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Manila Standard Today

December 29, 2014

I turned 70 this year. It means permanent retirement at of De La Salle University. It also signals my final article in Manila Standard Today. To my readers, colleagues, students, friends, the Brothers; to Dr. Dennis Berino and MOD chair Pia Manalastas, my DLSU MST editors; and to Ray S. Enano, Business editor of Manila Standard Today I say, “Mabuhay, adieu and salamat”.

Mabuhay

Filipino mabuhay carries an Arabic ‘hay’ for life, and the Arabic alphabet ‘ya’ is also used and spelled as “y” or “I”. Thus, in Hiligaynon, my regional dialect, buhay is buhi.

Mabuhi ang mga Brothers of La Salle Bacolod [1957-1961): Br. Francis Cody, Br. Richard, Br. Dominic Fournier, Br. Richard, Br. Felix Masson, Br. Gat Louie, Br. Alexis, Br. Sixto Orosa, Br. Andrew Gonzalez and Br. Alonzo del Callar. My Lasallian life began with them in grade school and high school.

Through Br. Francis, I became a member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools [1961-78]. And at De La Salle University [1961-73], I earned my bachelor and master’s degrees. Thereafter I held various roles as teacher, director and principal at De La Salle Taft, Greenhills, Lipa and Iligan [1967-78].

Mabuhay to my religious formateurs: Director Br. Dominic, Sub-director Br. Peter Graves, Fr. Mario, SJ, and Fr. McCarthy, SJ; co-aspirants: Br. Rolando Dizon, Br. Ceci Hojilla, Br. Crisanto Moreno, Br. Manny Hilado, Br. Philip Belzunce, Br. Ricardo Pijuan, Br. Gus Boquer, Br. Victor Ordonez, and Br. Louie Zaragosa. Mabuhay to Scholasticate Director Br. Justin Lucian and Sub-director Br. John Burns, Fr. Cornelius Hulsbusch and Fr. Pat Lim; my first community confreres Br. Raymund Bronowicz, Br. Rafael Donato, Br. Vernon Mabile, Br. Gregory Refuerzo and Br. Joseph Lapp at De La Salle Lipa.

Mabuhay to Br. Visitor Victor Franco, DLSU President Gabriel Connon, and Br. Councilor General John Johnston who encouraged me to persevere in travelling the highroad of Brotherhood before I officially left the Institute May 31, 1978.

Adieu

Goodbye in French is adieu, a compound of preposition ‘a’ [to] and ‘dieu’ [God]; it is much closer to Filipino and Spanish adios. When invoked, it means, “I commend you to God.” It suggests that a social interaction is momentarily terminated but a thread of spiritual relationship remains.

My departure from the Institute in May 1978 was not a goodbye. It was a French “au revoir” [see you again] because in 1985 I returned to DLSU to pursue a doctorate in guidance and counselling. Then, I taught in the College of Education [1988-90]. My interlude at DLSU was interrupted for 14 years when I joined Metrobank because I was doing corporate management training on weekends nationwide. Upon retirement in 2003, I came to see Br. William Garvey who convinced me to finish my doctorate under the tutelage of Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC.

My au revoir interlude reconnected me to the Brothers once more.

My Lasallian journey was coming to a full circle. In 2005, the broadsheet advertisement of De La Salle Professional Schools, Inc. led me to an interview with Dean Philip Juico at La Salle Greenhills. After almost 3 decades, I saw the campus where I was trained in 1961 and Provincialate House where I stepped out in 1978. With Dr. Ben Teehankee, affirming my place in the ethics and CSR courses, I was accepted as faculty of DLS PSI.

I say au revoir to my DLSU colleagues: Marissa Marasigan, Vixie Tibon, Raymund Habaradas, Liberty Nolasco, Gett Que, Jimmy Cempron, Leah Macatangay, Rachel Quero, Ted Ocampo, Real So, Pinky Asis Castro, Nes Nisperos, Denver Daradar, Joseph Pangilinan, Jean Maligaya, John See, Fe Baluran, Carmelita Clerigo, Grace Cardino, Lorie and Denice Lopez, Lorie Mojica, and Remy Tamaca.

Salamat

In Arabic, the word “salamat” is used to express be safe and convey the meaning of welcome and the word salam means hello. In Malaysia, selamat spelled differently means thank you, like salamat in Philippines. A Muslim sociologist told me that salamat came from sa Allah, meaning one is blessed in the name of Allah.

Salamat to Br. Counselor General Benildo Feliciano who blessed by departure from the Institute and wished me success as I venture into the world ‘outside’; to Dr. Victor Gamboa for connecting with the USAID integrated area development in Bicol; Br. James Ebner, theologian, for encouraging me write because it is fun; to Br. Francis Garvey and Br. Andrew Gonzalez for my doctorate in religious and values formation; and to Dr. Dean Philip Juico for my academic engagement with the De La Salle Professional School, Inc.

Full circle

I must thank Dr. Debbie Edralin and MOD chair Pia Manalastas for my SHURMAN course where I met Alexandra Estanislao Pena the 2^nd term of SY 2014-15. She is the daughter of Arthur Pena, my student at La Salle Iligan in 1976. Arthur’s family was a second family to the Brothers then because his mom, Angie, catered the meals of the Brothers (Br. Bob Schieler, Br. Bernie Oca and Br. Emilio Villarosa). On holidays and weekends we had meals at their residence.

After almost 4 decades, through Alex, I was reunited with Arthur [children Alex, Lorenzo and Rafael] and George [spouse Rosario and son George Aaron, DLSU ECE] on December 14, 2014. We reviewed four decades around the banquet of food and drink that filled spirit with Lasallian fellowship and brotherhood in four hours.

Interestingly, Arthur in 1980, as Rotary exchange student, studied in USA and was reunited with Br. Bob Shieler, FSC [now superior general] as he was one of the Brothers his family shared meals with.

This year, in July, Br. Broughton told me Br. Robert Shieler, FSC was elected superior general; in August I wrote an article on Br. Bob; I read it in class and Alex Pena informed me her dad studied in Iligan and personally knew Br. Bob; and In December Dr. Ginny Santiago invited me to teach at La Salle University Ozamiz, an hour and half by land from Iligan City.

More in life

There are no accidents. Iligan was my last tour of duty prior to me leaving the Institute. As I leave DLSU, I am being reconnected to Mindanao, where I left my Lasallian mission in 1978.

The cycle and the circle of life induce me to say Mabuhay, Adieu, and Salamat because gratitude, as Marci Shimoff puts it, is absolutely the way to bring more into our Life.

Published November 24, 2014

Green Light

Manila Standard Today

There are three reasons why this article. One is the family life Synod of Pope Francis; the other is the commemoration of All the Faithful Departed; and another is my readings on two Filipino authors. For me, Pope Francis, Br. James Ebner FSC and Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC are theological shifters, and Tato Malay and George Sison are metaphysical shifters.

Pope Francis’ synod

In Newtonian physics, the family life synod was a fulcrum used by Francis to move the mindset of the cardinals from an A to B. It perhaps gave the cardinals a nudge, but not enough to make a shift. Metaphysically, the quarks of the cardinals were not “intensely observed’’ as much as Francis did.

Quantum law states that when quarks are observed they behave differently. Did the Catholic faithful fail to focus on the synod the way Francis did? Maybe, in Gregg Braden’s formula, the square root of one percent of the Catholic population was not too keen on the positive change.

Francis could have used Jeffrey Sach’s power of one formula in leading the cardinals but he shed the accoutrements of an authoritarian pope. He did not force nor did he dictate the unfreezing of the Vatican bureaucracy. Instead, he opted to shift from an archaic triumphal style to a multistream management practice.

But the weight of the Vatican theological bureaucracy is just too heavy for one man. Hence, he needs the quantum energy of the Catholic faithful who must first unfreeze themselves in order to activate the conciliar quarks of the cardinals.

Definitely, he leads by influence; he does not manage ex-cathedra. As such, the core of his inspired pastoral experience radiates as quantum energy [grace], creating a shift to a direction towards a new pastoral consciousness.

Andrew Gonzalez’ God talk

Andrew (+2006) initiated many academic shifts as president of De La Salle University. One of those is his concept of multiversity, which gave birth to One La Salle of the Philippine District in 2011. Equally significant was an innovative shift in professionalizing the Bamcref catechists that resulted to a doctoral program in religious and values formation.

The ultimate goal of that academic program was to develop an adult believer who “acts and lives his life accordingly, respecting traditions and even Church official teachings, but transcending them based on his own convictions and commitments.”

He said, “While creeds are necessary for purposes of documentaries and to give stability to formulae, those formulae can be considered eternally valid pronouncements but declarations which need interpretation, calling for changes in formulations to continue the tradition of faith seeking understanding of the believing and living community.”

In sum, Church doctrines need to be interpreted in the 21^st century by adult Catholics in the light of their personal experience and the Church must interpret these teaching in the language and context of the 21^st century.

James Ebner’s depth experience

James (+2001) in God Present as Mystery said, “Theology today, then, urges us to value and trust our depth experiences. [The] intimations of a Mystery Present [God] can be felt [as] peace and fellowship.” While he respects “those who understand their fidelity to the faith as keeping unchanged what they may have learned in childhood,” he believes that church spokesmen and theological experts are not doing enough to promote the shift.

His point is about the dogmatic and rigid interpretation the Church makes for Catholics. He said, “Community religion is at its worst when it enforces its symbols upon the young in such a way that a person may never connect with his depth experience. In a community of adults thus indoctrinated, there is the problem of inauthentic religion, false conscience, [and] verbal faith.” He insists that contemporary applied theology starts with “awareness of glimmerings in our depths”.

In this light, Francis’ experience in pastoral management mirrors this observation of James. The recent family life synod adhered to dogmatic guidelines, considered absolute and unchanging truths by the cardinals. Thus, tradition failed to connect with the current depth experience of the families in the 21^st century.

Tato Malay’s kamalayan

The depth experience of Tato Malay is revelatory of James’ depth theology. Tato, who did not pursue academic studies, through personal learnings discovered his true self and his God by following his inner light.

His book, Lessons I Never Learned from School, recounts his journey in earning a livelihood without a college degree. More importantly, his discovery of the principles of consciousness and spirituality that truly makes him human. He was able to formulate the law of Manifestation, Attraction, Harmony, Right Action, Expanding Influence, Pure Desire, and Paradoxical Intent.

Based on the law of manifestation, he said, “Thank you, Father, for my all-new 1999 silver Honda Accord.” The ‘thank you’ part affirms that the Honda is already received. And he did receive for it is God the Father who became His source of infinite and unlimited abundance. His thoughts are made manifest in the real world.

He is founder of Kamalayan foundation. It is dedicated to meet the “new needs, unmet potentials and opportunities of a changing reality of the 21^st century. It is intended for individuals “from any culture, nationality, tradition or religion who wish to have a new vision of life, love and spirituality.”

George Sison’s miracle

George, who was once a devout Catholic and a daily communicant, is now a proponent of 21^st consciousness. His shift to higher consciousness is detailed in his books, A Miracle Awaits You, I Am a Winner, and Soul Spa. He works within the theological framework of Andrew and James in the language of metaphysics written in English and Pilipino. He and Tato whose Catholic background is similar are one in promoting quantum consciousness.

He is founder of the Temple of People, Peace and Prosperity, a transformative center right here in the Philippines. This temple is a realization of James’s human race church, described in God Present as Mystery; it is likewise an expression of Ken Wilber’s universal religion based on AQAL theory.

Three decades ago, he predicted that if the Catholic Church will not shift from many of her worldview, it will become irrelevant by 2032. No wonder Francis is working double time leveraging the fulcrum at the base of the cardinals’ comfortable zone.

Warning

Throughout history our hermeneutics of God has been constantly shifting. The shift from the Dark Ages of mythic beliefs to the Renaissance and Enlightenment period of Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes and Newton and to the 21^st century quantum consciousness is ongoing. Francis, Andrew, James, Tato and George are precursors to our new understanding God.

Julie M. Hudtohan, global HR practitioner in UK, told me once that God and the Church are not the same. She echoed the warning of Neale Donald Walsch who said, “God’s message to the whole world: You got me all wrong.”

Green Light
Manila Standard Today
September 29, 2014

Brother Robert Schieler, FSC, who has served for the past seven years as General Councilor for the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN), was elected Superior General at the 45th General Chapter on May 20, 2014. He is the 27th successor of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
Effective immediately, Brother Robert is now leading the largest order of religious Brothers in the Church dedicated to education. He follows Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, FSC, who served as Superior General for 14 years.

Brother Robert, who is from the District of Eastern North America, is the third American Brother to serve as Superior General. Brother Charles Henry Buttimer, FSC, became the first American Superior General in 1966. Brother John Johnston, FSC, became the second in 1986.

La Salle University alumnus Brother Robert Schieler, F.S.C., has been elected Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools during the order’s 45th General Chapter in Rome. He is the 27th successor of St. John Baptist de La Salle, who founded the order in 17th-century France. A Philadelphia native, Br. Robert also formerly served as a La Salle University Trustee. La Salle  University
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141

Br. Robert now leads the Catholic Church’s largest order of religious Brothers dedicated to education. He follows Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, F.S.C., who served as Superior General for 14 years.

A Philadelphia native, Br. Robert earned a bachelor’s degree in history from La Salle University in 1972. His first assignment was as a teacher at La Salle College High School from 1972 to 1975.
Br. Ricky Laguda FSC for being elected as one of the General Councilors for the five Regions in which the Institute of Brothers is divided. Br. Ricky is the General Councilor for PARC Region (Asia) and the concurrent President of De La Salle University in Manila.

Councilor General
Born in 1969 in Bacolod City, Br. Angel Ricardo Laguda FSC, or more popularly known as Br. Ricky, completed his formation in Manila and Lipa City and made his final vows in the year 1999. He has earned B.A. in Philosophy, a Master of Arts in Education, a degree in Philosophy, Religious Education and a Ph. D. in Education. Prior to his assignment as the DLSU President, he was appointed as Sector Leader in the Philippines.

Together with Br. Ricky are Br. Pierre Saïdou Ouattara FSC for RELAF Region (Africa), Br. Paulo Petry FSC for RELAL Region (Latin America), Br. Aidan Illtyd Kilty FSC for RELEM Region (Europe and Middle East), and Br. Timothy Coldwell FSC for RELAN Region (U.S. and Canada).

The Institute of Brothers of the Christian Schools has elected General Councilors following the appointment of Br. Robert Schieler as Superior General and Brother Jorge Gallardo as Vicar General during the 45th General Chapter in Rome.
‘We could not be more pleased with Brother Robert’s election as Superior General,” said La Salle University President Brother Michael J. McGinniss, F.S.C. “Brother Robert is extremely well-respected here at La Salle University and by Christian Brothers around the world. We have seen his faithfulness and dedication at work in our own community, and I have no doubt that he will be an excellent leader for the worldwide Lasallian community.”

For the past seven years, Br. Robert served as General Councilor for the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) in Washington, D.C. Before that post, Br. Robert was the Director of Education for the Brothers’ United States-Toronto Region. In that capacity, he developed, coordinated, and directed national educational formation programs for teachers and Brothers in the 104 Lasallian schools across the country. He also served as Executive Secretary of the Regional Education Board and the Lasallian Association of College and University Presidents. Prior to those roles, Br. Robert served for seven years as Auxiliary Visitor and Director of Education for the Baltimore District. He served in the Philippines for 11 years in a variety of administrative positions, from Assistant Principal to Superintendent of Schools.

Br. Robert joined the Christian Brothers on Sept. 1, 1968, in Ammendale, Md., and professed his final vows in 1979. He was first introduced to the Brothers as a student at West Catholic Boys High School (now West Catholic Preparatory High School) in Philadelphia. He holds master’s degrees in European history from the University of Notre Dame and in Asian studies from the University of the Philippines, as well as a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

He is the third American Brother to serve as Superior General. Brother Charles Henry Buttimer, F.S.C., became the first American Superior General in 1966. Brother John Johnston, F.S.C., became the second in 1986.
Br. Angel Ricardo Laguda FSC, De La Salle University-Manila President-Chancellor, was elected as the new Pacific-Asia Regional Conference General Councilor of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, as released by LaSalle.org, May 22.

According to web release, the Delegates to the 45th Chapter proceeded to the election of the General Councilors for the five Regions, in which the Institute is divided, after the  election of Br. Robert Schieler as Superior General and Br. Jorge Gallardo as Vicar General.

In his message on May 27 in the official Facebook page of DLSU-M, Br. “Ricky” Laguda disclosed that “this new assignment and ministry requires him to ‘let go’ of his current position and ministry in DLSU.”

Br. Laguda is the fourth Filipino Brother to be elected as General Councilor for Asia; the preceding brothers were University of St. La Salle President-Chancellor Br. Raymundo Suplido, Br, Benildo Feliciano and Br. Victor Franco.

Br. Laguda added in his message that he will continue to be in DLSU until the third week of August and assured the community that he will “meet with the DLSU leadership team regularly to ensure that University operations will continue to respond to the varied requirements of being a Lasallian University.”

Elected together with Br. Laguda in the General council were Br. Pierre Saïdou Ouattara for the RELAF Region (Africa), Br. Paulo Petry for RELAL Region (Latin America), Br. Aidan Illtyd Kilty for RELEM Region (Europe and Middle East) and Br. Timothy Coldwell for RELAN Region: (U.S. and Canada).