BENCHWARMER

A bishop’s human side in the eyes of kids
Ramon S. Dacawi

(Some 20 kids from Roxas and San Vicente elementary schools met Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon last week-end for a story-telling feature of the city’s 98th anniversary observance and as part of their “Children’s Urban Heritage Walk” experiential learning program. Here are some of their impressions, in full, unedited, unexpurgated.):

It was a rainy Saturday morning at the Baguio Cathedral grounds when I first saw Bishop Carlito Cenzon. At first I didn’t believe it was him. Because, as a bishop, I expected him only inside the church saying mass and praying most of the time. But my encounter with him was an experience of joy.

The bishop looked very tired but was always happy and very eager to share with us about the history of the Baguio Cathedral. I learned from the bishop the value of sharing and helping one another which we need today in our country so we could all grow to become good and responsible Christians.

I believe that my encounter with the bishop will only happen once in my lifetime and I’m very thankful for this opportunity to have joined this Urban Walk. I’m also happy to share myexperiences with my family. – Melissa Jane Lagmay, Grade VI – Love.
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When our teacher told us to greet the bishop, I was looking around for somebody with a miter and with a pectoral cross. But I was surprised to see the bishop in ordinary clothes holding his umbrella at the front side of the cathedral with a smile. I thought it was hard for anyone to talk with the bishop, but he is a Baguio Boy but his parents are from Bacolor, Pampanga.

He told us how the Baguio Cathedral started and I’m very happy for the CICM missionaries for spreading the Catholic faith in Baguio and in the Cordilleras. I like the bishop because he made us laugh. I learned many things about the church, the priests, the Bishop’s house, the clergy house and the Fisherman’s ring. I will always come to the church to pray. –Janine G. Hidalgo, Grade VI- Love.
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When I first saw him I was very happy because that was my first time to see a Bishop. I thought Bishops don’t like children but he told us that he really loves children and we enjoyed his story telling. I thought he is 65 yrs. old but I was wrong he is now 68 yrs. old and 8 months. He was born on January 25, 1939. When he started talking, we listened very well. Everything he said was new to me.

He added that the Cathedral was built in 1920’s and finally finished in 1926 it was named Mount Mary by the CICM missionaries. I also learned from the Bishop that the Catheral became an Evacuation Center, during the World War II and withstood the carpet bombing in 1945. Some people died and were buried in the park infront of the Cathedral. That park must be a sacred place. We must pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died. After the story telling, the bishop toured us inside the Cathedral. I like the bishop because he is very humble and always smiles at the children while seated on his throne and continue talking about the pictures of the saints inside the cathedral.

I missed the Urban Walk down session rod. I hope to be back and join the clean-up drive to show to our fellow citizens that we must love our city which I consider it as paradise by keeping it clean, green, beautiful and cool. – Audre N. Alejar, Grade VI-Love. ***
We were the first school to be at the Baguio Cathedral grounds on a rainy morning of Saturday. After a while, we were led to the Bishop who was standing infront of the Cathedral. We greeted him and he blessed us.

Since the two schools were not yet present, we were asked to go around the place but it was raining so we entered the church. After saying a prayer, we came back to see the Bishop who was with the pupils from San Vicente Elementary School. The soft-spoken Bishop introduced himself and he spoke humbly to us. Our Bishop Carlito Cenzon is 68 years old.

I feel sad for him because of his loneliness especially during Christmas day. I will remember him because he is a good singer and can chant very well. I will always remember him because of the “falling rain” and the chant on jueteng. I am not a catholic but I have learned to understand other religions because of the story telling. – Laila Nicole Pinkisan, Grade VI-Love.
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I was very happy that I joined this activity. I learned many things especially the history of the Baguio Cathedral. I saw many people praying to Jesus. Then we came to see Bishop Carlito Cenzon. He was the first Bishop when Baguio City became a Diocese. It was from him that I learned beautiful stories about the history of Baguio Cathedral. Bishop Cenzon is a lovable priest and bishop.
As a child I love to hear more of his story telling. He is a lolo to us all. He also shared to us not only happy moments of being a priest and bishop but also of the sad experiences especially during Christmas day when he is alone. From him, I learned to make sacrifices and self-control, when I feel like saying bad words or I feel boxing my seatmates. I will always remember Bishop because he sacrificed a lot especially in working for the good of our church.

The prickly sayote which were planted by our friends in one of their Urban Walks last year at the back of the swimming pool at the Athletic Bowl have grown and is now bearing fruit. I was so delighted to see the prickly sayotes hanging from its vine.

The sayotes were plentiful and picking them was not easy. Sir Fianza, the city administrator picked for us. He needed to protect his hands with leaves or paper from the thorny needles of the sayote and scissors to cut-off from its vine.

We enjoyed the rain, the sayote and the picture taking with Sir Ramon. That day, I wasso hungry but God is so good. There was food for all of us. Masarap yong pagkain at sobra-sobra pa. – Chito Saing, VI – Love.
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I’m very grateful for the CICM missionaries who started Christianity in Baguio and in the Cordilleras. The story telling we had with Bishop Cenzon was very educational. I learned to appreciate better my faith as a Christian. We are also blessed with people who are willing to help especially in the missionary work in the Cordilleras like the Belgian Fathers and Graymoor Fathers.

I’m inspired to be like them who are always willing to share their faith especially tothose who are non-christians. The Urban Walk did not push through but I enjoyed the Quiz Bee initiated by Sir Ramon and the teachers in a kiosk near the Baguio Swimming Pool area.

I also learned much from the elders who are present who shared us their jokes and riddles that were also educational. I was amused to see plentiful chayotes. It was my first time to see prickly chayotes as described by Sir Mon.

We brought two to our school and showed it with our classmates. I’m very grateful for those behind the Urban Walk and Eco-Walk because they are helping me a lot in our education to become responsible boys and girls. – Zhiela-May Badongen, Grade VI-Love.(e-mail:rdacawi@yahoo.com for comments).