Arriba Jesus!

A blessed feast day of the Birth of St John the Baptist! In the Church's liturgical year, we celebrate the birthdays of three important people: Our Lord (Dec 25), Our Lady (Sept 8), and St John the Baptist (June 24).

St John the Baptist is my special saint because he is the patron saint of my Alma Mater, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. This year is special because the college is celebrating its 400th foundation anniversary.

One may ask, why San Juan de Letran and not San Juan Bautista? Letran obtained its name from the Archbasilica of St John of Lateran in Rome, the "Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World". Lateran (Letran in Spanish) was the surname of the family who once owned the property where this beautiful basilica now stands. I have been there twice and really loved that place. There one could see the cathedra (seat or throne) of the Pope as Bishop of Rome. 

Anyone who has passed through the august walls of Colegio de San Juan de Letran wouldn't fail to hear, say, and cry Arriba Letran! (Up, Letran!). It is a cry of inspiration, encouragement, affirmation, and support, especially during big events such as the NCAA games and commencement exercises. 

As Letran celebrates its 400th anniversary, I would imagine our patron saint crying Arriba. But his cry does not just point out to Letran. Nor does it just point out to Patria (country). Ultimately,it points out to Deus (God).

Like the best man in a wedding, he would call our attention to the bridegroom. Like the forerunner of old, his cry awakens us for the Lord who is to come. All through his life, John did not hog the limelight. I remember Ms Andrea Flores, my Religion teacher in Elementary, who reminded us in one of her lessons about the humility of John: He (Jesus) must increase; I must decrease. (John 3:30). Indeed, John's cry is Arriba Jesus!

As Letran ushers in a new chapter in its life as an educational institution, may it revisit and draw inspiration once again from St John the Baptist. Mirroring our patron saint, may all Letranites (as well as other devotees of the saint) always seek to celebrate, promote, and uphold Jesus in whatever walk of life they lead. As Fr Edmund Nantes, OP, (a fellow Letranite) once told us in his homily : Manalo, matalo, kay Kristo ako. (Win or lose, I'm standing for Christ).

Happy birthday, St John the Baptist! Continue to pray for us.

Arriba Letran! 

Arriba Filipinas! 

Arriba Jesus!

Thoughts on Purgatory

It's November once again, the month of the Holy Souls. For us Catholics, it is that time of year when we pray for the souls of our departed loved ones, especially those in purgatory. While other faiths reject the existence of purgatory, our faith teaches us that the Holy Souls are "still imperfectly purified...After death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030).  The following thoughts on purgatory crossed my mind yesterday.

St Catherine of Genoa: "[I]f a soul were brought to see God when it had still a trifle of which to purge itself, a great injury would be done it...a great happiness is granted to the Holy Souls that grows as they draw nearer God."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: "I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory, then we would have to invent it, for who would dare say of himself that he was able to stand directly before God. And yet we don't want to be, to use an image from Scripture,'a pot that turned out wrong', that has to be thrown away; we want to be able to be put right. Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again."

Venerable Fulton Sheen: "Purgatory is a place not only where the Love of God tempers the Justice of God, but also where the love of man tempers the injustice of man, for it enables hearts who are left behind to break the barriers of time and death, to convert unspoken words into prayers, unburned incense into sacrifice, unoffered flowers into alms, and undone acts of kindness into help for eternal life...Purgatory, then, enables us to atone for our ingratitude because through our prayers, mortifications, and sacrifices, it makes it possible to bring joy and consolation to the ones we love. Love is stronger than death and hence there should be love for those who have gone before us. We are the offspring of their life, the gathered fruit of their labour, the solicitude of their hearts."

Bearing these words of wisdom in mind whilst also remembering the faithful departed in my moments of silence, I am convinced that purgatory does exist because, as Jesus once said, "It is my Father's will that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me and that I should raise it up on the last day" (Jn 6:39). Furthermore, it exists to show our unbroken link with those who have passed away, be they family, friends, or strangers. It is an avenue for us to make amends while there is still time.

***

As I write this, we celebrate the feast day of St Martin De Porres, a Dominican lay brother who, according to historical accounts, bilocated at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila when he never left his convent in Lima, Peru. St Martin is the Patron Saint of our section in Third Year High School.

Last month, Andres Rico Gonzales Jr (aka Bong Gonzales), a classmate in that section passed away. Bong was my classmate from first to third year. During our third year, Bong and I worked in a number of school projects. Being residents of Tondo, it wasn't difficult for us to work together. One project was conducting an interview with a Civil Servant and publishing a term paper their role in the National Census and Statistics Office. We bagged an award for that. A jolly person, his naughtiness often earned the ire of some of our teachers. One time, while Ms Myrna Javiniar (our Class Adviser and Chemistry teacher) was speaking to a colleague outside the room, Bong stood up and danced (without music, mind you!). We were quite entertained, so Bong kept on dancing. Unfortunately, the teacher caught him without him noticing it. Bong was sent home earlier than scheduled (It was our last lesson for the day). 

During our Junior-Senior Prom, we had a light moment dancing with other classmates who didn't have a date during that occasion. The last time I saw Bong was in the church of Gagalangin in 2002; he introduced me his family and instructed his kids to ask for my blessing (Mano po). In spite of not seeing each other for ages, we kept in touch through Facebook. In one of our last conversations, he told me that he bought a house in Gagalangin, near where my sister lives. I looked forward to pay him a visit, I told him. When I heard that he was ill, I got in touch and shared with him a prayer. "Thanks Manong", were his last words to me.

Looking through his posts in social media when he was still around, I have seen how supportive Bong was of his family, how proud he was of the achievements of his son who, like him, had a knack for Mathematics. My heart goes out to them in this time of bereavement.

May God bless your happy and loving soul, Bong. Be at peace now, brother, reunited with our other deceased classmates in Third Year-St Martin De Porres (Michael Corotan Charles Nabaza, and Cristino Pagdonzolan Jr), departed batch mates (Richard David, Jonathan De la Llana, Miguel Enriquez, Joselito Roxas, etc.), late teachers (Ms Myrna Javiniar, Ms Irene Ambagan, Mrs Charito Ramos, Mr Ruperto Sarmiento, etc), and fallen knights of Letran!

Dominic and Thomas

The Order of Preachers (a.k.a. Dominicans) is celebrating its 800^th anniversary this year.  In Santo Domingo Church (Quezon City), the Jubilee celebration was launched in November last year by Cardinal Chito Tagle.  I received almost all of my education from the Dominicans – Nursery (a.k.a. Playhouse) to Grade 3: Angelicum School (now College), Grade 6 to 4th year High School: Letran, Manila, and BSc Chemistry: UST. After obtaining my degree, I worked in UST for almost 6 years.  I am also affiliated with the Rosary Confraternity which is also under the Order’s care. My Lola Piling once encouraged me to become a Dominican priest, but unfortunately I do not have a calling to become a Domini canes (hounds of the Lord).

A few months back, I answered a quiz on “Which Dominican Saint Are You Most Like?” (https://churchpop.com/2015/11/08/quiz-which-dominican-saint-are-you-most-like/) . At the end of the quiz, I was expecting that I would be most like St Thomas Aquinas, doctor of the Church and patron of UST, but my answers revealed me to be like St Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order.  I am happy with that because without St Dominic, there’ll be no Dominican Order and there’ll be no jubilee to celebrate.

For me, both saints were great men of mercy. When Spain experienced a famine, the young Dominic gave away his possessions to feed the hungry. "Would you have me study off these dead skins, when men are dying of hunger?", he asked his fellow students.  As a priest, he preached against the Albigensian heresy and founded an institute for women. This happened about 10 years before he founded the group of Dominican friars. The Order was instituted out of the need for new type of order which will address the spiritual needs of the growing cities at that time through dedication and systematic education and having a more flexible organization than monastic orders or the secular clergy.

As for Thomas, whose feast day we celebrate as of this writing, he was a brilliant teacher, theologian, philosopher, and priest. Credit goes to him for writing Summa Theologica, an instructional guide for theology students, seminarians, and laity alike. He thought of writing this “because  a doctor of Catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but to him pertains also to instruct beginners. As the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3: 1–2, as to infants in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat, our proposed intention in this work is to convey those things that pertain to the Christian religion, in a way that is fitting to the instruction of beginners".

Both saints pointed to the Truth – Christ Himself.  No wonder that UST’s motto is Veritas.  I remember Fr Ernesto Arceo, OP (currently Rector of Aquinas University) mentioned in his homily a decade or so ago that if these men were senators in the Philippines during Joseph Estrada's impeachment, they would vote to have the controversial envelope (containing evidence that would allegedly prove Erap's corruption) opened. 

As we pay tribute to these saints and to the men and women comprising the Dominican Order in their Jubilee Year, let’s live AND share the truth. For as St Thomas once said “Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate”.

Jon

"Dapat ginaya ko si Cory (Aquino) noong nagspeech ako!," he quipped as we huddled almost 29 years ago in the Principal's Office during Boys' Day in Letran (Elementary Department). We all laughed.  "OK pala itong si De la Llana!", I told myself.  For a few months back, he came across as a fierce student leader quelling the commotion in our classroom and showing  zero tolerance to one student who was pasaway.

It took another year for us get to know more of each other though.  During break times, he would frequent our classroom to see his friends such as Jose Mari Balugay, Pedro Diaz, and Lamberto “Gary” Ramos. Unknown to me then, Jonathan (a.k.a. Jon or Tobi) also lives in Gagalangin.  In our conversations, I discovered that he was religious and was attending liturgical services in the parish.  About that time, I was already introduced into the Apostleship of Prayer (AP).  Also, a new (and younger) parish priest was assigned in Gagalangin. When asked if he would be interested to join this group, he gave me the affirmative.  Hence, on June 9, 1988 we were both invested with the AP scapular. The following months saw us immersed in the life of the parish through the choir (5:30am Friday, 6:30pm first Friday, and 7:30am Sunday  Masses), Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, collections during the 4pm Sunday Mass, AP meetings in the parish and elsewhere, etc. (not to mention our evening strolls along the quiet streets and alleys near Hermosa Street). Jon later recruited me in the Samahang Birhen ng Medalla Milagrosa and the Cofradia de San Jose. I just realized now that our devotion can be summed up as follows: Jesus, Maria y Josep.

Getting to know the other young members of the AP, we started to congregate at their house along Benita Street. That small band became the core group of the AP-Youth.  By January 1989, in a snap election called for by the AP Elders, AP-Youth had its set of officers: I was elected President; Jon, Vice President. Jon utilised and developed his skills and talents for the good of the group.  At the APY, he also served as PRO, Education Chairman, and President. For years, he designed the altar during APY’s annual pabasa, as well as the altar and carroza decorations for the feasts of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady, and St Joseph. He was also a founding member of the Tanghalang Anluwage serving as its first Artistic Director.

All along, our friendship grew. Apart from being almost every day in church (A teacher once chided “Tulog pa ang Diyos nasa simbahan na kayo!”.), we belong to the same section in second year high school. Jon came across as a humble, generous, broad-minded, thoughtful, and considerate person. One Christmas, someone in the parish gave him 2 leather wallets as gifts for him and I. He waited to see me to ask which color I prefer – one was black and the other, brown. When I chose black, he took the remaining wallet.  Whenever he had plans for the APY, he would make it a point to consult me.  He was the first classmate, friend, and colleague who called me Manong. That went viral – almost all members in the APY and then later in Anluwage have (fondly) called me Manong.

Of course, like any friendship we were not spared from those galit-bati moments typical of any teenager.  What strikes me is how Jon would often make the first step to say sorry. There was one occasion when he and another colleague went to our house. I was then cleaning the living room when he saw me (through the screen door) and said in a rather jolly tune: “Hello. We have come in peace!”. Now, whose heart won’t melt at that gesture? 

Jon was the life of the party.  On my 18^th birthday, I fell ill. Jon, along with Art Reyes, Sis. Mely Co and her daughter Rushelle paid me a visit and had dinner with us.  Amidst lighted candles around the house – blackouts were frequent that year – we had a great time. I felt uplifted!  A few weeks later, APY celebrated its anniversary. There was no planned program, just a simple salu-salo. But here comes Jon dancing and singing while Arnold Vidar played his guitar to the enjoyment of everyone!

Even when we parted ways in college, we still kept in touch. I’m happy to be able to get in touch with him through Friendster and then later in Facebook. He used to write “Stopovers”, an opinion column in the web, and contributed too in “The Nine Gifts” and “The Seven Last Words” projects. Last New Year's Day, when I sent him a message on the web’s 10^th anniversary, he expressed willingness to help. “Just keep me posted”, he told me. 

In his last article in “Stopovers”, Jon wrote “Has it ever occurred in your life that you had an encounter with another person totally not known to you yet has been significant?”.  Looking back, I could unequivocally say yes. Yes I have encountered someone who has been significant, someone who may have walked along the path of life once, but has touched me and others with his warmth, openness, passion, and faith.

Jon, you are that person.  I thank the Lord for that gift of encounter. Thank you for your friendship and love.  It’s hard for me to accept that you are no longer with us.  I felt there’s still more to learn from and work with you. As you have encountered us and treated us as siblings or friends, as someone significant in your life, enjoy now the much sought for encounter with the Lord.  Vaya con Dios, bro!

Fr Thom

"Welcome to Letran!" Those were the opening words from our School Director as he made some announcements right after the flag ceremony.  I couldn't remember now what else he said (It's been a long time, I know!), but his words gave me some sort of assurance as I start to settle in my new school.

Fr Thomas Lopez Francisco, OP, or Fr Thom as he is fondly called, would often be seen making his rounds in the school, sometimes chatting with students and staff.  In almost all events in the Elementary Department, he would always be there. When we see him approaching, we would approach him to ask for his blessing. And he would bless us warmly.

Just a few weeks after that flag ceremony, we would witness him being installed as the new rector and president of Letran.  In his 3-year stint as leader of this august college, there were 3 important events that took place: 1. In July 1987, the Dominican Order in the Philippines celebrated its 400th anniversary; 2. In October 1987, a number of Dominican martyrs were canonized - among them were priests from Letran, and a Filipino lay man, Lorenzo Ruiz; 3. In June 1988, a number of Vietnamese martyrs were raised to the altars - one of them was a Letranite and Dominican priest, Vicente Liem de la Paz.  There was one event though that posed a challenge to his rectorship. In January 1987, teachers went on strike for a week. In my young mind then, I wasn't sure what the reason was, but luckily there were no strikes after that.

At first, I thought Fr Thom was a foreigner. I haven't heard him speak in Filipino like his confreres such as the late Fr Regino Cortez or the late Fr Ramon Salinas. It didn't help either that in the Elementary Department we were not allowed to speak in our mother tongue. I would later found out that he was born in China to a Filipino father and a Peruvian mother.

In spite of this 'language barrier' (if any), this soft-spoken priest comes across as approachable and friendly. During his homilies, he would address us as "My fellow Letranites".  Perhaps he was an alumnus of this institution.  

In my final year in high school, I was with friends in Luneta for a religious event when suddenly I saw him. I greeted him and he greeted me too. Our attention was called by a colorful banner of a religious organization taking part in the gathering. He asked me what the words meant (I think they were in Tagalog). He listened intently as I explained it to him. 

During my graduation, Fr Thom was around and even spent some light moments with me and former teachers.  It took a decade before I met him again, in Letran, when I attended a nephew's Christmas party. After giving his Christmas message, he sang "Whispering Hope".  After the program, I grabbed the opportunity to see and have a chat with him.  He was much older and yet that didn't hide his warmth and amiability.  I asked for his prayers for my grandmother who passed away a few months earlier and for my family.  He assured me of his prayers. I never thought it would be our last meeting. 

Fr Thom, thank you for making me feel welcome in Letran.  Your presence and words were sources of strength for me. It gave me the wings to fly and glide.  As we celebrate Christmas, inspire us so that our presence and kind words would enable others especially those who are weak and left out to enter - in our lives, in our families, in our communities - and be welcomed. I'm sure that when our time is up, we'll see you there saying "Welcome to heaven!". God bless your kind soul!

Arriba In My Veins

I note that you used to study in Letran. What has Letran impressed on you? - Placido Penitente

During Anluwage's heydays in Gagalangin, I couldn't relate with my colleagues whenever they talk about school - most of them studied in the local high schools. I studied elsewhere, at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where my Dad and his brothers studied.

Letran has impressed quite alot on me. First is the devotion to the Holy Rosary. When I was in sixth grade (I was then a transferee from Kawit, Cavite.), our class adviser Ms Carmelita Lopez used to check if we all got our rosaries. The rosary forms part of our school uniform. Ms Lopez's style of checking was 'name and shame'. Every row has a leader who'll do the checking and then report to the whole class by saying "I'm happy to tell you that all my classmates are in complete uniform." It's when the "I'm sorry to tell you..." that makes the reporting interesting. Once the teacher hears these words, she'll ask who's got incomplete uniform and what is it that's missing, e.g. rosary, ID, black leather shoes, etc. Till now I make it a point to have my rosary on my breast pocket.

Another is team work, for example cleaning the room to organizing activities for the class and for the whole department. I can never forget the times when we have a drama in Filipino and English and some of us have to play the female roles - during that time Letran elementary and high school departments catered exclusively for boys.

I almost didn't become a Letranite when I constantly failed in the Math entrance exam. Thanks goes to my late grandmother who patiently taught me prior to my last exam, which happened on my birthday ages ago. I later found myself in a school that isn't only known for being sports-minded but is also excellent in the academics like Mathematics. Through the numerous Mathematics I was taught - Algebra, Basic/Analytic Geometry, and Trigonometry - I was able to love this subject which would later form part of my Chemistry degree.

There are still some more lessons I've learned from Letran from building friendships to meeting students of the opposite sex, from helping each other to learn the subject to deciding what course to take in college.

For all that Letran has done for me, I can only sing the following lines from the Alma Mater Hymn:

Orgullosos de ti y tu historia
Nuestras almas desde hoy juraran:
Conquistar por tu honor nuevas glorias
Y jamas olvidarte, Letran!

(We are proud of you and your history
Our souls pledge from now on:
To conquer new glories for your honor
And never forget you, Letran!)

***

This week, I’ve go two loved ones who have celebrated or are celebrating their natal days and I’m taking this opportunity to greet them:

Nicola, my younger sister (Nov 8) – when she was born I was so excited to see her that I missed the school service and hit my head accidentally twice. When I started teaching in UST, she was already a Med Tech student there. Her college was just 1 floor beneath ours so I was able to keep an eye on her. I miss you so much, dear sister. Hope you’ll have your dreams fulfilled and, at the same time, we’ll see you soon.

Bob, my first cousin (Nov 15) – because I didn’t have any older brother to look up to, he is definitely and rightfully called “Ang Manong ni Manong”. I have worked side-by-side with him when he was Musical Director of the “Panunuluyan” as well as the “Hosanna” and “Salubong” events in Kawit, Cavite. Thanks for the confidence you have given me, cousin. Looking forward to see “Heritage” a part of every Filipino home.