The bells, the swallows and St. Peregrine

I just got an interesting letter from my good friend, movie writer Felicitas Jimenez, a.k.a. Baby K, who’s now based in L.A., reacting to my column about the two bells our family donated to the church in our hometown, Las Navas, Northern Samar. I can’t resist sharing BKJ’s letter with Funfare readers. Here it is:

Your April 12th issue is one of my rare misses; I usually start my work sked by going through the Internet edition of philstar unless I have urgent network video conferencing. So this morning, Maundy Thursday, as I archived that edition, I felt my cheeks getting dampened. Wow, Ricky, what a tribute! I was still wiping a tear when a senior partner walked into my office to get help for a US district court filing. "Are you okay?" he thoughtfully asked. Before I could mutter yes, he followed it up with, "Is everything okay at home?" I had wanted to say – I could still hear those bells ringing loud and clear, cling-clanging intermittently – evoking memories that both bless and burn..so deeply. Losing loved ones leaves permanent scars that never mend. Though believing they do exist in the next world starts the healing process…

I felt so inggit to you as you spoke of your brothers and sisters who stood by you and joined you in paying such a homage to your dearly departed…I don’t have any one..I am left alone..Remember? You have always been there for me at the time of my losses (and so with colleagues Bibsy Carballo, Ronald Constantino and Nestor Cuartero) when my dad died in 1989 (despite the fact that I had left local cinema in late 1984 in favor of America, a few showbiz friends have remained friends)… you were out of the country but sent me a novena of masses. When my brother died unexpectedly of cancer in 1998, you were once more abroad but sent me a rosary from Rome. When my mom died last 2001, you finally were able to make it to the wake with Ronald and, for almost the whole afternoon until evening, you were there with me, in the company of my other loyalist friends like Susan Roces, Charo Santos, Bibeth Orteza and Sen. Tessie Oreta. We then compared notes on how our beloved departed made their presence known to us - that indeed there’s another life after death and how they reach out (wow, we got to tell your readers how they "visit" us)!

Your idea of the bells is so noble, so original, an achievement unparalleled. That really inspires me now to think of something to do for my mom, dad and brother though in my little humble way I have helped two churches and a cursillo house in Biñan, Laguna, way back in 1968 when my parents - very active cursillistas - had requested assistance to raise funds. No less than FPJ and Susan (then only sweethearts) together with then San Juan Mayor Joseph Estrada trekked to Biñan to help.

The bells, the churches – so much in keeping with Easter. It was also at this very season when my late brother (together with his family) came to visit me the last time (1997) from John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland (yes, he had to come to America for treatment) on their way home to Manila; he was in the process of remission. We did Visita Iglesia here in Los Angeles and he was blessed by the priests. I took him to San Juan Capistrano (remember the famous song of Pat Boone, when the swallows come back to Capistrano?) that’s what it is, Misson San Juan Capistrano (birthplace of Orange County), an hour and a half drive from L.A. This is where you find the Shrine of St. Peregrine, Patron of Cancer Patients, whose feast day is coming up on May 4. To give our readers a little more background on the subject:

In 1283, Saint Philip, Prior General of the Friar Servants of Mary, attempted to lead back to obedience to the Apostolic See the citizens of Forlì, then under interdict. He was driven out of the city with insults and violence. While this true follower of Christ was praying for his persecutors, one of the crowd, an 18-year-old by the name of Peregrine of the famous Laziosi family, repented and humbly asked Philip for forgiveness. Philip received him with love. From that moment, the young man began to scorn the vanities of the world and to pray most fervently to the Blessed Virgin, asking that she show him the way of salvation. A few years later, guided by the Virgin, he received the habit of Our Lady in the priory of Siena where he dedicated himself to her service. There, together with Blessed Francis of Siena, he committed himself totally to the Servite life. After some years he was sent back to Forlì where, because of his love for God and Our Lady, he gave himself to the recitation of psalms, hymns and prayers, and to meditation on the law of God. On fire with love for others, he lavished a wealth of charity on the poor. It is said that he miraculously multiplied grain and wine during a severe shortage in his area. Above all else, he was outstanding in his love for penance; in tears, he would reflect on the errors which he thought he had made and would frequently confess to the priest. As was common at the time, he afflicted his body with various forms of mortification: when tired he would support himself on a choir stall or a rock; when overcome by sleep, he preferred the bare earth to a bed. As a result of this type of life, at the age of 60 he suffered from varicose veins which degenerated into cancer of the right leg.

His condition deteriorated to the point that a physician, Paolo Salazio, who visited him in the priory, decided, with the consent of all the friars, to amputate the leg as soon as possible. The night before the operation, Peregrine dragged himself before the crucifix in the chapter room. There he became drowsy and seemed to see Jesus descend from the cross to heal his leg. The following day, the doctor arrived to perform the amputation but could find no sign of the cancer, or even of a wound. He was so shocked that he spread the news of the miracle throughout the town. This only increased the people’s veneration of Peregrine. The saint died of a fever about 1345 when he was almost 80. An extraordinary number of people from the town and countryside honored him in death. Some of the sick who came were healed through his intercession. His body rests in the Servite church of Forlì where it is greatly honored by the people. Pope Paul V declared him blessed in 1609 and Pope Benedict XIII canonized him in 1726. St. Peregrine’s feast day is celebrated by the Church on May 4.

Regarding the Swallows…

The miracle of the "Swallows" of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistano, on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Day. (that’s why Bibsy and I who celebrate our birthdays March 18th and 19th back-to-back always tease each other as swallows)

As the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and the visitors from all parts of the world, and all walks of life, gather in great numbers to witness the "miracle" of the return of the swallows.

Each year the "Scout Swallows" precede the main flock by a few days and it seems to be their chief duty to clear the way for the main flock to arrive at the "Old Mission" of Capistrano.

With the arrival of early dawn on St. Joseph’s Day, the little birds begin to arrive and begin rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the old stone church of San Juan Capistrano. The arches of the two story, high vaulted Chapel were left bare and exposed, as the roof collapsed during the earthquake of 1812.

This Chapel, said to be the largest and most ornate in any of the missions, now has a more humble destiny–that of housing the birds that St. Francis loved so well.

After the summer spent within the sheltered walls of the Old Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the swallows take flight again, and on the Day of San Juan, Oct. 23, they leave after circling the Mission bidding farewell to the "JEWEL OF ALL MISSIONS" San Juan Capistrano, California.

Now, now, now. I am talking too much. I got to go. By the way, I see you in the TFC (The Filipino Channel) on The Buzz with Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino.

Love you, Ricky!

– BKJ