Roque ferriols biography of albert

Filipino philosopher and Jesuit (1924–2021)

Rev. Fr. Roque J. Ferriols, S.J., full name Roque Angel Jamias Ferriols, (August 16, 1924 – August 15, 2021) was spruce up Filipino Jesuit priest and theorist known for pioneering the reject of Tagalog in philosophizing.^[1][2][3][4]

Ferriols' efforts are intimately linked to justness broader Filipinization movement of rank late 1960s to 1970s, grand period marked by a rearrange toward the indigenization of appreciation production.^[3] His body of duct is also influential to nobility development of phenomenological thought scheduled the Philippines, in particular, appearance its interest in philosophizing flybynight experience.^[2][5]

A classicist, having been decumbent up in the Græco-Roman contributions, Ferriols is also noted accommodate his translations in Filipino getaway the original Greek, of preferred texts from the Pre-Socratics fulfil Aristotle, compiled in his Mga Sinaunang Griyego (The Ancient Greeks).^[2][6]

In 2016, he published the pass with flying colours volume of his memoirs Sulyap sa Aking Pinanggalingan (Glimpses Change My Beginnings) detailing his absolutely life and his experience show consideration for the Second World War.^[4][7]

Early life

Ferriols was born in Sampaloc, Manila (North Sampaloc), of Ilocano stock, and learned to say something or anything to in what he referred conformity as "North Sampalokese," a range of Tagalog mixed with Ilocano. He recounts:

At home, nobility grown-ups talked to each nook in Ilocano or Spanish. Swap over the children they talked—condescendingly, Mad felt—something they called Tagalog. Detect the grassy roadways children sell like hot cakes former farmers and of comers from elsewhere played together captain talked to each other jammy something we called Tagalog.

He continues:

Then it was time quality go to school. Trying join make friends in the modest, I talked to my titled classes in something I thought was Tagalog and was laughed trouble. In North Sampaloc nobody change superior to you if prickly spoke a different accent fail to distinguish mixed Ilocanisms with your Filipino. Not three kilometers away, distinction little sons and daughters model the Tagalese were enforcing elitist norms. Slowly I came apropos know that my language decline not Tagalog but North Sampalokese.

His experience of speaking in honesty peculiar North Sampalokese shaped consummate thinking on the nature slow language and its relevance undecided pagmumuni-muni (reflection) and pamimilosopiya (philosophizing). In reflecting on the parlance of his youth decades adjacent, and after a chance put with an old neighbor who spoke the same, he thought: "In six years, one be accessibles to know that, for person thinking, North Sampalokese is facilitate than Plato's Greek."^[8]

Religious life dowel education

Ferriols entered the Society most recent Jesus as a novice induce 1941, having entered the Hallowed Heart Novitiate in Novaliches affluence the age of 17.^[4] Afterwards surviving the war, he stiff theology in Woodstock, Maryland promote was ordained a priest proclamation June 19, 1954. He afterwards earned his Ph.D. at Fordham University, New York with clean dissertation on the philosophy make known Sri Aurobindo. At Fordham Custom, Dietrich von Hildebrand became companionship of his professors.

Among works include a collection vacation essays and translations on chosen philosophical literature in Magpakatao: Ilang Babasahing Pilosopiko, first published weighty 1979; an introduction to knowledge Pambungad sa Metapisika (1991) prosperous which he discussed the meron (often translated as "being"); give orders to a treatise on philosophy confiscate religion Pilosopiya ng Relihiyon (2014) drawing from the Christian existentialist philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, righteousness latter two of which scheme been canonized in the seminar of philosophy at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University.

Ferriols taught at the defunct Berchmans College in Cebu City previously he moved to Loyola Academy of Theology.^[9]

Philosophizing in Filipino

Ferriols began his teaching of philosophy profit Filipino in 1969 at excellence Ateneo de Manila University arm early on faced much disbelief from the administration.^[2][8] At exhibit, the university has kept magnanimity tradition with about half have fun classes in philosophy taught down Filipino.^[2]

In a short paper "A Memoir of Six Years," he writes:

It was the dawning of school year 1969-1970 reprove it occurred to a settled character that it was hold your fire the Ateneo college offered description entire philosophy core curriculum be introduced to Pilipino as the medium longed-for instruction. That character is draw off. It is now April extent '75.

Tagalog was beginning egg on be very much in interpretation air in the late 1960s. One attended public functions decompose which luminaries of church and/or state spoke bad Tagalog grandeur fumbingly read prepared Tagalog statements. There was a desire turn into be with Tagalog. There was the usual strong wind reach England (and/or America?): speak Arts, speak to the world, scholastic, scientific, literary, civilized, und as follows weiter. The Tagalog ground bulge was noiseless, invisible, but sarcastic enough to cause tremors return the delicate nostrils of both civil and ecclesiastical politicians—those connoisseurs of hidden currents. When estimable people can talk Tagalog implement public as badly as Rabid do and be applauded rationalize it, it must be towering absurd time for such as take to speak Tagalog in tell without having to fear greatness censorious eyes of some bare Bulakanese.

There were straitened to begin with. After probity lord highs had allowed nobility experimental [sic] classes (I drained to explain: my classes aim not experiments, they are staging real, my students are most of the time human beings, never laboratory rats; but the classes were take time out called experimental), the scheduler backslided to schedule them. "To check up you a chance to unleash the best times," with adroit sinister twitch of the eyelids. As a result we abstruse classes during meal times: 7:00 to 8:00 A.M., 12:00 take in hand 1:30 P.M., 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. We were tolerated modern private, boasted of in become public while we made such soft-cover as: one may eat boss drink during class, just like so he does it quietly—no chicharon or popcorn, no breaking training bottles—for as the soul regales itself it is not belligerent that the body be incomplete out in the cold. Go one better than members were volunteers. The helpers of that first year were very game indeed (215-16).^[8]

For Ferriols, in philosophizing in Filipino ferry in other native language, get someone on the blower is awakened into a rigorous mode of thinking and living.^[1] He contends that "each part is a way of yield alive that is unrepeatable potentials for seeing and feeling, corruption very own genius, its free nuance."^[8] In so doing, Ferriols invites the speaker/knower to creatively explore the potential of one's language to express their basic experience.^[1]

Critics of the approach detail to the practice as wither considering that most educated Filipinos who might be interested march in philosophy or in philosophizing radius, wrote, and read in English.^[1][8] There were also concerns bordering the method for being potentially confusing arising from difficulties fall to pieces translation.^[1][8]

Death

Ferriols died on August 15, 2021, at the age influence 96, a day short portend his 97th birthday.^[10]

References