At age 92, Ilocano priest still says Mass

By Eva C. Visperas

Most of us who have not yet reached their retirement age, look forward to the year when we could simply relax, forget about the stress of our work and simply enjoy life’s pleasures.

Having worked very hard early in this profession, then a fresh college graduate and already into broadcast media, then later into newspaper reporting, I have given myself 10 more years before I retire from the journalism world. Others say that’d be too soon, I’d still very young then to retire. I must admit I love what I am doing, but I feel I deserve to enjoy life too while I am still strong to walk around wherever my feet would lead me.

What’s all this talk about retirement you might ask? Well, the thought of retirement came to me after a refreshing encounter with a no-nonsense retired 92-year old priest.

One Sunday morning, my seminarian son Bryan Jeric advised me to hear Mass at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Bonuan situated beside the seminary where he studies. It was there when I saw and heard for the first time an old priest, speaking out with very clearly, his pronunciation excellent, his homily short and straight to the point, presiding over the Mass. I observed him intently, his every word penetrating in my mind.

I was so impressed with Monsignor Leon Bitanga.

Months passed and I had the fortune to hear Mass again by him in the same church. So, I decided to call on Punch colleague Julie Ann Arrogante who knew him well, to introduce me so I could do an interview.

Apparently, Miss Julie quickly informed him about my request and texted me Saturday night that he would see me on Monday. I excitedly told my son about it. So,  last Monday, Miss Julie Ann and I went to Msgr. Bitanga’s villa in Bonuan for the interview. (Cesar Ramirez, a photojournalist of The STAR and this paper, also joined us).

The monsignor welcomed us warmly as if we, too, were long-time friends. (I thought only Miss Julie who be afforded that VIP treatment). I was still trying to set the mood for the interview but the monsignor appeared ready to share his life with PUNCH readers. So, I brought out my tape recorder and we started to talk casually.

“I am only 92 and my memory is fresh,” Bitanga started, as he detailed when and where he was born, the year he entered the minor seminary in Binmaley, the date of his ordination, the bishop who ordained him, etc.

 I narrated to him how I got stunned on hearing him once during a Mass correcting the church choir about how they sang out of tune and emphatically told the choir to repeat that particular line of a song! And the choir did just that.

“It gets into my nerves when the choir sings out of tune,” he laughed.

The articulate and humorous Bitanga, already an ordained priest at 24, offered his secret to longevity – to eat everything in moderation including crispy pata, lechon, chicharon, dinuguan, sinampalukan. He also drinks little Fundador and red wine daily “because it’s good for the heart”. He drinks Yakult (with matching Ok ka ba tiyan ads), green tea, and eats cucumber, bread and two eggs always for breakfast. (To him, Lapid’s chicharon which he said Ms. Julie Ann brings to him as pasalubong from her trips to Manila) is the Rolls Royce of chicharons. I should ask for one from Miss Julie for myself!).

Although he walks slowly with a cane, he still speaks and hears clearly and does not need eyeglasses to read. “I only use eyeglasses to improve my looks,” he quipped.

The Sarrat, Ilocos Norte-born monsignor considers Dagupan City his second home as he had been served in Pangasinan since his ordination to date.  He now lives at the Villa San Raphael in Bonuan, a retirement home for the priests, alone aided only by a loyal male helper to attend to his needs.

Msgr. Bitanga could have been a bishop but he declined it. He said he knew how difficult it is to be a bishop, but “I am like a bishop because I am a protonotary apostolic (the highest rank for a monsignor).” He wears all the vestments of a bishop with a difference – he cannot ordain and has no diocese.

(Next issue: his seminary, priesthood, and retirement life).

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)