87. FR. RAPADAS, FR. SALGADO & FR. INGARAN

FR. RAPADAS, FR. SALGADO & FR. INGARAN

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

03 April 2019

A heart breaking news that a friend joined our Creator greeted me this morning. He is not just an ordinary acquaintance but one of the brilliant, eloquent and talented priests not only of the Diocese of Ilagan but the Roman Catholic Church as a whole. Rev. Fr. Ingeno Esguerra Rapadas, born on December 20, 1943 in Santa Maria, Isabela, served the Church for half a century. I came to know Ama Nito, as he is fondly called by the faithful especially in northern Isabela, when he was assigned at the Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish in Cabatuan, Isabela from 1999 to 2004. We met regularly in the early evenings at the house of a relative right across the churchyard owned by the Tomacruz’. Being a young public servant, a first termer Sangguniang Bayan Member at 24, he would give me advices on how to deal with people, how to settle issues and concerns and how to survive politics. More importantly, he would share his knowledge and experiences on local histories and issues.

In the year 2000, Ama Nito composed “Apo San Andres”, now the official hymn of the Roman Catholic Church of Cabatuan. He would always lead the singing whenever he came back  and would co-celebrate the Mass on the Feast of Saint Andrew every November 30. The Aglipayan Church in Cabatuan, after seeking permission, also used the song in their services since San Andres is also their patron.  It was also during the watch of Ama Nito when a new statue of San Andres Apostol replaced the old one. My mom bought two new wooden images for the parish at Betis in Guagua town in Pampanga province with the smaller one being used for processions. Ama Nito was also credited for completing the construction and inauguration of the “kumbento”. It was also during his tenure that the Marriage Encounter (ME) program flourished with nine groups established (Batch 15-23).

Ama Nito, ordained in the priesthood on March 30, 1968, was famous throughout the province for delivering dramatic and profound homilies. When he speaks, everybody listens. My personal favorites were the homilies during the Bambanti Festival and Isabela Day Masses held at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Gamu town. The regular Sunday celebrations of the Holy Masses were aired by Bombo Radio Cauayan (DZNC) and the station would follow him to parishes where he was assigned. Ama Nito served in Reina Mercedes, Echague, Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan, Cauayan, Cabatuan, Roxas and Gamu. Ama Nito also gave substantial contributions to local heritage. Aside from the “Apo San Andres”, we learned that he composed other hymns for various parishes. He also translated the Bible from English to Ibanag and composed numerous Ibanag Christian songs.

Ama Nito reminds me of two other soldiers of the Church who served in Isabela and who I admire because of their literary achievements. One of them was Rev. Fr. Pedro V. Salgado (June 29, 1937 - July 9, 2017). Fr. Salgado devoted practically all his life in the service of farmers, especially in Isabela. A scholar and a pastor, he served in Benito Soliven, Delfin Albano and Santo Tomas. Fr. Salgado authored a number of books including the comprehensive “Cagayan Valley and Eastern Cordillera 1581-1898” where he translated and compiled historical accounts scribbled by Dominicans Frays Diego de Aduarte (became Bishop of Cagayan Valley in 1635), Jose Brugues and Julian Malumbres. His other books are: The Philippine Economy, History and Analysis (1985), Cory Aquino, Militarization and Other Essays (1986), Social Science for Filipinos (1988), The Ilongots (1994), Ang Kristiyanismo at Rebolusyonaryo (1995), The Social Encyclicals: Commentary and Critique (1997), Essays on Spirituality (1998) among others.

Fr. Salgado had a Doctorate Degree in Philosophy and a Licentiate Degree in Theology. From 1965 to 1971, he was at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila where he held the positions of Professor, Vice Rector of the Central Seminary and Regent of the College of Law.  From 1985 to 1988, he served as rector of Aquinas University in Legazpi City in Bicol region. Quoting Fr. Rolando V. Dela Rosa of UST in his article “Remembering Fr. Pedro” published in the Manila Bulletin: “Fr. Salgado graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Philosophy with the highest honor. Despite this, he did not opt to spend all his life teaching in the academe. He chose to devote his best years in uplifting the plight of farmers. He lived with them, ate their food, shared their problems, and found ways to alleviate their suffering. After a few years of teaching metaphysics, he concentrated on the social teachings of the Church. Not an armchair social reformist, he lived in impoverished far-flung parishes, serving the poor and raising funds to uplift their situation. He shied away from the academe, and when elected rector of a university, he distributed some of its lands to the farmers.” The man was able to integrate in his life and passion the Tradition of St. Dominic and the Tradition of St. Thomas.

The other priest who served in Isabela who I have a high regard for his talent is Fr. Jose Ingaran y Gannaban (April 13, 1921 - March 27, 2006). Born in Baggao in Cagayan province, he entered the seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and finished Philosophy and Theology at the University of Santo Tomas Seminary in Manila. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1947 and served in Cabagan, Aparri (Cagayan), Gattaran (Cagayan), Cauayan, Bais City (Negros Oriental), Tanjay (Negros Oriental), Caloocan City, Echague, Ilagan, Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental), Silver City (Nevada, USA) and Reno (Nevada, USA). A respected musician, Fr. Ingaran published “Praise the Lord with Songs” in 1997. This booklet is a compilation of original Ingaran compositions intended for the church, province and towns, schools and special occasions.

Whenever I sing the Isabela March during Monday flag rites at the provincial capitol in Ilagan City, I always remember Fr. Jose Ingaran, its composer. On March 8, 2018, Governor Faustino G. Dy III immortalized Fr. Ingaran’s composition when he issued Executive Order No. 06, series of 2018 directing all local government units, local chief executives, government offices and schools in the province to observe the singing of the “Isabela March” during flag raising ceremonies and the “Isabela Hymn” during opening programs for seminars, workshops and similar activities.

Reverend Fathers Rapadas, Salgado and Ingaran joined the Almighty at the turn of the millennium, however, they will never be forgotten for the good deeds they have done, their services to the Church and their contribution to our heritage. The formula of their road to immortality came from an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

APO SAN ANDRES
by: Rev. Fr. Ingeno E. Rapadas
c.2000

Apo San Andres
Patron ti Cabatuan
Salwad ti Iglesiami
Pagwadan ti pammati.
Apo San Andres
Denggem as-asugmi
Salaknibam ken aywanam
Ti biag ken pammatimi.

Sika a mangngalap
Alawen nakam kadi
Iti baybay ti peggad
Basul ken rigrigat.
Salukuban nakam kadi
Iti iket ti aywanmo
Tapnu agbiyag kami
Iti sidong ni Kristo.

Sika nga Apostol
Isurum kadakami
Ti ebanghelio
Silaw ti biyagmi.
Tulungan nakam kadi
Mangibiag iti pammati
Tapnu magun-od mi
Pannaka isalakan mi.