Believing, Living and Roaring as One

Rev. Father Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB
Investiture Speech of the Rector-President of San Beda College
Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat
July 22, 2010

I begin with a quote from the Rule of Saint Benedict:

“Listen, O my son, to the precepts of your master, and incline the ear of your heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of your loving Father, that by the toil of obedience you may return to Him from whom by the sloth of disobedience you have gone away.

To you, therefore, my speech is now directed, who, giving up your own will, take up the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King.”

The Rt. Rev. Father Abbot Tarcisio Ma. H. Narciso, OSB, my dear brother monks in the Benedictine community, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of San Beda College Manila, Dr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, Members of the Board of Trustees, His Excellency, Former President Fidel V. Ramos and First Lady Ming Ramos, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reynato S. Puno, His Excellency Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran, very reverend monsignori and reverend fathers, my dear religious sisters, distinguished presidents and deans of colleges and universities, members of the diplomatic corps, esteemed scholars, alumni, faculty and colleagues, students, administrators and staff, friends, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you all for coming.  I am truly delighted to see you.  God in His goodness did not give me the gift of height. But today, I stand tall and proud.  Indeed, from here I can see my siblings and their families, my childhood neighbours, friends from way back since grade school, my teachers from high school, mentors in college, colleagues in graduate school, my good friends—President Ramos, Justice Puno and Bishop Medroso. 

My heart goes to my father who I am sure would have wanted to be here tonight.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong malugod na pagtanggap sa aming paanyaya.  Your presence humbles me, warms my heart, and immensely honors not me but the school I represent- San Beda College Manila. 

     Continue...