DEUTSCH-PHILIPPINISCHE BEZIEHUNGEN (XIII) - German-Philippine Relations (XIII): Die ersten deutschen SVD Missionare - The Frist German SVD Missionaries The First German SVD Missionaries

He was my mentor. I learned much about German-Philippine Relationships.  

Msgr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, SVD, was born on July 12, 1930 in Maribojoc, Bohol, Philippines. He made his first vows as a Divine Word Missionary in 1952 and was ordained to the priesthood on October 18, 1959 by the Apostolic Nun-cio Archbishop Salvatore Siino, DD in the newly built Sacred Heart Parish Church in Kamuning, Quezon City. He obtained his MA in Histoiy at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and his Ph.D at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila with his dissertation, entitled A History of Philippine-German Relations from 1836 until 1970 with a grade of Meriissimus. 

Later he pursued his postgraduate studies in History and English at Harvard University in Cam-bridge, Massachussets, USA. He obtained his JCD at the UST Central Seminary in 1998 with his doctoral dissertation on Psychological Incapacity to Assume the Essential Obligations of Marriage, Magna cum Laude. In between, he was awarded the Anthony Aguirre Professorial Chair in History by the UST Graduate School in recognition of his academic excellence and meritorious service in the field of teaching and research. Almost at the same month, he was awarded the Fr. Silvestre Sancho, OP Service Award for his unselfish service for many years of teaching, his sense of academic leadership and his willingness to share generously with others. Later in 2000 - 2002 he made his postgraduate studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University with another degree in Eccle-siastical Jurisprudence, Summa Cum Laude. Finally, he made his doctorate in Sacred Theology with his controversial work on the Catholic Church in Nazi Germany, focusing on the Jewish Question. 

He has written several books and published learned articles in the UST Journal of Graduate Research, Ad Veritatem, Philippine Trade Development, Southeast Asia and the Germans and in the Informationsspiegel.

 His book on Philippine-German relations was serialized in the Philippine Times in Mainz, Germany. He was for many years the editor-in-chief of the Berlin-Philippine monthly news magazine, The Mabuhay and for sometime the editor of the Informationsspiegel, a publication of the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft Philippines. He also works as the Judicial Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Presiding Judge at the National Appellate Tribunal and Canon Lawyer of the SVD Central Province. Besides, he teaches Canon Law in the Faculty of Canon Law at the UST Central University. He also teaches Modern European History of Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, and Austria at the UST Graduate School. In 2003, the German highest award, the "Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz" was bestowed on him by the President of the Republic of Germany, Dr. Johannes Rau, through Ambassa­dor Herbert D. Jess at the UST Tanghalang Teresita Quirino in the presence of his students, fellow professors, the German Embassy officials, the German Cultural Center authorities in Makati and the German Community in Manila. 

In 2006, he was appointed National Chairman of the Philippine-German Cultural Association, the Dr. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Cultural Society in the Philippines. Finally, on March 29, 2008 he was bestowed the title of Monsignor (honorary prelate) by Bishop Antonio P. Palang, SVD, in nine Romani Pontificis, Pope Benedict XVI, for his long and faithful service as Judicial Vicar in the diocese and Presiding Judge at the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Bish-ops' Conference in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.

He died on April 24, 2011 in Metro Manila.

The second batch of German missionaries to request to the urgent appeal of Pope Leo XIII to rescue the Philippines from religious turmoil were the German SVD missionaries, popular know in Germany as the Steyler Missionaries.

(To be continued!)

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Msgr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, SVD, wurde am 12. Juli 1930 in Maribojoc, Bohol, Philippinen geboren. Er legte 1952 sein erstes Gelübde als Missionar des Heiligen Wortes ab und wurde am 18. Oktober 1959 vom Apostolischen Nuncio Erzbischof Salvatore Siino, DD, in der neu erbauten Sacred Heart Parish Church in Kamuning, Quezon City, zum Priester geweiht. Er erwarb seinen MA in Geschichte an der Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. und seinen Ph.D. an der University of Santo Tomas, Manila mit seiner Dissertation mit dem Titel „Eine Geschichte der philippinisch-deutschen Beziehungen von 1836 bis 1970“ mit der Note Meriissimus .

Später absolvierte er ein Aufbaustudium in Geschichte und Englisch an der Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Er erhielt seinen JCD 1998 am UST Central Seminary mit seiner Doktorarbeit über die psychologische Unfähigkeit, die wesentlichen Pflichten der Ehe zu übernehmen, Magna cum Laude. Dazwischen wurde ihm von der UST Graduate School der Anthony Aguirre Professorial Chair in History in Anerkennung seiner akademischen Exzellenz und seiner verdienstvollen Verdienste im Bereich Lehre und Forschung verliehen. Fast im selben Monat wurde ihm der Pater verliehen. Silvestre Sancho, OP Service Award für seinen selbstlosen Dienst in vielen Jahren seiner Lehrtätigkeit, sein Gespür für akademische Führung und seine Bereitschaft, großzügig mit anderen zu teilen. Später in den Jahren 2000 und 2002 absolvierte er sein Aufbaustudium in Kirchenrecht an der Päpstlichen Universität Gregoriana mit einem weiteren Abschluss in kirchlicher Rechtswissenschaft, Summa Cum Laude. Schließlich promovierte er in Heiliger Theologie mit seinem kontroversen Werk über die katholische Kirche im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland mit Schwerpunkt auf der Judenfrage.

Er hat mehrere Bücher geschrieben und Fachartikel im UST Journal of Graduate Research, Ad Veritatem, Philippine Trade Development, Southeast Asia and the Germans und im Informationsspiegel veröffentlicht.

 Sein Buch über die philippinisch-deutschen Beziehungen wurde in der Philippine Times in Mainz veröffentlicht. Er war viele Jahre Chefredakteur des berlin-philippinischen monatlichen Nachrichtenmagazins The Mabuhay und zeitweise Herausgeber des Informationsspiegels, einer Publikation der Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft Philippines. Er arbeitet außerdem als Gerichtsvikar des Apostolischen Vikariats von San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Vorsitzender Richter am Nationalen Berufungsgericht und kanonischer Anwalt der SVD-Zentralprovinz. Außerdem unterrichtet er Kirchenrecht an der Fakultät für Kirchenrecht der UST Central University. Außerdem unterrichtet er moderne europäische Geschichte Deutschlands, Frankreichs, Italiens, Großbritanniens und Österreichs an der UST Graduate School. Im Jahr 2003 wurde ihm vom Präsidenten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Dr. Johannes Rau, durch Botschafter Herbert D. Jess an der UST Tanghalang Teresita Quirino im Beisein seiner Studierenden die höchste deutsche Auszeichnung, das „Große Bundesverdienstkreuz“, verliehen. Mitprofessoren, die Beamten der Deutschen Botschaft, die Behörden des Deutschen Kulturzentrums in Makati und die Deutsche Gemeinschaft in Manila.

Im Jahr 2006 wurde er zum nationalen Vorsitzenden der Philippinisch-Deutschen Kulturvereinigung, der Dr. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Kulturgesellschaft auf den Philippinen, ernannt. Schließlich wurde ihm am 29. März 2008 von Bischof Antonio P. Palang, SVD, in neun Romani Pontificis, Papst Benedikt XVI., der Titel eines Monsignore (Ehrenprälat) für seinen langen und treuen Dienst als Gerichtsvikar in der Diözese und als Vorsitzender verliehen Richter am National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal der Katholischen Bischofskonferenz in Intramuros, Manila, Philippinen.

Er starb am 24. April 2011 in Metro Manila.

(Fortsetzung folgt!)

Philippine-German Relations (III) Philippinisch-Deutsche Beziehungen (III)

 

During his second administration  the former President Marcos said, "No redemption is possible without the solid foundation of virtue." In EL FILIBUSTERISMO Jose Rizal said, 'Redemption presupposes virtue; virtue means sacrifice, sacrifice means love ... it means existing reason and the dignity of the individual, loving whatever is just, good and noble."

Dr. Jose Rizal is indeed the initiator of Philippine-German Cultural Relations. He was one of the first Filipinos who admired the Germans in the Philippines and abroad. More than anybody else, it was he, "initiated the cultural relations between Germany and the Philippines and German speaking scholars. Dr. Cecilio Lopez, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Oriental Studies at the University of the Philippines, wrote in his article "Rizal and the Beginning of German-Philippine Cultural relations," that: "With his inquisitive nature and thirst for knowledge, particularly in what concerned his country, Dr. Rizal sought out these scholars, exchanged ideas with them, and nurtured friendship to the end." (Quotation from "The Joint Enterprise", Manila: Rizal Publishing House Co, page 33).

In "One Hundred Letters of Rizal", page 24, one can read what he wrote to his parents:

"With respect to my studies about diseases of the eye, they are progressing well. I know how to perform the operations. I shall have to train in studying the ocular fundus which needs much practice. In Germany, I am told that they teach this well. I am going to Germany with nearly $100 which will be reduced to $75 after deducting the transportation fare. If I find that the cost of living is cheap I shall matriculate and it may not be necessary to help me in two or three months. In six months, I hope to speak german, study and follow my specialty... ."

I also learned from my mentor Professor Dr. Monsignor Hermogenes 'Gene' E. Bacareza, that Rizal even translated Friedrich Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell" (William Tell), which his compatriots in Spain asked him to do. In his letter to Blumentritt dated October 2, 1886 Rizal wrote:

"Meine Landsleute haben mir tagalische Übersetzungen von Schiller's Werken verlangt. Wie schwer muss diese Arbeit für mich sein, dass können Sie sich leicht einbilden, welche einer sehr verschiedene Ausdrucksart als die deutsche hat. Ich muss erst eine Phrase lange besinnen und betrachten, und dann suche ich den entsprechenden Ausdruck in Tagalisch, die Umschreibungen und die germanismus sorgfältig vermeidend. Ich tröste mich mit dem Gedanken, dass ich die Ehre haben werde, der grossen Schiller die Philippinen in Tagalisch vorzustellen.

My countrymen asked me for a Tagalog translation of Schiller's work. You can easily imagine how difficult I shall find this task, as the modes of expression are very different in German. First, I have to study and examine a phrase for a long time, then I try to find a corresponding expression in Tagalog, carefully avoiding paraphrases and Germanism. I console myself with the thought that I have the honor of presenting the great Friedrich Schiller to the Philippines in Tagalog". 

Sometimes we want to see in every Filipino "another Rizal". I agree with Father Gene, that, surely not every Filipino can equal Rizal in intellectual endowments and in heroic grandeur. But in the facts of his or her personality, every Filipino has within him- or herself the capacity to be "another Rizal". With a citizenry such as that being developed in the new  Society and in accordance with the mandate of the new Constitution of the Republic, the Filipino people could move on without trepidation and face with courage and confidence the hazards and challenges of the future.

(To be continued!)

Philippine-German Relations - Philippinisch-Deutsche Beziehungen (I)

 

In 1984, I met my mentor the late Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza. During that time, he became the chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin. 

I learned a lot from you, "Father Gene" - then Monsignor... .

One thing, I have been always interested in, has been (and is still!) the history of Philippine-German relations. Father Gene published a lot of books about it in the Philippines - unfortunately only in English. The close relations between the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany have been evident in all aspects, especially in the economic and cultural fields, as former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stated in one of her forewords. Yes, it's true: from the 1970s to the 1990s, several agreements have been made on financial and technical cooperation, in which Germany has become one of the most active partners in the progress and development of the Philippines.

There are a lot of dynamics of Philippine-German partnerships. Father Gene taught me a lot. It helped me to understand especially Filipino culture and to overcome the culture clash, while living in the Philippines for good.

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1984 traf ich meinen Mentor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza zum ersten Mal. Während dieser Zeit war er der Kaplan der Philippinischen Gemeinde zu Berlin. 

Ich habe viel von Dir ,"Vater Gene" (später Monsignor), gelernt!

An einer Sache war und bin ich bis heute immer noch interessiert: das ist die Geschichte der philippinisch-deutschen Beziehungen. "Vater Gene" hat mehrere Bücher über dieses Thema geschrieben, die auf den Philippinen auch veröffentlicht wurden. Leider nur in Englisch. Die engen Beziehungen zwischen den Philippinen und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beweisen sich in vielen Aspekten, besonders, wenn es zu den Themen Wirtschaft und Kultur kommt, wie die frühere Präsidentin Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in einem ihrer verschiedenen Vorworte zum Ausdruck brachte. Ja, es stimmt wirklich: zwischen den Siebzigern und Neunzigern wurden verschiedene Vereinbarungen auf den finanziellen und technischen Sektoren getroffen und unterzeichnet. Deutschland entwickelte sich zu einem der aktivsten Partner für die Philippinen.

Es gibt eine Reihe von dynamischen Beispielen, wenn wir über philippinisch-deutsche Freundschaft oder Partnerschaft sprechen. "Vater Gene" hat mir viele Beispiele gelehrt. Es hat mir sehr geholfen, die philippinische Kultur zu verstehen und den Kulturschock zu bewältigen, nachdem ich mich entschied, auf den Philippinen für immer zu leben!

My Philippine Mentor

I owe him a lot. I met him for the first time during the 1980's, when he was the Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin. "Father Gene" involved me in many things - especially, when it came to media and publishing.

Msgr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, SVD, born in Maribojoc, Bohol, was an internationally known scholar, author, linguist, lawyer and historian, holding two doctorate degrees in Modern European History and Canan Law. He studied at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Goethe-Institut Inter Naciones in Munich/Germany, at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome/Italy, specializing in Ecclesitical Rotal Jurisprudence with a grade of Summa cum Laude.

He has written several books and published numerous articles in different learn journals. I was blessed to be part of his two publications for Filipinos abroad and in Germany during the 1980's (Ang Mabuhay and Deutsch-Philippinischer Informationsspiegel Berlin). 

Some time in January 2003 in appreciation of his efforts to promote harmonious relations between the Philippines and Germany, Dr. Johannes Rau, former German President, conferred on Father Bacareza, the highest honor from the Federal Republic of Germany, the "Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse" (Insignia of the Order of Merit) at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Auditorium in the presence of his students, faculty, German Embassy officials and members of the German Community in the Philippines.

His doctorate and several publications regarding the Philippine-German Relations are not only interesting to read - it's a must to read for every one, who wishes to know more about this topic.

From time to time, I'll be publishing some more facts and notes here on my website.

Until his death, Father Gene kept on teaching in Manila. He visited my family and me in Davao City shortly before he passed away in April 2011. Thank you very much Monsignor Bacareza for teaching us/me a lot about this fascinating topic.