"The
killing of Fr. Rhoel and his companions, has brought the
Claretians in the Philippines together as a consecrated
community, to look again into their life and mission".
"Little
Claret" was how Fr. Rhoel Gallardo was jokingly called by
his fellow seminarians when he was still under formation
because his diminutive size and saintly countenance resemble
that of the founder of the Claretian Missionaries. They
never thought that he would become a martyr, something even
St. Anthony Mary Claret could only dream of.
Fr.
Rhoel is the eldest son of Dominador Gallardo and Raquel
Dayap. He was born on November 29, 1965 in Olongapo City,
Zambales. He is the second among a brood of five composed
of Grace, Rhoel (the "h" was added to make his name five
letters), Dominador Jr., Jesse and Edwin. After Rhoel's
graduation from elementary, they transferred to Castillejos,
Zambales, where they settled permanently.
Personal
Qualities
Fr.
Rhoel projected a formal, smart, and "saintly" person. Someone
you would be wary of making fun of. Moreover, he was an
introvert and silent-type. But once you get to know him,
he could be always grinning and clowning around. He had
his own brand of humor, which some people may either find
"corny" or endearing. His High School classmates in San
Nicholas Academy in Castillejos, remember him as the witty
but quiet fellow who was ever ready to give advice. Hon.
Ding Misa, former classmate of Fr. Rhoel and now Castillejos
town councilor, describes him as the "father" of the class.
He
had special concern for the "little ones". Dolor Allojado,
a blind woman from Maluso, Basilan, who is a hilot (masseuse)
remembers how Fr. Rhoel would come to her aid. "I knew a
lot of priests but nobody had ever washed my hands except
Fr. Rhoel." He would tell Nang Lordes, the cook in the convent
in Isabela, that he knew that I was blind, so why did she
have to put the plate far from me (during mealtimes).
The
Abu Sayyaf rebels, however, did not appreciate this concern
for others. Mr. Reynaldo Rubio, the principal of Claret
School of Tumahubong and Fr. Rhoel's constant companion
during their captivity, revealed the reason of the beating
Fr. Rhoel got from four Abu Sayyaf members. This happened
when he repeatedly inquired about the whereabouts of Miss
Marissa Rante, a Claret School teacher who was missing for
several days in the kidnappers' camp. Irritated by his inquiries,
the Abu Sayyaf punched and kicked him until he was badly
bruised. During the kidnapping, amidst the tension, the
optimistic and prayerful Fr. Rhoel calmed his companions.
During those trying moments, he acted like a "Good Shepherd."
His
father, Dominador, sizes up the actions of his son in these
terms: "His firm conviction and faith enabled him to do
what is supposed to be done by a shepherd, a missionary,
a minister of God on earth. Offering his life is part of
his mission. He had to be firm with his convictions even
to the point of death." Fr. Rhoel's father knew what he
was talking about because he knew what giving up a son to
the Lord is like.
Vocation
Story
After
Fr. Rhoel's second year in the High School, Fr. Cacho, Rector
of St. Augustine Minor Seminary of Iba, visited the Gallardo
household and talked to the father about the possibility
of his son entering the seminary. Dominador suggested that
he would discuss the matter first with his wife. However,
Fr. Rhoel persuaded his parents in such a way that they
were not able to prevent him from entering the seminary.
After
he graduated from the minor seminary, Fr. Rhoel decided
not to proceed immediately to the major seminary. Instead
he took his AB Philosophy at Saint Louis University in Baguio
City, where a Claretian missionary contacted him. The summer
after he received his bachelor's degree, he surprised his
mother, "Ma, please bring me to the major seminary!" Bewildered,
his mother could only blurt out, "Where?" "In Tandang Sora,
Quezon City, with the Claretian Congregation."
Missionary
Formation
Fr.
Rhoel had a first taste of the missionary life during his
novitiate in Bunguiao, Zamboanga City. Up to this point,
his batchmates have always been unanimous in saying how
prayerful he was and how he gradually came out of his shell
and opened up to them. His novice master, Fr. Emilio Pablo,
CMF, observed that in the barrios, Fr. Rhoel had been much
appreciated by people on account of his apostolic spirit,
interest, initiative and good preparation in conducting
seminars. He said further that Fr. Rhoel lived his vocation
with much involvement giving much guarantee for his future.
Fr.
Rhoel made his first religious profession in Isabela, Basilan
on May 1, 1989. Fr. Carmelo Astiz, CMF, his formator during
his theological years, agrees with the earlier assessment
of Fr. Rhoel. "He is a faithfully prayerful man, seriously
committed and dedicated to his religious, academic and apostolic
responsibilities, usually kind, understanding, simple and
cheerful." On the negative side, however, he comments "that
he lacks initiative and leadership, that academically, he
is an average student, and that he seems to be excessively
naive in many instances..." However, I feel that the positive
aspects overpower the negative ones."
Fr.
Rhoel completed his pastoral year in Maluso, Basilan. In
his application for the perpetual profession, he wrote,
"My pastoral immersion in Basilan last year made me experience
concretely our witnessing and evangelizing life and mission
to the poor (as well as) our Community's presence in the
dialogue of life and faith with our Muslim brothers and
sisters... These experience as a whole have become a real
challenge to me to be a committed missionary and active
witness to God's liberating love for humanity... conscious
that our life and mission demand a total giving of ourselves
for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind."
Fr.
Rhoel made his perpetual profession at the Claret House,
Quezon City, on July 16, 1993. He was ordained to the diaconate
at the Santo Niņo Parish, Surabay (RT Lim), Zamboanga del
Sur and to the priesthood at the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish, Quezon City on December 6, 1994.
Short
Missionary
Years
After his ordination, Fr. Rhoel was sent back to his previous
mission in Surabay, Zamboanga del Sur. He served as assistant
Parish Priest and coordinator of the Catechetical Program.
Fr. Rhoel stayed in Surabay for a little more than two years
before he was reassigned to Bunguiao as Postulant Master
of eleven aspirants. Shortly after he volunteered to go
to the most dangerous mission of the Claretians in the Philippines,
Tumahubong as Parish Priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish
and Director of Claret School. This is where he reached
the apex of his short missionary career.
Fr.
Rhoel initially had difficulties in his latest post. However,
months before his kidnapping, Fr. Rhoel had exhibited a
significant change in his perspective on the mission. He
became more appreciative of the people around him. The seriousness
of his role as pastor of the Christian community troubled
by the Muslim extremists had marked a profound impression
in him as a missionary. He vowed never to leave his flock
no matter what. He was ready for any eventuality.
On
the morning of March 20, 2000, the Abu Sayyaf herded Fr.
Rhoel along with several teachers and students of Claret
School and the neighboring elementary school cruelly to
their camp in Mr. Punoh Mahadji. The story of their ordeal
is already well known.
His
short missionary stint may not have left a dent in the history
of Tumahubong or of mission life, but his death was certainly
a big bang - its significance of which we are only starting
to grapple with. The Church usually proclaims martyr without
inquiry into a person's past life. Nevertheless, we could
not help but notice that Fr. Rhoel's ultimate witness was
the product of his firm convictions and predisposition as
a person. There are people who become heroes overnight when
their life takes a drastic because of a challenging event.
They respond heroically to the situation. But, there are
people who become great heroes because they possess a history
of affirming the values they embrace, the mission entrusted
to them. To some Fr. Rhoel may seem like an overnight sensation,
thinking he just got entangled in such a widely publicized
disorder in Mindanao. But to those who know him well, we
could say that had he lived his martyrdom long before he
died.
Condensed
version of an article written by Bro. Benedict Dilag, CMF
and published in a special issue of Claretian Mission, October-2000
