Si Paring Erick ng Tundo

Isang malaking karangalan para sa Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc. ang pagpapaunlak ng nag-iisang Fr. Erick Santos, ang Parish Priest ng Santo Nino de Tondo.

Si Fr. Erick, or Rev. Fr. Enrique Santos, ay ang sagisag ng mga kabataan ng Simbahan: matalino, masigla, makulit, kwela at higit sa lahat maka-Kristo. Sa taglay niyang karisma at dedikasyon sa kanyang ministry, walang madugong pagtutol kung idedeklara natin siyang isa ng ALAMAT. Buhay na alamat.

To start our EYEBALL, allow us to quote another popular priest about Fr. Erick - si Fr. Jerry Orbos, " At the "Concert for the Missions," Fr. Erick Santos brought the house down with his natural and contagious sense of humor. He is funny, without even trying. What makes him so effective I think is his willingness to give himself, even make a fool himself, for the sake of others. Give na give talaga. He is one priest who knows how to be self-effacing to make the flock happy and see again the bright side of life. Father Erick, in so many ways, reminds us again of the "11th Commandment," i.e. "Do not take yourself too darn seriously!"


ANLUWAGE: Mula po sa mataas na altar table ng isang simbahan sa Pasig hanggang sa paglangoy sa Malabon, Father, sa tingin po ba ninyo ay nalagpasan na ninyo ang pinakamatinding challenge ng pagkapari?

FR. ERICK: Mahirap sabihin kasi everyday me dumadating na bagong challenge. And I love challenges. It brings out the best in me.

ANLUWAGE: Kakaiba ang karisma mo bilang pari. At iba rin po ang style ninyo pati sa pagmimisa. Are you just being yourself or meron po kayong mensahe na gustong iparating sa ating Simbahan?

FR. ERICK: PAREHO. I'm being myself. There's no place in the church for hypocrisy. God made me this way. But it should not hinder me from being the BEST OF MYSELF. At the same time, I wish to convey a nessage, too. Kahit ano pa ang paraan ng pag- atake natin sa buhay (at sa buhay-simbahan), there will always be a place for everybody. Kahit hindi ako mukhang pari at di rin tunog-pari, I can still be effective for as long as I'm sincere.

ANLUWAGE: Can you call yourself a "rebel priest"?

FR. ERICK: Rebel, in a way, yes. Kasi nga unconventional ang approach ko. But I will always prescribe to the teachings of the Church. Medyo rebelde lang ang pamamaraan.

ANLUWAGE: Totoo bang tinanggihan mo raw pong hawakan ang Gagalangin?

FR. ERICK: NOT TRUE. It could have been a dream assignment. Kasi kahit hindi ako naka-asign sa Gagalangin, the people love me as their own.

ANLUWAGE: How'd you describe your friendship with Fr. Bong Guerrero?

FR. ERICK: Yan yung tipong magkaibigang kahit di laging nagkikita, alam namin that somewhere, somewhow meron kaming kaibigang laging matatakbuhan. Di kami nagkaroon ng kahit na kaunting pagtatalunan.

ANLUWAGE: Sinong mas pogi sa inyo?

FR. ERICK: OBVIOUS NAMAN, DI BA?




ANLUWAGE: Bakit hindi kasali si Fr. Bong sa Six Priests in the City?

FR. ERICK: He chose to be mellow by now. Eh ako kasi pinilit lang ding sumama sa grupo. Di naman ako singer.

ANLUWAGE: Bakit six lang po? Wala po ba kayong balak mag-expand?

FR. ERICK: Six lang talaga. And upon reaching the age of 45, automatic, papalitan na.

ANLUWAGE: Temporary lang ba ang Six Priests? Ano po ang objective nito?

FR. ERICK: sIX pRIESTS IN THE cITY IS HERE TO STAY. It is meant to be a group of singing priest friends - jamming-jamming, bonding-bonding. Parang magkakapatid. We wish to entertain and help poor parishes and church groups through concerts. Check our friendster page: sixpriests_inthecity@yahoo.com.

ANLUWAGE:Cardinal Sin or Archbishop Rosales?

FR. ERICK: Pareho.

ANLUWAGE: Ano ang pagkakaiba ng dalawang arsobispo?

FR. ERICK: Mas agresibo si Sin. Low profile si Rosales. Pero nagsasalita din kapag kailangan. Sin guided me through my 18 years of ministry. Rosales is a father who is always willing to listen.

ANLUWAGE: Please describe the new pope in 1 word.

FR. ERICK: MATINDI.

ANLUWAGE: Kung ibabalik ang time, would you still study in Torres High School?

FR. ERICK: SYEMPRE.

ANLUWAGE: Sino po bang idol ni Fr. Erick? Yung buhay pa.

FR. ERICK: BO SANCHEZ

ANLUWAGE: Kumustang parishioners ang mga taga-Sto. Nino?

FR. ERICK: Kasingkulit ko.

ANLUWAGE: In your personal view, ok lang po bang mag-casino ang mga pari?

FR. ERICK: Di yata maganda.

ANLUWAGE: How do you prepare for Mass?

FR. ERICK: I reflect for some minutes.

ANLUWAGE: What's your biggest disappointment, kung meron man?

FR. ERICK: Wala.

ANLUWAGE: Most embarassing moment po?

FR. ERICK: Pinagalitan ako ni Cardinal Sin sa harap ng maraming tao.

ANLUWAGE: Kung hindi naging pari si Fr. Erick, ano kaya siya ngayon?

FR. ERICK: Mayor of Manila.

ANLUWAGE: Should celibacy stay?

FR. ERICK: Defnitely.

ANLUWAGE: Paano po kayo naging close ni Ai-ai delas Alas?

FR. ERICK: We met 12 years ago. We talked and discovered na pareho kami ng Wavelength. Sya ang babaeng Fr. Erick ako namang ang lalaking AiAi. I love her very dearly. She is also supportive of my ministry.

ANLUWAGE: Smart or Globe?

FR. ERICK: Globe.

ANLUWAGE: Ano po ang dream ninyo para sa Church?

FR. ERICK: A church truly journeying with the poor and the youth. A successfull Pondo ng Pinoy.

ANLUWAGE: ABS or GMA?

FR. ERICK: Kahit kaibigan ko si AiAi, alam niyang GMA ako.

ANLUWAGE: Ano pong libangan ninyo?

FR. ERICK: Nature-tripping. The great outdoors.

ANLUWAGE: Pinakaluho ninyo, Father?

FR. ERICK: Travels abroad. Lagi namang libre eh. Lacoste apparels.

ANLUWAGE: Ok po ba sa inyong magkaroon ng paring babae?

FR. ERICK: Hindi pa oras.

ANLUWAGE: Ano po so far ang masasabing greatest accomplishment ninyo, Father?

FR. ERICK: Having sent several young people to high school and college. Remaining poor and simple. That's an accomplishment.

ANLUWAGE: Kung makakaharap po ninyo ang Diyos, ano ang pinakaunang sasabihin ninyo?

FR. ERICK: TARA NA PO.

ANLUWAGE: Maraming-maraming salamat po. Nga po pala, ilang taon na po kayo sa Priesthood? Sa UST po ba kayo nag-aral?

FR. ERICK: 18 years in the priesthood. I attended Our Lady of the Angels Franciscan Seminary (college), UST Central Seminary (Theology and Canon Law) and De La Salle (Masteral)

ANLUWAGE: MARAMING SALAMAT PO MULI, FATHER. Sana po'y hindi namin masyadong nagambala ang inyong oras.

FR. ERICK: ANONG HINDI?????