Let me begin with a recent true story about one of the five founding fathers of our school, the Ateneo de Davao University. One fine Saturday morning just last month, this founding father went to a sister’s convent where he regularly said morning Mass. On this particular Saturday morning before the Mass began, the priest surprised the nuns with astonishing news. “Sisters,” he exclaimed, “have you heard that the Pope just allowed priests to marry?” The sisters were shaken, “Really, Father? Priests are now allowed to marry?”  “Yes,” the priest replied, “Priests are now allowed to marry—but with two conditions.” The priest’s eyes sparkled, as the nuns became curious, “What are these two conditions, Father?”   The 86-year-old priest answered with a straight face, “The first condition is the priest must be at least 85 years old. And the second is this senior priest needs explicit permission from his parents!”

In 1948, the Ateneo de Davao University was founded by three Jesuit Fathers, namely Frs. Theodore Daigler, Alfredo Paguia, Grant Quinn, and then two Jesuit scholastics, James Donelan, and 24-year-old Rodolfo Malasmas. Among these five pioneers, Fr. Rodolfo “Rudy” A. Malasmas, SJ was the last one to pass away. He was also the only one among the five pioneers to die and be laid to rest here in Davao City. Fr. Rudy peacefully returned to his Creator last July 11, at around 6:36 pm at Davao Doctors’ Hospital. He was surrounded by Jesuits, his nieces, a nephew, a grandniece, and some close friends—people he sincerely cared for and people who sincerely cared for him.

Fr. Rudy was originally from San Pablo, Laguna, yet more than 40 years of his life were spent living in and serving Southern Mindanao, particularly Davao City. Since Fr. Rudy was such a well-known, well-loved, witty Jesuit priest, countless memorable anecdotes can be said about him. Dear students, after this mass, you may even want to ask your teachers, parents, uncles, and aunts, especially if they are alumni of our school, what they remember about Fr. Rudy Malasmas, SJ. I bet you will hear inspiring stories of gratitude, respect, and admiration. 

This morning, however, I just want to focus on three things about Fr. Rudy. First, he was a fine Filipino; second, he was a committed Catholic; and third, he was a joyful Jesuit.

First, Fr. Rudy was a fine Filipino. For many years he served his motherland as a pastor, educator, nationalist, marriage counselor, social development worker, and a school administrator. Among his previous assignments, it is noteworthy that from 1964 to 1975, he was Ateneo de Manila Grade School’s Headmaster. This is an important piece of information because among the many grade school students then was President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, our current Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Jose Cecilio “Jojo” Magadia, SJ, and my own two elder brothers, Raymond and Joseph Pineda.

Aside from serving his country and his fellow Filipinos well, Fr. Rudy likewise embodied common Filipino attributes. For example, similar to many of us Filipinos, Fr. Rudy loved to laugh, and to make people laugh. He was fond of collecting, telling, and re-telling jokes. Through his handy cell phone, he received and sent hilarious text messages. 

As you know, Fr. Rudy suffered his first  major heart attack a little past midnight on the first Friday of this month of July. On the afternoon of that first Friday, Fr. Rudy, Mr. Sammy Bartolata, and I were hanging out at the dining area of the Jesuit Residence exchanging jokes. One of the last things Fr. Rudy distinctly told me that afternoon was “laughter is the best medicine.” So that’s Fr. Rudy, a fine Filipino who personified our unique traits as a people and a generous gentleman who served his fellow Filipinos faithfully.

Second, Fr. Rudy was a committed Catholic. If he was baptized when he was one or two years old, then he was a Catholic for at least 84 years. But even more importantly, for 56 years long years, he served the Catholic Church as a Jesuit priest and pastor to scores of people. 

After Fr. Rudy suffered a heart attack that first Friday, he stayed one more week in the hospital in a coma. After he was transferred to a private room, various friends and loved ones visited him. There was Ana, a Grade 5 student who found Fr. Rudy quite helpful. There was a weeping Manong Bert Roncales, who used to work in the Audio-Visual Room when Fr. Rudy was still Headmaster of the grade school. There were religious sisters, married couples and many more friends from different classes and backgrounds who went out of their way to pray, shed tears, and express their fconcern for Fr. Rudy. Their kind visits were testaments to Fr. Rudy’s all-embracing love. Our school’s founding father was clearly a steadfast Catholic who left a legacy of radical openness to various people. As a dedicated man of God, he brought men and women to Christ, and brought Christ to men and women.

Third, Fr. Rudy was a joyful Jesuit for 69 years (he entered the Society of Jesus on May 31, 1941). Fr. Rudy was a joyful Jesuit because he lived out one of the most vital aspects of Jesuit identity—being sent on mission. As a true disciple of Christ and son of Ignatius, Fr. Rudy was obedient to this mission to his very last breath. 

This past week, Fr. Rudy was comatose, attached to tubes and ventilators, and in diapers like a baby. This was probably the toughest, most challenging, and most humbling mission of Fr. Rudy’s Jesuit life. For a long time, Fr. Rudy was used to performing active tasks. However, because of the severe damage to his  internal organs, he became as helpless as a newborn infant. Instead of giving, he was receiving; instead of helping, he was being helped; instead of leading prayers, people were praying for him.   

Fr. Rudy could have passed away from quickly and painlessly, but he  somehow hung on for more than a week.  Was it possible that our old knight desired to teach us one more final essential lesson on love?

We have already heard the expression “pure heart and soul.” But have you ever witnessed a person literally living that expression out? I, together with other fellow Jesuits, his nieces, nephews, and close friends, did last weekend! A full week after his debilitating stroke, the doctors sadly confirmed that Fr. Rudy’s other major internal organs had already failed. It was just his heart that continued to beat steadily. God had already taken Fr. Rudy’s will, his memory, and understanding. Still his heart and soul continued to peacefully absorb the presence and the prayers of various visitors.

I firmly believe that our old knight desired to teach us one final important lesson on love. Fr. Rudy hung on for a week to give us just enough space and time to grieve, to convey our words of gratitude, and to communicate our goodbyes to this “grand old man” of Davao, our very own “John Wayne,” our beloved and always available priest. Fr. Rudy wanted to remind us once more of the concluding contemplation of The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: Love consists of mutual giving and receiving between persons. 

Fr. Rudy Malasmas, SJ: Filipino, Catholic, Jesuit.  And now I ask you: Do those three words together, Filipino, Catholic Jesuit, ring a bell? They should ring a loud mighty bell in your mind for these words are engraved in our school’s much-repeated vision statement.

To end, may I request everyone to please stand, and if you are a true Blue Knight, to place your right hand close to your heart. I ask you to do two things in honor of Fr. Rudy, our unforgettable school founder and hero. First, I invite you all to recite together the vision statement of our school. During this special moment, I request you to state it with a greater sense of gratitude, purpose, and honor in loving memory of Rev. Fr. Rodolfo A. Malasmas, SJ who lived and died for this vision.    

Let us be one in stating:

The Ateneo de Davao University is a Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit University that is inspired by the person and teaching of Jesus, rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius, and true to the humanistic tradition of Jesuit education. It is responsive to the challenges and needs of the country today, particularly in southern Philippines, through its work of the educational formation of the young and professionals.

Fr. Rudy, paalam na po. Maraming maraming salamat, Padre. Mahal namin kayo at hinding-hindi namin kayo makakalimutan kailanman. Ayo–ayo!

  14 July 2010
  Ateneo de Davao High School, Matina, Davao City