‘Hoverboard priest’ loses Biñan parish

MANILA, Philippines - The priest caught on video riding a hoverboard while celebrating Christmas Eve mass has apologized to the faithful, but the Diocese of San Pablo in Laguna removed him from the parish to give him “time to reflect.”

The diocese, as reported by CBCP News, said the priest has described the incident as a “wake-up call” and has promised that it
will not happen again. Although it did not name the priest, some reports identified him as Fr. Falbert San Jose of the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal parish.

The Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna denounced the act and announced that the priest has been removed.

“He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event,” CBCP News said.

The priest, before giving the final blessing on a Christmas Eve mass, rode on a hoverboard (a self-balancing electric scooter) as a way of greeting his parishioners in Biñan town, Laguna. It was caught on video and uploaded on social media.

“That was wrong,” the diocese said.

It reminded the priest of what the celebration is all about and that a mass “demands utmost respect and reverence.”

“It (mass) is the memorial of the Lord’s sacrifice. It is the source and summit of Christian life. It is the Church’s highest form of worship. Consequently, it is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people,” CBCP News quoted the diocese as saying.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines public affairs committee executive secretary, earlier said the act of going around on a hoverboard distracted the faithful and was not necessary to get the Christmas message across.

The Philippines is a conservative bastion of the Catholic church in Asia, the only state outside the Vatican to ban divorce. About 80 percent of its 100 million people are members of the faith.

A check with Facebook shows an account of “Falbert San Jose,” which features a post on Aug. 18, 2014 to invite people to support an Oct. 17, 2014 benefit concert dubbed “Star@45” at the Pacita Astrodome.

The post, which was the latest entry on that account, shows a “Fr. Albert I. San Jose Jr.” as main guest in the concert, which was aimed at raising funds for the construction of the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal parish multi-purpose center.

The Facebook account of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo was flooded with comments from netizens.

Many of them defended the priest from critics.

Rodina Dalisay Anonuevo commented: “We pray for our priests, we support our priests, we love our priests. Let us be less judgmental! Malaki ang kanilang sinasakripisyo para lang mapaglingkuran ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pag akay pabalik sa Diyos sa mga tao... (They have sacrificed much to serve God through the conversion of many). One way of saying thank you, dear brother priests!”

Pancho Quinay: “While the quick action of his excellency, the Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo, is a very welcome move, I just hope and pray it is not a reactive one just because of the negative comments in the social media that the concerned priest’s playful action during apparently the Liturgy of the Word had elicited. Too much focus was given to the hoverboard but no one has ever taken notice of the best wishes that the priest conveyed to his faithful in his song as a new year is about to dawn – Good luck, good health, God’s Blessings and guidance. Our catechesis should put more emphasis on how to see the positive aspects rather than the negative ones of the things we see, hear and feel. Haven’t we become self-righteous in this case, too rash to judge and too quick to condemn?”

Raffie Pineda-Alcan: “I disagree! At least the MASS is not BORING! Geez, Lighten up! We had a Filipino priest conducting a Sunday sermon and most are almost half asleep, what did he say loudly? Is anyone listening to what I just said? That woke the congregation!”

Puyat Tuason: “While very aware of what happened, and the sanction that was given to the priest, I will try to react as I think any good brother should, and that is to pray for him and wish him well so he doesn’t feel abandoned. Let us be merciful just as the Father is merciful.” – Sheila Crisostomo