The Rubble of Old San Rafael the Archangel Church

The sad event that pulverized most of the centuries-old churches in Bohol and Cebu last Tuesday, October 15, 2013 calls to mind the collapse of San Rafael Parish Church on June 14, 1990. Not to be taken as of equal weight with those declared National Cultural Treasures, the total destruction of the Balete Church by a 6.3 earthquake that jolted the Panay Island more than a decade ago has afforded the faithful of Balete a new face for their Catholicity.

The rubble of a ruined Balete Church, June 1990

With the new structure forming as part of the facade of the Baleten-on community, the younger generations are without clue of the rubble underneath the modernized plaza of the Balete Church. Children of today are robbed of the pastime of pulverizing chips of bricks that toddlers of old used to polish their nails. Blocks of bricks and broken coral stones were everywhere in the vicinity of the St. Rafael Church and the convent. Old folks used to tell that they were remnants of the older St. Rafael Church that was destroyed by a strong earthquake or (by burning--the town of Balete was laid to waste during the Filipino-American War) during the American time. The ruins were eventually demolished on the order of the local ordinary when the Church of Kalibo was rebuilt with the supplemental blocks of bricks and coral stones from Balete forming an integral part thereof.

The Church of Balete in 1890, with belfry and convento all in light materials.

Without a church, a broken community farther besieged by pockets of skirmished was more of a burden to the new masters. The authorities so decided that the religious and civil affairs thereto were routed back to Batan. Only sometime in 1939 when a concrete church was constructed that the parish of St. Rafael the Archangel was reestablished with then Rev. Fr. Paterno Valguna as its parish priest. Precisely that the parish archive holds records of baptismal, wedding and death only beginning November 1939 up to present. Beyond that, one has to refer to Batan Parish or that of Banga for those proximate to that particular parish.

The new church stands (Photo, courtesy of Charms Dear)

The new church building now stands silently witnessing the multi-faceted activities taking place in a fast changing Baleten-on community. At its appointed time as in days of old, it tolls its bells to invite the parishioners to cease awhile and turn their attention to the divine. It tolls its bells to convey solemnly that a faithful has gone ahead to join the venerable dead in a new heaven and a new earth beyond the now congested public cemetery.

In Memoriam: Rodolfo M. Arreza, OSA and the Revisiting of the History of Balete

My mentor and confessor, Fr. Rudy Arreza, OSA woke me up early today. Don't get me wrong. Fr. Rudy is long dead. As a matter of fact, today (October 11) is his second death anniversary. But it is true that he woke me up around three o'clock in the morning today.

Here lies the remains of Fr. Rudy
Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Bacolod City
(Photo, courtesy of Fr. Pederito Aparece, OSA)

I went to sleep early last night. I was tired of the long day that passed. Yet I managed to say the Compline before I hit the bed. Now that thing is unusual. (But that is going out of the topic) My sleep was however deep and restful, at least, initially. For by three o'clock, the slumber was interrupted by the barking of my dogs. Perhaps some fisherfolks are passing by, I reasoned out, or perhaps, some bearcats are on the prowl again, hunting for ripe Rambutan. So I tried to go back to sleep. Then, slowly, he wandered into my mind--Fr. Rudy.   

I have maintained that it was no coincident that I found my way to Bacolod City on October 11, 2011. As I was riding the bus early on that day, I was already wondering of the whereabouts of my dear Fr. Arreza. I had lost contact with my Augustinian brethren since the time I left the seminary in 1993. But Fr. Rudy and Fr. Raymond (Alcayaga) managed to contact me through my parish priest (Msgr. Pedro Frac) when they stayed at Aklan College (now Aklan Catholic College) for the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) West Visayan Collegiate Games sometime in February of 2008.  In July of 1998, Fr. Rudy was gracious in assisting me at the University of San Agustin in doing research about local history. He was aware that Balete had no credible history that can stand scholarship. He vouched for me before the suspicious librarian who was reluctant in lending me those rare books (Perez' Catalogo Bio-Bibliografico [1901] and Hipoloto's Estados de los Pueblos [1919]). He was happy to give me some advice on how to do about my research and which libraries I have to consult. Back in the seminary, he was my el terrible Latin and Spanish instructor. More importantly, he was my confessor. Precisely that as he lay dying on October 11, 2011, our thoughts and spirits were in communion and his guided mine to be present during the funeral mass in his honor at the Colegio de San Agustin Chapel in Bacolod City a couple of days later.

A tarpaulin along the hallway besides CSA Chapel, thanking Fr. Rudy.
The caption below was said to be the words of Fr. Rudy upon realizing that he
was confined at the hospital.

Two years after, he reminded me again of his legacy. So I spend this day in silence and recollection and of paying a visit to the dead in my neighborhood. Later today, I hope to set foot in the cemetery to light some candles and pay homage to forgotten dead. Yes, I remember you well, my dear Fr. Arreza. Remember me too in our Father's kingdom.