UP CLOSE: Abp. Emeritus Fernando Capalla, D.D.

June 18, 2015 (40 years as bishop since consecrated as bishop June 15, 1975)
54 years in priesthood
BORN: November 1, 1934

ON BBL

“What the government is giving to MILF no, parang it’s too much and it is not really following the Tripoli agreement which Marcos and Kadafi have agreed on. That is the basic one. When I say “too much,” most of the things that they have given to the MILF has seemed to be against the constitution and against also the Christian minorities within the Muslim majority. Thirdly, it is actually a contradiction. Too much, but it does not include one of the most important issues in relationship of the Philippines with Malaysia. And the Sabah issue, that is a very, very hot issue. On the part naman of Muslim from the grassroots, people I know for the past 40 years, many of them are against BBL. But they don’t speak up in public because you know it’s not good to be going against their fellow Muslim. MILF lang cannot speak for all of us. There is also the MNLF and BIFF, and many others. So this is the root of the confusion. And what I said in Shalom is that on both sides, the truth is not clear. There are many other things that are attributed to the other side. You know, bribery, the favors given in both sides. So ang solusyon, as a Man of Dialogue, let’s get together and let’s listen to the differences. We may not solve it basta there are many things that unite us. You know in the past when people see us together in public, the people will be calm ba. The people will be assured na wala’y mahitabo.

ULAMA will contact the Muslims, and the bishops will contact the military, so wala’y mahitabo. Ana ba pero I find it difficult to call a meeting to the bishops, because I am already retired, and I am not in power, so to say. Pero, I wrote that and I hope you circulate that Shalom this week. Send it to the bishops, and I will wait for the reaction. When they say, “Call a meeting,” then I will call a meeting right away. But the one who will be calling will be Bp. Dela Cruz who is the head of MSPC right now, Archbishop of Zamboanga for three years. So, he has the right to call a meeting. Ako ULAMA lang. I think the gov’t is not handling it well so my solution is, personal ni siya, so, it has to go. Mao na akong solution. Dialogue pa rin.”

LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

“I was consecrated June 15, 1975 (40 years as bishop). I am a priest for 54 years already. I have to thank God. There are many things to thank God for. At 80, I am still healthy and able to work. They ask me, what are you doing? You are retired. I said, ‘I have 3 masses on weekends; 6 o’clock sa Ma-a, 5 o’clock sa Cathedral, broadcast sa radio and 12 o’clock at Sta. Ana, then I would teach at Regional Major Seminary and IIREF then I write columns every week. I chaired four foundations: 2 for children (SOS) and then we have feeding program, 50 kids from grade 1 (Mon-Fri). I chair also the FREEDOM. We give skills to farmers, Lumads and Muslims. So my group is businessmen and hired by the government like DENR and DAR. They pay our expertise to give the seminar to the farmer. Busy pa rin. They ask me, are you living alone? I said, no. I live with two religious women, 2 married women, 2 married men and a young lady professional which I sent to school, and a little boy (my adopted apo), 3 dogs, 5 cats, and 3 chickens.”

CHILDHOOD YEARS

“That what some people cannot understand why I failed in Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) in the seminary and now they see me as very buotan. I have learned. As a young kid, you have to really enjoy life and you know, too much restriction sometimes is not good also. I reacted, but I did not rebel against the priests. Mga pranks lang. My parents could not stand me in the house. They sent me out of the house. I was the black sheep. I lived with my uncle who was a priest in Jaro, Iloilo and then I was a little bit disciplined, then he sent me to the seminary to be reformed. In the beginning, in the 4 years, I was the 1st in the class, but failure ang GMRC but after 5 years, I began to think of what will be my future. So I became serious until now.”

ON BEING COOL

“Agree ko sa cool. I don’t like to cause trouble, though I did when was in the seminary. I was just enjoying, but I don’t like the word “trouble.” And I listen a lot. Even when I was a kid, I listen a lot. Ingon nila, I don’t talk too much but I asserted my leadership in the way I do things, I listen to people and organize, and I propose but I don’t talk too much. I think in that personality, they follow me.”

ON BEING COURAGEOUS

“In the seminary, I violated many rules, restrictions, policies. That’s a lot of courage ha. You know, I was supposed to kneel down in the corridor everyday during study hours. And do the rosary while they’re eating. I was punished but I don’t mind being punished. When I was a young priest, I joined the activists. We stoned the old buildings during the time of Marcos. Many of my friends were killed and some were arrested during the Martial Law (Martial Law was proclaimed by [Ferdinand] Marcos) and they were hunting for me but they didn’t find me. I was in the room of Cardinal Sin in Jaro. I had an experimental group of formators during the Martial Law and we wanted to train seminarians in conflict areas. So, they could really ordain for the poor. But they were branded as communists, though some of them were killed and some of them didn’t return back in the seminary. I dispersed in the group. But it was a lot of courage to do that during the Martial Law.”

ON BEING COMPASSIONATE

“I’m jobless. A lot of people come for help. Sometimes I tell myself that ‘if you come after the money, money will run away from you. But if you don’t run after the money, then the money runs after you.’ And the reason is more spiritual. Option for the poor, you know. And even you know, this guy (Pope Francis) made a big impact in my life. Even I am 80 years old and retired, I felt that I have not done something that I should have done when I was active. That’s why I get involved now, since I still have the strength because I think he is leading us to something that will bring us to the track where it should be—a little flock. And everybody is attracted to this guy because he is so ‘human.’ He is against the hostile, inflexibility and rigidity of many of archbishops. You know, Canon law and all these things. But he is so free and Jesus is free. And that’s why I like his ‘Mercy and Compassion.’

You know, I always stay here in Davao when I was a Bishop. But the most important thing is: why they are poor? Because of structural injustices in the society. The enclaves of millionaires here in the cities are Christians. They go to Church but the presence of poor is a sore-eye to the city of Davao. It doesn’t make Davao beautiful. In fact this house is given to me by the priests. This is a house for me to use but not to own. So still I am not yet contented and I have to follow my option for the poor.” (Janin Langoy)