DIPLOMATIC Society of Saint Gabriel Secretary-General Ramon Jose Moreno Jr. fondly remembers the day his father told him a valuable lesson in life.
Moreno said that, growing up, his father has instilled in him that he should never envy the rich at any point in his life.
“Be satisfied with what you have. The most important thing is God and family,” Moreno said in recalling what his father told him.
His father explained to him that even if the rich have 20 houses, they could only sleep in one of them.
Today Moreno said his greatest wealth are his friends.
Devoting life to the service of others
Born to Spanish and Portuguese parents, Moreno said they moved to the Philippines at an early age and they quickly called the country their permanent home.
Graduating from college with a degree in political science, Moreno said he initially wanted to be a diplomat. At one point in his life, he also wanted to be a priest.
But he would eventually spend some of the prime years of his life with his family’s construction and property business.
He would then go on to become a member of academe, as the director for external affairs of the Asian Social Institute, and then become part of the Coast Guard auxiliary service as its director for internal affairs.
Looking back, Moreno said he had no regrets when he turned back on the life he had previously lived.
“I have already enjoyed life to the fullest and experienced its many luxuries,” Moreno said.
Today Moreno would spend 18 hours daily looking after the sick and the needy.
The Society
Moreno said the Philippines’s involvement in the Diplomatic Society of Saint Gabriel started during the time of Jesus Domingo, who was then an assistant secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Domingo, who is the current Philippine ambassador to New Zealand, was then assigned to the United Nations as the country’s consul general in Geneva. It is where the Philippines became part of the Society.
“Saint Gabriel is the patron saint of diplomats. It is the bearer of good news and is recognized by all religions in the world. We are an organization of diplomats and individuals involved in international relations,” Moreno said.
He said the Society is recognized by the Vatican and that their mission is to promote world peace and interfaith movement, while working with the church.
“We meet regularly. They [diplomatic community] can always find us and we can help them in whatever needs,” he said.
According to Moreno, they assist diplomats in their social and spiritual needs, while also assisting embassies in any capacity they can. He said the Society is a network specialist with officers in different countries.
In March, together with the DFA, the Society, with its motto “For God and the world,” held an international summit on interfaith movement.
Founded in 1996 at the United Nations office in New York, the Society also recognizes the contributions of individuals involved in humanitarian and peace-building efforts worldwide.
The Society also organizes conferences and training worldwide on the diplomatic professions and current international issues.
The White Helmets
Prior to Moreno’s involvement with the Diplomatic Community of Saint Gabriel, Moreno was already deeply involved with the White Helmets, an organization started by Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that provides humanitarian assistance worldwide.
He said the Philippines became part of the movement during the time of then-Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit to the United Nations.
“She signed a commitment to organize volunteers as peace builders,” he said.
Moreno added that the White Helmet is composed of rescue groups, doctors, paramedical personnel and engineers who can be sent to any country in times of disasters.
“It was during Typhoon Ondoy when White Helmet was doing a lot of work in the country,” he said.
According to Moreno, they used to have operations in Laguna and Rizal provinces, but would also go to remote areas where non-governmental organizations would not go.
Moreno said they even went to Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan for free medical missions even when the Abu Sayaff was stopping families from getting the free medical services.
He said that among White Helmet members who do regular volunteer work in the country include Japanese, British, American nationals, along with Filipinos and the Filipino-Chinese group in Binondo.
Members of White Helmet were on call 24 hours daily and provide volunteer services at least 20 hours monthly.
Moreno said there are plans of reviving its operations in the country after it was stopped by the government in 2010.
Two more saints
Currently, Moreno is also involved in the Confraternity of the Knights of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the country. He said the Philippines is the first country in Asia to open a chapter for the organization.
Moreno said it was natural for him to be part of the confraternity as he was already doing ministerial work for the church since 2007, after his father passed away.
As part of his duties, Moreno would go around hospitals to pray over five to 18 individuals daily who have critical health conditions. He also has a 400-member prayer warriors group in the country that sends daily prayers through mobile phones.
“We praise and glorify God. Our priority are the critical patients, especially children. We never feel hopeless. We have seen blessings in sickness with families becoming reunited because of it,” Moreno said.
He added: “Some of those we visit got healed and they join our prayer group. Some of them are devout Catholics. Some do not have much faith. Some are angry. Many miracles have already happened.”
Moreno said he has encountered patients who cannot be healed unless, as he described, there was inner healing.
“They harbor anger and ill feelings or there needs to cleansing of the family tree. We pray with and ask them to let it go,” he said.
Moreno said he took care of his ailing father for 13 years and mother for five years and understands how those with sick family members feel.
“My fear in life was losing my father. But my faith was strong and I was able to let go because he was going back to our Lord and someday we will be together again,” Moreno, who has no siblings, said.
Moreno also remembers two instances when families asked to be converted to Catholicism. One was with a Chinese family who, after the sick member they prayed for got better, asked to be converted. It was also the same case for a family in another hospital who were members of another religion.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano