SOME readers simply read me. Some readers read me with an intelligent passion. When readers begin to read through my body of works, they begin to see certain patterns, certain motifs that make intelligent reading even more delightful.
Dan Escantilla has noticed the priests, or at least two of them.
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Dan Luceño Escantilla is with DepEd Iloilo. He teaches English and Arts for elementary at Caninguan Central School, District of Lambunao West. He is also a Master of Education (English as a Second Language) student at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
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Discerning the Two Disparate Priestly Characters in Two Peter Solis Nery Stories
By Dan Luceño Escantilla
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Peter Solis Nery’s award-winning stories “The Miracle at Ermita”, and “Father Olan, God and the Rain” are perfect manifestations of living faith, and inspirational devotion to God’s miracles. But also, the two literary masterpieces both have important priest characters, who, apart from being ministers of religion, share completely nothing else, and are, in fact, at extreme opposites of the spectrum in character and disposition.
Father Olan from “Father Olan, God, and the Rain” plays the role of a protagonist, who at first was hesitant to challenge the power of God; but later became a witness to the much sought after miracle of a coming rain. Father Edwin from “The Miracle at Ermita”, on the other hand, portrays the role of an antagonist who leads in provocating the seminarians who are embarking on the course of priestly formation. In the story, he challenged the miraculous vision of an aspirant to the priesthood, the seminarian-protagonist Paolo Santillan.
Nery, through his beautiful imagery, judicious descriptions, and powerful symbolisms showed the humble attributes of Father Olan. He portrayed the priest with a melancholic-phlegmatic personality: calm, yet indecisive; thoughtful, yet afraid to take risks. Nery’s word-painting led me to imagine Father Olan as a good listener; and a soft spoken, composed, and welcoming leader of the church. At the other end of the line, Father Edwin is an image of power, position, and proud principles. He holds titles of being a psychologist and guidance counselor; and is always looked up to by every seminarian because of his position. I visualize him as a terrorizing, arrogant, and vainglorious (un)spiritual adviser.
With respect to their mental inclination and psychological disposition, Father Olan is often doubtful, and lacks discernment. Yet, he listens to the people, and is willing to seek counsel from those in the higher ranks before he comes to a big decision. In contrast, Father Edwin always sounds very intimidating. He is obstinate, and uses his power and conviction to make one believe that he is always right and veracious.
Clearly, the two priests in Nery’s stories play different roles and functions (missions, if you will) in two completely different, and unrelated, situations. Father Olan was tested on how steadfast he was in his faith, and how effective his leadership was considering that he had to listen to the request of the parishioners to set aside the liturgy of the Feast of Saint John the Baptist and replace it with a new liturgy, like a special day of prayers for rain. In contrast, Father Edwin’s role as a self-righteous “terror” director of the seminary posed as a great challenge for every aspiring seminarian, but especially to the protagonist Santillan. Father Edwin appears in the story as someone who doesn’t believe that God can show miracles to ordinary people. He condemns Santillan’s testimony and faith witnessing with harsh words and unadulterated insults.
Outside of the text, I imagine that the two disparate personas of the priests were influenced by events in their respective lives. It is obvious that they may have experienced unparallel pains, failures, regrets, and struggles. Father Olan’s hesitation and cowardice may be due to irrational fears and the lack of courage to support his own convictions. Father Edwin’s arrogance may possibly be just a defense mechanism to get rid of, or compensate for, his innate inferiority, insecurity, and lack of self-esteem. Indeed, Nery’s stories of priests have opened my heart and mind into a wider perspective of religion, faith, morality, and the people we call servants of God. Priests are both human, and, to some extent, divine instruments of God. They are not perfect as what most faithful had always thought, or were made to believe. Their decisions and actions reflect their diverse personalities, their varied principles, and belief systems—whether a reflection of the teachings of the church, or their personal lapses as human beings.
By all means, the two stories are powerful spiritual tools for every believer. But as expected of a master storywriter, whether one is a believer or not, Nery’s excellent craftsmanship and storytelling was able to send a strong and powerful message. Quite simply, it is the message of faith in the power of prayer, and the pertinacious preaching of the gospel of miracles even though others may find them unbelievable. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
