MERLE (née Padilla) and Boy Cunanan, along with her sister Marietta Padilla Malinao are back from Rome where they attended the golden jubilee of the ordination into the priesthood of their brother Archbishop Osbaldo Padilla.
I remember Archbishop Osbaldo Padilla from our elementary school days first at St. Theresa’s College, and then at Colegio del Santo Niño. He was, of course, the brightest in the class, and also the most humble.
Merle, Osbaldo and Marietta are three of the 13 children of the late Dr. Tiburcio Padilla and Concesa Montecillo Padilla. To complete the roster we have: Dr. Rosario Padilla Ceniza, Dr. Ernesto Padilla, Engr. Cristino Padilla, Aida Padilla, Carmelita Padilla Roa, Mercedita Padilla Madera, Archbishop Francisco Padilla (like his elder brother, a papal nuncio), Milagros Padilla Yu, engineer Lorenzo Padilla and Jane Padilla Ayaay.
The Magic 13, they call themselves. And they all went to Rome with their spouses, children and grandchildren for this happy family occasion. They were 80 all in all!
That included cousins Vita Cabatingan; Anita, Fe and Lourdes Mangubat; Tita and Angie Bacalso.
Aside from this being Archbishop Osbaldo’s 50th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood, it was also the silver jubilee (25 years) of his investiture as Archbishop and Papal Nuncio. He has represented the Vatican in several nations with great diplomatic brilliance and éclat.
Highlight of the occasion was a special audience with his Holiness Pope Francis for everyone. It was a most memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience, says Merle with great enthusiasm.
As Merle tells us, preparations for this unique celebration were done with a one-year timetable. It was Archbishop Osbaldo’s decision to celebrate his jubilee in Rome, of which he has many fond memories.
It was in Rome where he finished his studies for the priesthood and where he studied at the diplomatic academy for his career in the foreign service of the Holy See.
He wanted to reunite with his former classmates, some of whom hold high positions in the Vatican hierarchy.
Merle further tells us that the convincing line for everyone to join the celebration was “those who will attend will have a chance to see the pope.” And more!
Archbishop Osbaldo planned their itinerary to the minutest detail, from the arrivals to the family gatherings, the formal dinner and excursions to Pompeii and Loreto.
Divine Providence played its part to perfection, of that Merle has no doubt for the smoothness of the whole thing. She and all the rest are sure that smiling from up above in heaven were their beloved parents Dr. Tiburcio and Concesa Padilla.
Merle also shares that their family adage is “the family that prays together stays together, and likewise the family that stays together, prays together.
From our end, we express our most sincere congratulations to Archbishop Osbaldo Padilla and the entire Padilla family for this event, and for all the blessings they have been showered with. May their tribe increase!
Today, we feature one grand photo of the Padilla family at the papal chambers of the Vatican with Pope Francis in their midst during the special audience granted them.
Tomorrow, we will do a photoplay with the rest of the pictures brought by Boy and Merle Cunanan from Rome. For more you may go to photovat.com in the Internet. Date is February 26, 2016.
