DADITAMA BEC Congress

Since last Monday afternoon up to noontime today (June 1-4), 97 delegates coming from the dioceses of Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati gathered at the Mergrande Beach Resort in Davao for the DADITAMA BEC congress. Besides the lay leaders, priests and sisters, 5 bishops attended the congress - Archbishop Fernando Capalla (Davao), Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz (Tagum), Bishop Patricio Alo (Mati), Bishop Jimmy Afable (Digos), Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando (Davao). I was invited as an observer as a consultant of the CBCP-BEC national office.

The theme of the congress:

"The vocation and mission of the BECs in the present challenges of the times"

The objectives were the following:

1. Clarify the trends and the challenges they pose to the BECs

2. Review the ecclesiological foundation, canonical norms and leadership role (bishops, priests, lay leaders) in relation to the vision and mission of BECs.

3. Come up with recommendations for the sustainable growth of BECs.

The three resource speakers were:

Msgr. John Macalisang, STL, Ph.D (the global and national trends and how they affect the BECs)

Fr. Bong Lunas, STL (ecclesiological foundation)

Bishop Jimmy Afable, DD (canonical norms).

The talks formed part of the basis for the workshops that came up with their assesment of the BECs and the recommendation for their sustainable growth.

This morning, at the last part of the congress after the synthesis and recommendations were presented, I was asked to share my observation and reflections with the delegates.

The Occasional Hermit: Alone but not Lonely

I have been living alone as a hermit up here in the mountain of Busay for almost 5 weeks. Two days from now, I will be going back to my ordinary life in Davao – teaching theology, doing pastoral work in the parish, giving talks & seminars on Basic Ecclesial Communities, involvement in peace advocacy, human rights and inter-religious dialogue.

I just regret that I will be leaving the hermitage. Time passes by so quickly here. Even if I have been living alone, I never felt lonely. How can one be alone but not feel lonely? Well, first of all, it depends on one’s personality. I am introvert by nature so I get more energized not by being in the midst of a crowd by being alone (parties and meetings can be very draining for me). It also depends on what one does during the period of solitude. In my case, meditate, practice Tai chi, run, bike, read, write, play musical instruments (violin, flute, guitar). On Sundays, I go down to the monastery to have lunch and dinner with the confreres. I maintain occasional contact with friends through e-mail and texting. Being close to nature, my prayer period and celebration of the Eucharist make me aware of God’s presence. So, even if I am alone, I don’t really feel isolated or alienated.

One can be in the midst of a crowd and yet feel lonely. One can live alone yet not feel lonely. So it is not really the physical absence of others that makes one lonely. Loneliness may be caused by lack of friendship and intimacy in one’s life – wither with others or with God. Loneliness may be caused by the awareness that there’s no one who cares about you.

I think the problem with a lot of people is that they don’t know how to be alone. They can’t stand the silence and solitude. They don’t realize that the moments spent in being alone are the moment spent with one’s self and with God. It is in silence and solitude that spiritual and psychological growth can take place, and great works are created (poetry, music, art, literature, philosophy, theology, etc.). Yes, it is true that no man/person is an island – we need others, we need community. But there are moments in our life that we need to be alone. When we fail to do this, our life will be lacking in depth and we can easily burn out.

Of course, one need not be a hermit to enter into moments of silence and solitude. This can be integrated in one’s daily life (at least one hour daily), weekly or monthly (1 day), etc. Spending a longer period like I do may be a luxury, but it is also a necessity.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to live as a hermit, even if for a short time. I will be back next year and the following years as long as I live. Next year, it will be longer since I will be on sabbatical.

Lunch with the Redemptoristine Nuns

This morning I went out for a 3-hour run around the Busay and Kan-irag mountain. I returned to my hermitage at 10 am and after a 15 minutes rest, I ran down for 45 minutes to Nevel hills with a backpack on my back. After a brief wash-up at the Holy Family Retreat house, I walked to the Redemptoristine monastery and had lunch with the nuns. The other day, while attending the profession, I met Sr. Alice and some of the nuns and I invited myself for lunch with them. Whenever I am around, I usually make it a point to visit the sisters and since I only have one more week in Busay I thought that I should see them before I go back to Davao. I always enjoy the meal and conversation with them. After lunch, we had some singing session - using their "magic sing" - the videoke. The sisters love to sing -and they have angelic voices. They also asked me to sing and I couldn't refuse. I sang 6 songs: Annie's Song, If, Yesterday, Over the Rainbow, the Great Pretender and I'll be seeing you. By 2 pm, I said goodbye to them and went down to the Cebu Redemptorist Monastery where I had my dinner with the confreres.

The Order of the Most Holy Redeeemer (OSSR) was founded by Sr. Mary Celeste Crostarossa, a close friend and "directee" of St. Alphonsus de Liguori. The Redemptoristines are the female counterpart of the Redemptorists. But unlike the Redemptorists who are active missionaries, the Redemptoristines are contemplatives. They spent most of their time inside the monastery observing a life of prayer and contemplation, and manual work. They also pray for the Redemptorists. They are indeed our sisters and friends.

Attending a Religious Profession

This morning I walked down from my hermitage to the Holy Family Retreat House to attend the religious profession of Bro. Bong Puzon and Bro. Klint Jan Alum. After spending 13 months in the Redemptorist novitiate in Lipa, they pronounced their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as Redemptorists. There were over a hundred people who attended the ceremony - family, friends, relatives and Redemptorist confreres. We had a sumptous lunch after the mass.

As I witnessed Bong and Klint make their religious commitment, I was reminded of my own profession as a Redemptorist 32 years ago (May 29, 1977). Thank God, I am still around - and I have remained faithful to the vows I made long time ago.

Three Weeks in the Hermitage: Down the Mountain for Lunch with the Community

I have spent 3 weeks in my hermitage up in Busay mountain. Today, being Sunday, I am down in the city to have lunch with my confreres of the Redemptorist Community in Cebu. I actually came down last night, with a backpack on my back and a head-lamp to light my way. I arrived in the monastery at 9:30 pm.

Whenever I spend time in my hermitage, I have always made it part of the rhythm of my eremitical life to come down on Sundays and join the Redemptorist community for lunch and dinner. Besides having a good meal, this is my way of expressing my connection with the community. It reminds me that even if I live alone most of the week, I am not isolated - I am part of a religious community. My vocation is not to a lifetime of total solitude and silence, but to be a member of the community - my religious community, the Redemptorist. My period of solitude as a part-time or occasional hermit is meant to re-energize me so that I can go back to my community and ministry with a renewed dynamism.

This coming week, I will be coming down from the mountain more often to join the gathering of the senior Redemptorists (age 50-65) on Tuesday and Thursday, for the profession of two new Redemptorists (Friday), and the common celebration of Redemptorist jubilarians (Saturday). But I will still going back to the hermitage at night.

Three weeks have gone fast very quickly, I still have 2 more weeks before I go back to my community in Davao. I am really enjoying my time in the mountain. I have more time to pray and reflect. More time for biking and running. The manuscript for my book in ecclesiology is almost finished.

I have also read some books - these are my companions in the hermitage:
Charles de Foucauld, Thomas Merton, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, John Henry Newman, Gerard Hughes, John Paul II, Edward Daly, the Dalai Lama.

Tai-Chi: A Moving Meditation

Every day, after meditation and morning prayer in the prayer room, I go out at the back of the hermitage and practice Taichi. It is a very slow, fluid dance-like movement. The short Yang style usually lasts for 8 minutes. The long Yang style lasts 20 minutes. I can feel the flow of chi - a subtle electro-magnetic energy - in my body as I do it.

Taichi is considered as an internal style of martial arts, in contradistinction to the external style of martial arts (like Karate, taekwondo, etc.). Taichi is believed to have been developed by monks in the shaolin monasteries in China not just for self-defense but as a form of meditation. It is still being taught by Chinese monks in Taoists temples today.

This is what I like about taichi - it is actually a contemplative activity - a moving meditation. I actually first learned the external style of martial arts. As a seminarian and a young priest I studied martial arts for self-defense. I received a brown belt in Karate (Shorin Ryu) in 1985. I learned Taichi in Berkeley in 1989 and since then this is what I have been practicing for the last 20 years. I prefer Taichi to Karate because of its gentle and meditative dimension.

Taichi requires focusing one's awareness on every movement, on the flow of chi in one's body. The principle of Yin and Yang is manifested in the flow of each movement - the rhythm of hard and soft, of fullness and emptiness, of light and dark. This requires awareness of the present moment.

Like running, taichi is a holistic activity which involves the body and the mind. It generates energy. It can be used for self-defense when necessary and it can be very devastating. Yet it develops humility and compassion.

It will take a lifetime to fully understand and master Taichi.

Living Close to Nature: the Woods behind my Hermitage

In front of house that I call my hermitage, I have a panoramic view of the city of Cebu down below. But I don't miss the "concrete jungle" in the city. What fascinates me is what is behind the hermitage - a patch of the remaining forest in the mountain of Busay. This is where I go often to walk or run. There is no one here but me and the birds. It reminds of me of the forest in Mount Apo.

This is what I love about living here in Busay. I live close to nature. I feel so much at home here. It puts me in touch with the "wildman" in me. At the same time it makes me more aware of the presence of God. In fact it is easier for me to feel a sense of the sacred here rather than inside a chapel or a cathedral.

Being a hermit and living close to nature is not my full-time vocation - it is only part of the rhythm of my life, a time of solitude, silence and contemplation amidst a life of action. I will have to go down eventually and continue my mission and ministry. But I will keep on coming back.

This reminds of me Robert Frost's words:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

but promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep

and miles to go before I sleep"

The Ecstasy of the Long-Distance Runner

This morning I ran for three hours and thirty minutes along the trails of the mountain of Busay . There were a lot of steep ascents and descents - with my heart rate reaching 150 beats per minute. I ran a slow, relaxed pace, smelling the scent of the pines and admiring the view of the neighboring mountains and the clouds. I felt one with nature and the unseen Divine Presence. Time and distance were forgotten as I savored the present moment and the rhytmic act of running and breathing. It rained as I descended towards the city, but I continued running, feeling the gentle rain and slight breeze on my face. It was pure peace and joy. I wanted to run forever. I didn't feel tired even if I was running that long on an empty stomach.

Whenever I hear the phrase "the loneliness of the long distance runner" which is based on a book published long time ago, I usually react with amusement and disbelief. Those who use this term haven't experienced the ecstasy of the long-distance run or what is called the "runner's high." Just because running is a solitary activity, it does not mean it is a lonely and boring experience. Running is a contemplative activity that can bring one to a state of flow, an altered state of consciousness or a trance. It is a moving meditation. That is why it can be "addictive."

As I ran this morning, I remembered the many times I have ran this mountain, especially as a young priest when I was training for the marathon. It is still the same mountain, the same experience - although I am older, slower and heavier. Thirty years ago, I took up running and I am still doing it today. I will be doing this for the next thirty years. It is the ecstasy of running that I want to experience over and over again.

Running is not just a physical activity, it is also spiritual and psychological. Those who do it correctly will not experience loneliness or boredom.

A Day in the Life of an Occasional Hermit

I am living a solitary life for a month up here in the mountain of Busay and I am enjoying it. There is never a dull moment. I pray/meditate four times a day (early morning, noon-time, early evening, late night). I do some physical exercises (tai-chi, running or biking or walking, weight training). From mid-morning to noon-time, I do some writing - making final revision on my book project on ecclesiology (A Vision of a Renewed Church) and writing the draft of "Forming Basic Ecclesial Communities." In the afternoon I catch up on my readings. I only eat once a day (supper which I prepare myself). Evenings are spent in music (singing to myself or playing the violin or flute). These are the things I really want to do.

I live alone yet I do not feel lonely or bored. The times I spend in prayer and meditation makes me aware that I am not really alone - there is Someone present who keeps me company and who is the source of my energy and dynamism. All that I do put me in a state of flow - time passes so quickly.

I know that I cannot live my entire life this way. Being a hermit is only part of the rhythm of my life. I have to go back to my community and my ministry. But this period of solitude, contemplation and rest is what keeps me going.

Over thirty years ago, before I made my final vows as a Redemptorist, I was going through a period of discernment. I felt an attraction to the contemplative vocation after reading the works of Thomas Merton. I was seriously thinking of joining the Trappists. At the same time, I was also attracted to the life of an activist fighting for freedom and justice. I was able to come up with a compromise - continue being a Redemptorist and be both an activist and a contemplative. This means integrating the active and contemplative dimension of my life - daily and periodically. Being an occasional hermit on this mountain is part of this compromise.

Back to my Hermitage

Here I am on top of a mountain overlooking Cebu City, living the life of an occasional hermit. I came up here this morning by bike and I am still trying to settle in. This is actually the rest-house of the Redemptorists which is usually used on Mondays by the Cebu Redemptorist community. I have the whole place to myself for the rest of the week.

I will be here for a month, living alone and spending most of my time in rest, reflection, prayer, reading, writing and running. I will be doing my own cooking (which is at night since I will only be eating once a day - dinner).

When I was a newly-ordained priest I made a promise to spend at least one month every year living as a hermit on this mountain. I have been able to do it except for the six years I was away for higher studies in Berkeley and Rome. On 2005, I spent 5 months of my sabbatical here.

I love living alone here even if it is only for a month. This is my sacred space. This is where I get re-charged or re-energized so that I can continue my ministry. This is what has kept me from burning out. This may look like a luxury, but this is a necessity for me. This is also where the contemplative dimension of my life is nourished. Of course, I try to integrate contemplation in my daily life, but I need to spend a longer period as a contemplative.

When I reach 75 years old and will no longer be active in the ministry, I would like to spend the remaining years of my life here. By that time, I will bring up the piano which I inherited from my mother's estate here. For now, I am content having the guitar, violin and flute with me. I can play music at night without disturbing anybody.

This will be the order of the day that I will follow starting tomorrow:

5:00 rise, wash-up
5:30 meditation, morning prayer
6:00 taichi
6:30 physical exercise/training (running every other day, biking the other days)
10:00 writing
12:00 meditation/noon-day prayer
2:00 reading
4:30 physical exercise (walking/weight-training)
6:00 evening prayer/Eucharist
6:45 prepare dinner
8:00 music hour
9:00 blog-writing
10:00 meditation/night prayer
10:30 bed

I am not complete isolated from the world. There is a cell-site nearby and I can be contacted by cellphone. For the first time, my netbook computer has access to the internet via globe broadband tattoo wireless connection (3.6 mbps). Well, I am a post-modern hermit.

I also go down on Sundays to join the community for dinner and to shop for supplies.

28th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination

Today is the 28th anniversary of my priestly ordination. On April 24, 1981, I was ordained priest by Bishop Fernando Capalla (assisted by Bishop Ireneo Amantillo) in Iligan City.

I received an email greeting from my classmate Fr. Claro Conde (he is now in England). I also received a text message from Minerva. At least two of my friends remembered.

I said mass at 6:15 this morning at the convent of the Missionaries of the Assumption sisters. I didn't tell them about my anniversary. No fasting today since it is a special day for me. I joined our confreres for lunch. I went out mountain biking for one hour and 15 minutes in the afternoon. Later, I went out for dinner and a cup of cappucino at my favority hang-out at Bo's coffee shop. No party this time since it is only 28 years. But still, I celebrate on my own. I still remember that time in Rome when I went out by myself to a bar and ordered capuccino to celebrate my 14th anniversary.

I'm just grateful that after 28 years, I remain a faithful priest. I am looking forward to my golden jubilee of ordination. Here's I poem I wrote for my silver jubilee.

Silver Jubilee

“Those who die in the congregation will receive a crown in heaven” – St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Twenty-five years ago
when my hair was thick and wavy,
and my tummy was firm and flat,.
I stood before the altar
with no one by my side.
I made a promise to the Lord
to be a priest forever
in the company of the sons of Alphonsus,
for better or for worse, in sickness and in health
until I receive the crown he promised.

Twenty-five years later
with no hair on my head
and an expanding waistline
I remain a faithful priest
in the company of the sons of Alphonsus.
I kept my promise all these years.
I slept alone and loved the Lord and the people
with all my heart and soul.
I preached the good news of the kingdom and worked for justice and peace.
I formed not my own family, but the family of God – the Christian community.

Twenty-five years or more from now
when not a single hair will grow on my head and I continue to look like a prisoner on death row,
when my tummy will be wider than my chest
when I can no longer bike
and a pretty nurse will push my wheel-chair
I will remain a faithful priest
in the company of the sons of Alphonsus.
I will keep my promise
until I receive the crown he promised.

Long-Distance Run: Galloway method

I went out for a three-hour long distance run this morning up in the hills of Waan and Tigatto. The last time I did a long run was more than a month ago. I was not able to run regularly for three weeks due to the cold. As usual I used Galloway's method (4 minutes run and 1 minute walk intervals). It seemed so easy. In spite of the heat and the hills, I didn't feel tired.

The walking intervals gave my running muscles some rest and enabled me to run farther. This also helps prevent running injury. Before, I usually would have knee pain once I run over 3 hours. I will be using this method for the marathon this November (but with 9 minutes run and 1 minute walking intervals).

Maybe, next year I can run-walk from Davao to Iligan across the mountains of Davao and Bukidnon (390 km in 8 days) using this method. It will be a solo run without any support vehicle, carry everything in my backpack. It hasn't been done before and I would like to be the first to do it. It's just a dream. I wonder if I can do it at my age. After biking around the Philippines for two months last year, this will definitely be a challenge.

My average heart rate during the run was 140 beats per minute. Immediately after the run I measured my blood pressure and as usual it was low (103/58). Amazing. Not even hypertension pills can have the same effect.

The Commission on Human Rights meeting with witnesses and barangay officials

Yesterday, the Commission on Human Rights headed by Chairperson Leila de Lima listened to the testimonies of witnesses who claimed direct knowledge of the activities of the so-called Davao Death Squad. What they revealed confirmed the report of the Human Rights Watch which was released more than a week ago. What is clear in the testimonies is that there is indeed a death squad operating in Davao with the alleged support of some police and government officials at the city and barangay level. The witnesses are not yet ready to come out in the open and testify publicly out of fear that they could be targeted by the death squad. Besides, there is no adequate witness protection program in the country. Once they testify, they will have to go into hiding, leave their family and work behind, and live an abnormal life.

In the afternoon the Commission on Human Rights held a public inquiry at the Waterfront Hotel. The barangay captains attended. All of them denied the existence of the Davao Death Squad and insisted that the killings that took place in their respective barangay were just part of gang war. Incredible! What they said was similar to the testimony of the local government and police officials during the CHR public inquiry more than two weeks ago. They came to this conclusion even without a thorough investigation.

So this is where we are now. Everyone in Davao believes in the existence of the DDS except the local government and police officials. So how can the problem of the summary killings be solved when the authorities do not even admit that there is a problem? Perhaps, the killings are not a problem but a solution - the solution to the problem of criminality.

While they deny that there is a death squad responsible for the killings, they also justify these killings. They deserve to die because they are criminals - they are drug addicts, pushers, cell-phone snatchers and gang members. They are fair targets of assassination. It is necessary to kill them to deter them from committing more crimes. This is necessary to protect the people of Davao and to make Davao safe. This is necessary for peace and order. (Sadly, these justifications are echoed by newspaper columnists, radio commentators and city councilors. Many people accept these justifications).

What kind of peace and order is it when there are killings almost every day? The peace of the cemetery? Rest in Peace (R.I.P.)? They claim that the crime rates are low. But according the HRW report, the crime rate has gone up by 219% within a period of 10 years. This includes 890 unsolved killings - or serial mass murder.

Is it necessary to commit crimes to fight criminality?
Is it necessary to become criminals to fight criminals?

Easter Vigil

I concelebrated at last night's Easter Vigil celebration. What I liked most was the symbol of the Paschal Candle which was lighted by the fire. The whole church was in darkness until each person received the light from the Easte candle and passed the light to others.

This is what Easter is all about. Christ is the light of the world. He has conquered death, sin and evil by his suffering, death and resurrection. We his followers have received his light and it is our mission to spread this light in the world. We are called to live in the light - to overcome the darkness of sin and evil and to live a renewed life.

This is the basis of our hope.

Black Saturday - Exercising while Fasting

Today is the sixth day of my fast. I woke up feeling refreshed. After doing taichi, I went biking for two hours and thirty-eight minutes up and down the steep hills of Magtuod and Langub. I found it amazing that inspite of the fact that I have not eaten anything for the last six days, I felt energized. I didn't feel tired, hungry or weak.

How is this possible? It is not because I am superhuman. I believe that the human body is capable of surviving without food for a long period of time. This is what our ancestors did hundreds of thousand years ago when they didn't have the luxury of eating three meals a day - they had to hunt for food and it could take days before they could catch one. Jesus himself was capable of fasting for 40 days.

So six days of fasting is no big deal. I am used to it. For the last forty days I have survived on one meal a day on weekdays and no food on Tuesdays and Fridays. I intend to continue this practice after the Holy Week.

Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord's Passion

I presided at the 3 pm celebration of the Lord's Passion in our parish church this afternoon. The parish youth group dramatized John's passion account which took 30 minutes to perform.