Doctor, educator, builder of men

On Monday, October 14, in the beautiful chapel of the Loyola School of Theology, Doctor Alran Bengzon celebrated his 70th birthday. The Mass was said by Father Ben Nebres, S.J., the president of the Ateneo de Manila University. Father Catalino Arevalo S.J. delivered the homily. Both paid deserving tribute to a good man.

When he was in school at the Ateneo, Alran Bengzon was elected president of his class for eight years in a row - through four years of high school, and through four years of college. This is no small thing. At that time the Ateneo was a Boys’ School. The boys were close to each other. They knew each other well. When they chose the same boy for eight successive years, it meant one thing: this boy is a natural leader.

He was not only an excellent student. He was a singer, with a deep strong bass voice. And he was an actor. He worked with the best of them – Vic Silayan, Vic Diaz, Tommy Abuel. In the play of Father Horacio de la Costa on the Blessed Virgin Mary, which he called "Woman of the House", Alran played the Raja Soliman, Raja of Maynila, the nephew of Raja Lakandula of Tondo.

The Rajah Soliman would have nothing to do with the Blood Pact between Lakandula and Legaspi. He believed that it was not peace, but surrender. He said to Lakandula: "Look well into that cup you are about to drink! See if it contains peace or slavery!" He stormed away, to the north. . . . .Much later, a warrior brought his sword to Ligaya, the girl whom Soliman was to marry. He gives it to her on his knees, saying:

"And so, my lady, the Raja Soliman left them, black anger in his heart. And he traveled a day and a night, and a night and a day, to raise the rice land people against the white invader. And the men of Macabebe came at his summons, and the men of Hagonoy, and the twelve tribes of Capampangan, spearmen and bolomen, an exceeding great army.

"Swiftly they paddled down river in their black war boats, the Raja Soliman leading the way. But there at Bankusay, the Channel of Bankusay, the white men lay in wait with their flame sticks that deal death from afar.

"Fierce was the battle that was joined, my lady. Red, blood red, ran the waters where the river meets the sea. Like a fire, like a roaring fire in the forest was the Raja Soliman. Even as the leaping fire sends the tall trees toppling, lays low the giants of the forest, even so the sword of Soliman wrought havoc among his enemies.

"But what is the might of a man, my lady, what is the valor of a man when the gods, being angry, fight for his enemies? Die he must, and all that lies in his choice is the manner of his dying. . . . .So died the Raja Soliman.

"But before he died, the moment before he died, he whispered one word, one name, my lady, and it was yours – Ligaya. . . . And so the chiefs, having consulted together, sent me to bring you. . . . .this. . . . It is his sword, all that is left of Soliman, Lord of Maynila, bravest of the brave. Take it, my lady; it is yours."

Father de la Costa could have written lines like that about Alran Bengzon. He was like the Raja Soliman.

When he finished college, he applied for entrance into the Society of Jesus, and was accepted. His parents were in favor of this. They kissed him goodbye, and went abroad. His name was put on the door of a room in Sacred Heart Novitiate, the novitiate of the Jesuits. The Master of Novices at that time was Jim McCann S.J., my good friend. He said to me: "We are waiting for that brilliant boy of yours – the one you told me about –Alran Bengzon."

But just before his entrance day, on his way down from Baguio, Alran began to think of all his friends who had entered the Jesuits, and then left. He thought: "If they could not do it, how can I?" I was in the Culion Leper Colony, so he went to Father Benny Mayo, S.J., at Xavier House in Santa Ana, Father Mayo said: "Well, son, if you are doubtful, don’t enter! Wait a while. Pray over it!"

So Alran went into medical school, at UP. The Dean was Doctor Agerico B.M. Sison, who felt that the Ateneo A.B. was the best possible preparation for medicine. He said: "In Pre-Med everyone is studying the eye and ear, the kidney and the liver, the heart and lungs. No one is studying the man!" Alran came to him from the Ateneo A.B., and was one of his finest students.

And then he fell in love. He said: "Nini and I would like to see you." We met in my office, in the old Ateneo at Padre Faura. It was my first time to see Nini. She was teaching at the Ateneo Grade School. And she really looked like a school teacher.

I said: "What’s the problem?" Alran said: "It’s not my problem. It’s hers." Nini blushed, and hung her head. She said: "I know that a girl is sometimes a great temptation to a boy. And I don’t want to be a temptation to him. . . . .ever! So my question is. . . . . .Is it alright for him to hold my hand?"

I thought: "Wow! This boy is really bright!. . . . .He can recognize a good girl when he sees one!" This was such a tribute to Nini! Alran did not want to enter the Jesuits because he was not sure that he could make a go of it as a priest. But he was sure that he could make a go of it with Nini!. . . . . .And it has worked out that way, exactly. They have been faithful to each other through all the long years!

During their courtship I was conscious of only one moment of conflict. Alran and Nini asked for a special Mass at La Ignaciana. Alran wanted to put the engagement ring on Nini’s finger during the Mass, right after Holy Communion. The Mass was scheduled for 6 a.m.

At six Nini was there, but no Alran. 6:15, still no Alran. At 6:30 I lost the altar, because another priest was scheduled for it. I found another altar. At 6:45 Alran appeared. The ceremony went off as planned. They left, and I went to breakfast.

But about an hour later both of them came back! Nini was in tears. She said: "I don’t think that I should marry him! Our engagement means nothing to him! Look! He came 45 minutes late!"

Alran protested: "But I told her! I told her the alarm went off, but I didn’t hear it. I slept through it!" Nini said: "See? He is lying! Who could sleep through an alarm clock, ringing? First he is late, and then he lies about it!"

I did the best I could to establish peace. Eventually they made up, and I was the priest at their wedding. Some time later Nini came to me, alone, and said, in wonder: "You know? It’s true! He is sound asleep. And the alarm clock is only twelve inches away. It rings. And he sleeps right through! He does not even bat an eyelash!"

I could understand that. Alran works with fierce intensity. He concentrates on everything he does. So when he sleeps, he goes out cold. He can sleep through any alarm clock.

They went abroad, so that Alran could specialize in neurology. When they left the Philippines, they were three: Alran, Nini, and their baby boy. When they came back, they were six. They had a German son, a Canadian son, and an American son. Later, they had another Philippine son, to make a complete basketball team.

During martial law, Alran played the Raja Soliman for real. There were seven strong figures leading the opposition to the all-powerful regime. The ones I remember best are Father Joaquin Bernas, S.J., Jimmy Ongpin and Alran.

Father de la Costa said once: "At the Ateneo we are supposed to be turning out leaders. But after graduation, what do they do? They sell soap!" He was thinking of Mon Ylanan, who was then the head of Procter and Gamble. Ylanan said, like a typical Ateneo boy: "No . . . . We are not selling soap. We are selling cleanliness!. . . . . And cleanliness is next to Godliness!"

Alran does not sell soap. As a doctor he is trying to heal the body, to preserve life. As an educator, he is trying to develop the mind, the heart, the character of his students in the Graduate School. He is trying to build men. He is working night and day, planning a medical school for the Ateneo.

No wander he can sleep through an alarm clock, singing!

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