Remembering Padre Roger Calim
September 28th, 2007 | by Ced Solidon |Earlier this week, I was informed by the passing of Father Roger Calim. The details about it are still unclear to me, so instead of it, I will write about my impressions of the man.
Padre Roger, or Padre Calim, was one of the easily recognizable priests in the Diocese of Borongan. His gray, pony-tailed hair and suspenders could be considered as his trademark look. But more his looks, his own brand of sarcasm might as well be what a lot of people would remember him for.
Filipinos are one of the most sensitive people when it comes to criticism and sarcasm. That is why no wonder Padre Roger didn’t win a lot of friends in the parishes where he stayed. However, to me, his wry wit had a deep kind of humor stuck into it. He might have said some things merely for the heck of it, but the comments I heard from him usually were the truth, albeit the raw and acerbic type which a lot of people do not like.
Other people may consider him strange, and I was one of those people especially when I first encountered him. It was graduation day at St. Anthony’s Academy in Llorente and he was one of the priests who concelebrated with Borongan’s bishop at that time, Leonardo Medroso. While waiting for the mass to start, I saw him inside Fr. Dongdong Solidon’s room, watching a boxing match. He was so into the fight that he grunted and shouted with every punch that landed. He also made punching moves and was literally off his seat when harder punches were thrown. That image of him will be forever stuck in my head.
I encountered him several more times after that event. While I was at the college seminary, I often saw him come to our place on afternoons to feed his pigs in the pigpen which was situated between the seminary’s building and DYVW, the Catholic Church’s radio station in the province.
I also saw him here Manila when has being treated for an ailment at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in Greenhills. He was staying at that time in Fr. Adams Albert’s parish which was inside the hospital compound.
Then, I saw him last in Borongan during the elections in 2004. He was in his usual get-up - his long hair tied in a ponytail, and his red suspenders keeping his pants from falling off his legs - and was talking to my parents who were his friends. Then, in true Padre Calim style, he cried out a sarcastic remark on one of the older candidates who wanted to sound cool and hip. When I heard that I could only smile and say to myself, how true, how true.
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Ced Solidon started the team blog. He currently works as a freelance writer. Aside from that, he also maintains a writing blog, Write Like a Rock Star! He loves to read books and play music.
4 Responses to “Remembering Padre Roger Calim”
By Niknok Cepeda on Sep 30, 2007 | Reply
Hi Blano Ced, been struck by your article. Yeah, I just had the confirmation that the man passed away. I will miss him…
He was a man who lived with the old times but is changed by the modern society. A man who teachings would never fade. A man whose wisdom contiously would guide the seminarians.
I will miss him in every pontifical mass. The man who would make the serious event a jolly one. The one who would get the electricfan and focus it on himself. hehehe But the one that I would really miss is when he would hold a seminarian’s hand and “pulso” it. Then, he would guess or if it is indeed premonition would determine if you are meant for the priesthood. Well, he was right when he did it on me! He could have been a good basketball and boxing coach in fairness…
Fr. Roger you are indeed a Priest and people were just too focused in your weak side. As for me I have realized your worth, value and talent. So long… You have died but in our memories you are itched!
Here,
Anthony B. Cepeda
By concernd on Oct 1, 2007 | Reply
TO ANTHONY:
good to hear from u. hope ur doin ok and hope ur mom’s ok 2
By Lance AC Acampado on Oct 2, 2007 | Reply
In Julius Caesar, it is said that the goodness that man does is often buried with him. But here in the Philippines we usually remember the good things and the good side about someone who passes away.
Fr Roger is a priest, he may not be as good as other priests but he certainly was one. In the seminary we are often taught that when you are called to be a priest, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, or what you will become. When God calls you, you will be.
God will surely have a place for him for he was true to himself, I believe, saying things that others might think brutally frank but at least he had the honesty to say what he thinks about someone and about something.
The many people who know him so much I do believe would find this claim somewhat fair to say about Fr Roger.
May he rest in God’s peace!
By Niknok Cepeda on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply
concerned?
you know me…??? those who knows me through my nick name is either a family member, relative, close friend or a neighbor! where would you fall?