In celebration of the feast of the transfer of relics of Saint John Baptist De La Salle, anniversary of the Bull of Approbation, and Lasallian Mentors’ Day, a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Fr. Bong Bayaras at Augusto-Rosario Gonzales (ARG) Theater, Taft Campus, earlier today, Jan. 24, emphasizing humility and being one with the plight of the poor.


Photo by Anne Valmeo

Associates and members of the Benildean community attended the mass alongside the students. Benilde chaplain Fr. Marco Divine Pangilinan, SSS joined in as the mass concelebrant.

Fr. Bayaras started the homily by quoting Tuesdays with Morrie’s question of, “What’s wrong with being number 2?” stating that in a world that prioritizes and aspires to be the first and to be on top, there is nothing wrong with being the second or the latter part.

“There is something wrong with being number one. It could have necessarily meant that to be number one is wrong or else no one will already aspire for greatness. But being number one or being on top has a lot of temptations, and that is what Jesus is warning us in our Gospel,” Fr. Bayaras stated.

“There is nothing wrong to aspire for greatness. There is nothing wrong to be number one. But (if) being on top or being number one would just make us indifferent or even to make us distinctful of others, then that greatness is not meant for us,” he added, citing an example that some people are still in poverty not because they are lazy but “because of the circumstances that affected not only their income but their lives as well.”


Photo by Anne Valmeo

With this gospel, he aims for everyone not to focus on the ranking or position they are in now but rather on how every individual will manifest their greatness in aiding others in reaching that path as well.

“There is nothing wrong with being number one. But it will only be wrong it if has made us close our eyes to those who are still making their way to the top. (…) There is nothing wrong with being great; because the position of being on top, that position of being great, is a position for all of us,” he concluded.

Before the mass ended, first-year NSTP students from blocks such as BSR1 and DSN2, recited the prayer of commitment that was led by NSTP Coordinator Ms. April Alianza and were given a blessing.

Monetary and in-kind offerings for this mass are intended for families and communities affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.