Halfway to heaven

First posted 08:19pm (Mla time) Nov 12, 2005
By Dulce Festin-Baybay
Inquirer News Service

http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=1&story_id=56323

Editor's Note: Published on page C1 of the November 13, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
 

RETIRED ST. PAUL NUNS are well on their way to heaven in their spanking new retirement home, the SPC Vigil House. It is where they retire peacefully, quietly spend their last days on earth, or recuperate from illness.

As the name suggests, the Vigil House is also where wakes are held for deceased nuns before they are brought to their final resting place, the Garden of Peace in Our Lady of Chartres Convent in Antipolo.

Located on a 2.6-hectare at 22 km, Manila East Road in Taytay, Rizal, the SPC Vigil House is an imposing edifice. A massive stone water fountain at the lobby awes visitors. The lot was partly donated by Oscar Lopez, chair Lopez Group Foundation, with the help of Rev. James B. Reuter, SJ.

The new Vigil House is one of the many projects of Sr. Mary Magdalen Torres, known to many SPCM Paulinians as the stern but loving high school principal in the 1980s, and now based in Jerusalem.

“The minute I set foot inside the Vigil House and saw the smiling faces

“There was an overwhelming sense of belonging, [as I] remembered that these nuns played a big part in my formative years. When I saw the wheelchair-bound and bedridden nuns, my heart just went out to them,” she said.

The P100-million four-story main building took one year to build. Another six months were spent for the finishing touches.

Young architect Edison Lacsa designed the building, making sure the place was as comfortable as possible for its senior residents.

Accessible

He made the chapel easily accessible from the nuns’ rooms and had the SPC logo etched on glass doors or shaped in metal on ramps in the main areas. In the funeral parlor, a family room has its own bathroom and sleeping quarters for relatives of the deceased.

Visiting priests have their own separate rooms and there are two elevators for the wheelchair-bound.

It is a home for nuns run by nuns. Aging and ailing nuns are given rooms from 72 private units; the bedridden occupy the infirmary and semi-bedridden wards or four intensive care unit (ICU) beds.  Younger nuns run manage the place.

Head administrator and Superior is Sr. Mary Philip Galeno, who knows every nook and cranny of the entire Vigil House and all its occupants and staff. Sr. Marie Pierre Mara Arton is head of nursing services, assisted by Sr. Enriqueta Paderes. Sr. Amelita Sambilay is resident dietician.

Nuns work in the chapel and kitchen or make liquid dishwashing soap, rosaries, scarves, folded paper objects, and throw pillows for sale. The house has a regular staff of almost 40 people.

“I was teary eyed when I saw the nuns in the infirmary praying the rosary. It was difficult to hold back my tears when I saw the bedridden nuns. [Something] made me move toward the nun at the end of the room. Her face had a certain glow that reminded me of the Virgin Mary. I forgot her name but I remembered her from my grade school days at St. Paul College Pasig canteen. May all the nuns have many more years ahead of them,” said Suebee Santiago-Prejula.

Enterprising

Prejula was impressed that the retired nuns were enterprising, making their own liquid soap which would make good Christmas gifts. She volunteered to accept orders and pick them up from the Vigil House.

Joy Yuzon said: “The Infirmary ward is airy and well-lit and does not [smell like a] hospital.”

“Since the oxygen supply is piped in, tanks are not visible and the place is not at all hospital-like in appearance,” she added.

The Vigil House has tie-ups with several hospitals and schools like Philippine General Hospital, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and St. Paul University, Manila. They send doctors, nursing students, therapists, and interns regularly. Emergency cases are brought to the nearby Manila East Medical Center.

First wake

Two months after it opened, the Vigil House had one wake, for Sr. Concepcion Guidote, who passed away at the age of 102. She is a relative of Marites-Guidote-Aguirre, chair of the SPUM Alumnae Homecoming.

Two centenarians are currently in the infirmary. Majority of the bedridden nuns are in their 90s.

Among the nuns from the Manila campus are Sr. Caritas de St. Paul Sevilla, who was recovering from a metal implant, and Sr. Carmelita Cruz, who was recovering from a heart ailment. Both are still teaching.

The Vigil House needs a monthly budget of P1 million for salaries, utilities, food, medicines, and other household expenses, said Cecile Ventura. The Manila and Pasig campuses are the Vigil House’s most consistent donors.

“I feel happy that the nuns have a very nice retirement place befitting their stature,” said Rita Festin. Padilla jokingly asked if it would also accept Paulinian graduates with five children like her.

“I know... we made the right choice in making the Vigil House our beneficiary... we wouldn’t be what we are today without them,” Padilla said. “It’s now our turn to help them and make their remaining years as comfortable as possible.”

The Vigil House is the beneficiary of all fundraising activities of SPCM High School Class 1981, host of the Alumnae Homecoming on Jan. 29, 2006. Donations in cash or in kind are welcome. Call 6609736 or fax 6609737. Visit SPC Vigil House, 22 km Manila East Road, Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal. For overseas donations, visit www.paulinianglobalfoundation.org.