Father of Xaverians

In the early 1990s, Fr. Ismael G. Zuloaga, S.J., invited Chinese-Filipino youth to dialogue with the Church.

He wanted to know our views on the relevance of the Church to Chinese-Filipino youth and to communicate our thoughts to Church leaders.

I joined, among others, Dobbin Tan (later to become Xavier School’s Alumni Association head), Richard Chu (who would write a book on Chinese- Filipinos in Manila) and Jan Tan Co-Chua (who became a board member of the National Broadcasting Network).

I found Father Zulo to be open-minded and judicious. Although our group could not continue to meet, Father Zulo and I became friends.

Longest-serving director

Born on Nov. 2, 1927, in the Basque region, Father Zulo left Spain to spread the faith in China but ended up in the Philippines. He continued his studies at the Jesuit seminary in Baguio City and became a priest in 1957.

In 1965, he succeeded Fr. Jean Desautels, S.J., becoming Xavier’s second director. He served for two decades until 1985.

Once I told Father Zulo he was the driving force behind Xavier, much as the late Sr. Teresita Canivel, M.I.C., was the beloved spirit behind Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA), of which he was a board member till his death.

“Comparing me to the good sister,” his eyes twinkled, “[is] a real honor.”  When I told Sister Tere about this, she said, with characteristic humility, that she did not even accomplish half of what Father Zulo had done.

Father Zulo was a visionary. He was way ahead of his time.  In 1967, he appointed the remarkable Jenny Go, a layperson, as grade school principal.  Many Catholic schools have since followed the bold move.

Under Father Zulo’s stewardship, Xavier became, in 1971, the first school for boys to be recognized by the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities.  He also set in place the system of individualized instruction, allowing students to advance based on personal performance and merit.

Father Zulo believed in individual responsibility for learning.  Once, a flustered Father Zulo told me, “I just met this priest and he was on his way to a tutorial center.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, “why are you angry?”

“Because he was going to bless the center!” he replied.  “In the ’70s, most Xavier boys studied on their own, without all this tutoring business.  They studied well and they learned well.  Now with so many tutorials around, do you think they learn better?  Do they perform better?  No.  I told the priest he should not bless the center; he should do the opposite!”

I laughed and told him, “I totally agree, Father Zulo. Studies show that students with good study habits do better than those who depend on tutors.  Can I quote what you just said?”

“Go ahead!” he said.

Father Zulo was also convinced that only with the help of all stakeholders could a school become truly great.   He formed Xavier’s Board of Trustees (which he chaired till his death) and the Parents’ Auxiliary, and revived the Alumni Association.

Dream realized

After his term as Xavier director, Father Zulo finally realized his dream of serving China.  In 1992, he became president of the Jesuit Conference for East Asia and Oceania, a post he held till 2004.

The Xavier School Board of Trustees presented Father Zulo the Luceat Lux Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, stating: “Following in the footsteps of Matteo Ricci, he approached his mission to China as a ‘dialogue of culture’ and set up a new Jesuit mission in China for the third millennium by supporting Chinese priests and religious to study in Manila, raising money for social projects in China, and establishing two now thriving China centers in Beijing.”

Father Zulo loved Asia.  Before his first trip to Cambodia, I warned him about land mines. Later, he invited me to visit the country. When I said I did not have the courage of the Jesuit scholastic Richie Fernando, he said he would keep me safe.  (Fernando threw himself on a live land mine to save a child.)  Alas, I never took Father Zulo up on his offer.

When he returned to Xavier in 2004, I told him I was relieved he no longer had to avoid land mines or potential war zones.  “Back to school, alumni and parents!”  Father Zulo said.  “Is that as dangerous?”  I quipped, and he erupted in laughter.

Father Zulo spearheaded Xavier’s Golden Jubilee in 2006. As head of the Development and Alumni Relations Office, he pushed for the Xavier-Kuangchi Exemplary Alumni Award to recognize those who embodied the school ideal of “men fully alive, endowed with a passion for justice and the skills for development.”

Several awardees, such as John Burtkenley Ong, Edward Wang, William Chua, Francis Chua, Wellington Tong, were his students. He also mentored current school director Fr. Johnny Go, Jesuit Communications head Fr. Aristotle Dy and former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

Father Zulo once told me he wished private schools could offer socialized tuition fees.   Xavier’s Nuvali campus, which opened in June, was part of his vision for the future. I knew he hoped that soon a quarter of the students there would be scholars.

Father Zulo passed away on Oct. 8.  My husband, my brother, and my son are all from Xavier.  The first two, students during Father Zulo’s tenure, admire his focus on academic standards.

My son remembers his kindness:  Father Zulo visited my father who was grieving over my mother’s death. My son did a magic trick, turning water into wine.  Father Zulo looked properly astounded, hugged the boy, and said, “Show me the secret,” which my son promptly did.

At his last ICA board meeting in late 2011, I sat beside a frail Father Zulo, who remained mentally sharp.  “Continue helping ICA,” he said, patting my hand, and, “Xavier, when needed.”

Both schools were doing very well, I wanted to tell him, but I knew he knew.

Rest in peace, Father Zulo. God bless you.

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