(The following invocation was delivered by Atty. J. Antonio M. Carpio, a member of the Ateneo de Naga Board of Trustees and an alumnus of ADN Pre Law Class '51 during the annual alumni homecomiing of the Ateneo de Naga Alumni Association, Inc., last December 30, 1980 at the Ateneo Gymnasium. While the CITY NEWSWEEK does not necessarily subscribe to, much less endorse, the sentiments contained in the following invocation, we are reprinting it principally for its literary value and to underscore the fact that even under the present martial law regime there is, in truth and in fact, freedom of the press and of expression. ---Editor)
Ever loving Father, hallowed be Your name.
From Naga thru Kabikolan, we proclaim
In myriad moods, our total dependence on You
O Alpha and Omega of all that is good and true.
Deign to bless us in a special way
This day, our 34th homecoming. We pray,
Too, for those no longer with us; for those
Who want to, but cannot be here; for those who chose
To part ways with You, because,
Believing deprivation as a greater loss,
They temporized inordinately, blindly.
Father, we beseech You, remember them kindly.
Our metamorphosis, wrought through the years,
Exacting heavy toll in sweat and tears
On friend or foe, collaborator or recal-
Citrant, had been indeed paradoxical.
From altar boy to soldier or NPA,
From silent scholar to SocDem or KKK,
And from "Roxanne," the valedictorian, to "light a fire"
Respondent. 'Twas beyond our wildest desire.
Today, a time to remember, may we recall
That, leftist or rightist, we're Ateneans all.
Trained and tempered in the Jesuit thrust and tradition
That sharpened our skills in the whetstone of competition
And spurred our hearts to fight tho all seems lost
To give our utmost; to serve without counting the cost!
For dreams dearer than life and stronger than death---
The REGNUM DEI! our fame and glory on earth!
So, Father, do let the Holy Paraclete
Abide in us. That we be not effete!
May we carry on in our quest for truth
Our battle against the brainwashing of our youth
In this decade of deceit; of "managed news"
And of "freedom" to publish tolerated views.
Because in seeking and striving for what is true
We are but thirsting and hungering for You!
May we work for justice and stand for right
For an end to this reign of greed! Fight
To dismantle this dictatorship as retrogressive
To genuine national progress and growth; oppressive
To the dignity of man born free
And made unto Your image and likeness! For we
All know we cannot live by bread alone
If we be Christian! If we be God's own!
And finally, dear Father, grant us Peace.
An end to fratricidal strife; surcease
Of sorrow; peace thru just reconciliation
Of everyone! Peace throughout our nation.
All these we ask thru Christ, our Lord, Amen
City Newsweek, Jan. 3, 1981
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