Happy Death Anniversary?

Fr. Mar's gravestone is laden with flowers and the love of the many people touched by his priesthood.

How do you ‘greet’ someone on the anniversary of his death? Is there really a proper ‘greeting’ for it at all?

Just the thing happened on the first death anniversary of Fr. Marcelino Biliran last Tuesday, June 27, 2017. On the Loboc Parish Facebook account, photos of the mass celebrated at the Necropolis, the cemetery of the priests of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, were posted. Someone had commented: “Happy Death Anniversary Fr. Mar Biliran May Rest in Peace.”

Most Rev. Alberto S. Uy, Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran,
presided as main celebrant of the mass for the repose of the soul
of Fr. Mar.

When a priest pointed it out to us and when I saw it for myself, it felt for the moment that the world had turned upside down and I simply ranted, “What the heck was this person thinking?!” At first, I felt it was a rather insensitive comment. Surely, everyone knew that Fr. Mar’s death was far from being a “happy” scene. When news broke out about his death, it was made to appear that he had committed suicide. The news of such scandal spread like wild fire: how could a priest, a man who is supposed to have great faith and hope in the promises of Christ succumb to despair and end his own life? The fact that a certain irresponsible reporter had posted on Facebook a blurred image of him with an extension wire tied around his neck (but was obviously loosely bound on a flimsy shower curtain rod) only added fuel to the fire.

None of us who knew him personally could accept the news. We knew him as a very joyful and happy man, a man of inner peace who smiled even in the face of adversity. He was priest who deeply loved his flock and above all, deeply loved God. Despite the fact that he was sick, we knew he was never the kind of person who would give in to despair. His evident faith lived out every day was a testimony to his resilience and his dependence on the grace of God.

It was only a few hours shy from his funeral mass that the NBI was finally able to conduct a thorough autopsy on his body. It was found out that his death was not caused by asphyxiation due to the extension wire bound around his neck. Horizontal lacerations were discovered—not vertical ones as would be expected from suicide. It all pointed to one thing, that Fr. Marcelino Biliran was killed in cold blooded murder.

That’s why I couldn’t stomach the idea of greeting Fr. Mar a “Happy Death Anniversary.” Then, a fellow seminarian, Louis Daryll Camargo quipped, “After I die, I wouldn’t mind being greeted a ‘Happy Death Anniversary’. That’s what we all want, right? A happy death?” I couldn’t help but agree with him. But still, no one can deny the fact that Fr. Mar didn’t deserve that kind of death. It is our prayer and hope that his soul has finally rested in peace. Even until now, his perpetrators walk under broad daylight and justice seems bleak. Still I wrestled with the thought of it. Many of us wanted justice for Fr. Mar and for those who murdered him to be put behind bars for good.

Jennifer "Trumpa" Romero, Sem. John Senegz Astacaan &
Sem. Jan Warren Varquez, spiritual children of Fr. Mar.

Looking back to the Mass earlier that day, I remembered the words of Bishop Abet Uy in his homily, “[Sa] mga tawo nga nagbuhat ug dili maayo kang Fr. Mar, atoa silang iapil sa atong pag-ampo, dili alang sa ilang kondinasyon kundili sa ilang kaluwasan.” (To the persons who have harmed Fr. Mar, let us include them in our prayers—not for their condemnation but for their salvation.)

The author, Jennifer and Sem. Jeremie Embang, who took care
of Fr. Mar when he was getting terribly sick.

I realized then that maybe it was time to let go of the hate and the anger. Maybe it was indeed time to pray for whoever these perpetrators may be, that they turn from their evil ways and return to God. As what one of Fr. Mar’s sisters had said, justice may not be served here on earth, but there is God who knows everything. One day, everything will be brought into the light and only then will there be true justice.

After the Mass at the Necropolis, everyone gathered at the nearby Buon Pastore Community Center for a simple salu-salo. We had only prepared tables and plates good for 50 people but more than 200 people came that we had to get additional tables and chairs. Not only were the family and relatives of Fr. Mar present, but also his former flock, his parishioners from Loboc, Bilar, Loay, Sagbayan, Tubigon, Maribojoc and Tagbilaran City. Food was aplenty because the people came with packed food and drinks and freely distributed them to those who had none. It was not a somber occasion but a joyous one as friends and people touched by Fr. Mar were all gathered together, rejoicing in his fruitful priesthood and reliving happy memories about him.

Jennifer with the altar servers of Loboc and a friend of Fr. Mar.

It has been a year since Fr. Mar was taken violently from us and truly, we have shed bitter tears for our loss. But his murderers can never take away the smiles, the laughter and the joys we shared with each other that day. The joy and peace which once radiated from his ever-smiling countenance will never fade. The memories of his smile will find reflection in our own smiles.

As everyone was leaving, we all promised to keep in touch with each other one way or another. We all went our separate ways with joy in our hearts and smiles on our lips. Maybe this was what Fr. Mar wanted for all of us in the end, that we would not be imprisoned by anger and hate but find joy and peace instead and be truly happy.

Whoever made that comment on Facebook turned out to be rather right and precise in the end. Maybe saying “Happy Death Anniversary” isn’t so bad after all.


Selfie photos courtesy of Ms. Jennifer Romero