Correction on ‘first’ Manila archbishop

Readers of the Inquirer are an astute bunch. I have therefore been bracing myself since Dec. 13 for a barrage of corrections about one factual error in my article, “What difference can a Manila archbishop make?” (Inquirer, 12/13/11)

In the manuscript I submitted to the Inquirer, a paragraph on Gabriel Reyes, the first Filipino archbishop of Manila, begins: “Each Filipino prelate of Manila has left a stamp on the Philippine Church. When Gabriel Reyes became the first in 1949 …”

The first sentence should have been written to read, “Each Filipino archbishop of Manila …” It might then have been clear from the second sentence that Gabriel Reyes was the first Filipino archbishop of Manila.

The lack of clarity in the original formulation, however, compelled the editor to revise the second sentence to read: “When Gabriel Reyes became the first archbishop of Manila in 1949…” Unfortunately the sentence, as revised, omitted the crucial modifier “Filipino.”

Anyone who knows that the Roman Catholic Church has been in the Philippines for more than four centuries will probably guess that Archbishop Reyes was not the first archbishop of Manila. The first was a Spaniard, Domingo Salazar, OP, appointed in 1579. After him 24 more Spaniards held the position.  The first non-Spanish archbishop of Manila was an American, Jeremiah Harty, followed by an Irishman, Michael O’Doherty, Archbishop Reyes’ immediate predecessor.  Archbishop Reyes was therefore Manila’s 28th archbishop, albeit its first Filipino archbishop.

My sincere apologies to those perceptive readers who may have been disconcerted by the error, as well as to those who are still asking: “What difference can an archbishop of Manila make, whether he is the first, the 28th, or the 32nd?”

—ELEANOR R. DIONISIO,

John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues,

Loyola Heights, Quezon City