Horacio de la Costa: The Faces of a Friend (Part 3 of 4)
Fr. Horacio de la Costa to me, has always been one big question mark. Considering that throughout my academic years, I have been with the Ateneo de Manila University from elementary all the way to college, I do find it personally strange that this man hadn’t left some sort of even the tiniest of imprint on my life. There must be a reason why he is very much revered in the Ateneo, and also that he has his own hall where faculty departments reside, and his own statue in a signature pose, almost reflecting his readiness in person to face any and all the challenges that came his way. Thankfully, this question mark was addressed due to the Ateneo’s efforts in recognizing Fr. de la Costa’s significance and impact in the history and culture of not just the Catholic Church, but of all the Philippines as well. A commemorative lecture series to celebrate his 100th year anniversary was arranged by the School of Humanities, and plenty of his writings were compiled in a multivolume series, freely available at the Rizal Library.
I would like to first forego any additional introduction on Fr. de la Costa, for there are plenty of accessible resources that speak of his biographical details, his education, his achievements and accolades, and many more. What I would like to share however, are the stories I’ve read and heard about the man, that which I hope would also lead others to reflection, and the insights I was able to gain out of these in relation to both his and my beliefs.
If there is one major thing I would like to express about Fr. de la Costa, it would be his awe-inspiring ability to be so studious and well-versed, to be genuinely and authentically himself in so many things all at the same time. A lot of people refer to him under multiple titles, such as a professor, a historian, or more commonly, a friend in the Lord, but only because one merely needs to take a look at his writings and to listen to his friends, to know it to be true, all of it. I believe that a good synthesis of these aspects of his was captured in Amigo en el Señor, a feature presentation on de la Costa that happened last March 27, 2016 in the Ateneo.
The presentation featured videos, speakers, skits and musical numbers that all pertained to Fr. de la Costa and the impact he had on so many. There was a musical rendition of his “Jewels of the Pauper”, a question-and-answer portion where an actor played a young de la Costa answering questions about politics, friendships and more, a comedic interlude that alluded to the upcoming elections but through using the insights de la Costa wrote about regarding the Filipino nation, and a video with first-hand accounts and reflections on de la Costa as a person. A particularly striking reflection had Fr. Rene Javellana talking about de la Costa’s dedication to his skill and craft. He said that every morning, de la Costa would have nothing on his desk but a single sheet of paper and a pen, which he used to write with for two hours every day before even having breakfast. It then comes as no surprise that his writing is very careful, analyzed, polished and refined that easily mirrors the amount of work, effort and time he put in in doing so. It was a very refreshing event to have attended, and a good way to be introduced to the many faces of Fr. de la Costa.
Now, what better way is there to verify all these accounts, almost questionably many and all in high praise all just for one man, than to dive into his actual writings and see it for oneself? Consequently, what I was able to find was anything but disappointing, and in fact almost overwhelming. Fr. de la Costa has written so much about so many things, that it may as well be easier to ask, “What hasn’t he written about?” I was able to read through writings that ranged from being short reflections of his own thoughts, to entire essays that dealt with cultural inquiries left ambiguous, answered with the objectivity of a full-fledged historian.
As a Music Literature minor of the Ateneo de Manila University, I would like to share what de la Costa wrote about in relation to music. In “Jewels of the Pauper”, the same one that was given a musical rendition in the previously mentioned Amigo en el Señor event, he expressed how it seemed like the Philippines was poor not only in an economic sense, but in a literary, artistic, and spiritual one as well. To directly quote de la Costa, “No Shakespeare, no Cervantes has yet been born among us.” However, he does mention that this “pauper” of a nation hides two jewels within her rags – that of music, and that of faith. Regardless of the 87 dialects that can be found all over the Philippines, there is unity as a people when we sing. This hearkens back to the idea that music is a universal language, and here it is clearly shown transcending boundaries thought to be impassable. Back in September of the year 2014, I experienced this transcending myself when I taught orphaned young girls in the Manila Boystown Complex about the Baroque period, and as embarrassingly unskilled I was (and currently am) in elaborating myself in my supposed native tongue, they were nevertheless very enthused and excited about my lecture and the music I let them hear, and wanted to know even more.
The other jewel, the one of faith, speaks of unity found within prayer. He mentions that all the basic rites of human life are accompanied by prayer, that so many of our differences can be put aside when we put our hearts and minds together to give glory to God, in a way accepting our flaws, but also cultivating a desire to always rise above them, to do better and to give and share love just as He does. With this, he points out how music and faith always seem to be intermingling with one another, that there are grand choirs to sing to a grand occasion, and solemn voices accompanying those which require deep prayer and reflection. Again, this is a phenomenon I’ve experienced, and have even verified back in November of 2015 when I along with a partner got to interview Fr. Arnel dC Aquino for our Liturgical Music class. Fr. Arnel pointed out how important music is in the liturgical tradition, with sentiments that reflected de la Costa’s. One has to bring the best out of music in order to bring the best out of prayer, ensuring that the music connects to its audience on an aesthetic, personal and spiritual level, enhancing unity and faith just as de la Costa pointed out.
No matter how immense music may be, it is still regarded as integral but merely part of an even greater culture. For a topic so vast, as expected, de la Costa would have even more writings related to culture, and about tackling the Filipino identity. In “The Filipino: An Identikit” and a lecture he delivered in 1971, he attempts to tackle what it is that makes a Filipino a Filipino from various historical angles, including the colonization that was brought about by more than one country, the multiple outside influences that planted their seeds and have bloomed into things that can already be considered Filipino, the mystery of the transition between the Filipino being a seafaring people from island to island into a grounded barangay of recent times, and so much more. He discusses how Spanish Christianity infused with disciplines of Philippine tradition creating a very colorful “folk Christianity”, how China took control of the middle class economy giving birth to Chinese-Filipinos of which Jose Rizal himself was, and how America colonized the Philippines not in the traditional sense but instead, in one of adoption and guidance, at least in intent. As we are, we are inseparably influenced by so many, but have created so much of our own amidst these circumstances. What de la Costa sums up as the Filipino national tradition is, through pagsasarili, pakikisama, pagkakaisa, pagkabayani and pakikipagkapwa-tao still permeates throughout all of our culture. Just as Nick Joaquin terms the Filipino identity as an “identity-in-progress”, so too does de la Costa – “To make a living identity out of our historic diversity: that way lies our hope.”
The “gentle genius” Fr. Horacio de la Costa lives on through his writings and insights. May he, as our friend, continue to be reverberated throughout the years as a grand inspiration to all.
“Fr. De la Costa describes the Philippines as a poor nation and as a nation whose people have no definable identity. Through this “lacking” however, one can find that it is a nationthat is rich in diversity where we find unity in our music (as well as in our Christian faith) especially in the form of the kundiman.”
- Joan Dumo
“Having been an effective communicator, nationalist historian and a great writer, Fr. Horacio V. de la Costa remains to be one of Ateneo‟s most influential alumnus and the country‟s treasured gem. His several works, lectures and stories on the Philippines‟ history and culture continues to be significant in remembering and tracing our heritage. His life and works are evidences of his undying and ever persistent love for our country.” - Eunice Estolatan
“Fr. Dela Costa ends by saying that “as long as there remains in these islands one mother to sing Nena’s lullaby … this nation can be conquered, trampled upon, enslaved, but it cannot perish.” (Jewels of the Pauper, 249) I echo his sentiments by saying that as long as there remains in these islands one person ready to take on the struggle of understanding our identity, we as a nation will never die.”
- Misha Samonte
“De la Costa also regards music as something that we travel with. Regardless of where we are, we always look for ways to make music and even use it to relay specific ideas to the public. And regardless of how we are, we always result to music as an avenue to express our feelings. Beyond this, we find music in anything — in something as simple as wind chimes, and even in trying to make into music the sound of the sea alongside the passing of the train. Music for de la Costa, even if he does not say it directly, is eternal. How we view life is how we can turn it into sound, into music where anyone can relate to. And this art persists among generations, as Philippine music continues to develop alongside the lives of the Filipinos.”
- Abigail Singson