Fr. Rudy Romano: Fidelity and Joy in Serving the Poor and Oppressed…Where is justice on his involuntary disappearance?

By Weng Ranoco

R 

Redemptorist priest who vowed to serve God and the people of God for freedom, never hesitant to help the needy, even his life he is willing to offer

Representative of the religious men and women who embraced the dream and struggle for change and freedom when many are oppressed and exploited, more so when martial law was in place

Respected and highly esteemed by other professionals who he himself encouraged to raise their awareness and capabilities to read the signs of the times and the need to organize

Religious people, doctors & nurses, teachers, businessmen, lawyers, friendly politicians and other professionals, he made them aware – I am a witness as I was working with teachers and I still remember Sophie who gave the first roots of my pursuit to become an educator beyond borders.

U

Undoubtedly a known leader along with Inday Nita of Coalition Against People’s Persecution the alliance participated by Professionals Forum

Usually serious with preparations for every meeting, making sure there is an agenda to follow, diligent in making contacts with friends and network to enjoin their participation in the various activities, (including the Waray nuns like him from my alma mater)

Undaunted by the huge task on hand, he knew how to keep the job light by making sure that the responsibilities are delegated wellUpdating everyone with what he has accomplished was his way to encourage everyone to do their piece of assignment

D

Delightfully he would encourage everyone to pursue the agreed task like a missionDealing with internal conflicts was always well thought, never quick-tempered nor ill-mannered towards his coleagues, instead he would hum his way around to diffuse tension 

Definitely he had a lot of fans and because he was a handsome human being, he had to deal and struggle with personal issues and concerns, but his chosen profession and his role in organizational development always prevailed

Decidedly, he was always interested to share songs he knew in the Visayan dialect, but most memorable was the song Sinina Kong Gisi (My Torn Dress) more so when he sew one for a little girl we came to know as Mariela, the lone survivor of The 1981 Las Navas massacre who was presented at a people’s forum in Cebu.

Y

Yearning to be a simple man and his demeanor clearly showed, he was called tatay (father) by many but a few of us knew him by his nickname of choice “Ayi”

You would shudder on the evil nature of the event on July 11, 1985 early afternoon when he was picked up and involuntarily disappeared or missing, much to the worry and anxiety beyond measure of his friends who were waiting to be served of his various tasks and functions on that day

Yikes, I asked myself why did Fr. Rudy miss to visit me at the Perpetual Succor hospital as he made his regular rounds every Thursday at 3:00 PM? All along my husband knew of what happened as he was informed by our friend Sunny but did not inform me to prevent any physical relapse as I just delivered a baby at noon that day.

Yesiree, smoke cannot be clenched so I knew of what happened soon enough and I cried hard for a while, but held on to a stronger resolve I learned from Fr. Rudy himself to pursue the change and development so needed by the poor. And to honor and remember Fr. Rudy “Ayi” Romano always, my husband and I decided to give a fitting nickname to our fist born - Aya.

Notes: 

The author sent AFAD both English and Cebuano versions of this poem. We decided to publish the former. For those who may want to have a copy of the Cebuano version, kindly e-mail us at afad@surfshop.net.ph. Waray is the term given to those who come from the province of Samar and part of Leyte who spoke this particular dialect like Fr. Rudy. Another person who went missing that day was Levy Ybanez, also a freedom fighter.

Weng Ranoco

Educator beyond borders (Weng Ranoco is a former student leader from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. She now works as a teacher in Baltimore, Maryland)