Passion for the poor

The true measure of how people love you is not the accolade given you while you live. It is the manifestation of love when you die.

We buried yesterday afternoon Fr. Ben Escrupulo, chaplain of Helvetia. Judging by the number of cars and the length of the cortege it was a real big crowd that sent him off to his resting place.

And Fr. Ben deserves that manifestation of love. I have written about his passion for the poor and how he worked for them that I saw so many of them whose lives he touched were grieved by his passing.

The homily of Fr. Felix Pasquin narrated the hard life of Fr. Ben in Igbaras and in the lack of capacity of his parents to send him to college, particularly to the seminary that they had to look for a sponsor.

For Fr. Ben's parents were so prolific that they have twelve children, two of them died in infancy. And talking with his eldest sister Nitang and husband Diony Santillan, they have 14 children.

And having a big family is always an advantage. In times of happiness and sorrow, there is a big group that gets together. And when there are problems there are many shoulders to cry on.

***

The life of Fr. Ben Escrupulo can stand as a good example to other priests in terms of commitment to the priesthood that no matter what happens, a priest must be always a priest. How do they say it, "A priest is forever."

And the commitment to the poor must be exemplary and sincere. I have seen this myself. I heard many tributes to Ben. I have not heard of a mention of how he goes to the farms he managed just to be with the laborers of the farms.

As what Fr. Pasquin said, when he returned to the priesthood, the advice of Bishop Camilo Gregorio to him was, "Be the sunshine." I'd like to add to the poetic prose of Fr. Pasquin to be a sunshine to emit rays of love, of light, and of service.

Then in that homily Fr. Pasquin added, "like the Sunshine Channel of Primo Esleyer." A friend is always a friend. I'd like to thank Fr. Pasquin for that free commercial.

During the inauguration I told Msgr. Vic Rivas Sunshine Channel will give publicity to Church activities. Any Church for that matter.

In that homily I like the humor of Fr. Pasquin.

***

While writing this piece, I got a call from a friend Joe Valencia, retired manager of LBC and a friend in Rotary. He complained of the slow service of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone. I said, we can't blame PLDT. It has limited personnel.

PLDT has created an agency that handles services of PLDT, including the free internet connection and telephone installation, and other PLDT products. The agency is managed by my friend, former PLDT executive officer Noel Lee.

In our telephone connection Noel Lee helped me and I got better services, faster and did not cost me much. Call Mr. Lee at 434-9099 or visit him at Bargain Square Mall at San Juan St.

***

I was so infuriated to see in television that news of a Filipino couple in California meted jail sentence for leaving their small children while they honeymooned at Las Vegas for three days.

The neighbors were alarmed when they heard the children crying. And they were the ones who worked it out that the couple be charged and jailed. This should be lessons to all.

But the other day there was also the news that in Italy there is also the "dumping of one's grandparents."

When grandparents are now useless they are sent somewhere because their family do not want them at home.

Thousands of grandparents spent a lonely Christmas last December because their family did not want them at home.

Italian doctors said some 10 to 20 per cent of over 70 on Italian hospital wards could have been discharged for the festive season but relatives made excuses to keep them there.

In the U.S. they have a law that punishes cruelty to children. There should also be a law that punishes neglect of grandparents.

Life span is improving. Because of this there will be very many grandparents. Society must look after the welfare of the elderly.

There are those at 80 who are still useful and active. But, there are also those who even at late 50s and 60s are already sickly. Mike Asignacion was 66 and Fr. Ben Escrupulo was 61.

It saddened me to hear Talisay City Mayor Antonio Lizares died yesterday at 38. Today is his birthday. He was close to me.

That is why we must strengthen the Senior Citizens group.

***

Police found that most of the holduppers are committed by three men riding tandem in a motorcycle.

One stays in the cycle and the two do the holdup. I hope the police become strict with the those who violate this rule.

Last year, I met an accident in Bago killer highway that also killed the other day a couple riding tandem in a motorcycle.

While turning left from Bacolod at Kilometer 13 ½, a speeding motorcycle with three riders bumped me in the rear portion of the pickup. One jumped ahead but the two lay motionless that I was afraid they died.

Well, what I wanted to point out is three riders should not be allowed. It's dangerous. It is difficult for the driver to maneuver. And most likely they are holduppers.*

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