After several days of furious rain, peaceful blue skies and glorious sunshine blessed this momentous occasion. It was the much-awaited book launch of The Paschal Mystery and Divine Compassion by Antonio “Tony” Veloso Romualdez.
Families and friends arrived at the St. Marie Eugenie hall of the Assumption College in Makati City eager to congratulate the distinguished author and get hold of his book. To Tony’s surprise, he had his hands full all afternoon at the book signing table with a long line of people enthusiastically waiting for their turn. Many purchased multiple copies excited to gift them to friends. All the books brought to the launch were sold out much to the delight of the Claretian publishers represented by Fr. Jonathan Bitoy, CMF, Fr. Dennis Tamayo, CMF and Bro. Jay Coching, CMF.
The event was made most significant by the presence of Fr. Catalino Arevalo S. J. who was Tony’s beloved teacher, mentor and inspiration. The author was profuse in expressing his deepest appreciation to Fr. Arevalo, a man overflowing with wisdom and humility, for his constant counsel and encouragement, above all for the confidence he expressed on several occasions regarding his ability to carry out this extraordinary project.
“It is fitting that in this ‘Year of the Laity’ in our Church in the Philippines, it is a layperson, who has labored for many years over this book, who now puts it in our hands. He invites us to make use of it, to help us deepen our faith, a faith that seeks true understanding, but seeks also to foster within us a desire to reflect God’s own mercy and compassion in our lives,” said Fr. Arevalo.
The audience got to know the author better through a lengthy introduction done by Dr. Roberto “Bobby” Paterno, Tony’s Ateneo classmate since Grade 5, and a dear friend for 68 years. Throughout high school and college, Bobby fondly recalled, he and Tony were in the same extra-curricular activities such as the Sodality, the Sanctuary Society, the Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League, the Rizal Book Club, the College Glee Club and dramatics with Fr. James Reuter, S.J., the school publications like Hilites, The Guidon, Heights and the yearbooks.
“There was at least one activity that Tony was in that I was not. While maintaining academic honors, he was also a star athlete in the Ateneo soccer varsity team,” Bobby said.
Bobby continued that after college, Tony went abroad for graduate studies, soon completing an M.A. in English Literature and Literature at the Jesuit Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Then between 1957 and 1963, he pursued doctoral studies at the University of Toronto, in the fields of English Literature, Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy.
In 1960 he was married in Manila to Cristina Carlos, an alumna of Assumption Herran. He brought his wife back to Milwaukee and Toronto to finish his studies and start a family.
In 1963, he returned to Manila where he remained in the college faculty for a dozen years to 1975. While teaching English and Philosophy at the Ateneo, he began doing graduate studies in Theology in the same university.
His late father Eduardo Z. Romualdez was then Philippine Ambassador to the United States and the family requested Tony to help him in 1974. So he resigned from the Ateneo and brought Cristina and their children Bobby, Pael, Kiko, Martin and Anna to Washington D.C. where he joined the embassy staff. While there he took courses in Economics at the Johns Hopkins School for International Studies and in 1978 completed an MBA program at George Washington University.
For some seven years from 1979, Tony worked at first at the International Monetary Fund and then at the World Bank. Then for the next six years from 1987 to 1993, he was adjunct professor in International Business at the American University in Washington DC. At the same time and up to 1995, he was consultant in International Finance, specializing in Country Debt Swaps.
Since 2001 and in retirement, Tony has been active in Parish life in McLean, Virginia where he and Cristina live. He teaches catechism to children in Middle School and gives instruction in the Catholic faith to adult candidates for baptism.
“Tony is the closest thing I know to a ‘Renaissance Man,’ with wide ranging interests, but certainly with explorations deepest in the fields of literature, philosophy and theology. He loves to read and his home overflows with his personal library. He has always been a man of very deep, very strong faith in the catholic religion. This retreat or recollection book, The Paschal Mystery and Divine Compassion, is a logical result of the life he has been living, one devoted to seeking and understanding the deepest truths and communicating them to others hoping their lives will be enriched,” Bobby added.
In his speech, Tony said he remains ever grateful to his colleagues in the 2-B/3-B Foundation for their determination in propagating the ideals of Fr. Arevalo as well as those who recorded the priest’s Holy Week conferences in 1999 that provided valuable inspiration for his book.
He thanked Fr. Salvador Agualada, Fr. Dennis Tamayo, Robert Laurio and the staff of Claretian Publications for their enthusiasm in publishing The Paschal Mystery and Divine Compassion.
Family love was most evident in this book starting with granddaughter Theresa Romualdez who produced a colorful painting entitled The Ascension, which made for such an appropriate cover. Tony thanked his son Martin for dealing with editorial and legal issues and his wife Kara for her expertise in computer technology.
“I can never forget the thoughtfulness of my son Rafael, his wife Yvonne and my daughter Anna, all of whom made sure that during my visits to Manila I had all the proper equipment and supplies I needed to continue refining my manuscript.
“My profoundest gratitude goes to my wife Cristina, a companion and friend. She was always supportive and encouraging — an inspiration of the first order,” said Tony.
On the other hand, Cory Villafania, a spiritual formator, teacher from the Assumption and also a former student of Fr. Arevalo, did a touching commentary sharing parts of the book that moved her spirit.
“I feel so elated to have read Sir Tony’s book,” Cory said. “It is a loving reminder that God is ever present in our lives whether in joy or in pain. We have the privilege of forever being accompanied by Christ. He has confirmed my faith!”
This book, The Paschal Mystery and Divine Compassion, is a real treasure.
(Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com.)
(The Paschal Mystery and Divine Compassion is available at Claretian Bookstore at #8 Mayumi St., UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City (921-3984 or 0939-3945532) and Paulines Communication Bookstore at 2650 F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City (831-6420).)