Hong Kong, 11 June 2007, From Fr. Jay De Pedro     

Fr. Jay is a scholar of Philippine history. His wrote a book about Jose Rizal entitled "The Spiritual Itinerary of Jose Rizal".  Fr Jay had given Rizal lectures entitled: Rizal's Family Background and Early Youth, The Rizal of the "Noli", The Rizal of the "Fili", The Rizal of Hong Kong, and The Rizal of Dapitan: Until the End.


Dearest Manoling:

A million thanks for the Pinoy Pilgrim. I received it just four days ago and,   taking advantage of an activity that let me some free time, I read from cover   to cover.  And since you said that you will appreciate comments, these are how my comments go:

1.  Only you could have written such a book!  A kind of autobiography which is not apologetic, like Saint Augustine"s testimonial as Pascal's. or fruit of obedience as Saint Teresa's humble yet shamelessly self congratulatory, where the readers will immediately notice that you are a thankful man who does not take yourself seriously and where the good is given and thanked for.

2.  Only in the Philippines could have such book been published, because it is about you, your family and acquaintances- the tayo tayo system- with the difference that everyone who appears in its pages is a friend.

For any one who is not Filipino- I am-, and knows little about the country the book is a magnificent piece of Filipino anthrology : love for beauty and for music; family quarrels and reconciliation; generosity galore; a little Porma    ; quick ingenuity; joy of life.  But circulation outside the Philippines needs an introduction course.

3.  Most of it is just kwento, stories about people, yet you manage to make everyone happy and to look good, Erap, Marcos etc. and many more including yours truly.

4.  It is a sketch of three quarters of a century of Philippine history.  The uncertainties of the Great Depression; Second World War; Independence and reconstruction; the period of autarchy; Macapagal, Marcos, Cory, the four Apocalyptic years , and the martial Law .  Openness to the world:  " Grow and multiply yourselves and cover the earth. "

Among the human types, pure Filipino, Tisoys and shroud China-men.  Extraordinary mothers; weak kind-hearted boys.  Gamblers, party goers, contest winners; a new job every year; imagination; success and bankruptcy; riches and poverty, everything said in a manner as casual as the flow of life itself. What kind of country is this ? ( Foreign perplexity)

All above all, faith and Grace, and many serious things that you drop mixed with fun.  And, for me, a wonderful reminder of that beautiful chapter of the history of the Work in Asia that our Lord wanted us to live together.  Thank you once again, and my best greetings to Chatina, Leah; I am in contact with Juan Rene and Guada.

Editor's note:  Fr. Javier "Jay" de Pedro, JCD, Ph.D, is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei.  He is an Industrial Engineer with doctorates in Engineering (Spain) and Canon Law (Rome).  When he came to the  Philippines, Fr. Jay became the first chaplain    and one of the first professors at the Center for Research and Communication    (CRC) - now University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

He taught Social Economics to the graduate students and business executives.
Fr. Jay is now  based in South-East Asia carrying out his priestly work in HongKong, Taiwan, Macau and  Singapore.