XU, 15 April 2013
by Asandas Balchand, SJ
 

Today is the 9th day since the death of Love Naces last April 7, Divine Mercy Sunday. It is fitting that she went home to her Lord and Creator on that day because she had a special devotion to Christ’s Divine Mercy. It is as if she prayed that if God would take her soon, let it be on a day such as Divine Mercy Sunday. Incidentally, today is also a month since her last birthday on March 15.

When I think of Love Naces from the few years of my acquaintance with her here at XU, I think especially of three qualities and characteristics: 1) she was a fighter; 2) she was a lover, a woman of deep love; 3) she was a teacher, a passionate teacher.

First, she was a fighter. Love believed very strongly in certain causes and she fought for them all the way. There were no half-measures for Love. She spoke out strongly for what she believed in and did what she could for them. This was very clear in her PRO-LIFE advocacy and her consequent opposition to the RH Bill. She took every opportunity she reasonably could to present her stand against it – in the classroom, at faculty gatherings, in workshops and seminars, on radio and TV. I think the 120-day TRO granted by the Supreme Court was because of her fervent prayers. She told me that she was offering her illness and pain to fight the RH bill and its proponents.

I saw this passionate advocacy also in her work promoting cooperatives in the country, especially in  northern Mindanao. She wrote on it, spoke out on it, went to Manila to lobby in Congress and did everything possible to further the movement.  Anselmo Mercado says that she became  the champion and leader of the movement and published a very valuable  research work on the history of the cooperative movement in Mindanao. She was very strong in her views even on the coop canteens in XU, defending them, working for their improvement.

Many times I saw her in the RS Dept express herself quietly but firmly and strongly on what she wanted done and how she saw the role of the Dept in XU and in the region. She expressed herself very clearly on various policies, plans and activities in the University. She had no hesitation in presenting her views because she was sincerely concerned about the overall good and direction of the University.

She somehow got involved with the MILF rebel returnees, many of whom were staying in Baloy. She did everything she could for them according to the limited resources she could muster. She organized pre-Christmas trips and brought them  food packages and other donations she could get. She secured funding for their leader so that he could study at SEARSOLIN. She was very concerned about helping the men get jobs, and about the welfare of the women and the children.. She wanted the RS Dept to help the rebel returnees as part of their outreach program.

She stopped the active fight only when illness took its heavy toll on her. Then she surrendered and decided to pray and leave everything in God’s hands.

I think that Love was a great fighter because she loved very deeply. This is my second point.  She loved people and wanted the best for them. I visited her home several years ago when her mother was seriously ill and I could see how much she loved her mother. She told me that she would do everything possible for her mother, even sell the house if she had to. There was no doubt about how much she loved her husband (Romy) and children (Mary Grace, Lovella and Bethany), making sacrifices for their welfare. I saw the children in the RS Dept and saw the deep care that Love showed for them, their studies and their growth. This love extended very much to her grandchildren, Sean and Hannah. In her illness she would text me their comments and observations on various things. They were her delight and joy in her illness, and she was very happy with the way they were growing up. She will miss them very much from where she is.

Lovenia loved especially the poor and marginalized. She was often thinking of what she could do for them. This is why she was so involved in the coop movement and with the rebel returnees. She wanted to make life better for the poor and needy. She showed great friendship and affection in dealing with them. I noticed this especially when the RS Dept entertained the rebel returnees here at the back of the canteen before Christmas. She was genuinely happy to be of service to them and help them.

Lovenia loved the University and the people she worked with, unless she was disappointed with their work or policies/decisions. Those who knew her found her a very good friend, loyal, interested and helpful to them. There was no doubt in my mind that she loved her students very much and did everything she could for them. She was delighted with their development. She would brag to me about how well her students did in workshops and radio, TV presentations, answering questions so well on social and moral matters.

I think that one of the great loves of Mrs Naces was teaching. This is my third point.  She loved to teach, to educate and she did this all the time in many ways. In her youth she was already a star catechist for Bishop Pacana. I think she was a very good teacher at XU. I saw some of her outlines and writings. They were very thorough and well-researched. She enjoyed explaining and clarifying things to students, especially on matters that related to their formation on moral and social issues. She circulated her cell phone number so that anyone, especially students, could text her questions about pre-marital and sexual matters and she would answer them. She got a good number of questions. She enjoyed appearing on TV and  radio and often did, especially on pro-life issues. She would text me and inform me about these appearances ahead of time. She was very concerned about the moral formation of the young, and insisted that they have accurate information on matters intimate to their life.  In a tribute to her, Anselmo Mercado says: “I am sure they (the students) will remember her not only for her scholarship and for her many good qualities, but more so for the moral values she had taught them.”

Her articles on the Cooperative movement in Mindanao are very well written and show her as a good teacher.  I suspect that she had much influence on the academic life of her children and guided them as a teacher. And I know that she was a patient teacher to her grandchildren, marveling at their wit and wisdom.

Love will surely be missed at XU and in the city, but I think that others will continue her work, influenced by her example, like candles that have been lit from a main candle. Many will continue her fight for noble causes on campus and outside. Many will continue her brand of cura personalis, care and concern for fellow workers and for the needy. Many will see a noble vocation in teaching and influencing others, esp in social and moral concerns. From where she is, Love will continue her work. May her tribe increase.



Dr Love Naces was a faculty member of the Religious Studies Department and a staunch advocate of cooperatives. She died on April 7 at the age of 56.