Chin-Chin keeps her promise to her (late) mom

Almost two years after the tragic fire that consumed all her family’s belongings and which hastened the death of her ailing mother, Cecilia Arnaldo Gutierrez, Chin-Chin Gutierrez pays tribute to her mom with the launch of the book Golden Secrets of Eternal Love, quotes from which first appeared in this column. The book contains the memoirs of Cecilia, a former Franciscan nun who later became an artist, missionary, “angelologist” and a mother of two. Athough she had been bedridden for almost two years before she passed away, Cecilia was able to complete two manuscripts that bore testament to her deep spirituality.

The manuscripts were completed in 2003 and were entrusted to Chin-Chin’s manager, Anjie Ureta, for editing. The two folders containing her autobiography are among the very few mementos Chin-Chin has, after losing everything in that fire.

“It would be incomplete to say that the book is merely her autobiography when, in fact, it is about the journey of her Soul,” explained Chin-Chin who published the book independently. “Life is a journey and Mama tries to speak to our deeper, inner selves as Soul — the transient pilgrim in all of us. She was an authentic witness for us to see that one’s sacred identity and purpose exist, reaffirming to us the hope that it is possible to nurture one’s life into a conscious journey with every conscious sleep. Grace  is the light beyond the dark cliffs of brokenness and crisis. Her life story shows us that the fruits of consciousness are true peace and joy. Despite years of illness and physical suffering, Mama had every reason for her light to grow dim but she didn’t allow it.”

The launch is scheduled for Dec. 8, 6 p.m. at A Different Bookstore in Serendra, The Fort, Taguig City. Cecilia’s paintings and memorabilia will be on display, loaned to Chin-Chin by patrons and friends for the occasion.

“My mother always reminded me, even as a child, that we only have one purpose in life and that’s to remember our way back to God. We are given people, situations, experiences and other opportunities to assist us in this journey.”

Publishing her mother’s book was on top of the priority list of Chin-Chin’s as she recovered from the fire because she wanted to share her mother’s insights and inspiration with other families, especially those dealing with the illness of a loved one. Having personally supervised the care of her mother in her 10-year battle with diabetes, Chin-Chin said that she had no second thoughts when she risked her own life to save her mother from the burning house, during which Chin-Chin suffered third-degree burns in her hands and face.

“I only lost a house but I didn’t lose my home,” she affirmed. “My mother was my first home. When one finds home in the living eyes of a mother, one discovers paradise on Earth.”

Well said, Chin-Chin.

Incidentally, Chin-Chin also recently launched her second album, Mater Vitae: Whispers of A New World, at the 10th anniversary of the world-famous Miho Museum in Shigaraki, Japan. The event was organized by Shumei International, a global organization that provides an environment for spiritual growth through the promotion of art, beauty and natural agriculture, and was the second time Chin-Chin had collaborated with the group following her highly-successful Uyayi (her first album) performances at the Miho Museum and Shigaraki no-Sato open-air theater last year.

Mater Vitae is actually a work-in-progress. Chin-Chin hopes to complete the album and launch it in Manila by the first quarter of 2008. Her debut album, Uyayi: A Collection of Lullabies, won the 2004 Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) for Best Secular Album.

Fr. Leo Schmitt’s long-time dream is coming true

And speaking of “spiritual journey in life,” Fr. Leo Schmitt, SVD, has his own being finally fulfilled. In case you don’t know, SVD stands for Societas Virvi Divini, or Society of Divine World, founded on Sept. 8, 1875, by Arnold Janssen who became a saint in Oct. 2003.

The SVD came to the Philippines in 1908, with the Philippines as the last mission assigned by St. Arnold.

Fr. Schmitt has been here for 47 years, arriving in 1959 after spending four years in England.

“I had three countries to choose from — Congo, Japan and the Philippines,” said Fr. Schmitt who invited Ethel Ramos, her sister Len Llanes and me to Janssenville in Taytay, Rizal, his dream housing project. “And I chose the Philippines.”

After saying an early-evening Mass at a makeshift chapel and a simple dinner of fried chicken and nilagang baka, served with white rice and topped by wine-drenched ice-cream, Fr. Schmitt took us on a quick tour of the compound which is part of the flourishing 11.5-hectare village which used to be a squatter colony. Nearby is the Richmond Village where among the residents is Toni Gonzaga (is she really running for mayor of Taytay in 2010?) and her family.

In 1987, the SVD was able to acquire the whole area at a giveaway price from the generous owner and converted it into the bustling village that it is now, with more than 800 families (roughly 48,000 residents), some of whom have converted their low-cost houses (paid for monthly on affordable rates) into second-storey structures and commercial establishments.

Janssenville is only one of two SVD housing projects. The other one is the Santa Monica Retreat House in San Agustin Village in Antipolo City (which we expect to also visit soon), put up also for the poor.

Fr. Schmitt is now supervising the construction of a theater, a school, a museum and the big church (which we inspected; open by now) on 4,000-square-meter part of the village.

“My long-time dream is coming true,” he said as he walked us to the gate, with residents bowing in greeting and kids running after him to kiss his hand.

At Janssenville, Fr. Leo Schmitt is looked up to as an angel and it was easy to see why.

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