The two women, who were catapulted to power by the twin Edsa People Power events were present at Villegas' episcopal ordination on Friday. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former President Corazon Aquino shared seats with Chief Justice Hilario Davide and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Joy and tears and love swept through the cavernous Manila Cathedral during the ordination rites of Villegas, the new auxiliary bishop of Manila. At 40, Villegas is the country's youngest bishop. His widowed mother Norma held her son in a long, lingering embrace during the offertory of the Mass, drawing a collective sigh and a rousing ovation from the congregation.

Cardinal Sin, who performed the rites of ordination, and Villegas shed tears as they hugged after Villegas was enthroned at the Cathedral as a member of the college of bishops. It was also Sin's 73rd birthday. Since his ordination as a priest 16 years ago, Since his ordination as a priest 16 years ago, Villegas has been the cardinal's personal secretary and spokesperson.

Villegas waxed sentimental when he addressed his community from the Edsa Shrine where he has been its rector the past 12 years.

"My beloved Edsa Shrine community, my one and only, I love you all. You met me as Father Soc almost 12 years ago. Let me be your father, only your father, and always your father. If you grew up in faith at the Edsa Shrine, it is because of God." he said. "If I am a bishop now, it is because of God and you. Edsa Shrine, I love you."

To his mentor, Cardinal Sin, Villegas was lyrical.

"Sixteen years ago, when you asked me to work for you, I saw in you a great man of faith, of joy and zealous service . . . With my eyes I captured your life. With your life, you captured my heart. You suffer for us, because of us, instead of us," Villegas told Sin after his ordination.

Villegas was just months into the priesthood when he stood by the side of the politically influential prelate during the four days of People Power in February 1986.

The desire to serve the Lord in the ministry came early for Monsignor Soc. Misty-eyed, Norma Villegas (Nanay to Monsignor Soc) recalls her son's favorite childhood game. As a boy, he used to wrap himself in a bedsheet as his chasuble, emulating a priest with a piece of galletas (a thin round wafer) as the Host. Baptism, on the other hand, consisted of pouring water over the heads of his friends' dolls.

Monsignor Soc learned the three R's at the Pateros Elementary School. Elmer Nocheseda forged his friendship with Soc there. The two became best friends and vied for academic excellence with Soc coming out on top as the valedictorian. Recalling their years together, Elmer cannot forget Soc's love for the Lord, even at an early age. At 8, Soc was asked what he would do on his birthday and he replied, "Go to Mass, and thank the Lord for the past year and ask His help for the coming one."

Throughout his four years at the San Carlos Seminary, he was an excellent student, consistently replicating the successes of his younger years. In spite of the fact Monsignor De Leon (rector of San Carlos at the time) once called his father Emiliano Villegas to complain that Soc was praying too much, Soc still had less time for study because of his prayers.

But academic excellence alone is not enough to be a priest. His superiors sent him to Talim Island for two months as part of the disciplinary course of a seminarian.

Talim Island had no electricity back then. On his first night there, in a bare hut, he lit a candle to read the Bible. The next night, another candle appeared. The same happened the night after, and so on until the nightly Bible reading was filled with the light of many candles, burning together illuminating the darkness. "That was one of the most spiritually nourishing times of my life," Monsignor Soc recalls.

To this day, Monsignor Soc goes to Talim yearly, bringing with him the youth of Edsa Shrine to share the cleansing and renewal that he found there.  

Those who are close to the monsignor have stories so refreshing that, in these days of unrest, they seemed almost too good to be true. A grateful lady, having found the Lord's comfort, gifted the monsignor with a Pajero. "Me, ride in a Pajero?" was Monsignor Soc's reaction to the gift. Disposing of the luxury SUV, Monsignor Soc put 38 Theology students through a master's degree.

All personal gifts are given away to those in need. At a recent talk to his congregation at the Edsa Shrine, he repeatedly implored his followers not to give him anything for his ordination as bishop, acknowledging that his family sees to his needs, and if the parishioners must insist on doing so, they should wrap a gift that he can give away.

Monsignor Soc has authored five books to date, and it is to Jessica, an abandoned baby found dead which he buried in his own personal plot, that he dedicated his fifth, titled "Looking for Jesus: Reflections by the Street Corner." There he writes: "Jesus, who emptied himself and took the form of a slave/...who was born in a borrowed manger/...who had no place to lay his head/....who was buried in a stranger's tomb/...who visited me as a lifeless street child named Jessica on Dec. 12, 1999....To Jessica and all the street children like her, this book is dedicated."

The title of his first book, "Only Jesus, Always Jesus," is what he preaches and what guides his life: everything is through the goodness of God and everything is for God. Paradoxically, this has moved Monsignor Soc toward the world in the spirit of charity.

For a cleric or a religious, real growth in the vocation must include one's relationship to one's flock. Here, the qualities that Monsignor Soc personifies have as much importance to the community as the spiritual doctrines and precepts proclaimed from the pulpit do. The strength of the bond that links the shepherd to the flock is buttressed on a delicate balance between generous availability and judicious distancing.

In Monsignor Soc's case, it has been his community's good fortune that his consistent non-attendance in strictly social gatherings does not at all detract from his total devotion to his pastoral commitments. This attribute is so precious yet so rare even in ministers of the Word. The Archdiocese of Manila is fortunate to have a young, vibrant and erudite bishop who will not only continue the reforms in the church but will do so with humility, fortitude and patience.

Monsignor Soc is best known for his homilies-short, crisp, meaningful and inspiring. They are sometimes too short that they might be described as bitin. In his hands, the Mass comes alive. Many Catholics tend to go to Mass only to fulfill the obligation, but the Mass at the Edsa Shrine is no ordinary guitar Mass. There is an aura of holiness and piety that is difficult to describe. One needs only to experience being part of a rapt congregation listening to Monsignor Soc.

Author's note: Monsignor Soc agreed to this article only if he is not made the center of attention. However, even as we promised him, we realized we could not have done justice to eager and welcoming anticipation of our new bishop, without these touching and human anecdotes about him. We can only add the constant phrase of Monsignor Soc when we interviewed him: "All this is through the goodness of God."

(Credit to the Philippine Daily Inquirer website for the articles and photos)