IN MEMORIAM Be Faithful to Your Love Br. Nicolas Aguila, SDB

Love Be faithful to your

(Narrator's Note: Our community in Don Bosco Tarlac had the unique privilege of taking care of Brother Nicolas Aguila, SDB from his days of sickness with cancer until he breathed his last. He was a man of very few words, most of those were even silly jokes. But the life he lived was an eloquent witness to his God-given vocation as a Salesian brother. Allow me to be the mouthpiece of our dear Brother Nick. His exact words are in quotations. The following are from the stories he told me, from the stories and homilies said during his wake, and from what is recorded in our archives. May these help us appreciate him, his life, and his death.)

By Br. Nicolas Aguila SDB

as narrated by one of his pongklong, Fr. April Jerome Quinto, SDB

“Iam a Salesian. I am Br. Nick Aguila. I am a Salesian Brother. I help in the education of the young as the in-charge of the Don Bosco Youth Center (DBYC).” November 21, 2020. I did not anymore see the sunrise on this blessed day. It was a Saturday, the day of our Blessed

Mother. In fact, it was the memorial of the Presentation of the

Blessed Virgin Mary—a great day indeed! Mary lifted me up from my bed of pain and su ering. She took my hand and led me to see Her Son, Jesus Christ. It was hard to leave the place where I spent the last 20 years of my life. OhI The plants, who would water them? But it was harder to part with the boys and girls whom I cared for dearly, and my dear confreres whom I loved deeply. I was willing to endure more pain if it will only ease the pain of those poor youth. I was willing to su er more if it will lead more young people to know Christ and inspire more individuals to help them. But I had to go. Relieved from my earthly su ering,

I was called to respond to my ultimate vocation which is to be with God… and enjoy the promise of Don Bosco.

I left with much joy in my heart. My confreres assured me that they will take care of the boys and girls… that they would be OK. In the past days, I had a chance to be with my family. I got to see all my brothers, some of my nephews and nieces. Many of my beloved students came to greet me too. “I have no bad memories” of my students, only good and happy ones. My fellow Salesians visited me, too. They still laugh at my silly jokes and crazy antics. Some tricked me and made me dance, that made me forget the pain away even for a while! My friends and colleagues extended their joyful smiles and warm hugs and kisses. They helped ease my burden and agony. Nurses and volunteer DBYC alumni took care of me round-the-clock. I am happy and content.

In my last days, I received messages and even gifts from around the country and abroad. They were from the boys I taught when I was assigned in the Salesian schools in Cebu, Bacolor, Mandaluyong, and Tarlac. Some of them were part of the volleyball teams I coached. Most were just

‘pongklongs’ and ‘mokongs’… Ah! Members of the DBYC! I love them dearly.

Teaching was my life. In 2019, after I was told I have cancer, I asked the doctor if I can still teach. She tearfully said yes. I was overjoyed to know that I could still teach! But as time went by, my sickness, the treatment I had to undergo and check-ups made it impossible for me to be in class. My declining health condition made me a di erent “teacher.” Not anymore in the classroom, but in my dayto-day encounters with people. My life took on a new signi cance.

I am familiar with trials and di culties in life. One shook me and led me out of religious life for some time for a period of discernment. Another had embedded a seed of anger in my gut. My experiences made me appreciate my vocation and taught me to get down on my knees and draw closer to God and to Mama Mary.

When I made my rst profession in Canlubang on 1 April 1976, I took the vows as a cleric, not as a lay brother. In 1979, I began my practical training. The rst four years of which were in Cebu. Afterwards, I spent two years in Bacolor, Pampanga. From April 1985 to January 1988, benefactors have made our work for the youth possible— most of them would not even want to be recognized. They always welcomed our DBYC scholars’ carolling and presentations. I assure them of my prayers and have o ered a great deal of my pain for their intentions.

These last few days, three things never left me: pain, prayer, and presence.

The PAIN that I have in my gut was so great. Even the best painkiller could not help ease the pain. I believe that the anger I harboured from days past manifested itself in this pain. That’s why, “huwag magtanim ng galit.” Forgive. Let go of anger.

PRAYER. When I had no more classes to attend to and my medicines made me feel wobbly and weak, I turn to God in prayer. I had more time to pray and be with God either in the chapel or in my room. My pain was also prayer. I o ered it as a sacri ce and my participation in the su ering of Christ.

PRESENCE. I never wanted to inconvenience anyone. I endured the pain as much as I could. I went to the comfort room on my own. I tried to do things on my own so that others would not be bothered. For this reason, I initially did

I am familiar with trials and diffi culties in life. One shook me and led me out of religious life for some time for a period of discernment. Another had embedded a seed of anger in my gut. My experiences made me appreciate my vocation and taught me to get down on my knees and draw closer to God and to Mama Mary.

I underwent a period of discernment outside the realms of the congregation. During those years, I taught at the Assumption University in San Fernando, Pampanga. As a fruit of my discernment, I requested to be readmitted to the Salesian Congregation. I took the vows as a Salesian Brother in Bacolor on June 15, 1988. I made my perpetual profession at the Mary Help of Christians Chapel in Don Bosco Tarlac on March 19, 1993, Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

I spent most of my Salesian life, a total of 23 years, in Don Bosco Tarlac. The rst was from 1991-1994. Afterwards, I spent six years in Don Bosco Mandaluyong and returned to Tarlac in 2000. All those years I was made in-charge of the Youth Center—the joy of my heart! Dear to me was my namesake, San Nicolas de Tolentino, on whose feast day I was born in 1954. He spent his life distributing food to the poor. I, too, had many opportunities to take care of the young. Some of those who needed lodging and food where at rst accommodated near the guardhouse of the school’s main gate until I found a better place for them. Oh! How happy am I to see them nish their studies well and succeed in life!

I feel very honored to have this privilege of taking care of our community’s apostolate for the poorest. I am not alone. My community supports me well. Many generous not want to go back to Tarlac. I did not want to burden my community. But their presence was consoling. They had the opportunity to express how much they also care for me. Every morning my confrere-priest, who was my former grade 5 student, brought me Jesus, the only Food I was able to take. The DBYC alumni who were like my sons took turns accompanying me and assisting the nurse in looking after me. My confreres took every chance when I was awake, to make me laugh, to sing to me, to make me recount beautiful memories. Every night, since the time I was con ned to my bed, they prayed the rosary and the Night Prayer with me. And when the time came for me to go to the Father’s house, they were around me, sending me o with reassuring words, with gentle embraces and kisses, with prayers, and with songs. “Cor Jesu Sacratissimum…” was the last song I heard as I took the step into eternity.

On November 28, 2021, Saturday, they laid me to rest in the Salesian Cemetery at Don Bosco Canlubang, where I was also born as a Salesian. My 66-year-journey was de nitely a hard life, but it was a happy life, too! And despite my weaknesses and failings, I strived to be holy. If there is one simple message I would like to leave with my confreres, it is this, “Be faithful to your Love.”