BALANGA CITY — Government officials and employees, the religious, and even ordinary people have nothing but good words for Bishop Ruperto C. Santos of the Diocese of Balanga who after 13 years in Bataan will be installed as bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo on July 22.
In a day of thanksgiving held July 13, at The Bunker, seat of the provincial government, Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd, 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia, 3rd District Rep. Maria Angela Garcia, and Mayor Antonio Raymundo, representing the mayors in 11 towns and one city in Bataan, took turns in paying tribute to the outgoing prelate.
The sangguniang panlalawigan chaired by Vice Gov. Cris Garcia presented a resolution honoring the bishop for the good relationship of the Catholic Church and the local government and for what he has done in 13 years.
“Mga kapatid, aking pinagninilayan na kung saan marahil natapos na ang aking misyon dito sa Bataan at marahil ang misyon na ito ay inyong tinanggap at sa inyo’y ibinigay at kayo ngayon ang bagong misyonero para sa Bataan,” the 65-year- old Santos began in his response.
“Akin ding pinagnilayan na kung saan marahil kaya ako inilipat sa Antipolo ay sa huling kabanata ng aking pagkapari sapagkat alam natin na kung saan ang aming retirement age ay 75, sa huling kabanata, sa huling yugto ng aking buhay bilang pari palagay ko ako’y pinauuwi na ng ating Mahal na Ina,” he continued.
“Marahil sinasabi niya na kung saan napaglingkuran mo na ang aking asawa, inalagaan mo, iningatan mo ang aking kabiyak sa buhay na si San Jose sa Bataan, bakit hindi ako naman ang iyong kalingain, ako naman ang iyong ingatan, kami naman ang iyong paglingkuran,” Santos furthered.
The bishop was referring to the Virgin Mary, patron saint of Antipolo and Saint Joseph, patron saint of Balanga City.
He considered his assignment in Bataan as a blessing that he will always treasure in his heart.
“Maraming-maraming salamat sapagka’t sa aking pagpunta sa bagong tungkulin, ang magandang alaala ng ating pakikiisa ay aking dadalhin tulad ng marami tayong pangarap na hindi natin magagawa ngayon subalit kayo ang magpapatuloy,” Santos said.
The bishop recalled that he and Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd while still congressman overcoffee every Friday talked of hoping to turn the Bataan highway and the Island of Corregidor into a religious historical site.
With Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton, Santos said, they dreamed of the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Pope John Paul II, the country’s first shrine dedicated to the beloved pope, not only as national shrine but an international one.
This early, Santos thought of a partnership between the Dioceses of Balanga and Antipolo which he said, covers the province of Rizal with 14 towns, two cities and an island. He said he was thinking that later on, the two dioceses and two provinces will become twin parishes and twin provinces.
He thanked all for saying good words about him. “Napakaganda ng inyong sinabi, nakakataba ng puso at inspirasyon, encouragement para sa akin at challenge sa akin upang ako ay gumawa, upang ako ay kumilos, maglingkod,” he said.
“Subalit tandaan natin ang ating magagandang salita, ito ay larawan ninyo. Ito ang katangian ninyo. Ang sinabi ninyo ay salamin ng inyong ginawa na kung saan ako lamang ang umani, ako lamang ang nakakuha subalit ito’y likas sa Bataan, ang pagiging matulungin, ang maging mapagmahal, ang higit na paglilingkod. Tandaan natin ang lahat ng inyong sinabi at ang ating sinasabi na 1Bataan ay para sa Diyos, patungkol sa Diyos at dahil sa Diyos,” Santos concluded.
