Kopiroti, Fuji Maru and Being Happy at Thirty

Today, at 30,I am not the person I had planned myself to be last year. Being 30, I had imagined, should be a turning point in my life, a time when I get to have a clearer picture of how and where I would spend my life, at least for the next ten years. I do not want to grow old with regret of not doing what I should have done today. But few hours before the year concludes, I still fail to meet complete discernment, so at some point I asked myself: What happened to my experience of retreats and other discernment activities? Meaning, next year I should expect to feel the same feelings and confront the same questions about recurrent issues - about my career, for instance.

More than frustration and impatience, however, what I feel as of writing is a sense of courage, openness and excitement to life’s options, surprises and opportunities I would find for myself as a consequence of my decisions and life’s kindness to me. These positive energies are enough self-reassurance that things would be all right.

For indeed, despite some personal struggles, my 30th year unfolded as one of the best years of my life. This year, I experienced some firsts, went to places near and far, and achieved dreams that have changed me forever: self-awareness, courage, maturity, perspectives. I met new people, strengthened old relations and made new ones that I hope to nurture for good.

Looking at the twelve months of 2012, I must confess that I overwhelmingly received more than I gave this year:  engaged less in outreach activities, but shared more in terms of inter-personal relations – in friendship and family. Maybe, I made more conscious efforts for my personal happiness this year. And I’m happy to be happy. For all that I have done and accomplished in the last thirty years of my life, however modest they may seem to the world, I deserve to be happy.

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These are the thirty most significant things that happened to me this year. It is notable that many of the items happened during the 39th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) journey, understandably because it took one-thirds of my 2012.

1.       The Biggest Loser. Losing weight was in itself a journey for me, and a challenging one. I did not go to the gym or have a special diet. I just had the discipline and determination to significantly cut my food intake and do brisk walking or jogging at the Basilica Grounds almost office hours. It was a struggle for me to resist what I love doing – eating a lot of carbs and sweets, but aside from personal will, the support of my family and friends helped me achieve my goal: from my parents’ healthy selection of grocery items to my officemates’ participation in my no-rice lunch diet. I did not regularly keep track of my weight, but I lost around 8-10 kilos in seven months.

2.       Northbound: the Vigan-Pagudpud-Laoag Road Trip. With limited budget and our own itinerary, Janice, Lax, Jan and I went north-bound as Part 2 of our great Sagada-Baguio adventure last year. It was amazing that in just four days we went to many places in these three destinations and experienced much like trying popular local food and taking gigabytes of photos. Best things in this trip: the dinners in Vigan and Pagudpud, the Bangui Windmills and the Cape Borjeador Lighthouse.

3.       September 6, 2012. I had many reasons to celebrate this day. One, it is my 30^th birthday. Second, it coincided with my fifth year of service to the Ateneo de Naga. Third, on this day the family decided to have the blessing of our home, which is a product of our family’s hardwork over the years. To cap it all, my birthday was about celebration of family, which I shared to people who have been part of my life – from my grade school teachers to my office colleagues and friends.

4.       The SSEAYP Interview. Usually, whenever I join a program with competitive selection process I would have a feel if I get it or not after an interview. And in SSEAYP’s case, I knew I got it right after my interview. And I did, realizing one of my college dreams. I think my experience in coaching students for interviews helped and pressured me to give my best before the SSEAYP panel. I pressured myself a little bit more, thinking that I had postponed my entry for long, and this year was my last chance, knowing the age requirement for the delegates (18-30). Thank God and to NYC, I made it.

5.       The SSEAYP Pre-Departure Training. It was both an affirming and humbling experience for me.

6.       Bugkos Lahi. One of the best gifts that I received in SSEAYP was the gift of friendship: twenty-seven new friends with whom I shared my SSEAYP journey – from the pre-departure training to the cruise.

7.       Golden Panda. The dormtel – the fifth floor rooms, the meeting area, the elevator, the canteen, the basketball court, the mezzanine, even Mini Stop and Grill Prince – formed part of my home for one month before SSEAYP proper. These spaces became witness to the joys, small victories, frustrations, pains, secrets, blossoming friendship and romance, and storming period between and among Bugkos Lahi during their Pre-Departure Activities.

8.       National Day Presentation on Fuji Maru. Singing nationalistic songs Bayan ko, Tagumpay Nating Lahat and Ako ay Pilipino before an international audience and being appreciated for it, was one of my proudest moments as a Filipino. Performing the Singkil even as a clapper and dancing the It’s More Fun in the Philippines with the Philippine contingent were quite challenging and fulfilling for a bad dancer like me.

9.       Singing Someone Like You with Ryan, Mayjee and Aaron on Fuji Maru thrice, again before an international audience, was definitely a dream-come-true for me.  The performance got many people on board on LSS mode, so I think we did well.

10.   The fun swimming and bumpcar riding with my little host brothers Zackie and Indera and homestaymate Landon in Jakarta, Indonesia. I felt like I had the opportunity to be a small kid again.

11.   Tochigi. During the institutional visits, I met the only Filipino student at Utsonomiya University, and the only Filipino student at Wanda High School. In Tochigi, I also experienced the tea ceremony and other firsts: net-fishing by the river and apple picking during my homestay with the Sakurai family and buddy Aki.

12.   I will always remember: the night walk under the rain, lightning chase and drinking sessions with new friends in Singapore; the temples and museum, Terminal 21, Tom Yum and two-hour massage in Amazing Thailand; and the endless eating with closely-knitted extended family in Brunei.

13.   Fuji Maru, every part of it and everything that happened onboard: too many to mention (separate blog re SSEAYP coming soon).

14.   Press PPY. I am happy about my humble contributions to the Philippine SSEAYP delegation as head of the Secretariat, Press PY and friend.

15.    Bonding with my roommates at Golden Panda (503) and cabinmates at Fuji Maru (420); and my buddies John, Mae, Apple and Joss. 

16.   The post-SSEAYP Baguio ‘country program’. With April, Mae, John and Ryan, this trip somehow facilitated our re-appreciation of our country’s cultures as we practically did institutional visits and homestay courtesy of Ryan, plus sessions of reminiscing and looking forward. Further, being in Baguio reminded me of my retreats, so coming there slowed down my emotional state from my overwhelming SSEAYP experience. In a sort of ceremonial toast, we expressed our wishes for one another and together set our eyes towards the future for sustained friendship. Then, I journeyed back home.

17.   Overall, it was a great honor, commitment and challenge for me to represent the Philippines in the 39th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program, and sharing the culture, arts and vision of the country to the Japan-ASEAN youth community.

18.   I am happy to have sustained my form of Marian devotion by serving as volunteer-photographer during the Penafrancia Fiesta, with Ligaya friends Herold, Tin and Errol. I had an improvement this time as I decided to be among the crowd during the time when Ina was being brought to the river for the Fluvial Procession. It was a fulfilling experience for me, even if the steel handle of the andas nearly struck my chest when I positioned myself near the river bank from where Ina went down to the pagoda.

19.   I attempted to inspire the UNC Elementary Graduation Batch 2012 as their Guest Speaker. I took it a challenge to make the approach of the speech more engaging than the usual, and its message, clear and relevant. 

20.   It was quite an honor for me to be recognized by my high school alma mater, University of Nueva Caceres, as one of their outstanding alumni for School Year 2011-2012.

21.   Kopiroti. It’s not about their coffee, but just being there alone or with friends that made me like coffee suddenly.

22.   T-Ice. My favorite liquor has facilitated many small talks and lifeplanning sessions with my trusted friends, old and new.

23.   Traveling with my mother and brother John for the first time in Hongkong and Macau has always been a dream for me. John’s girlfriend Mariane also joined us in this trip. The happiest memories in this trip were the whole-day Disneyland fun and the casino-hopping in Macau.

24.   The Formative Processing Seminar-Workshop in Emmaus, Ateneo de Manila University. This is by far one of the most useful skills training I have attended through Ateneo, with Ate Thea, Ate Julma, and Kuya Edsel. I practically use, consciously or unconsciously, the learning that I got here in informally processing the experience and issues of people who come to me for some help.

25.   I have always considered organizing the Dugong Atenista bloodletting a personal challenge and outreach for me. It’s so close to my heart that, although an office outreach, I feel a personal drive and ownership to take care of it. The Ignaciana bloodletting in July 2012 was satisfying for me as the office’s hardwork in promoting the formation activity was responded to by 300+ donors. The program again recorded the highest number of donation by a private institution in Bicol.

26.   One of the items in my 2012 Wishlist that I managed to do is having a separate calendar for personal life, so I would not to be tied all the time with my work calendar. This is an indicator that right at the onset of the year I was determined to pursue personal happiness.

27.   This year, I did a lot of cooking for my family and friends. I also learned new recipes of food with gata.

28.   Fr. Ritche brought us to a falls and beach in Camarines Norte – just what we needed after some weeks of hardwork and, therefore, stress.

29.   Watching Games of Throne, The Walking Dead and Dexter made some of my idle nights very exciting.

30.   Swimming with friends and family at Sulat Pool, Hydro Hot Spring, Spring Valley, Kate’s and Stonehouse.

31.   The refurbishment of my room. To accommodate my growing stuff (books, archived folders of college and work papers and mementos, travel souvenirs and clothes)and to have a more ‘homey’ feel, a bigger closet and a Japanese table and bed were fabricated.

The Archbishop's Legacy Lives

(From the Citation for Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, O.P., D.D., Archdiocese of Caceres

Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, 60^th Commencement Exercises

of Colleges and Graduate School, Ateneo de Naga University)

Written by Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr.

Who in fact is the priest, if not a man converted and renewed by the Spirit, who lives from a personal relationship with Christ, constantly making the Gospel criteria his own? Who is the priest, if not a man of unity, aware of his own limits and at the same time, of the extraordinary greatness of the vocation he has received, that of helping to extend the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth?”[1]

    -          Pope Benedict XVI

His vocation began, as in most stories of birth of priestly or religious vocations, from a sense of confusion and dissatisfaction with his life. After his high school graduation at St. Mary’s Academy in Meycauayan, Bulacan, the young Leonardo Legaspi - or Kading - did not have a definite idea of what he was going to be. At first, he planned to enter the Philippine Military Academy. He next considered being a sportsman as he got offered to play at a commercial basketball league. However, he ended up studying Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines when he knew he was not a math and drawing person. Half-hearted in his decision, he earned disastrous marks in his major subjects, and then he felt homesick and got literally sick. His discouraging situation prompted his father to transfer him to the pre-Law of the University of Santo Tomas where he performed better, but not much.[2]

Kading’s first experience of his calling came upon him during the summer of his sophomore year in UST when he played basketball at a seminary facility.  He vividly recounted that he was struck by the awe-inspiring silence and peace that embraced him at the seminary. When asked by his father how his game was, he expressed instead his feelings of entering a seminary life. He was never extraordinarily religious in his youth, so his family and even his uncle who was a monsignor did not believe at first that he had the priestly vocation. But with the help of another relative, some Dominicans welcomed him under their formation. At 17, he found his way to the corridors of St. Albert Priory in Hong Kong of the Dominicans to study Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. The teenage Leonardo, unaware of his grander role in the future, thought that he was called to teach.[3]

The Making of a Priest-Educator

Upon completing his studies in Hong Kong, he returned to the Philippines and was ordained a Dominican priest in 1960. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Sacred Theology at UST, finishing degrees of Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1961) and Doctorate in Sacred Theology Magna Cum Laude (1962). In 1971, he was a grantee of the Asia Foundation and Alfred Sloan Foundation to a scholarship in the Institute of Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in the United States. In 1975, he finished Doctor of Philosophy at UST.

As a priest deeply involved in the teaching ministry, the young Fr. Leonardo helped facilitate the Filipinization of UST education when he was appointed as its Central Seminary’s first Filipino Rector, and later the Pontifical and Royal University’s first Filipino Rector Magnificus (1971-1977). Within the Order of Preachers, he was the first Filipino Vicar of the Philippine Dominican Vicariate. In both societies, he manifested his gifts of prudent and vision-driven leadership and management which earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow educators, priests and theologians. Fittingly, he received prestigious accolades like the Ten Outstanding Young Men award for education, Gran Cruz del Alfonso X El Sabio of the Spanish Government, Rizal Pro Patria Award and the International Association of University Presidents Award, to name a few.

He was drawn nearer to his destiny in 1977 when Pope John Paul II appointed him as titular bishop of Elefantaria in Mauritania and auxiliary bishop of Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin of Manila. Still mindful of his passion in the teaching ministry, Cardinal Sin allowed him to remain rector of UST. But with a heavy heart, he had to relinquish his post to his vice rector because holding the two positions at the same time was not compatible with the rules of the Dominican Order.

A Gift Richly Given to Bikol

Seven years later, there was a prospect unfolding for Msgr. Legaspi at Caceres: the old Archbishop Teopisto Alberto just announced his retirement. He was nominated to take his place. His friends and parishioners who knew his effective leadership rightly described this event as “Manila’s loss, Bikol’s gain.”[4] Indeed, on January 17, 1984, the Bikolano faithful received him as gift upon his installation as the 33^rd Bishop and third Archbishop of Caceres. On his way to Naga, he was greeted by jubilant crowds along the streets of Daet, Villazar, Sipocot, Mambulo, Tambo, San Fernando and Milaor. As he received they keys of the province from Governor Felix Fuentebella, he described the Bikolanos with these words:

On my way to Naga from Daet this afternoon, the beauty of Mt. Isarog caught my attention. “What placidity! What serenity!” I told myself. And I could not help thinking of that other mountain of the Bicol Region, the fiery Mt. Mayon. How fittingly, I thought, these two mountains portray the two sides of the Bicolano character, vigorous and fiery yet sober and peace loving.[5]

Initially, the Archbishop’s confinement in the academe for 14 years posed some challenges for him. Except for the occasional Masses in a parish, he practically had no experience of parish life. To overcome this, he utilized his management experience and looked at Caceres in that light. While the many bishops before him had administered the Archdiocese as a parish priest, he viewed it from the perspective of a university. He introduced planning, organization and assessment of resources.

Nourishing Seminary and Priestly Formation in Caceres

At the onset of his episcopacy, the Archbishop recognized the local Church’s lack of understanding about its prophetic role vis-à-vis the reality of the world. To respond to this, he knew that he had to start right at the seminary where priestly formation begins. Quite logically, among his first accomplishments was the introduction of major development in the formation program, faculty development and direction of the seminaries. Specifically, the three stages in seminary formation (preparatory, minor and major seminaries) have been delineated and endowed with their particular facilities.

Although a macro-manager who trusts seminary formators, he still personally looks over the development and concerns of the seminarians. He would know each one of them, have breakfast with them, assist in their financial concerns, and help formators guide them in their journey to priesthood.

He has also given equal attention to the continuing formation of priests. As he stressed in The Diocesan Priestly Life and Ministry Formation Manual, the formation of a priest does not end in his ordination, but needs to be continuously nurtured in his priestly life and ministry.  To the Caceres priests, he resembles the typical Filipino father who impresses strict discipline on them and places call of duty above any personal matter. But he can also be very understanding and sensitive to their needs. He once described his relationship with the priests:

“The priests are my sons and friends. In virtue of sacred ordination we have in common, we are bound together in the intimacy of brotherhood which should be spontaneously and cheerfully demonstrated in mutual help, spiritual and material alike, pastoral and personal. That is why one of my chief anxieties is the welfare of my priests, and I believe that my first responsibility is to look after, care for the priests.[6]

The creation of programs like the Caceres Clergy Security System, for the priests’ insurance benefits; ‘Kapwa ko, Parroco’ (My Fellow Pastor), a fund-building campaign for priests; Gaudium Sacerdotale (Joy in the Priesthood) Fund, a program for priests’ renewal; and Pro-Seminario Collection, provision of subsidies to poor parishes; and Madrigal Foundation scholarship grants manifest his care for the priests.

Revitalizing Catechism

Being a former Catholic educator, the Archbishop has made catechesis his first priority. In fact, one of his first decrees as Archbishop was the establishment of the Caceres Catechetical Ministry. Consequently, the ministry opened in 1987 the Caceres Catechetical Center which trains catechists who would assist the parishes and provide religious instruction in public schools. Today, this ministry claims to have formed some 1,300 volunteer catechists, and extends beyond Caceres as model and inspiration.

To expand the reach of catechism, the archdiocese utilized the media through the creation of the Caceres Commission on Communications (CCCom). By serving as the liaison between the Archdiocese and media practitioners, the teachings of the Church are promoted through the local media. And to further encourage the media to promote Christian spirituality, the CCCom has even organized six St. Peter Baptist Catholic Mass Media Awards to recognize media organizations and practitioners who live up to the motto, Christian Values Make Good Media.

The Archbishop has also provided monumental leadership in shaping catechism in the nation. When he was chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education (ECCCE) from 1977 to 1978 and 1994 to 2003, new catechetical tools were designed like the National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines and the Manual for Family Catechesis, and remarkably the Catechesis of the Catholic Church, which is the first national catechism document published by Vatican after the Universal Catechism. It was also through his leadership that ECCCE established the National Catechetical Week and forged close collaboration with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP). These achievements have made the country a subject of admiration and imitation even in other parts of the Catholic world, bestowing him the reputation as the “Architect of Philippine Catechesis in Our Time.”[7]

Making Pastoral Care Accessible to All

In his book Light to all (2004), Archbishop Legaspi underscored his duty as the one most entrusted with the responsibility to keep the local church under his care in the grace of God’s visitation, so that in its midst, the visit made ‘once-and-for-all’ in Jesus Christ becomes present anew from age to age.”[8] Evidently, he brought about significant initiatives and changes which have resulted in the greater access of the faithful to pastoral services and have empowered both the clergy and the laity in Caceres and in the country.

From 1987 till 1991, he served as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. In his term, he convened the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II), which Pope John Paul II described as one of the most significant events in the ecclesial life of the Catholic Church in the country.[9] Some of the Church’s continuing pastoral priorities emerged from PCP II’s acts and decrees: the preferential attention to the poor and the engaged role of laity in carrying out the Church’s mission in social transformation.

At Caceres, the growth of the Church has been on continuous rise. The number of parishes dramatically increased by more than 100 percent, from 38 in 1984 to 75 parishes today. Where the government cannot provide even the basic services, Caceres has a priest to take care of the people, especially the poor. The map of Caceres dramatically expanded in 1989 when, through a petition of the Archbishop, Rome approved the Prelature of Libmanan as a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction. And a decade later, Libmanan was recognized by Pope Benedict XVI as a new diocese, which now has 27 parishes.

To be closer to homes, the Archbishop created the Family Ministry in the Archdiocese of Caceres, a major pastoral strategy towards the promotion of marriage and family as a domestic church and the locus of new evangelization. This ministry has made counselling services available for married couples and families, leading the family towards social participation and apostolate. In one of his pastoral letters, he made clear the importance of this ministry, declaring that:

 “... the family is where the Gospel is first heard and witnessed to by the members. The family has to be a true school of evangelization, where every member first learns to participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church”[10]

With parishes now closer to homes, the lay faithful have been inspired to participate in the ministries and assume responsibilities. One concrete articulation of the laity’s participation was the establishment of the Caceres Social Action Foundation (CASAFI). Through CASAFI, the laity and other church-based groups engaged in social apostolates have been coordinated to sharpen focus and impact on Bikol development. This is consistent with the archbishop’s social action vision, articulating that:

“... the challenge of our church is to make it truly the ‘home for the poor.’ The Church shepherds her flock not only by nourishing their souls with the Eucharist but by creating an environment that ensures human development.”[11]

Young people also found opportunities for self-expression within the church’s organizational structure. With the creation of the Caceres Youth and Campus Ministry, the archdiocese has seen the energies of the youth in various youth encounters, vigils and camps. To widen the reach of this program, he strategically established continuing relationships with schools such as the Ateneo de Naga University and the Universidad de Sta. Isabel, but also the non-sectarian ones. The University of Nueva Caceres and Naga College Foundation can confirm how he has generously helped in shaping their respective campus ministries and provided them priests for their students’ sacramental and spiritual needs.

The Archbishop’s pastoral achievements have provided a highly encouraging environment for religious and apostolate communities. In fact, Caceres witnessed the increase in the number of religious communities from seven in 1984 to now 28 religious congregations, pious associations and secular institutes for men and women. The archdiocese is home now to more than 300 religious persons. This growth has also been complimented by the rise in the number of apostolates: for the sick and the dying, the elderly and the disabled, the abused and the abandoned and other disadvantaged sectors; and the apostolates in counselling and retreat ministry, pre-school and non-formal education, livelihood programs and even native tribal promotion.

Protecting the Peñafrancia Devotion

Before he even came to Caceres, Archbishop Legaspi had been conscious of the filial relationship between the Ina and the Bikolano. He aptly described the Bikolano people as “inheritors of a past where being a people is interwoven with being Church. And at the heart of this convergence of culture and faith is Mary ... Ina is Bikol; Bikol is Ina.”[12]

Nonetheless, he was also aware of the mounting challenges of secularization and commercialization to this Marian devotion. This awareness helped him appreciate more clearly his special role in Bikol: to protect the Marian devotion and, through her, bring the people closer to the Church and to God. And through her, animate the Church’s flock towards empowerment and change.

To fulfil his special role, his first step was to set up structures to safeguard the image of Ina by renovating the Basilica where she dwells and the Shrine where she stays during the Peñafrancia novena. He designated personnel such as the rectors of the said churches who are responsible for helping promote the devotion. He also directed the making of the image’s replica which has been used in the annual traslacion and Fluvial Parade so that the original image would be preserved.

At the eve of the Tercentenary Celebration of the devotion, the Archbishop introduced essential changes in the fiesta like the establishment of religious zones for devotees and pilgrims, and formation sessions for the voyadores to ensure peaceful and orderly processions and more meaningful novena. Most importantly, he moved to redefine the devotion and free the novena from the many secularized and commercialized fiesta activities like pageants and street parties. The Ateneo de Naga University and other schools under the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools heeded to his call for discernment on the actual values involved in the fiesta activities, and overwhelmingly supported his cause. His move may have brought him and the entire archdiocese into tension with the local government, but he knew that it was the right and moral thing to do to protect the Peñafrancia devotion.

Today, as he continues to work for a more meaningful Marian devotion, the Archbishop expresses his hopes for more socially engaged devotees: This must be our hope, to have faith that goes beyond the traslacion and the fluvial procession. And this means a conversion for mission, that is, an active responsibility for the past failings of society...and total renewal of the Church towards a better future for all.[13]

The Archbishop’s Legacy Lives

This 2010, Archbishop Legaspi reaches the 25th year of his episcopacy. Remarkably, he also celebrates his 75th birthday, which would normally mark his retirement as foreseen by church law. Sooner or later, the Pope may have to assign a new caretaker of Ina and the Archdiocese. But as he leaves the episcopacy, the Bikolano will be forever grateful to him for selflessly and faithfully shepherding the Bikolano faithful, and for protecting our shared story of devotion to Ina and faith in God.

Therefore, as a fitting tribute in recognition of his promotion of the Devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, purifying it of aberrations in its external manifestations; for drawing the Church closer to the Filipino and the Bikolano people, especially the poor, through catechesis, pastoral care and good governance; and for his defense of the Catholic Church and Christian values against the threats of secularism and materialism, the Ateneo de Naga University is most privileged to confer upon His Grace, Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, in this City of Naga, this twenty-seventh  day of March, in the two thousand and tenth year of our Lord.

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[1] One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Not Alone, by Pope Benedict XVI, www.cbcponline.net.

[2] Responses of Msgr. Leonardo Z. Legazpi during The University of Santo Tomas Varsitarian Interview, 2009.

[3] The Caceres Experience: A Bishop’s Story, Ina nin Bikol Foundation, p. 2.

[4] Tribute to the Architect of Philippine Catechesis in Our Time, by Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, http://eccceonline.org.

[5] Leonardo Z. Legazpi: A Shepherd Among Us, by Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, p. xv.

[6] The Caceres Experience: A Bishop’s Story, Ina nin Bikol Foundation, p.20.

[7] Tribute to the Architect of Philippine Catechesis in Our Time, by Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, http://eccceonline.org.

[8] Light to All, by Leonardo Z. Legazpi, 2004.

[9] http://www.cbcponline.net.

[10] Pastoral Letter, by Msgr. Leonardo Z. Legazpi, January 2004.

[11] The Caceres Experience: A Bishop’s Story, Ina nin Bikol Foundation, p.31.

[12] Ina and the Bikol People: A Journey of Faith, Ina nin Bikol Foundation, 2004, p. 5.

[13] Ibid, p. 196-197.

Sa Food Court (From my 2006 Notes)

Heto na naman ako sa food court ng Ali Mall. Gaya ng dati, magsusulat na naman ako ng aking mga kawirduhan habang hinihintay ang 8:30 night trip ng Isarog na mag-uuwi sa akin sa Naga.

Ganitong-ganito rin may tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan. Wala pa ring pinagbago ang Ali Mall. Tambayan pa rin ito ng mga biyaherong tulad ko. Noon, kahit alam ko kung saan ako dadalhin ng bus matapos ang walong oras ng pagtulog sa biyahe, tila wala pa ring katahimikan ang aking pag-iisip. At kahit alam kong may pamilyang nakaabang sa akin sa bus terminal upang ihatid ako sa aming tahanan, alam kong babalik ako dito upang magsayang ng oras sa mga mall, sa MRT, sa mga sidewalk, sa mga sinehan at mga overpass ng Maynilang pilit kong inaangkin. Babalik ako para magkunwaring dito ako nababagay.

Tatlong taon din yun. At tatlong taon na rin ang nakakaraan noong huli akong umupo dito sa Food Court at sumumpa na hindi ko na babalikan ang bawat lugar na nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga tagumpay at kabiguan ko sa pinili kong landas.

Ang totoo, makailang ulit na akong bumalik dito sa food court. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, masaya na ako. Alam kong kahit ilang beses pa akong maghintay dito, mayroon akong babalikan, doon kung saan ako masaya, doon kung saan laging may naghihintay sa akin at nagmamahal ng walang kapalit, doon kung nasaan ang puso ko.

Isinulat noong September 1, 2006 sa Food Court ng Ali Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, 6:30-6:54 ng gabi.

My 101 Korean Experiences (happy, funny, sad, interesting, shocking, etc.) in the IYF World Camp, June 27 to July 17, 2011

1. First night at Daegu Lincoln House, the first time I learned about the common bathroom

2. The common bathroom, and waking up as early as 4:30 a.m. for me to take a shower alone, which was not always successful

3. Walking barefooted in the IYF buildings

4. When someone used the slippers I left at the entrance. Since then, I almost always hand-carried my slippers wherever I went to.

5. Sleeping on the floor without pillows

6. When I realized the two adapters I bought from the Philippines do not fit the outlets in Korea

7. Borrowing an adapter so I can charge my laptop and camera

8. The array of street food downtown of Daegu and the free taste of food at the department stores/malls at Daegu and Seoul (Lotte, Shinsegae)

9. The rows of food stalls in the markets and the vendors in the streets of Daegu and Seoul

10. Kimchi…kimchi… and more kimchi. I still had the stomach to eat them in the first week. In the next weeks, when there were more choices (especially in Busan), I had to politely say no kimchi, please.

11. Chopsticks, which will I try using once in a while from now on

12. Korean boys carrying girly handbags

13. High school girls in their skimpy uniform

14. The Korean wrestling match, which I won with ease

15. My newfound friends, Truth 5, and our escapades, boredom, struggles and friendship which started at Daegu

16. Our cool Truth 5 volunteers, Sin James and Kyoung Won Lim

17. A gift from Kyoung – a Korean name for me – IM DONG HO - for which I am very pleased and thankful

18. Jepoi’s (a.k.a Jepuri) winning Korean speech

19. Jepoi coaching Kyoung in English

20. Migs (a.k.a. Mix) sleeping at every opportunity

21. Migs and Niko’s smoking sessions

22. Niko being all over the place

23. Picture-taking with Niko at the Lincoln auditorium, with the red chairs at the background

24. Herman… where is Herman? a. Holding the kawayan b. Fixing his bangs c. Taking photos of himself. Peace Herman!

25. Boom’s exercises

26. Sin James: “You (Jepoi) are very kind. And Boom…also very kind.”

27. Kyoung: “May muta ka.”

28. The walkout of James

29. The long walk to Nakdonggang River

30. The Hahoe Mask Museum and Mask Play at Andong Village, Daegu

31. The convenience I experienced at Centum Hotel, Busan

32. My roommates at Centum Hotel, Jihnan Kim, Jason Hyedong and another friend (I forgot his name.)

33. My new Korean, Indian, Nepalese and Filipino friends – Truth D3!

34. The buffet meals at Centum Hotel and BEXCO.

35. The most delicious burger I have eaten so far – Double Bolgogi at McDo!

36. When fellow Filipinos Rolando Bolanos and Manuel Martinez and I ate ramen at 7 Eleven, and when Manuel accidentally spilled his soup on my shorts

37. The Samsung Motors, where there are more machines than people. It was like watching the Transformers!

38. When we went to Hyundae Bay, and some of my team mates tried to throw me to the ice-cold water. They failed hahaha… But I lost my camera cap.

39. My jumpshot at Hyundae beach

40. When Hans requested me to sing I Believe-Tagalog version, while he sang the Korean version

41. When Jason blushed upon seeing and talking with a pretty girl hehehe…

42. The hair and skin vanity of Koreans

43. Drinking Max and soju with some Truth 5+1 friends one night at a bar along Hyundae in Busan

44. The subway ride from Centum to Hyundae

45. Being sad upon reaching Daeduk Retreat Center (from bed to floor again hehehe…)

46. The ice-cold water at Daeduk Retreat Center

47. When Pastor Cho caught me staying in our quarter during the mind lecture because I had to take a bath and washed some clothes

48. The IYF shirt which I washed three times

49. The cancelled water rafting

50. The world class performances of the Gracias Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra

51. The superb Nessun Dorma performance

52. The African way of saying “more”.

53. The repeated dance routines of the Righteous Stars

54. The repeated Chinese, African, Chinese and Korean cultural performances in the multiple opening ceremonies in different cities. I never got tired of watching the African dance over and over again.

55. The fantastic Samgo-Mu (Korean Drum Dance) performances

56. The awesome taekwondo dance-exhibition

57. The dramatic (and usually late) entrance of the VIPs

58. The balloon art workshop

59. The Wild River ride

60. The76th floor of the Woobang Tower

61. Ock Soo Park

62. Ock Soo Park’s interpreter and other interpreters in the mind lectures

63. Kkkkkkkkkkkkkk…

64. Pastors Cho and Nam

65. The challenge of staying awake during mind lectures in the morning, afternoon, evening and late evening. I think I was successful at some point, considering No. 66.

66. Many people sleeping during mind lectures

67. The all-Filipino meetings and mind lectures

68. The premature departures of many Filipinos

69. The Korean-Filipino interpreter who speaks Tagalong better than many of us

70. The pali-pali expression, which honestly got into my nerves

71. Questions like, “Are you righteous?”, “Are you a sinner?”, and “Are you saved?” which I honestly answered

72. Fellow Filipino Anna not wanting to talk to her teacher and to answer questions on No. 71.

73. IYF’s idea of change of heart

74. Walking, touring, shopping in the rain

75. Few attempts not to attend the mind lectures

76. The sauna and the orange clothes given to us

77. The happy pork barbecue lunch with my Truth D3 friends. It was the last lunch I shared with them. And I ate a lot!

78. Our kind pastor in Truth D3

79. Finding our bus…

80. The many and long bus rides, and the happy and meaningful interactions along the way (usually with Rolly, Manuel, Jinhan or Seung-woo.

81. Transferring my heavy luggage from one bus to another, from one venue to another

82. Arirang… a-ri-rang… a-ra-ri-yo… a-ri-rang… go-gae-ro…neo-meo-gan-dah…

83. You Raise Me Up song

84. Sorrow song

85. Sharing my experiences with Truth D3, with an interpreter

86. Korea’s cleanliness

87. Koreans’ road discipline

88. Koreans’ love of country and patriotism

89. Korea’s story of economic development

90. Koreans’ love of native language. Being unable to speak English well should not be an embarrassment. It’s just reflective of their love of Hanggul. I just wish many of us, Filipinos, are like the Koreans on that point.

91. The story of kimchi being a symbol of Korea’s survival during the country’s difficult times

92. Koreans’ top sports interests - baseball and football

93. The Korean TV programs shown on the bus, which I tried to understand from the characters’ actions hehehe…

94. My homestay with cool company Donghee Park and Yeong Myeong Choi

95. The homestay snack (second dinner, actually) - pork feet, fried chicken, eggs, watermelon, corn, etc.

96. Donghee Park’s great enthusiasm to serve his duty in the army next year

97. Yeong Meong Choi’s drawing of army (himself being on duty in the army as part of the Special Forces) on his message for me

98. Shopping at Namdaemun and Dongdaemun, Seoul, with only 50,000 Won left

99. Eating noodles at Namdaemun and conversations at Dunkin Donut with Julius Levy Bunsol, Sheena Anne Melody Salvador and Jason Cutaran.

100. Saying goodbye to my D3 friends while Gracias Choir was singing “Time to Say Goodbye” at Seoul Capitol Park

101. The entire IYF Korean experience, which, despite some not-so-met expectations and minor inconveniences, challenged my tolerance and patience; strengthened my personal faith and humbled me; and opened my heart a bit more to build friendship that transcends cultural differences and language barrier. This, I believe, is the change of heart that I experienced in Korea.

Vietnam, a Country, not a War (12 Things I remember about the ASEAN+3 Capitals Youth Festival in Vietnam)

My list of good memories of Vietnam and its people is pretty long, but these are some things that I remember about my stay in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 5 to 9.

1.The 36 cramped streets at the old headquarter in Hanoi, which were never emptied of people and motorbikes
2. The motorbikes (and the heavy traffic they cause), which would remind me of Vietnam every now and then
3. The Trung Nguyen coffee which is pretty strong! My officemates liked it :)
4. The colorful and beautiful Áo Dài costumes, which make the Vietnamese girls even prettier; and the popularity of the conical hats in this modern age, which I find amazing
5. The language, which if mispronounced, would not be understood hehehe... And the people's love of their own language :)
6. Tortoises as a symbol, that were everywhere we have been to
7. The long ceramic street wall and the paintings on the streets
8. The highly organized Vietnamese Communist Youth Union, and the festive mass dancing of the youth
9. The Red River, the ceramic village and the Long Bien bridge, and the history behind them
10. The most important treasure of Vietnam: the people, their sincerity and hospitality
11. The Vietnam Dong which made me a millionaire (Check Peso to Dong exchange rate.)
12. The variety of food at Sunway Hotel restaurant and the grand buffet at Sen Tay Ho

Speech, UNC Elementary Graduation 2012

Thank you Dr. Dante. That was a generous introduction. Ma’am Nel, by the way, was my good Science teacher and adviser in Grade 6 almost seventeen years ago. Bilang isang alumnus ng UNC Elementary Class 1995, malaking karangalan po na tanggapin ang imbitasyon na maging speaker sa importanteng okasyon na ito, at tanggapin ang hamon na mabigyan kayo magandang mensahe sa inyong pagtatapos.

Executive Vice President Dr. Lourdes S. Anonas, again Elementary Principal Dr. Nelia R. Dante, faculty, staff and administrators, graduates, parents, guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

One day during the Linggo ng Wika in 1990 (hindi pa kayo pinapanganak), Ma’am Fe Valenciano asked me to give an intermission number in a small class program. I sang the nationalistic song Isang Lahi before my Grade 2-A classmates. Ma’am Fe was happy with my performance that she brought me with other singers in the Elementary to a popular local radio station here in Naga to sing on air. That time, AM radio-listening was a popular habit of Naguenos so many of our neighbors, my friends and relatives tuned in to the station to hear me sing.

Yun ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na may isang tao, maliban sa aking pamilya, na nakitaan ako ng potensyal, naniwala sa aking kakayahan at nabigyan ako ng ‘break’ para ibahagi ang aking sarili sa ibang tao. From then on, I was inspired to hone my talent by memorizing song after song and practicing hard with my mother as my mentor, Ma’am Fe as my talent manager, and our old karaoke as my constant companion. The next time I sang, I stood on this same stage before UNC and Naga City public during a Foundation Day outreach. And in the succeeding four years, I sang in many other venues and occasions here and outside the campus. I can still recall the feeling every time I sang before the public. It was beautiful.

My life has never been the same because of these experiences which began on that single moment of inspiration when someone believed in me. That moment happened in Elementary. I should also tell you that I was one of the fastest runners among the boys in my class. This fact was obvious during our aragawan-base. I used to win in the games of text/card games and marble games – you know jolens quick or touch quick. But our teachers Like Ma’am Maritess Taday were also quick in confiscating our cards. I am not sure if you still play these traditional games. Baka puro na lang PC games.

I am sure that you also have your own stories of success, dreams, friendship – your first ambition, your first group, your first crush, your first fistfight, your first educational tour, your first moment of inspiration. Sa inyong pagtatapos, napapanahon lamang na inyong alalahanin ang mga makukulay na karanasan sa elementarya.

As you remember your experiences, you may also go back to the lessons you learned in Elementary. Tandaan ninyo parati ang mga natutunan ninyo sa Elementarya sapagkat magagamit ninyo ang mga aral na ito nang pang-habangbuhay.

Let me explain this. When a high school student has poor study habits (tamad mag-aral), that student must have been lazy in Elementary, and was not properly motivated to be serious in studying. Or, when a college student is a bully (mahilig mang-away), more likely that student has been a bully back in elementary and was not well-disciplined by teachers or parents. Or when a politician cheats in the elections or steals money from the people (mandaraya sa eleksyon o kurap), that politician must have forgotten an old saying which is first learned in elementary: Honesty is the best policy. (Sana ‘pag tumanda na kayo, kabisado ninyo pa rin ang linyang iyan sapagkat hindi naman yan magbabago sa high school, sa college o kahit graduate na kayo.)

I gave you these examples of possible consequences if one is not well-formed, disciplined or motivated in elementary, or if one forgets the lessons in elementary. Pero sino ang hindi nakakalimot? When you grow old, you may forget which the hottest planet is in the solar system, who the characters are in children’s stories, or the short and long methods to solve math problems. But keep in your hearts the lessons which are more important than these knowledge or grades. True, it is impressive for a person to have a college diploma and many awards, to be knowledgeable, to wear decent clothes, and to speak English and Filipino fluently and convincingly in public (Mataas ang pinag-aralan, maraming alam, magaling magsalita). Are these the most important things in life? Ito ba ang mga pinakamahalagang natututunan ng isang mag-aaral sa Elementarya?

The novella The Little Prince says no. (Have you read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery?) The book says that “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Ang mahahalagang bagay ay yaong hindi natin nakikita o nahahawakan. It invites you to see with heart the more important things in life like time with family, friendship, attitude. Hindi iPhone or iPad. Hindi mamahaling rubber shoes.

Harry Potter agrees with the Little Prince. For Harry, Hermoine and Ron, love of family, loyalty to friends, the good and the truth are more important than any amount of popularity and magic or power.

Finally, Doreimon shares his own opinion. (Kilala ninyo ba si Doreimon?) He told Nobita: “Hindi mo kailangan ng superpowers para magkaroon ng kaibigan”, para maging mabuting tao, para maging tunay na masaya.

The truth is, the most basic and important values are learned in Elementary (meaning at school and at homes- sa eskwelahaan at sa tahanan). It is in this level that young people are taught about basic values: honesty, discipline, love of country, care for the environment, love of God. Tinuro ba ang mga ito ng inyong mga guro sa elementarya? Pwes, huwag ninyo itong kalilimutan.

After summer this year, you shall be in high school where some things shall be different. In high school, you may become more conscious of materials. You may realize, for instance, that your classmates are rich, and you are poor. They have more baon than you have. They have iPhone or iPad, and you do not even have a cellphone or desktop computer at home. There are conditions in your family that you cannot change and you just have to accept for now. But your material inadequacy, yung kakulangan ninyo sa material na bagay, should not be a source of your insecurity or a reason for envy. At para sa mga nakaaangat sa buhay, the good financial status of your family should not give you the privilege to belittle or put other people down.

Meron akong kaklase noon na laging tinutukso kase Grade Five na kami pero naka-shorts pa rin siya kase hindi pa kayang magpatahi ng pantalon. Nung mag-first year high school kami, lahit kami bagong-bago at puting-puti ang aming unipormeng polo, ngunit ang kanyang polo ay second-hand, medyo punit pa nga ang kwelyo. Pero hindi niya ikinahiya ni minsian ang kahirapan ng kanyang pamilya, bagkus naging inspirasyon niya pa ito para makapagtapos siya ng high school at kolehiyo at magtagumpay sa buhay. Remember, in succeeding in your studies, these material things are not the most important. Your hardwork, determination and resourcefulness would be the key to overcome the challenges and achieve your goals in high school. Hindi naman kayo kayang ipasa sa exam ng iPad ninyo o ng baon ninyo. Neither would these materials matter in your relationship with other people. Hindi naman kayo makakahanap ng tunay na mga kaibigan dahil sa pera ng magulang ninyo.

Remember this: Hindi kayo ang parents ninyo. Hindi ninyo pera ang pera ng magulang ninyo. Hindi baon ninyo ang sukatan ng kagalingan at pagkatao ninyo. You are what you do. You are your values.

I am not saying that you should be poor. Siguro ngayon pa lang naririnig niyo na ang magulang niyo na “Anak, magtapos ka ng pag-aaral kase ikaw lang ang pag-asa namin baling araw.” Eh talagang kailangan niyong makatapos ng pag-aaral at magkaroon ng magandang trabaho. Hindi ko rin sinasabi na that you have to deny yourself of the joys and convenience of new technologies. Kung kaya, walang problema, ‘di ba? Kung hindi kaya, huwag pilitin ni Mama o si Papa.

Here is the bottomline: In the future, you can be rich, but not greedy. You can achieve many things in life, but not through cheating or stealing. You can be happy without having to hurt other people.

I know that as young as you are, you have already seen enough on TV and internet the social realities in the country and in the world: unkindness, greed, corruption, environmental destruction, war and many others that are not the ideal world presented to you in elementary. In high school, you will become more aware of these realities. Sa high school, ang mga leksyon, ang mga relasyon, ang inyong mga nararamdaman, ang buhay ay magiging mas makulay, ngunit mas magiging mahirap at sabi nga sa Facebook, magiging complicated.

As you experience these, remember elementary and the lessons taught to you by your elementary teachers. Bear in mind, however, that being a UNC graduate entails the challenge to be BETTER than you are today. Hindi lamang kayo ordinaryong graduate; graduate kayo ng UNC. I believe that much was given to you; therefore, much more is expected from you. Sabi nga ni Spiderman: With great power, comes greater responsibilities. Be MORE.

Nung first year high school na ‘ko dito sa UNC, sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi lang pag-awit ang kaya kong gawin. Kumakanta pa rin naman ako, ngunit mas nilawakan ko na ang aking mundo. Naging masipag akong estudyante. Nagbasa ako ng maraming libro. Sumali ako sa ilang organisasyon. Hinamon ko ang sarili ko bilang isang campus journalist o manunulat at public speaker. Sa palagay ko, nagtagumpay naman ako sa high school. In this University, I finished high school as one of the most awarded graduates in my batch. I became MORE in high school. This is also my challenge to you: if you think you did good in elementary, then you can do so much better in high school. Kung nagging medyo pasaway, maraming pagkakataon naman na bumawi sa high school.

This is my personal mission-vision which I would like to share with you: Today is a chance to be better than yesterday. Ang bawat araw ay pagkakataon na mas maging mabuting tao, estudyante, anak, kaibigan. The same challenge goes to you: Paano? Uulitin ko – ito ang unang hakbang: alalahanin ninyo ang mga karanasan at mga aral na natutunan sa elementary sapagkat magagamit ninyo ang mga ito nang pang-habangbuhay.

Finally, have a grateful heart. Always thank the people who have helped and accompanied you in your young journey: your parents, friends and teachers. As a fitting tribute to your elementary teachers, may I propose that all students stand and give your teachers a round of applause for their hardwork, patience and services. May I also request you to hug or kiss your parents in thanksgiving for their guidance, support and selfless love.

Hanggang dito na lang po. Salamat sa pakikinig. Mabuhay kayong lahat.