12 of 15 Phl bishops of age during 4th Centennial in 1965

The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines has officially started what it calls as the year-long celebration of the 5th Centennial of Christianity in the country. The celebration is based on two historical facts: The holding of the first Mass in Limasawa on March 31, 1521 and the baptism of several natives about a month later in Cebu.

In 1965, the 4th Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines was also celebrated. It, too, was based on historical facts: Christianization of the islands officially started in 1965 with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. His mission to the Philippines was specifically to do so. Magellan came by accident. His mission was to find a westward route to the Spice Islands.

The first Mass in Limasawa meant nothing to the natives, who did not understand what was going on. The Mass was not intended for them. It was held because it was Easter Sunday and to the Spaniards it was an obligation. Later in Cebu, the natives baptized by Magellan were the same "new Christians" who massacred his men after he was killed in Mactan. The survivors escaped, leaving no one to nurture Christianity to life until 1565.

That is why the centuries of Christianity in the Philippines were counted from 1565 when Legazpi came and not 1521 when Christianity came but could not have survived beyond the perfunctoriness of its accidental arrival. The 4th Centennial in 1965 had both historical and logical basis. And I am proud to have been already around at the time. What is sad is that many in the Church today who were already around as well are keeping quiet.

In the Philippines today, the Church is made up of 16 ecclesiastical provinces each headed by an archbishop. Of the 16 archbishops, at least 12 were already of age to know, be aware, and remember that in 1965 the Philippines celebrated the 4th Centennial of its Christianization. According to studies, children from the age of eight could already know, understand, and remember the things that go on around them up to adulthood.

Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, born in 1950, was already 15 in 1965. Surely he must have remembered the 4th Centennial. Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, born 1951, was 14; Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila, born 1952, was 13; Archbishop John Du of Palo, born 1954, was 11; Archbishop Marlo Peralta of Nueva Segovia, born 1946, was 19; Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz, born 1956, was nine; Archbishop Rolando Tirona of Caceres, born 1946, was 19.

Archbishop Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro, born 1957, was eight; Archbishop Angelito Lampon of Cotabato, born 1950, was 15; Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro, born 1949, was 16; Archbishop Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando, born 1957, was eight; Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz of Zamboanga, born 1947, was 18. If we include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who is now in the Vatican, he too was already of age in 1965 during the 4th Centennial. Born in 1957, Tagle was eight.

And finally here is a mathematical fact: A century is a hundred years. It is not a year longer or shorter. If the 4th Centennial was held in 1965, then counting 100 therefrom brings us nowhere but 2065 for the 5th Centennial. It cannot be this year, 2021, which is short by 44 years. I was already 12 in 1965. To go along with a 5th Centennial this year would be to deny a part of my life that I actually lived through and proudly recall to my family.