FEATURE ARTICLE: IN MEMORIAM: Rev. Fr. Leonel Wenceslao Sumpaico, S.J.

Editor's Note: This article was given by Rev. Fr. Simplicio Sangalang Sunpayco, S.J. for us of Catholic Hagonoeño: Looking into the Catholic Heritage of Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines together with the website of the Kapatiran ng Kapariang Taga-Hagonoy, Inc.

Homily of Rev. Fr. Simplicio Sangalang Sunpayco, S.J. (Mercado) at the wake mass for Rev. Fr. Leonel Wenceslao Sumpaico, S.J. presided by the Most Rev. Honesto Ongtioco, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao on May 8, 2013.

   Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.

  Allow me to begin this homily with some clarifications which I hope will not add to the confusion regarding the relations of these Jesuits with family names spelled differently.

   We are three Sumpaico - Sunpayco Jesuits. Here are some introductory data:

   First is Fr. Joaquin Sumpaico III, 41 yrs old, a Jesuit in 1995, ordained priest in 2006. There he is beside our bishop Honesto Ongtioco. Jonjee is at present high school principal at Xavier Univerity, Cagayan de Oro. Jonjee calls me Lolo Pisiong.

   Next is Fr. Leonel Sumpaico, age 65, a Jesuit in 1969, ordained priest in 1980. This is our wake for Lennie. Lennie calls me Tio Pisiong.

   Ako naman si Fr. Simplicio Sunpayco, at 84 looking like 94 but feeling like 34, a Jesuit in 1946, ordained in 1960, 52 yrs ago. Known to many as Fr. Sim, as well as by other names, like - ma-asim

   Endless questions: Related ba kayo? Why different spelling? A long time ago Lennie and I accepted this explanation: our clan’s Chinese patriarch was, and as with mga Intsik, carried his name with three sounds or characters: sun was the family name; pay – first name, co – title of the family. When he became Christian he was baptized Fernando. His three names in Chinese were given to him as his family name, Fernando s u n payco. It would have been simpler, shorter: Fernando Sun.

   In rural Philippines before urban sophistication, surnames were considered too formal, so people used apt descriptions: si Kulas na musikero, si Tecla na duling. Here is the real explanation: Why do we, close relatives, spell our family name differently? When asked in school or in Church for their names, our elders did not bother to check how their names were recorded. They all sounded the same to them: Sumpaico, Sunpayco; unaware of the different spellings.

   In Taiwan and Macau I visited the shrines of Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen, looking for connections with the founder of the Republic of China. Lennie aimed higher, around Amoy in Southern China he searched for remnants or descendants of the clans of taipans: Co-juang-co, Tan-jang-co, Sio-pong-co, Sun-tay-co, Sun-pay-co.

  Our clan must have inherited the Chinese trait of preserving family close relations: our parents, siblings, cousins, grand children stick close to one another enjoying each other's company. I happily suggest our menu as prayer, laughter and friendships. During this wake, when we view Lennie’s remains, aware of the coming separations, we are solemn, quiet. Tears flow with deep feelings whispering our prayer and final good-byes.

   Then back to our treasure – humor. With remarks like; one gone, two to go. looking at me, “You are older, yet Kuya Lennie has gone ahead”: masamang damo daw, mala yerba nunca muere. Difficult to get rid of bad weeds! I said: ok lang. Gastado na ang spare parts but umaandar pa!

   Confusion too was in the identity of who actually died. A number of friends came, saw me and said – nakangiti naman: We heard “Fr. Sim is dead!” A cell phone caller could not believe I was alive and answering his call. Bic-bic, family of Pixie Sinugba Bangus, looked into the coffin. “hindi ito si Fr. Sim.” maybe adding “iyong nakaburol ay gwapo.”

   From our Fr. Lucas Infirmary driving his battery operated golf cart, Fr. Vicente Marasigan, 94 yrs old, 78 a Jesuit, 67 a priest came up to bless Lennie. Then in a loud vibrant voice, his request: “Fr. Lennie bata ka pa, iniwan mo na kami sa infirmary, pagdating mo sa langit sabihin mo sa Panginoon, pagod na ako, matagal na akong nagtitiis dito sa lupa.” Reddie, Lennie’s kuya said; “Don’t worry, Fr. Vicente, magdarasal kami na kunin ka na.” Jesuits mark in our graves dates of our three birthdays: on this planet, in the Society of Jesus, and in heaven. So during this wake we recall, remember memories of Lennie’s life. It is not nihil nisi bonum de mortuis. His was like most of ours, a medley: we say “thank you” to the Lord for Lennie’s desire for creativity, to render big service to others, for his leadership qualities. But virtue can also produce undesirable side effects. In Lennie, it was being too sure of his ways.

   In La Ignaciana as head of PJJA, he called some friends to plan a crematory with a bakery on top. There will be a coffee shop, a candle factory, etc. all to augment funds for the formation of young Jesuits. In Maramag, he abolished all mandated and religious organizations, then he called me: “My parish is now ready, Tio Pisiong, for your B.E.C. [Basic Ecclesial Communities]” When I got there, from an old woman: “Padre gusto sa among pari tanan bago. Tigulang na kami!’’ When in Lumbia Fr. Lennie wanted Xavier University to give him rooms in Manresa for a center to buy vegetables from all his barrios; store, and sell them when prices are right. The goal was to direct profits from the middlemen to the growers.

  Also to raise funds for people, Lennie raised dogs, purebred, no less. With a machine manual and a few boys, in his shop he wanted to remodel old cars converting their front engines to run the car from the rear. Such hobbies were questioned for their feasibility. his community resented the noise from them. Lennie kept his activities with his good intentions. One Jesuit close to him told me: among the three of you, you are the thesis, Lennie the antithesis, and Jonjee the synthesis.

   His papa, Dr. Joaquin, my first cousin organized the S-W Kalinga Foundation: [Sumpaico and Wenceslao (wife’s family name)] to support seminarians. San Carlos Seminary was the first beneficiary. But upon my appointment as formator at San Jose Seminary, Josefinos shared its funds. Joaquin would tax all in the family with income for priesthood candidates. Service for others is ingrained in the family but Lennie’s style was different from his siblings.

   In our infirmaries, with diminished ability and mobility we pray to accept God’s plan for our later years: not to live with the past, no moaning as if left behind, but to rejoice that younger capable Jesuits are taking over our jobs. I doubt whether this was a problem with Lennie: diagnosed with blood cancer some five or six years ago. He was in his jesuit residence room or getting medical treatment, chemotherapy and injections only when doctors ordered. Otherwise carrying his medications that once included all of 80 fern vitamin c in a day, he would drive where he could do some pastoral ministry, to baguio or even abroad, most of the time with Ateneo co-graduates.

   A real God’s blessing for Lennie and for many others are these generous co-graduates, 1961 in grade school, 1965 in high school, and 1969 in college. Every first friday of the month Lennie celebrates mass for them and their wives, then they plan other activities. Many of them are here, part of the mystery that is Lennie; how he could be a source of conflict and also inspire and evoke such loyalty.

 Finally Lennie, with all your sins of ommission and commission, which also are similar to ours, what else is lacking if in God’s mercy you have made it to the Father’s Kingdom! So Lennie, my nephew, here is your “bring house” my pabaon as you go!

A Story: St. Peter has brought in all the sheep and the goats in their place in heaven, including a smiling Fr. Lennie who has miraculously mellowed. He almost could not believe how merciful the Lord has been to him, until he watched in wonder that the gate keeper is about to close the gates with somebody still outside. Looking closely Peter was surprised to see it was Jesus. “Master, what are you doing there. I am about to close the gates.” “Just a minute Simon Peter, I am still waiting for Judas.”