FR ROBERTO "BOBBY" C YAP SJ
President, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan
Concluding Remarks
University Convocation, 22nd March 2018
XU Gymnasium
Jesuit education proposes Jesus Christ as the model of human life. To everyone in the Xavier Ateneo educational community, including members of various faiths and cultures, Christ is proposed as the model of authentic human living. Everyone, whatever their beliefs, can draw inspiration from the life and teaching of Jesus, who witnesses to the love and mercy of God, lives in solidarity with all who suffer, and pours out his life in the service of others with a preferential love for the poor.
“Jesus stood and taught within the Jewish prophetic tradition of charity and justice. The Jewish religious tradition emphasized outreach and actions to the poor as a non-negotiable demand within any true religious practice. The idea was that our standing with God depended not just on our private prayer and integrity but also on how we stand with the poor. Indeed, the Jewish prophets made it clear that God favored the poor. Jesus took this even further. He endorsed the idea that God favors the poor but added the notion that God is in the poor, that we meet God in the poor, and that how we treat the poor is how we treat him. In effect, Jesus told us that nobody will go to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor.” (Rolheiser, Sacred Fire, pp. 48-49)
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25,40). Jesus “identifies his own presence with the poor and tells us that, ultimately, we will be judged on how we treat the poor. Bluntly put, we will go to heaven or hell on the basis of giving or not giving food, water, clothing, shelter, and justice to the poor. How we treat the poor is how we treat God. For this reason, Jesus asks us to make a preferential option for the poor. Jesus teaches us that reaching out, preferentially, to the poor is an essential component” of authentic human living. (Rolheiser, The Holy Longing, p. 65)
My good friends, this morning, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is profoundly privileged to honor three awardees who stand with the poor. They have opened their eyes and seen the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity and have heard their cry for help. They have been persons of compassion, who have not remained indifferent to the pain and suffering of others, and suffered with the poor, suffered together with them. Thank you so much, Sr Patricia Saniel, Datu Migketay Victorino Saway, Join Together Society … for being faithful friends of the poor. Daghan kaayong salamat! Good friends, let us give a round of applause to our awardees.
“When I was sick, you looked after me.” Sr Pat Saniel touched the lives of the stigmatized and marginalized by caring for the bungi, bakol, buta, bungol, buang. She was responsible for the founding of two mental health institutions: House of Hope in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro; and Happy Home in Maramag, Bukidnon; and a home for the aged, St Joseph’s in Cagayan de Oro. Sr Pat’s journey with the House of Hope was fraught with adversity. The first mental health facility in Cagayan de Oro, House of Hope was situated in a dilapidated warehouse then, run by volunteers who were laypeople. Sr Pat stayed with the patients despite their living conditions. Sr Pat was responsible for the patients and maintenance of the center. She would tend to the residents, keep the hallways clean, do the marketing for the center, and buy food and groceries. She persevered through many logistical challenges facing the center, with donations from locals barely keeping it afloat. Sr Pat drew strength from prayer and genuine compassion for the poor. Mga igsoon, pakpakan nato pag-usab si Sr Pat Saniel.
“When I was a stranger, you invited me in.” Datu Migketay continues to nurture his home community in Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon. He founded the Talaandig School for Living Traditions and established the Talaandig Hall of Peace, two institutions which remain significant hallmarks of the community, both in imparting Lumad beliefs and practices, and in facilitating dialogue with others. The tribal custodian of the Talaandig Ancestral Territory in Songco, Datu Vic has worked tirelessly to preserve the traditions of his people. Advocating for authentic customary Lumad leadership, he revitalized the traditional governance structure of the Talaandig, Bukidnon, Higaonon, and Manobo tribes. Datu Migketay has been an ardent advocate of culturally-appropriate and inclusive community development in Mindanao. He has been a champion of Lumad culture and arts to build peace and sustainable development. Mga kaibigan, bigyan natin muli si Datu Vic ng mainit at malakas na palakpakan!
“If one is happy, everyone else seems happy, likewise if one is at peace, the world is at peace.” These words of wisdom are from the Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, the founder of Join Together Society. Based in South Korea, JTS is part of Jungto Society, a Buddhist organization aiming to address the world’s most pressing needs. The mission of the Society is to help people all over the world experience the Jungto (meaning “Blessed Land”), where they can live in happiness, health, and peace. JTS acts on a three-pronged mission: to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and teach the illiterate. The Society advocates for compassion towards people from all walks of life, as we are all part of one global village. JTS has helped build hundreds of classrooms across several provinces all over Mindanao. Their educational projects have served as their springboard to address communities’ most pressing needs. To help foster sustainable development, they have partnered with LGUs to build roads, health centers, and other infrastructure, and facilitate dialogue to promote peace. JTS has helped rebuild communities ravaged by armed conflict. JTS helped communities in Damolog and Sarawagon heal from the scars of war, and build a culture of peace. Mabuhay kayo, JTS! Good friends, let us give another round of applause for Join Together Society!
Mr Won Joo Lee, Datu Migketay Saway, Sr Lorie Batusin: Thank you very much for gracing us with your presence and for accepting University Awards from Ateneo de Cagayan. By your acceptance, you have given honor to Xavier and it is really XU’s pride and joy to consider you as models of leaders, compassionate and courageous, friends of the poor. XU is so happy to claim you from now on as full-fledged members of our Xavier Ateneo community.
Xavier Ateneo Class of 2018, may the inspiration you have received from our awardees this morning, always be a source of strength as you begin your mission to be men and women for others, especially the last, the least, and the lost. May you follow Christ, our model in reaching out preferentially to the poor. Panalanginan kamo sa Ginoo kanunay. God bless you always.∎ (Photo by Angelo Lorenzo)