schoolscolleges2020 hed news


(Concluding remarks delivered by Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ during the Academic Convocation on the 30th day of March 2017 at the XU Gymnasium. Photo by Rico Magallona.)

“Peripheries” means “outskirts” or “margins,” and it appears quite often in Pope Francis’ distinctively Latin American vocabulary, las periferias.

It stood out, for instance, in the brief intervention he made as Cardinal Bergoglio at the pre-conclave congregation in which the assembled cardinals discussed the problems they felt needed to be addressed in the Church and what kind of man the next pope should be. The cardinal from Argentina spoke from scanty notes, taking up less time than the five minutes he was allotted. Because this was a closed-door consultation, there is no official documentation of its proceedings. But what the cardinal from Argentina had to say moved a brother cardinal from Cuba so much that the latter begged him to write it down so he could post it in the website of his diocese.

In terse but elegant language, Jorge Mario Bergoglio offered a powerful narrative of the Church’s mission. Bergoglio said, “The Church is called to come out of herself and to go to the peripheries, not only geographically, but also the existential peripheries: the mystery of sin, of pain, of injustice, of ignorance and indifference to religion, of intellectual currents, and of all misery.”

In the past four years of Pope Francis’ service, las periferias … the peripheries have been his frequent refrain. In his messages to different members of the Church, his challenge often enough is “go out, head for the peripheries.” During a January 2015 audience with Filipino Jesuits in Manila, when the Philippine Provincial asked Lolo Kiko what special things he wanted his brother Jesuits to do; his reply was quick and firm, “go to the poor … go to the peripheries.” Papa Francisco persistently invites all to go to the places of marginalization, exclusion, and alienation. He never tires of inspiring us to go the geographical and spiritual places where others cannot reach or find it difficult to reach; ir hacia las periferias … go to the peripheries. Las periferias is clearly a landmark of Francis’ pontificate; a lodestar of his evangelical ministry, a key apostolic principle of paramount importance.

My good friends, this morning, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan is profoundly privileged to honor three awardees who have been going to the peripheries. They have lived the life experience of the peripheries. They have trodden the walk of the peripheries with the people of las periferias. They have embraced the peripheries. Thank you so much, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Sr Ma Delia Coronel, Br Karl Gaspar for being faithful companions of Jesus in going to the peripheries and journeying with the poor. Daghan kaayong salamat! Good friends, let us give a round of applause to our awardees.

The Daughters of Charity have been active in Mindanao for over half a century in hospitals, orphanages, resettlement communities, social and pastoral centers, schools; particularly those serving the poor and the marginalized in demanding circumstances. Our compassionate and caring DC Sisters have worked quietly but effectively in conflict-stricken areas in Mindanao, and they have had profound impacts on the lives of the people they serve in Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Marawi, Zamboanga City, and Ipil, as well as in more stable areas like the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Guided by their motto, "The charity of Jesus Christ crucified urges us," our courageous Daughters of Charity reach out to help God’s poor who are in need of His loving care and tenderness. Mga igsoon, pakpakan nato pag-usab ang Daughters of Charity.

For more than 20 years, the Catholic Sister Delia Coronel lived in the Islamic City of Marawi, where she worked as Literature Professor at Mindanao State University (MSU) and Researcher at its Mamitua Saber University Research Center. A pivotal event in 1978 changed Sr Delia’s life. She was kidnapped by Muslim separatist rebels aiming to publicize their cause. While in captivity, the good nun’s belief was strengthened that through her work on the Maranao epics, she could contribute to a meaningful interfaith dialogue and enlighten the Filipino nation about the cultures of Mindanao. Sr Delia devoted much of her academic life at MSU to translating from classic Maranao into English, Darangen, a 7-volume ancient epic song that encompasses a wealth of knowledge of the Maranao people who live in the Lake Lanao region. Meaning literally “to narrate in song,” Darangen explores the underlying themes of life and death, courtship, love and politics through symbol, metaphor, irony, and satire. Darangen also encodes customary law, standards of social and ethical behavior, notions of aesthetic beauty, and social values specific to the Maranao. Sr Delia patiently and lovingly translated the vivid and rich cultural heritage of the Maranaos to promote peace and foster understanding. Mga kaibigan, bigyan natin muli si Sr Delia Coronel ng mainit at malakas na palakpakan!

Br Karl Gaspar is a prolific writer, respected sociologist-anthropologist, theologian, interfaith scholar, missionary, artist, peace advocate, and Mindanaoan. At the height of Martial Law, Karl, fighting for justice and democracy was captured and detained for 22 months by the military. After his detention, he joined the Redemptorists in his desire to incorporate spirituality in his work as human rights advocate, academic, creative writer and Filipino artist. For nearly three decades, Br Karl has lived and worked with indigenous communities in Southern Mindanao, including the Mandaya in Davao Oriental, the Manobo in Cotabato and Bukidnon, the Subanen in Zamboanga del Sur, and the Dulangan Manobos in Sultan Kudarat, as a member of the Redemptorist Itinerant Mission Team. Br Karl passionately pushes for development work in grassroot communities to realize his three major advocacies: championing the rights of lumad people through solidarity work and immersions, conducting peace-building efforts in Mindanao through interfaith dialogues, and raising awareness on our ecological challenges through campaigns and training programs. Br Karl, you continue to labor as a scholar-activist-missionary in the peripheries, with and for our Lumad brothers and sisters. Mabuhay ka, Br Karl! Mabuhay ang inyong mahusay at matapat na paglilingkod sa Simbahan at sa mga Lumad na sinisinta ni Kristo! Mga kaibigan, isang masigabong palakpakan para kay Br Karl Gaspar!

Br Karl, Sr Amelia David, Sr Neriza Herbon: daghan kaayong salamat 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. Xavier is so happy to claim you from now on as full-pledged members of our Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan community.

XU Class of 2017, may the inspiration you have received from our awardees this morning, always be a source of strength as you begin your mission to serve as leaders, the XavierAteneo way. May you generously heed the call of Pope Francis, ir hacia las periferias … go to the peripheries. Panalanginan kamo sa Ginoo kanunay. God bless you always.∎