Bishop Chito as I know him

New Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle officiated our wedding! Most consider this as a bragging right. He was then Imus Bishop Chito, but it was not his title but the person that made it such an honor for my husband Orange and I.

I first heard the name of Bishop Tagle about 10 years ago because of the meaningful retreats and recollections that he gave. I cannot really tell exactly when I met him. Was it before the eventful day of June 12?

Archbishop Tagle, as far as I can remember, has always been part of the Independence Day Celebration in Kawit, Cavite. Also a Caviteño, the archbishop is a friend of my husband’s family, the Aguinaldos. On a personal note, Bishop Tagle served as the “bridge” between my husband and I.

To brag further, the Archbishop of Manila left a pilgrimage in Europe to officiate our wedding. Bishop Chito (allow me to call him this for now because this is how I first came to know him) didn’t tell me this, but it was another priest, Father Nono, who did.

This gesture by our dear Bishop Chito, of course, was overwhelming, but that is not to say that he gave us some special treatment. Bishop Chito makes everyone feel special, regardless of who you are. Anyone who has met him will have something kind and special to say about Bishop Chito.

And now he is Manila Archbishop. The title sends chills up my spine. When I heard the news about his appointment, I was not happy about it. Immediately, I felt as if a concrete wall was put up between us. It was a different world already for him, with his hectic schedules, protocols and the office. I wondered if he would ever reply to a text message. He is and will be flocked by more VIPs.

But even after the news broke, surprisingly, the Archbishop still replied to my well wishes.

On the day of his installation at the Manila Cathedral, I observed the ceremony from a distance. At first, I thought I would not be able to get it in because of the security garbed in barong. I begged the men in uniform and told them that I would just stay put in a corner. I arrived just in time to listen to his speech.

The Archbishop is aware of his “stalkers.” In his Advent recollection that I attended at the Church of the Gesu in Ateneo, he teased that he always sees the same faces in his recollections, ours included. The role of Manila Archbishop was beyond being a rockstar of a priest though he is regarded as such.

He was ambushed by the media who asked such questions as “What are your plans for the Church?” or “What is your stand in politics?”And his humble reply was “I will listen to God.” This was perhaps not enough of a sound bite for the mediamen.

He explained that the only way for renewal to happen is to bring back God. “Obedience to God’s will is acknowledging God and harmonizing myself with the plan of God.”

While the church is always perceived to be “kontra” to just about everything, Archbishop Tagle explained that the teachings of God are very reasonable like:

Do not steal.

Do not kill.

Be faithful. Do not commit adultery.

It’s a matter of bringing back rationality to society. It is when we disobey that we become irrational.

Based on what I have observed, Archbishop Tagle is friends with everyone. He listens to both the rich and the poor, and can crack jokes with the famous and the unknown. He is kind-hearted and selfless, but is steadfast with issues that affect our people like gambling and the Reproductive Health Bill. It is not a matter of opinion after all, but obedience to God.

All eyes are on the new Archbishop of Manila. Perhaps they expect him to perform miracles and be larger than life. I see him as a simple man consistently doing God’s work here on earth, a role that belongs not only to him but should also be shared by all of us.

Hindi po kayo nag-iisa.

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