PARING BOL-ANON AS BRIGADIER GENERAL

Msgr. Gorgonio Corpus Zapatos, Jr. H.P., PH.D. Brigadier General 0-5247, Armed Forces of the Philippines . He is the only Boholano priest with this distinction. It is comfortably comprehensible to envision the Boholano as a priest, for there are hundreds of these disciples of God here and abroad. The island province even holds the record of being the home to most Bishops. The seeming twist, but wholesome incongruence, comes when a priest is also a soldier. Which reminds us of the ancient days of colonization, when the colonizer held the cross in one hand, and the sword in the other. The cross and the sword are not exactly held aloft by Msgr./Brig. Gen. Gorgonio Zapatos, Jr., but there is no denying that he is a high-ranking leader in both the Church and the State. He is in a world seldom treaded by the advocates of religion. How he fared exceedingly well in this realm, and developed into a well-rounded individual, loved and respected by those who profess to know him, is a story that spans seven decades.

When this biographical sketch comes off the press, Brig. Gen. Zapatos would have celebrated his 72nd birth anniversary. All these years he had gone through countless rise and fall, rain and sunshine, pain and laughter. All he considers as part of life's journey in search of fulfillment. At a time when millions say they have had enough, and throw the proverbial white towel into the ring as a sign of surrender, he flexed his muscles and strained his brain, to write and finish his dissertation for a Ph.D. in O.D. at the internationally prestigious Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute. It is a legacy he wishes to leave to the upcoming generation. Earlier, when he was assigned at the PMA, he accomplished the academic requirements for a Ph.D. in Education at St. Louis University , Baguio City .

Boy (his moniker as a youth) was born in Loay on September 16, 1933 . His parents, Gorgonio Zapatos, Sr. and Dominadora Corpus, were both dedicated public school teachers. He was a graduate of the University of the Philippines , and she was a product of Philippine Normal College. They raised nine children and, except for Flaviano, who died at age fourteen, all become highly successful professionals. Natividad Z. Johnson graduated from a teaching course at what is now Holy Name University , and is an American citizen residing in California . Edita Z. Eronico is also a teacher. She graduated at Saint Joseph College . Carolina is a Certified Public Accountant, also an HNU graduate, and now resides in Gemsville Subdivision in Lahug, Cebu City . Carlos finished his medical studies at UE, and mans St. Peter's Family Clinic in Angono, Rizal. Jose was a teacher from BSAT, now CVSCAFT. Remedios was a teacher and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music at Saint James College .

Three days after his birth he contacted a skin disease, which made him seriously ill. Most believed he had a slim chance at survival, but not his mother, who prayed hard and made a “panaad” that if he made it, he will be a priest. His inclination to religious life was basically a fulfillment of her mother's pledge. She enrolled him at the San Carlos Archdiocesan Seminary in Argao, Cebu , and was with the school when it transferred to Mabolo, Cebu City . In 1955 he finished his Ph. B. in the same seminary. He stayed on for his Bachelor of Sacred Theology and was ordained as Priest in 1959.

His first assignment was in Jagna, at St. Michael Parish. It was during this time when Bishop Manuel Mascariñas built the Cathedral Palace ; thus a fund drive was initiated. With Father Flaviano Abrau, Father Zapatos was so absorbed in the project, resulting to the Jagna Parish tapping all the others in soliciting contributions. For his sterling performance, Fr. Boy was awarded “El Mas Activo Coajutor de Jagna.” In 1961 he was promoted Parish Priest. He was transferred to San Miguel, which used to be Cambangay Sur, and separated from the municipality of Trinidad . The people of the new Parish gave him “takay” rice of 50 sacks every harvest. Those he sold to Hoc Sing and deposited the money at PNB, in preparation for his big job to build the Saint Michael Church.

One day, Bishop Mascariñas paid him a visit. The Bishop saw the ricefields near the location of the could-be church, and told Fr. Zapatos, “Boy, paliton nato ang otso ektarya,” which he did, titled to the Diocese of Tagbilaran. Later, they decided to sell six hectares of the land. It was an amount they used to build the Parish Church of San Miguel. His relationship with the parishioners was spotless. He even had the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Judge, Chief of Police, and Councilors as members of the church choir. Until politics reared its ugly head. He had to leave the town so as not to be caught in the political crossfire in 1963. Cardinal Santos was then the Military Vicar General, and he applied as Chaplain of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and was readily accepted.

Father Zapatos was called to active duty as 1st Lieutenant of AFP on January 20, 1965 . From thereon came a long string of assignments: Squadron Chaplain of the PAF in Occidental Mindoro; Base/Wing Chaplain of PAF in Lipa City and Mactan Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City; Executive Officer of PAF, Nichols Air Base in Pasay City, then Zamboanga City; Command Chaplain, PMA, Baguio City; Deputy Navy Chaplain, PN, Fort Bonifacio; Chief Chaplain Service, AFP when he was promoted Brigadier General on July 13, 1993. He retired on September 15, 1993 after almost 30 years with the AFP.

Brig. Gen. Zapatos, Jr. could have rested on his laurels, and live comfortably on his monthly pension; but he did not see any purposeful existence as a retiree. At the prime of his life, he still had a lot of things to do. Armed with a two-year scholarship grant as Extraordinary Student on Magisterium/Spirituality, he flew to Pamplona , Spain and enrolled as a scholar at the University of Navarre . During weekends, when his workload permitted, he traveled to London , France ( Lourdes ), Portugal ( Fatima ), Rome , Israel , and other European countries. It was an enriching experience at the prime of his life. Then he met Fr. Jorge Suboda, a Canadian, who invited him to work as a Parish Priest. He went to Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada and became the Parish Priest of St. Therese Parish and Our Lady of Visitation Parish. From 1997 to 1998 he was Parochial Vicar of St. Peter Parish. He became a Canadian citizen in 2000, while still retaining his Filipino citizenship.

Brig. Gen. Zapatos has received several awards and citations. Among them are: Award of the Distinguished Service Star from the AFP; a couple of Military Merit Medals; 4 Military Commendation Medals; Campaign Medals in Jolo, Visayas, and Mindanao-Sulu; EDSA Rev Badge; AFPCGSC Medallion, and Certificate of Appreciation from Commo Plaridel C. Garcia; The Catholic Evangelization Training School, Bukas Loob ng Diyos Covenant Community, Healing Power of Holy Cross, and many others.

l