By Manuel L. Morato
Last Saturday, December 14, I attended the 95th birthday celebration of Monsignor Bautista, known to his friends and family as Monsignor Enyong for Arsenio.
At 14 years old, Enyong felt God’s calling. It was Father Arcayra, Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception Church in Malabon, Rizal who decided for the young Enyong to enter the San Jose Seminary under the Jesuits for High School and Priesthood.
While in the seminary, the seminarians nicknamed him “Sening.” The San Jose Seminary was used by the Japanese soldiers as its garrison, but Sening with all the seminarians were not harmed.
Then Father Arsenio Bautista was ordained as a priest in March 10, 1951 by Archbishop Gabriel Reyes at the Villa San Miguel.
When Monsignor reached the mandatory age of retirement for priests at 75 years old in 1999, he chose to retire at the Hospicio de San Jose as Chaplain to Minister to orphan children, and the elderly.
Monsignor Bautista is a warm and caring person, respects the value of simplicity and honesty through his words and actions.
As a friend, Monsignor greets anyone with a ready smile and kindness in his eyes, witty and funny sense of humor; to whom, anybody he meets is important to him, rich or poor. Hindi kapareho nong ibang pari na may pagka aloof, ma-ere, nagpapa-importante at may ngiting pusa, trying so hard to be cute! I can’t stand those kinds.
With Monsignor Arsenio “Enyong” Bautista, he truly is a man of Christ. I’ve known Monsignor Bautista for many years through his niece Tes Brazil who headed the charity department of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Monsignor Bautista is the oldest priest in the Diocese of Manila, both in age and years of priesthood.
A nephew, brother of Tes Brazil, Marcelino Soriano; and a sister, Annie Grace Soriano De Leon both came from Washington, U.S.A. for the 95th birthday of their uncle, Monsignor Arsenio Bautista.
Monsignor, I sincerely admire you as a person and as a man of God.
Let me quote his motto: “Life is what you make it, and how you make it, is up to you. But if you let God lead your way, you’ll be happy everyday.” I say, Amen.
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com