Green Thumb – Long before the Green Earth
movement came to be, there was already this
priest filling the school with plants. Who could
forget this priest who would dare wear his
sombrero regardless if it was a hot day or a
rainy one? Never mind if the mud gets on his
bunion toe and into his tsinelas. The care and
attention with which he trimmed the garden and
arranged them neatly was a reflection of the
care and attention he gave to the community as
its head. It was no wonder DB Pampanga was
like a huge garden in the 70s when he was the
rector. I recall him literary unearthing the roots
of 3 huge narra trees and transplanting them to
another area. I thought they would not survive.
But all the trees that he relocated surprisingly
produced leaves within the next 3 weeks. When
he left for DB Makati, I expected DB Makati
would soon have much foliage with Fr. Felix
there. I was not mistaken. Indeed, the lush
foliage in the Juniorate during his time was just
an external testament to the dedication of this
man. Only God can see the bloom he enabled
among those under his care.
His love for the animals was simply fantastic,
from the fishpond, to the turtles, the monkeys,
the birds in the aviary, and even the aquarium.
He related that when he visited his brother and
his sister-in-law in London, the couple bought a
monkey pet with a Roman collar. He asked why
the monkey was sporting a Roman collar. His
brother naughtily retorted that from henceforth,
they were christening the monkey “Fr Felix”.
Surely Fr Felix recounted to the couple his
garden and even his pet monkeys way back in
the Philippines whom he fondly called Tata &
Toto. (By the way, he proudly said that his
brother was the 1953 Mr Universe [Jim
Glowicki]).
Amorevolezza - I recall that many of the mails
we got from him it often ended with
“Affectionately – Fr Felix”. But more than this
written expression, Fr Felix personified in many
ways the loving kindness that Don Bosco
wanted his followers to radiate. Indeed Fr Felix
was a beacon in this area with his ever cheerful
aura, yet without compromising his firmness
when it was called for.
Beard-Scraping Jokes - No one could forget
either when he to grabbed our bare arms and
scraped them with his 2 mm grown beard. Yes,
we -as small boys- were running away, albeit
with fun. Moreover, Fr Felix had the canny way
of pulling anyone’s leg with his ever funny
banters. But one thing I’ve observed: he
ensured that he never created a grey-area
between clean fun and uncharitable banters. At help to encourage the boys to sing well! I recall
the same time, he encourages many of us: “Do him beaming with pride after a lively celebration
not be pikon!” When I was with him in the of the Mass with the new bishop of Tarlac in
community of Tarlac, Fr Miguel and the rest of 1985. After the bishop gave his apostolic
us would eat balot together. He wouldn’t dare to blessing, Fr Felix was like a proud father with his
do so. So we took the chance to pull his leg. I chin-up because he was able to welcome the
challenged him to take a shot of lambanog. bishop into the school in a lively but well-
(Someone gave a bottle as a gift to the participated liturgy. Indeed, the splendor of the
community but no one wanted to touch it!) He liturgy was something very valuable for him.
gamely took a glass, thinking it was like drinking
beer! Lo and behold! After a big sip, there was Hard Work – If we have seen Fr Felix’s
no after taste since lambanog was smooth to dedication, I believe it was a silent invitation and
the throat. But minutes later his calvo turned red encouragement that boosted his perennial
like a rising thermometer as the unexpected reminder to us boys: “Be strong! DBJ is not a
inebriation took effect! The following Sunday, I place for soft boys or mama’s boys”. Later, I
again jokingly offered the concoction, he simply came to learn, that he as a boy, had to work hard
brush aside my offer with a hearty laughter: “Oh in his house chores and recounted how he had to
no, go to hell with that!!!”
shovel the snow at home. He came to the
Salesian House at Shrigley where he struggled
Going Pinoy! - It was December 1975 when learning English in the beginning. When he came
we got the great news that Fr Felix became a to the Philippines, I am sure Bro. Felix was one
Filipino citizen. He proudly stated that the local of the first occupants of the poor convent of DB
language he learned, as part of the Tarlac in the late 50s along with Don Emilio
requirements, was Capampangan! Indeed he Baggio and Don George Schwarz. Many of the
attempted to be deeply rooted into his field of older Bosconians recalled this triumvirate and the
work, being one among us despite his different fond memories of Bro. Felix. He indeed grew up
cultural background, color, and tastes.
in the school of hardship and hard work! I was
glad he too brought us up in these area of
Care for Confreres - I have seen this since my growing tough!
days in DBJ. Years before the ravaging lahar
buried the school, when he had to say goodbye After all those years of service to the young
as a rector in 1977 (for his next obedience to Pinoys and so many wonderful lessons, I can
DB Makati), he ensured that the love and only say: “Thank you Lord for the gift of Fr
respect for the Rector of the house would not go Felix!”
away with him. He asked the aspirants one last
favor: “Give the same love and respect you I recall that in February 1981, in Canlubang, we
gave me to your new rector, Fr Zuffetti”. In were all glued to black & white TV, watching the
Tarlac, I personally felt his fatherly care as a arrival of Pope John Paul II. As the Polish Pope
rector when he reminded me on several arrived, he started to greet Pres. Marcos,
occasion to go to bed since it was almost Cardinal Sin, and other church and government
midnight. He doesn’t want anyone to be dignitaries neatly lined-up on the tarmac. It was
overworked.
all handshakes and exchange of pleasantries
until all of a sudden, His Holiness pulled the arm
Love for the Liturgy - When I saw him for the of a man in clerical garb and gave him a pretty
first time in 1975, at the time when the Novo tight embrace. It was Fr Glowicki meeting his
Ordo Missae was barely 6 years old, I cabalen! In 2005, during the requiem mass of
immediately sense that this priest have retained Pope John Paul II, then cardinal Ratzinger said
some of the postures and habits he may have some beautiful lines in his homily: “Possiamo
gotten used to with the Tridentine Rite. His essere sicuri che il nostro amato Papa sta
sense of solemnity and his attention to the adesso alla finestra della casa del Padre, ci vede
details in the liturgy was admirable. There was e ci benedice. Sì, ci benedica”. In a similar way, I
something different in him with the way he dare say: Fr Felix is now with the Father,
recited the anamnesis and the way he held the beautifying the Salesian Garden in heaven; he
Eucharist and the sacred vessels.
sees us through the window of his cheerful heart
and continues to bless us!
Laudate Dominum! - Liturgical Music did not
escape Fr Felix’s attention. He was the first to Bless us, dear Fr Felix! Thank you very much
wake the boys from their drowsiness during the Fr.Felix! Walk with God! Till we meet again!
mass. It is within this context that he asked my
All rights reserved By: Ronaldo s. Lora
Support the Establishment of the Missionary Animation Desks in every Salesian Setting!
