Diocese of Davao

IGLESIA FILIPINA INDEPENDIENTE

Cathedral of the Risen Lord
F. Torres St., Davao City

Minutes of the Meeting

On May 16, 2020, a special meeting called upon by the Cathedral Council of Cathedral of
the Risen Lord at Tri-sectoral IFI compound, Davao City attended by Rt. Rev. Denny D. Dapitan
(Diocesan Bishop and Chairperson), Rizal A. Saligumba (Vice-Chairperson), Cesar Jun
Villagomeza, Jr. (Member of Council), Marybeth D. Jumao-as (Member of WOPIC), Necodima
L. Plaza (Assistant Secretary), Amamore L. Plaza (YIFI Treasurer), and Joey Arana (Bursar).
Many suggested items were needed to be discussed with but few of them were tackled.
Agenda of the Meeting:
• Church Services
1.) Proposal for conducting online mass through social media (e.g. Facebook). It has
been discussed by the Cathedral Council in order to continue the operation of the church during
this Pandemic COVID-19. They suggested that Rt. Rev. Denny Dapitan will be the one to
conduct the regular mass every Sunday, but the Bishop asks for that he was not in the good
health as of now so he cannot assure to do so. So, the cathedral council finds other options to
coordinate with Rev. Polistico who will be the one to conduct the said mass. Hence, this agenda
still in progress since there are other matters need to be considered such as the materials to be
used and the technicalities when conducting online mass.
2.) Mass Collections. Since the life of the church relies upon the collections to its
members, so, Engr. Villagomeza, Jr. first suggested that the Cathedral must have a loan to any
financial institutions with a long-term payment (specifically 3 years) in order to sustain the
operating expenses of the church such as light and water expenses, salaries and wages, and other
essential matters. However, Sir Saligumba said that it is impossible to have a loan right now as
many financial institutions were in difficulties also in circulating the money as most of its
creditors were not able to pay yet in the middle of this Pandemic COVID-19. In other words,
most financial institutions may not be able to make a loan as of the moment since there was no
income coming into them. He also suggested that if they will lend either for National Cathedral,
but the majority of them insist on it. Therefore, they find another way in which they wanted to
reach out to the members of the church especially those big tithers to continue their
commitments like giving their tithes and pledges. So, Joey the bursar, starting to look after the
lists of the tithers and later on contacted them. This matter will be effective next week.
 3.) Budget for the month. First, Engr. Villagomeza, Jr. suggested that the church must
have to reach the quota of fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000) every month. The 65% (Php
32,500) of it will be allocated to Diocese and the remaining 35% (Php 17,500) goes to Cathedral.
However, the majority of them insist on it, because for them the best thing to do for now was
localization. This means that the whole amount collected by the Cathedral will be going to itself.
They also suggested that even the other parishes will do the same thing as well in order to
operate their well. They eventually agreed that the final quota every month will be twenty-five
thousand pesos (Php 25,000). Additionally, the members of the Cathedral Council firstly
initiated giving monthly tithes and pledges for the month of May, Engr. Villagomeza, Php
10,000 (April and May); Jomao-as, Php 2,000; Sir Saligumba , Php 1,500 with a total of Php
13,500.
Furthermore, majority of the members of Cathedral Council agreed that since Ma’am
Teodora D. Dajalos (Treasurer) cannot come into Davao City due to her health conditions so
they planned to send Joey (Bursar) to Panabo City to see Ma’am Dajalos for the settlement of
documents like receipts and cash vouchers that were not recorded yet. Also, they allowed Joey to
stay-in IFI compound for him to do his job easy and more convenient, as well as, Necodima L.
Plaza (Assistant Sec.) allowed also to get access to the records of the Treasurer in order for her to
bookkeep the transactions very well. On the other hand, Bishop Dapitan will make a letter of
clearance to Rev. Fr. Michelle John Linao for his accountability and obligations.
Wherefore, the special meeting was done fruitfully and thoughtfully. Pro Deo Et Patria.