Viam Veritatis Elegi

The truth hurts. 


For me it did...at least initially.


After the preliminary success of what I now call the "Cardinal Sin Showcase," I began writing letters to other cardinals to ask for more tokens or memorabilia.


Proximity-wise, the next logical step was to go by geographical area or region. 


So I chose Asia.


Since Asia and Oceania only had a handful of cardinals, I was expecting a considerable haul in the succeeding days.


But the truth is, no responses came for a number of weeks.


It was already close to Christmas but Santa Clause had yet to come to town.


However, in many respects, what the second cardinal-sender gave me was truly...a gift.


That gift came to my house days before Christmas, when the postal service was busy sorting or sending out Christmas mail...(or keeping them from reaching their intended destination, for a later, less hectic or off-peak season.)


But despite its lateness (by my standards), the fact is, this piece of mail came at the perfect time.


Perhaps the sender wanted to make sure that Cardinal Sin's response made it to me first before his...in deference to the Primate of the Philippines. 


Perhaps the sender timed it so that the post would really arrive in time for Christmas Eve. 


Or maybe...just maybe...the envelope chose to take another mail route...a longer and more difficult route, that, although more challenging, nevertheless guaranteed an abundant reward waiting at the end of the journey. 


This route...this way... is perhaps...the Way of Truth..


Viam Veritatis Elegi..."I have chosen the way of Truth." 


This is perhaps what accurately describes the life and ministry of my cardinal number 2, His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, now the Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu.  


The phrase is the cardinal's motto as a bishop, a motto he has sworn to faithfully live by to the end.

Photograph & Archdiocesan seal

Unlike Cardinal Sin's "gift" which was, to say the least, overwhelming, Cardinal Vidal's envelope contained a typewritten letter, a Christmas card, a stamp of the Archdiocesan seal, and his photograph, autographed at the back. 


Perhaps the best words to describe Cardinal Vidal's parcel are simple and humble...much like the cardinal himself.


Gift received. Thank you, Your Eminence.


But what I never expected to happen after receiving this gift was to have the chance to visit and interview His Eminence one-on-one, ten years later, a day after he stepped down as the Archbishop of Cebu on 13 January 2011.


I wrote that story, which aired on the cardinal's 80th birthday on 6 February 2011, much like a valedictory piece, a tribute to His Eminence for his invaluable contribution to this country. (As a matter of fact, I even got criticized online by one viewer, for seeming like the cardinal's public relations officer, for all the positive comments that I made of him in that report.)


But I believe it was only fitting.


I never regretted anything I wrote in that report because everything was the truth. 


Unknown to many (because the cardinal always shunned the limelight), Cardinal Vidal was instrumental in restoring peace and democracy in this country, especially during the Marcos and Estrada regimes. (Many thought it was only Cardinal Sin who ran the show.)


He, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, also issued many strongly-worded statements against the pressing issues of our time, and even expressed his willingness to go to jail  if the Reproductive Health Bill, the focus of much debate between the Church and State, will be enacted into law.


And did I mention that His Eminence was the only Filipino cardinal to have participated in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005?

Taken at the cardinal's private residence in Cebu, 14 January 2011

In spite of all his achievements, however, the cardinal stayed in the shadows because he never intended to walk the red carpet of success, but had chosen to walk...the way of truth.


He says he did all that he could for Church and country for the sake of transparent governance, for peace in the country, for the salvation of souls, and most importantly, for the love of Truth Himself and the Blessed Virgin Mary.


In fact, to this day, despite his advancing age, Cardinal Vidal says he continues to tread the way of truth, not because he experienced delays or got lost along the way, but because he feels he still needs to shepherd souls who may have strayed because of  the lies and deceit that continue to hound and threaten society today.


Viam Veritatis Elegi.


Indeed, this cardinal has chosen the way of Truth.