‘One Solitary Life’

THE LAST few days have been days of silence and reflection. At the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan, the Good Friday speaker was Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, only child of an Air Force officer and a medical doctor. Perhaps he is best known as the builder of St. James the Great Church in Ayala Alabang, for which he was given the Servien Award in 1998.

A portion of his talk was devoted to three great temptations in our lives:

The temptation to be relevant

The temptation to be spectacular

The temptation to be powerful

Among opinion writers as well as television and radio commentators, there is always the danger of succumbing to these temptations. While it is important to be relevant, the temptation to be spectacular or sensational sometimes at the expense of the truth, could lead to unfairness and undue harm. The temptation to be powerful can be an indication of excessive pride and self-esteem. (My own thoughts)

Monsignor Santos reminded us of the “One Solitary Life”—“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.

“This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.

“While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth—the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

“But three days later this Man arose from the dead—living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.

“Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.

“This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.

“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.”

* * *

Brig. Gen. Angel G. Kanapi passed away on Holy Thursday, April 21, after a lingering battle with the big C.

“Gely” as he was known to family, friends and classmates, was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1953. During his cadet days, he was the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets with the proud title of “The Baron” and he carried himself with dignity and decorum as was expected from someone in this position.

Our batch, the Class of 1956, has always had a special bond with the Class of 1953. As first classmen, they were our senior mentors who received us fresh from civilian life and guided us through the rigors of plebe-hood.

I still recall how 59 years ago, as we quickly got off the bus that took us to Loakan, home of the PMA on the outskirts of Baguio City, the first sight that caught my eye was Cadet Angel Kanapi standing ten feet tall or so it seemed, in immaculate dress white uniform. He wasn’t shouting but his voice carried across with an air of authority that made us comply instantly with all his instructions.

In those days, the Corps consisted of only four companies—Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. I ended up with Delta company and after Incorporation Day, when we were officially absorbed into the Corps, I was directed to join the battalion staff at their table during mess call. It was here where I observed at first hand the men who ran the Corps.

Kanapi was the battalion commander. His staff consisted of Cadet Jose Sembrano, the battalion adjutant, more popularly known as the “Bow Wow” since he was responsible for shouting out the orders of the day. Cadet Orlando Villadelgado was the battalion training officer and Cadet Tomas Reyes, the battalion logistics officer.

As a plebe, I was in complete awe of the four gentlemen who surrounded me at the dining table. My job was to attend to their needs—food and drinks—answer all questions and be ready with a joke if called upon to make them laugh. They were not kind men. They were not going to make life easy for me. They were tough, but reasonable. The orders they gave were at times difficult but doable and one could sense the difference between them and other upperclassmen.

Orly Villadelgado, as a young Lieutenant, would be the first casualty of the class—killed in action (KIA) against insurgents. After a while Tom Reyes followed and Joe Sembrano as Deputy Chief, Philippine Constabulary, passed away a few years ago. Kanapi, who incidentally was the youngest of the class, would be the last to go at the age of 79 years. I had always thought that being the health buff that he was, he would go on to his eighties and outlive many of his contemporaries as well as juniors.

As befitting a former First Captain, Angel Kanapi would end up as Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy with star rank, the perfect role model for the cadets. He will be remembered as one of the finest First Captains of the Corps.

The graduation order of merit of Class 1953 had Gen. Bernabe Salvador as No. 1, Gen. Mamerto Bocanegra, No. 2, and Commodore Genaro Frias, No. 3. General Kanapi finished No. 10 in the list.