CBAP Concludes 27th Annual Convention: Biblical Scholarship in the Service of Peace
The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) recently concluded its 27th Annual Convention at the PBS Tower on United Nations Avenue, Manila. Around 60 members, invited guests, and observers participated in the three-day gathering.
Alongside 15 scholarly conference papers, two major keynote papers were presented:
His Eminence Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David delivered an engaging presentation on the biblical theology of peace of Pope Leo XIV. Drawing particularly from Isaiah’s call for global disarmament, his paper emphasized the Christian vision of “unarmed struggle and disarming peace.”
Jesuit biblical scholar Fr. Selva Rathinam, SJ, presented a thought-provoking postcolonial reading of Scripture, particularly the Servant Songs in Deutero-Isaiah, from the perspective of the Dalits—the communities traditionally regarded as “untouchables” within India’s caste system. His paper also offered a critique of the overly Western orientation of the historical-critical method.
Abstracts of the Papers can be accessed here: https://www.mycbap.org/post/program-of-activities-cbap-27th-convention
During the convention, CBAP also elected three new members to its Board of Trustees:
• Dr. Edgar Ebojo, PhD — Philippine Bible Society
• Fr. Rext Fortes, CM — Vincentian School of Theology
• Fr. Cris Pine, OFM — Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Quezon City
The association’s president, Dominican Fr. Clarence Marquez, together with the seminarians of the UST Central Seminary, led the preparation and organization of the convention.
Founded in 1999, CBAP is a professional association of biblical scholars and Bible professors in the Philippines. It has around 40 active members from different Christian denominations—truly reflecting the universal and ecumenical sense of being “catholic.” The association has now successfully conducted 27 annual conventions.
The convention concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Most Rev. Bart Santos, Chairperson of the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA).
The proceedings of the 26th Annual Convention, held in Baguio City, have recently been published in Philippiniana Sacra, the journal of the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties:
CBAP BOT with Cardinal Ambo David Fr. Benny Baisas, OFM, at 85, the oldest of the participants. CBAP president Fr. Clarc with his UST seminarrans who formed the organization committee
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