With the advent of time, fewer volunteers got involved in the instruction of Cathechism. People became busier and schools became stricter with the implementation of the Department Order which did not favor the teaching of Cathechism. With less and less emphasis on the teaching of proper manners and conduct, a new generation of students were observed to be more confused and more prone to delinquency.
Hence, during the time of Sec. Lourdes R. Quisumbing, new emphasis was given to the teaching values education to address the behavioral deficits. As a pioneer in values education, I saw the importance and the great potential of the subject. I notice however, that in the implementation, the delinquent teachers of each department in high school were assigned instead of choosing the best ones who could be exemplars of positive values. Of course, the results showed the failure of the young people acquiring desired values since the students did not see their own values teachers applying the values they are supposed to impart.
Historically, the perhaps the best implementors of not only Cathechetical Instruction but likewise best exemplars of values education occurred during what could be the considered the golden age of Cathechetical Instruction, or the time when two Bishops, both named Alfredo, established their cathechetical missions.
Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar y Aranda established his congregation, the Missionary Cathechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus in Tayabas in 1958 which during that time was still part of Quezon province. The motherhouse of MCST is located in Lita Subdivision, Nangka Ilaya in Tayabas. Earlier in 1923, Bishop Alfredo Florentin Versoza organized his congregation, the Missionary Cathechists of the Sacred Heart in Lipa City in Batangas with the help a pious widow, Laura Latorre Mendoza who is considered a “Cathechist par excellence.” At present the motherhouse of the MCSH is in City Park Subd. In Lipa City. Alfredo Obviar is now Venerable while Alfredo Versoza is considered already a Servant of God.
There is great hope among Filipinos that the two bishops who suffered much due to the Faith will finally be given altar honors as saints. Terribly suppressed and oppressed many times, Bishop Obviar maintained his silent humility throughout his life. Meantime, the great builder bishop, Bishop Versoza, who even used his personal funds for church work was even slandered as someone who uses church money for personal reasons. Versoza who died a poor man despite coming from a wealthy family also suffered much from Aglipayan resistance. One time, he was struck by a stone and one time, his horse was killed by a spear meant to kill him. The cause for Laura Mendoza, despite the fact that she founded the first congregation in the 20th century even as an ordinary lay person, forwarded by Lipa Bishop Alejandro Olalia (later Archbishop) in 1965 was ignored. The time for the great Filipino Cathechists have not yet come.
