How the Patria de Cebu was Built

Circa 1954

“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee

The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.

Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales

Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.

The Offered Site

When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.

The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters

With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.

The Death Threat by Squatters

This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.

Drawing the Patria Blueprint

Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.

Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks

Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.


Operation Red Hat

To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.

A Special Appeal

This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.

Unforeseen Problem

When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.

Planned Student Protest

The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.

Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.

But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.

The After-Years

The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.

It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.

Inter-Generational Heritage

This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” - Benjamin Disraeli

-LCM

The Tale of a Toppled Cross

A feature story that reveals how a small community inhabited by people with small-time dreams of their own better their lives by setting aside those dreams to respond to a greater call of service to God and the community and transform what begun as a small family chapel for worship, degraded by a ruthless war-time foe to become a lowly stable for cavalry war horses, and transform it to a lofty parish church in response to a heavenly challenge.

A Tiny Chapel

Way back in 1938 a tiny chapel was built in Lahug, Cebu City by Dr. Virgilio Gonzales and his wife to fulfill a solemn promise. The chapel’s Patron Saint was St. Therese of the Little Flower of Jesus from Lisieux, France. The chapel was catered to a select cluster of families and close friends of the Gonzales clan.

When the Second World War broke out the Japanese Imperial Forces invaded Cebu in April 1942 and began more than three years of Japanese occupation.

Chapel Becomes a Stable

Japanese armed forces found the chapel to be a convenient site for storing military supplies. Later, when a troop of Japanese horse-mounted cavalry arrived in Lahug the chapel became merely a stable. Once again Jesus Christ found himself in a stable. Only this time there were no adoring shepherds nor visiting magis to honor Jesus. Just snorting horses and grunting grooms were there to pay no attention to Christ Jesus. Lahug became just like uncaring Bethlehem during the infant days of the savior.

As the days of American liberation became imminent in 1945, the occupying Japanese troops pursued a scorched earth policy by razing civilian houses to the ground. As a consequence the homeless civilians had to hunt for housing materials they could lay their hands on. The deserted chapel which was damaged by war action proved to be a tempting target. They pounced upon the chapel ripping apart whatever wooden materials they could grab. The G.I. roofing vanished. Walls shattered. Only a few columns were left standing together with a desolate belfry with a cross on top. The chapel’s desecration was complete. Years passed by. The chapel ruins was left exposed to the elements.

One stormy evening in the 50’s the registrar of Southern College (now University of Southern Philippines Foundation), Juan Alburo, who lives near the wrecked chapel was watching the skies. The electrical thunderstorm was getting worse.

Suddenly a flash of lightning struck the cross on top of the belfry. The cross toppled to the ground. A wave of uneasiness gripped Juan Alburo. He made the sign of the cross. What could this mean? He asked himself. An odd insight dawned on him. “Rebuild my Church!” Christ spoke to Alburo.

Initial Rejection

Ridiculous! Alburo told himself. Why me? I’m just a worn-out, tired war veteran. I simply don’t have the resources nor talent to do any major project. What more of the gigantic task of rebuilding a devastated chapel? Besides I don’t even own the property.

The Second Call

A few days after the incident a close friend of Juan Alburo, a priest by the name of Rev. Father Veronico Salvador, paid Alburo a visit. After Juan Alburo narrated the vision of the falling cross Rev. Father Veronico Salvador gently told Alburo: “You must heed Christ’s appeal to you. You must rebuild the chapel. That fallen cross is a signal for you to take up Christ’s cross.”

“But how do I begin? Where do I start?” bewailed Alburo.

“Begin by praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance,” intoned the priest. Alburo could only nod in acceptance.

In one of his reflections Alburo recalled the lines of Lord Alfred Tennyson which went: “More things are wrought in prayer than this world dreams of.” This insight flared up a burning zeal of enthusiasm in him. “Why not?” he challenged himself. Thus began the arduous task of reconstruction. Alburo mobilized his friends and as many people as he could involve in the project. They caught the fire of his enthusiasm.

A Mish-Mash Chapel

Shortage of building materials was no obstacle to Juan Alburo. He became a master scrounger. Nipa thatchings for roofing materials. Sawali sheets for walling. Even a discarded altar from the Redemptorist Church became the chapel’s main altar.

The First Mass

On March 19, 1959, Rev. Fr. Pedrito Dean celebrated the first mass in the rehabilitated chapel. Fr. Dean would soon become the Archbishop of Palo, Leyte.

What was startling significant about the day was the fact that March 19 is the feast day of St. Joseph, the Master Carpenter who was Jesus Christ’s guardian here on earth. So what if the chapel was of mixed materials? The toppled cross was restored!

Growth of the Lahug Community

From a small cluster of few families the base of worshippers of the chapel grew by leaps and bounds. Unexpectedly, the Archbishop of Cebu, Julio Cardinal Rosales, bestowed on the chapel a distinctive honor of becoming a full-fledge parish church on February 11, 1964. A small cross had fallen only to be replaced by a much bigger one. From a humble chapel to a full grown parish church. All it took was faith. The faith of one man, Juan Alburo.

On March 11, 2000, the relics of St. Therese, the patron saint of the once tiny chapel would visit the Lahug Parish Church. A fitting honor for the Lahug Community.

Rev. Fr. Raul Gallego, the parish priest will celebrate a thanksgiving mass while Rev. Fr. Vic Labao, S.J. will deliver the homily. A brief biography of St. Therese will be read by a lay leader, Evit Trocino after which a three hour vigil after the 9 pm mass will be observed by the faithful. The relics will be transferred to San Carlos seminaries in a solemn procession with the devotees bearing lighted candles, torches and roses in honor of the patron saint. Before the end of March the parishioners of St. Therese Parish will return the compliment of the relic’s visit by having a delegation of 60 parishioners headed by the parish pastoral council member Linda Laborte, flying all the way of the town of St. Therese in Lisieux, France. One good turn deserves another.

Timely Reminder

The visit of the relics of St. Therese and the unfolding of the story of the toppled cross is a timely reminder in this age of secular materialism and sophisticated information technology that stone structures do not make a church. It takes people to make a living Church. When the people of the Lahug Community were busy rebuilding the wrecked chapel they were actually building themselves into a dynamic Community of the Faithful. That Christ’s cross can remain fallen only if the faithful allows it.

-LCM