Mrs Villegas

In 1986, the Philippines had its first woman president. The following year, Letran (Manila) High School had its first woman principal in the person of Mrs Lucita Ablaza-Villegas. I was a freshman then. Prior to her appointment, she was assistant principal in the same department. 

A few days before the Christmas break, two sections competed in raising gifts for a charitable institution in Tagaytay. My section won and, as previously agreed with Ms Edna Marco (our Religion teacher), would be bringing the gifts to Tagaytay. Ms Marco told my classmate Gary Ramos and I to see Mrs Villegas to consult her on what we should wear for our trip.

When Gary and I went into her office, she stood from her chair, walked, and sat near us. We felt at ease. When we asked her what she thought would be the appropriate attire, she asked us what we had in mind. I told her, "Well, Ma'am, you're the boss". She smiled and told us that we can wear non-uniform, but would prefer to have us wear our ID. Towards the end of our visit, she shook our hands and I took that chance to introduce myself as Larry Albano's nephew. She was delighted. (In a separate occasion, she told my classmates that my Lola Piling was her "ninang".)

That delight turned into dismay when, a few months later, she went into our classroom to check if all students were wearing their IDs. Her aim was to ensure that the department was consistent with its policy. She asked who was the class president so I came forward. When she instructed me to make a list of those without ID, I humbly admitted that I was one of them. She gave me a tongue-lashing. Indeed, I acted unbecoming of a class officer. From then on, I saw to it that I wore my ID while in school. As a teacher now, I could understand where she was coming from.

In my sophomore year, she became our Philippine History teacher for a quarter as our teacher was on leave. Every week, she would require us to write a reaction on the editorial of a national newspaper. Initially I was lazy to submit the work. Looking back, these assignments challenged me to read and think critically. She also encouraged us to prefer Filipino over imported goods. To demonstrate, she stood in class and proudly told us, while pointing at her flowery pair of shoes, "Itong sapatos ko, yari sa Marikina". Even though an expat living in the UK for 22 years, deep within me is a yearning to do something for the Philippines. 

There was also a time when I interviewed her for an assignment on the use of the national language. I was shy to see her personally so I left a note with interview questions to her secretary. A few minutes later, a security guard came to our classroom to hand in my note with Ma'am's response. She wanted to see me. I complied and she personally gave me her views and feedback. Working in education can be a challenge especially with time management. For Ma'am, it is not having time, but making time that matters. 

By the time I graduated, Mrs Villegas had already been appointed Director for Student Services. Still, she attended my graduation. As my name was called and walked past her on stage, I could hear her giving me a loud applause. Fast forward, when I had a chat with her in social media about fellow Letranite Fr Rufino "Jun" Sescon being named a bishop, she replied, "Yes Arriba Letran! I'm proud of him".

Mrs Villegas had one unforgettable quotation: "You are Letranites!" Letran was then getting ready for the NCAA games and to stave off any unruly behaviour typical of Letran students, she said these words to us. Season or out of season, her saying serves as a wake-up call. 

You are Letranites! Whenever we despair or become presumptuous, let us put on hope on God who "has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him..."(Ps 22:24).

You are Letranites!  When we are tempted to be indifferent to the plight of the least, the last, and the lost in our country, let us, as one Letran song goes, "magkaisa't magdamayan".

You are Letranites! When we have lost our identity as such, let the examples of our patron St John the Baptist, as well as fellow Letranites such as St Vicente Liem de la Paz and Manuel Quezon inspire us to conquer new glories for our and Mrs Villegas' beloved Letran.

Mrs Villegas, thank you for your leadership and friendship. Your passing away came as a shock as we were just chatting about you going to the La Naval celebration and me asking you to give Our Lady a flying kiss on my behalf. Thank you for being true to yourself by being such a light to those around you. Thank you for your reminder that I am a Letranite wherever and whatever my circumstances are. May Jesus, the Light whom you strove to mirror, welcome you into His kingdom of peace and happiness. 

To Coach Nemie, Mary Queen, and the rest of the Ablaza-Villegas family, my sincerest condolences. 

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!

Reduced to Clear

A few days ago, while buying my lunch in the nearby convenience store, a shelf in one corner was loaded with various items. Each one was labelled "Reduced to Clear" - their prices were reduced to give way to new products for Christmas.  And if you go through these items, you might be lucky to find something at a lower price.

Last weekend, we started a new liturgical year via the season of Advent.  For the next 4 weeks, we turn our gaze at the Advent wreath, lighting the candles one by one each week, asking the Lord to come.

And yet, asking someone to come to our place or our very lives isn't that easy. You have to make sure that the home is tidy, that provisions such as food, clothing, transportation, toiletries, etc. are available, that you have time to be with this someone. Relationship-wise, you have to be committed to this person.

To ask someone to come means to identify those things or aspects in our lives that need reducing.  Is it our pagpapaimportante? Take for example an appeal for help in our community. We know very well that we can assist, but why can't we? Are we waiting for the band to serenade and fetch us? 

How about our sense of entitlement? We sometimes want people to respect us because perhaps of our age or position, even if we are wrong.

How about our Pharisaical tendencies?  We may be devout, learned or better off and yet look down at others. I remember Msgr Albert Salonga (currently Rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Mandaluyong City) discouraging people from saying "Hindi ako bababa sa level niya" (I am not going down to his level.).

And our backstabbing moments? In a religious organization's gathering, a priest told his audience "Kapag may putok ang kapatid mo, pagsabihan mo" (If your brother/sister has a body odor, call his attention). Body odor or not, we indulge in telling other people about someone else's defects. Sadly, the person concerned is the last person to know.

Whatever it is that hinders us from welcoming Jesus into our lives this Christmas, Advent is the opportune time for us to reduce these hindrances to nothing so that our lives would become clear for the Lord.  I suggest we read and reflect on St John the Baptist's call for people to prepare the way for the Lord. The coming weeks' Gospel readings would feature him and his crusade.

Furthermore, a renewed devotion to Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is recommended. She, who was conceived without sin, became the Mother of our Savior.  She who received and nurtured Him will lead us to the Lord.

Let's be expectant hosts this Christmas and not cold strangers to the King who is to come!

Persevere, Change, Witness

Last Monday, August 26, a great crowd of Filipinos marched to Luneta to protest the corruption besetting the government.  The PDAF (a.k.a. pork barrel) scam was on top of the list of the most hated forms of corruption that involved a number of legislators on both houses of Congress. Previous to the Million Man March, President Aquino announced that he is abolishing the pork barrel. I am against the pork barrel since I first started to hear about it when I was in college as it reeks of corruption and traditional politics.  For me, it should be the governors and mayors who must dispose this to their constituents. After all, they are the ones who get in direct contact with people. Not the legislators who, by the nature of their job, must create laws.

When P-Noy made the announcement, I was overjoyed that I posted on Facebook that he is abolishing it.  My excitement backfired.  P-Noy won't abolish it until 2015. And his own pork will not be covered by the abolition!

At any rate, people marched to the streets to air their protest. As a sign of unity with them, Chiara and I wore white that day, the color of the protester's attire.

A day after that protest, we celebrated the feast of St Monica.  This great saint is known for her perseverance in prayer. Her sacrifices bore fruit - first, the conversion of her pagan and adulterous husband Patricius and later, the conversion of her restless and unsettled son Augustine.  

Imitating St Monica, Filipinos need to persevere, to be vigilant lest the Evil One outmanoeuvres us. Lest the pork becomes bacon, sisig, bagnet or lechon for the corrupt and callous-faced politicians and their minions.

Following St Monica's feast day, is her son St Augustine's fiesta. After his metanoia, this "son of many tears" (as what St Ambrose described Augustine in his previous life) would later become a bishop and doctor of the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has mentioned quite a lot of St Augustine's writings.

As a nation, like St Augustine, we need to have that metanoia, that change of heart.  Giving funds at the politicians' discretion is an occasion for sin.  Issuing statements that belie irresponsibility and incompetence is uncalled for.  Incidentally, PDAF scam matermind Janet Lim-Napoles has turned herself over to P-Noy on St Augustine's Day. This is a good sign of conversion. I hope others concerned would do the same.

As of this writing, the Church commemorates the Passion of St John the Baptist.  The Lord's cousin and forerunner called a spade a spade.  His humility and truthfulness were the foundations of his call for repentance. His brutal frankness annoyed Herod and especially Herodias. Later on, this incestuous woman had her way of having this great prophet beheaded.

"Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo", goes the final line of our National Anthem.  Following the footsteps of St John let us bear witness to the truth even to the point of shedding our blood for it.

Persevere. Change. Witness.  Three essential course of action the Philippines has to take to be saved, to be renewed.

***

Talking about the Philippines, you may or may not heard the news that the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino passed a resolution way back in April to use "Filipinas" instead of "Pilipinas" to recognize our history and development as a nation.  When I was in high school, the subject Pilipino was changed to Filipino because the modern alphabet has already included 'F' in its roster.  Fair enough!  But I am sceptic about changing how we call our country. Imagine changing the seal of the President into "Sagisag ng Pangulo ng Filipinas". How about "Pambansang Awit ng Filipinas"? Or (when communicating with a compatriot) "Saan ka sa Filipinas?".   I am comfortable with Pilipinas!