A DOMINICAN priest has reminded members of the Artlet community to live their lives as if it was their last, noting that nothing is certain because of the pandemic.
Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P., parish priest of the Santisimo Rosario Parish, cited the need to “actively” anticipate unexpected instances like losing loved ones.
“As we are aware now of this situation where we cannot say what will happen, let us do everything now and live our lives as if it was our last, so we will not have any regrets,” Talavera said during the mass held for the recently departed members of the Artlet community last Saturday.
“This waiting, for the Lord is waiting for our time, is a joyful anticipation. It is an active anticipation of the coming of the Lord and even of death, especially during this time,” he added.
Talavera also encouraged the Artlet community to continue praying for the people who passed away during the pandemic.
The mass, which was streamed live through the Santisimo Rosario Parish Facebook page, was held for the souls of communication professor Samuel Ramos Jr., philosophy student Karianne Martha Cariño, Raymond Glen Alejandro, and economics professor and former director of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education Assoc. Prof. Ernesto “Ernie” Gonzales.
Ernie Gonzales, 72
Gonzales, 72, died last Aug. 26, the same date as his birthday. The cause of death is still unknown.
He studied at the University of Santo Tomas and pursued his post-doctoral fellowship in Environmental Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Gonzales taught for more than 30 years in the Faculty of Arts and Letters economics department and did consultancy work for different agencies in the Philippines. He also taught environmental economics at the graduate school in the university.
Celso Crisostomo Jr., a former student of Gonzales, told The Flame that the lessons the late professor taught were useful in his career in public policy.
Crisostomo added that Gonzales had emphasized the importance of sustainable development and the environmental costs in crafting economic policies.
“On a lighter side, I would remember him not just as a professor, but someone like a grandfather to us; how jolly he is as a person. He would bring a guitar to class and sing a song of his favorite band, The Beatles,” Crisostomo said.
Former students of Gonzales from the graduate school also shared their grief and their memories of the late professor online.
“Dr. Gonzales is an environmental economist, blue economy advocate, and sustainable development communicator. I am proud of your achievements and contributions in those fields. Rest in peace, Sir,” said Mac Masagca.
“He was one of the reasons why I love Environmental Economics, and that love grew more as I get to know him when he visits the Research Center, sometimes bringing with him balut for us and lots of stories from the road, far-flung communities, and of course LSE… He will be missed,” Alfie Maria Custodio posted. F – Arthur N. Apostol and Janis Joplin Moises
