who worked and lived in the Province.
e) Issues of FMA Lifeline (the official magazine of the FIL Province since 1984).
f) Other print material and articles in other publications (Official organs of FMA schools such as The
Sparks, Keni, Beat, Momentum, MHCS Chronicle, Milestones of the Laura Vicuna Foundation, One for
Others of Vides Phil…, Salesian Bulletin issues carrying articles written by or about the FMA presence
in the country
As mentioned above, there is a plan to write a history of the Province for the 60th anniversary of FMA
presence in the country (which will incidentally, coincide with the bi-centennial celebration of DB’s birth.
Even before the real scientific research, an initial history in big lines and photographic documentation of its
beginnings and mission, will be written and published in a coffee table book. One person has already been
assigned by the Provincial Superior to take the responsibility for this publication. The same person is
assigned to make the historical research to pursue the writing of FMA Philippines History. There is still a lot
to do for this work and the present ‘administration’ is determined to make this happen.
After these days of very valid input on scientific historiography, I am a bit more enlightened, but also a bit
more inadequate and “shy” to start the work entrusted to me, that is, less sure of myself, and maybe this is
not bad at all. It will make me more careful in my approach and in the use of available materials and more
attentive to apply the criteria learned in this encounter.
