Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Legaspi: Recoletos in Negros By Carlos Legaspi Jr. Questions That Matter
IN THE 16th century, a number of religious of the Augustinian province of Castille, moved by a special collective charisma, expressed their desire to live with renewed fervor, and according to new norms, the type of consecrated life which St. Augustine established in the Church.
Thus on the 5th of December 1588, during the Provincial chapter in Toledo, Spain, the Augustinian recollection was born. The life of the early Recollects were embodied in the “forma de Vivir” written by Fray Luis de Leon.
It stressed the intensification of contemplative and communitarian life and emphasized the strict observance of ascetic life.
In 1606, a group of recollects set sail to the Philippines to evangelize the people. Thus, from this time on until 2006, the Recollect presence in the Philippines and Asia has already reached the 400th year.
The religious history of Negros Occidental traces back to the arrival and administration of the Religious belonging to the Order of the Augustinian Recollects. The Augustinian Recollects have been in the country for already around 400 years. They set sail from Spain to Asia and particularly the Philippines. We have studied in our history classes that the Recollect Friars were the last religious order to come to our shores.
Shortly after taking charge of the other parishes left by the Jesuits, a few of the Recollects set sail to this island in the Visayas. Arriving with only 11 parishes existing, in few years time, they have more than tripled the number. It shows how zealous were the Recollect friars in evangelization and propagation of the Catholic faith.
They established the towns and parishes of Kabankalan, San Carlos , Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Bago, Sagay, La Carlota, Valladolid , Talisay and other small parishes in the island. The missionary zeal of the Recollects burned in every parish or town they established. They were not only concerned of the religious but were also involved in socio-political development.
Padre Fernando Cuenca was well-known of his contribution to the Province. He was responsible for the promotion of the sugar industry. With the help of carpenters, they have established the first hydraulic pressing mill for sugar.
He produced sugar out of the sugarcane. Having foreseen the dangers of mono-cropping in agriculture, he introduced also the propagation of several tuber crops, abaca and coffee. Being a physician, he helped the health problems of the province. He made his convento in Talisay as his clinic and successfully applied hydrotheraphy to his patients.
Another Recollect friar worthy of mention is Fr. Mauricio Ferrero. He was the Parish priest of Bacolod. During his presbyterate, he built the San Sebastian Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace, the Puerto San Juan (now the Provincial jail, according to Negros Historian Modesto Sa-onoy), the old City Hall, and the public plaza.
During the revolution of 1898, all the Friars were rounded up and incarcerated in Puerto San Juan. Only Fr. Cuenca and Fr. Ferrero were spared of all the humiliation subjected to the Friars. In 1900, all the Recollect Friars were ordered to leave Negros. All left, except Fr. Fernando Cuenca.
The exodus of the recollect Friars left the Negros Church in crisis. There were less native secular Priests. The Bishop of Jaro wrote the Papal Nuncio of his fear that the revolution in Negros would usher in Protestantism which would come with Americans. His fears materialized as Negros Oriental was really taken by Protestantism in 1901 with the coming of the Thomasites.
All over the country, the Philippine Mission had produced six most outstanding Recollects. They are: Fr. Rodrigo san Miguel, thereat Church and convent builder; Fr. Agustin de San Pedro, known in history as “El padre Capitan”; Fr. Diego Cera, builder of the famous bamboo-organ; Most Rev. Jose Aranguren, the first Recollect Archbishop of Manila; St. Ezekiel Moreno, the great missionary and Fr. Fernando Cuenca.
They are some of the contribution of the Order of the Augustinian recollect to the Men and women of the Roman Catholic Church.
Today, with the same zeal and fervor that moved the early recollect friars, The recollect religious of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno (Philippines, Taiwan and Africa) are not only concerned of their pastoral and missionary apostolates but are also involved in the educational and formation apostolates.
Continuing the legacy of the early recollects in the field of education, the recollect administer the following schools: University of San Jose Recoletos (Cebu); University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos (Bacolod and Talisay); San Sebastian College-Recoletos (Cavite and Manila); Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos (San Carlos City); San Pedro Academy (Negros Oriental).
Also to cope up with the need for more religious, the Order has established Formation Centers: Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos Formation House (minor seminary); Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary (College); St. Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate–Recoletos; and Recoletos Formation Center (major seminary).
Answering also the pastoral and missionary calling of the Recollection, the St. Ezekiel Moreno community located in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City has been established. It is a relocation and rehabilitation project initiated by UNO-Recoletos.
Squatters of Purok Katilingban in Brgy. 39,who were originally adopted by UNO-R for its community outreach project. Now, the whole project is run by the Recoletos Outreach Center (RESOURCE). The beneficiaries have been given socialized housing and livelihood skills training. The community is well equipped with a Day-Care Center, a first-class health center and a vocational training school.
So let us all be thankful of the growth of our Catholic faith to the Augustinian recollects. Let us celebrate with them their quadricentennial celebration which ha already been launched this year.
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Belated Birthday greetings to Dr. Sonia Daquila and Dr. Evangeline Aboyo St. Ezekiel Moreno and Pope John Paul II, pray for us.
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