A chance meeting with Cardinal Chito Tagle

When martial law was declared in 1972, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, or simply Chito, was in his fourth year in high school at Paranaque City’s Saint Andrew’s School (SAS). He told this journalist that he was quite an introvert then: he could stay in one corner and just observe and listen. If you gave him a book, he would just read it.

“I am not quick in talking or giving comment. Maybe that’s the reason why I was quiet. I knew it demanded a lot of my parents to send me to school. It is not a joke. Our parents had to work hard... It’s a serious matter. For me, it would be like a betrayal of the efforts of my parents if we did not study seriously. It’s an appreciation of what my parents had done for us. The seriousness that I vested in my studies was my way of not putting to waste my family’s sacrifices,” said Cardinal Chito Tagle.

The church leader also revealed he was supposed to study in Imus Pilot School, and had already been accepted in Grade One even though he was only six years old. However, a mother of another child complained to the principal because her son of the same age was not accepted.

“My parents decided to pull me out in that school, and they started looking for (one) that may accept me. It was in St. Andrew’s School, and it was providential,” he said.

“One drastic part of our high school was the declaration of martial law in 1972. That was our final year (1972-73) in high school. We spent our last year under martial law that radically changed the decision of Fr. Paul Foulon (SAS administrator then) who made the graduation simpler. No J/S prom. I remember Fr. Paul telling us, ‘Times are uncertain, and we do not want to add financial burdens. Keep things simple.’ High school years are years of learning, opening of vistas and horizons.”

This journalist then asked him why it seems St. Andrew’s School has produced a lot of priests.

“That’s a very good observation. I did not realize the number of priests until an alumni homecoming, when they invited for a Mass alumni. I discovered that some of my former students (in philosophy or theology) also came from SAS. Of course, vocation is a grace from God. I think the SAS also contributed to the blossoming of the vocation, the solid religious and catechetical courses. We were introduced to the Catholic faith and Catholic tradition in a manner that was appropriate for our age or our mentality,” he said.

“Secondly, it was not just in the classroom; we participated in the Mass, in the parish. We got involved in the choir, the students did the readings (and) there were benedictions in the afternoon. So, the teacher in the classroom was complemented by participation, especially the liturgical participation, in the parish... We were being initiated into Christian leadership. You don’t only learn about the faith, you don’t only participate in celebrations. You’ve the responsibility as a future Christian leader. Of course, there were talks about vocation, recruitment. These were the factors that helped the students, like me... I was very much edified by the example of the CICM (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) path. Yes, how a simple lifestyle, how dedication to mission, whether in the school or in the parish, focus, go to the essentials of mission. It had a big, big impact on me, too.”

Whenever time permits, he visits his parents’ house in Imus, Cavite, or attends weddings, anniversaries or fiestas.  He remembers one fiesta in Imus when a woman, living in the church and known to have a mental incapacity, came to him and reminded him to eat. He told her not to worry about him and let the guests eat first. He also told her to eat.  Again, she came back to remind him to eat. Later, she returned anew with a plate of food. He thanked the woman who had not yet eaten any food and asked her to eat it since she had already taken it.  The woman looked at him and said it is no wonder why Cardinal Tagle is thin and malnourished.

“This woman, whom people would call a mental case, during that lunch time kept coming to me and thinking of me. She has the wisdom, the maternal caring. You see that this wisdom does not disappear.... She has the strength of the human person, being a mother.  When, finally, I was able to eat, she said, ‘That’s good. You’re eating.’  People expect us, priests, to be the teachers. But we also learn from others... For me, some of the most valuable teachers are the simple and poor people,” he opined. 

He still has some books and documents in his parents’ abode although while a student at St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque City, he did not buy books. “The books were owned by the school. You borrowed from the school. You took care of the book and at the end of school year, you return it. If there was no writing in the book, it would be okay, there would be no fine. This is what we call stewardship. You take care of the books for the next generation. This is also to remind us that we need to take care of creation of our world so that we can pass on to the next generation a better world, a cleaner environment. In SAS, that is being practiced, especially through the books. We are stewards. We are not owners that could dispose of anything according to our will. We take care for the next generation.”

He also likewise expressed his elation to the canonization of two shepherd children, Francisco and Jacinta of Fatima, Portugal. 

“The gift of sanctity or holiness is given to all. Even young children teach the adults how to be holy and heroic in virtues. Very often, we put the responsibility of the adults to teach the children. Now, we also have the responsibility of the adults to learn from the children. We also challenge the youth and the children as they expect the adults to be men and women of integrity, authenticity.  We also invite the youth to be good examples to the adults. Since the young people really have certain idealism, they have powerful dreams. They have energy to pursue their dreams. They have lots of opportunities to be saints, to be heroes and to teach the rest of the population how to be good citizens and good Christians,” he concluded with a sweet, wide smile.