By Father Seán Coyle

Father Niall O’Brien

Ateneo de Manila held a Special University Convocation at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, 15 September at which the Bukas Palad Award was conferred posthumously on Father Niall O’Brien, founding editor of Misyon who died on 28 April. At the same convocation the University gave its Government Service Award to PCGG Chairperson Haydee B. Yorac. By happy coincidence, she had been a good friend of Father Niall.

Columban Regional Director Father Colm McKeating accepted the Bukas Palad Award from Father Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, President of Ateneo de Manila, while Columban Father Brian Gore gave the response. He introduced himself as Father O’Brien’s ‘co-accused,’ referring to their both being part of the ‘Negros Nine’ in 1983-84. In his remarks he pointed out that his late Columban colleague was ‘a visionary, not a dreamer.’

The Award, originally ‘Peypoch Award,’ was first given in 1963 to Monsignor Jose Javellanos and was named in honor of Father Manuel Peypoch, SJ, who taught at Ateneo de Manila. It was intended for clergy, religious men and women, not as an award to the recipient, but as a reminder to Ateneo students that there are men and women in the Philippines who have dedicated their lives to God and to the Church and who work unselfishly for the good of their neighbor. The Award was renamed ‘Bukas Palad Award’ to capture the Ignatian spirit of ‘Generosity’ and to give recognition to the unconditional, dedicated service of Religious in Christ’s Kingdom.

The citation highlighted Father O’Brien’s use of the Ilonggo language, especially in liturgy, his use of radio and the print media, his work in the formation of lay church leaders, his involvement with the sugar workers of Negros, his time in jail, his total commitment to active non-violence as a way of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It saw him as an example of ‘the authentic missionary’ ‘recognized most simply by the passion with which he or she bears Jesus’ dream of the Father’s Kingdom in his or her spirit, by the love of the heart of Christ for his people which shapes everything in his or her life, a life unceasingly laid down with joy “for love of his friends.”’

It concluded, ‘Because throughout his priestly life as a missionary in our country he embodied for all who met him and got to know him the truest meaning of Christian mission for our time and for every time; because he incarnated in fullest measure a most genuine “preferential love for the poor” and a true sharing of their every “joy and hope,” their powerlessness and vulnerability, even in prison and under threat of death; because as a true disciple of Jesus with his great gifts he enkindled hope in all those he encountered, the Ateneo de Manila University is honored and proud to confer posthumously on Father Niall O’Brien, Irish missionary priest of the Society of St. Columban, theBukas Palad Award, in memory of Fr Manuel Peypoch, SJ.’

Haydee Yorac

Father O’Brien would have been thrilled to be present at the conferring of the Government Service Award on Haydee Yorac and would have blushed with delight had he heard her describe him as she accepted it as ‘an Irishman who became a Filipino.’

Columban Father Francis Chapman, who died on 29 March aged 90, received the Bukas Palad Awardin 2001 (Misyon, July-August 2003).

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies (UP-CWS), the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) named Judge Ma. Nimfa Penaco-Sitaca of the Regional Trial Court of Misamis Occidental Outstanding Judge in the Gender Justice Awards project launched in December 2003. The awards are intended to raise the level of awareness of judges on the need for rendering gender sensitive decisions in cases involving violence against women (VAW). They recognize trial judges from all over the Philippines who have rendered outstanding decisions in VAW cases such as rape, marital rape, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, parricide, physical injuries, including psychological and emotional abuse in legal separation and nullity of marriage.

The national and regional awards were conferred on 18 August in Pasig City. Chief Justice Hilario Davide was the keynote speaker. President Francisco Nemenzo of the University of the Philippinesand Commission on Human Rights Chair Purificacion Quisumbing also spoke.

Judge Penaco-Sitaca wrote in Misyon, September-October 2002, about her education under Columban priests and Sisters in Ozamiz and of her ongoing involvement with the Legion of Mary and Couples for Christ, despite her heavy schedule.

We at Misyon are very proud of the award given to our late, beloved editor. We are proud too that one of our recent contributors has been recognized nationally for her outstanding qualities as a judge. May Judge Ma. Nimfa Penaco-Sitaca and Haydee Yorac continue to be beacons of hope for the People of the Philippines and outstanding examples for all in the legal professions.