To have & to hold

May forever.

And not just with devoted married couples.

Carla Teresa Infante was born to a landed family in Negros Occidental, and was the eldest offspring. A born leader, she was perhaps expected to run their hacienda and sugar mill one day. In fact, she was named after her father, Carlos. She was also a local beauty queen. Come May time in Negros, she was Reyna Elena. On June 12, she was Miss Independencia.

But in 1958, she decided to enter the Assumption Convent in Iloilo City, where she was a student. And she never left.

Father Bernard Nolasco is flanked by the Infante siblings Sisters Rose Peter, Estela and Carla r.a. and their only brother Teodulfo or ‘Boy.’ Not in photo is another sibling, Ningning.

Last Tuesday, her 60th year as a nun, Sister Carla Teresa Infante of the Religious of the Assumption renewed her vows before God and the Assumption sisters represented by their Provincial Superior, Sister Sheryl Reyes r.a. There was a reverent silence  at the AC San Lorenzo chapel as Sister Carla was reciting her vows, first in French facing the altar, then in English, her hands in Sister Sheryl’s hands.

Sister Carla not only kept her vows. She never regretted, “not even for a moment,” keeping them. And she said her vows before her former Grade 1 student, now her Mother Superior, Sister Sheryl.

Now, how cool is that?

***

In her brief remarks at the simple reception that followed at the nearby Biyaya Hall after the Mass, Sister Carla said her desire nowadays is to capture, “like a camera, the beauty of today.”

And she believes with all her heart, that “Life is not beautiful without the cross. So be happy with Jesus. Live happy.”

My three sisters Mary Mae, Geraldine and Valerie, and my only niece Trish Sotto and I were all touched by the energetic spirituality of Sister Carla during our school days, and after. When I presented my wedding bouquet at the Assumption San Lorenzo Chapel almost 33 years ago, it was Sister Carla who welcomed “home” my husband Ed and me.

Sister Carla the first time she took her vows.

For my sister Geraldine, a psychiatrist practicing in Philadelphia, Sister Carla was the nun who made each student believe that “someone believes in her,  and makes her seek paths that bring out the best in her.”

Geraldine recalls, “I was not your typical honor student. I was smart, but I had the tendency to break rules (talking in class, arriving late), offend teachers (questioning lesson plans). More often than I wanted, I was made aware of their displeasure with my behavior. It was different with Sister Carla, she always had a twinkle in her eye and a grin, whenever she saw me, as if to give me the message ‘I know you don’t mean to be trouble, you are just a smart, energetic, playful young person.’  I thought I was Sister Carla’s favorite student.

“During my 50th birthday last year, I visited San Lorenzo and met up with Sister Carla. I excitedly showed her the pictures of my celebration with my batch mates of Class 1985. To my surprise, she knew everyone’s name, what have become of them since high school.  Alas, my fantasy of being the favorite was dashed.”

(Seated) Natalie Manalo-Dalupan, Sister Carla and Malu Gamboa-Lindo; (standing, from left) Menchit Aldeguer-Fajardo, Loudette Roman-Tanjuatco, Valerie Mayor-Sotto and Rojinie Ramsay-Cortes with Trish Sotto.

Indeed, as Sister Carla’s brother Teodulfo or “Boy” recalled during the reception, his eldest sister was a natural leader and quite a naughty one at that. He recalled how she convinced her sisters and playmates to rock their uncle’s hammock so hard he fell off it! As they all scampered in different directions to hide, the troublemakers all got caught. But Sister Carla, then called “Manay Carola,” managed to hide in the fields, returning through the backdoor at sundown. She got off scot-free!

Boy also recalled that when Sister Carla entered the Assumption, “she never left.” Even if it meant not being able to visit the family home in Negros for 20 years (the rules have been relaxed since then). Why, Sister Carla even inspired her two younger sisters Estela and Rose Peter to enter the convent, too!

***

One of my favorite teachers, and later co-teacher Marilen Liwag-Reambillo was Sister Carla’s very first student 60 years ago.

“Sister Carla is so uniquely loving even when she is disciplining. This is why she is transformative. Every encounter with her is both a learning and loving experience. She has ways that stick to the heart and soul that’s why the girls cannot forget her. I was a beneficiary of her love through all these years and up to the present. Sister Carla is love and gentleness,” Marilen says.

Sister Carla was Class ‘85’s class adviser in their second and fourth years. With Sister Carla in photo are JJ Uy, Mia Moraleda, Maybelle Herrera, Cricket Lesaca, Pauline Lagdameo, Ginger Paras, Armee Javellana, Maryrose Tuazon, Emilie Yupangco, Eya Lozada, Sr. Maitel Roceles, Lara Eviota, Trina Avila and Marnie Torres, carrying the bouquet for Sr. Carla, specially ordered by Geraldine Mayor from the US.

No wonder her former students showed up in droves on a busy, rainy Tuesday to celebrate with their beloved Sister Carla.

The priest, Father Bernard Nolasco or “Fr. Drans” of Don Bosco believes it was Jesus calling and choosing all those who attended the Jubilee Mass — including himself. Just like Sister Carla, who says Jesus was the reason she entered the convent, and the reason she stayed, “because I am not really holy like all the sisters around me.”

After the Mass, Sister Carla was glowing like a diamond. She told me: “I am overwhelmed  with gratitude for all of the 60 years. Indeed, ‘every detail of our life is a thought of love’ and love was overflowing in that chapel that evening.

Batch ‘87. (Seated, from left) Rowena Cuyco Suarez, Laura Lim Rodrigo, Marianne Perez Hernandez, Jeanne Bautista Romulo, Jill Ignacio Busuego, Karla Siopongco Campos and Clarissa Gonzalez; (standing, from left) Margie Abary Duavit, Ada Bautista Mamon, Maya Katigbak Colayco, Mayette Alonzo Yara, Carmina Chuidian Mariano and Cecille Rabuco. Photo by Francine Campos

“The presence of the once-upon-a-time boys (from Assumption Iloilo) and girls, representing the many who filled my life all these years and seeing what they have become and continue to become, overwhelm! The Assumption San Lorenzo HS Batches ‘84 to ‘91 who organized and hosted the celebration, all because they love, overwhelms!”

When I asked her the other day how she felt still, Sister Carla replied with her trademark grin and wink, “Heaven!”