LOVING DEEDS OF THE JOLLY ‘JOLOU’ (printed in Cebu Daily News)

GOOD DEEDS OF A YOUNG BOY
“ ‘Jolou’, you were very good in Mathematics, thank you for helping me in my Math problems. ‘Jolou’, thank you for always sharing water from your jug everytime I was thirsty. ‘Jolou’ thank you for having been a good friend to me. ‘Jolou’ you were such a joyful companion to be with. ‘Jolou’ we are giving you this basketball with our signatures so that from now on you can play basketball anytime you want. ‘Jolou’, thank you for giving us the example of how to be joyful and happy always despite daily setbacks and problems in life”. These compliments can still go on and on...
The sincere compliments above were uttered by the students of II-yr Guanella section of Don Bosco Technology Center on the day they visited the wake of their beloved classmate ‘Jolou’ in the mortuary chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Mr. Rolly Biong, the class adviser and Dr. Allan & Mabel Quirante, the parents of ‘Jolou’, were witnesses to these inspiring and good qualities they have heard about their eldest son who has returned to our Creator last August 8, 2003. Even in death, the loving deeds of ‘Jolou’ stood out.

EARLY DEATH
Jorg Louise Quirante or ‘Jolou’ as he was fondly called returned to our Creator last August 8, 2003 at the young age of fourteen (14). Though his death was sudden, his wake was visited by so many people, young and old alike, who were inspired by his intense life of love.
A few days before he died, ‘Jolou’ scribbled the following reflecton in his Christian Living journal as if having the premonition of his impending death: “I realized that it is better for us, the living, to offer many prayers to the Lord so that if we die, we will have a good place in heaven with God…and the way to heal a person who can’t be healed by medicine.”
Last Feb. 8, 2004, a Sunday, his classmates, family and friends gathered once more at Cempark cemetery in order to offer a Mass six (6) months after his death.

EPITOME OF JOY
‘Jolou’ was an epitome of joy. Ever since the day he was born last July 5, 1989, he has become a source of joy to those who knew him most especially to his relatives, his dear parents Dr. Allan & Mabel Quirante and to his younger brother Gerard. To many, his sweet and ready smile has been dearly missed. And despite his demise, his jolly and upbeat face has remained vividly etched in the memories of those who lives he has touched.
Incredibly, ‘Jolou’ has gained a lot of friends in his short stay in DBTC, the school he loved. He has acquired friends not only among his own classmates but from his schoolmates too. Perhaps, it was because ‘Jolou’ was a friendly boy, jolly, outgoing and always generous to help those in need. My personal recollection of ‘Jolou’ brings me back to the times I met him along the corridors of the school with his face aglow with joy holding a basketball on one hand and the other hand ready to make ‘mano’. He always loved to play his favorite game of basketball. In fact, on the day he died he was playing his favorite game with three of his classmates. St. John Bosco’s maxim for young people to “Run, jump, shout and do anything you like but not sin”… literally, became a reality in ‘Jolou’s young life. Though, he did not finish his last game on earth as he felt dizzy and complained of chest pains minutes before his last breath, yet he died happy playing his favorite game and not committing any sins as sadly experienced by other young people in our hedonistic times.
One of those who experienced ‘Jolou’s’ friendship was a Bosconian grader who took the school bus together with him. This small boy was a recipient of ‘Jolou’s’ greetings upon embarking into the school bus. In his usual friendly way, ‘Jolou’ would extend his hand to this grader for a ‘high five’ and then without fail, greet him every day with the soothing words “my friend”. But after ‘Jolou’s’ death, this grader friend of his has lost interest in riding the school bus all because he knows his good friend is now gone…gone for good!
‘Jolou’ was an outgoing jolly lad. His many friends in the school and in their neighborhood can attest to this good quality of his. In fact, he is one who was always ready to give them some encouraging words. In addition, he has learned to use basketball as a means to befriend others and then reach out to them. Later on, he expanded his interest into music and became a drummer in their class band.
Needless to say, ‘Jolou’ was generous to help his classmates in Mathematatics where he excelled and was very active where his parents rendered service like in the different projects of Cebu Rotary Club – South. Since ‘Jolou’ was in charge of the feeding program for the poor & malnourished kids, it comes as no surprise at all that many have missed his joyful disposition and loving presence.

WITH DON BOSCO FOREVER
It is my belief that ‘Jolou’ died very much prepared to face his Creator. The Salesian community in DBTC shares the same view. His class just had their school recollection where Fr. Anthony Gircour SDB, our 83 year old priest confessor recalled ‘Jolou’ and his classmates to have made a very serious confession. For one reason or another, the delay of his wake became coincidental or perhaps providential. Without knowing it, his family decided to have ‘Jolou’ buried on August 16 which turned out to be St. John Bosco’s birthday. Don Bosco, his father must have welcomed his son ‘Jolou’ with open arms. As a gesture of support, the BOSCO (or Brotherhood Of Servant- Campus Officers) student Council of DBTC awarded ‘Jolou’ with a beautiful banner with the caption: “Jolou Quirante, Bosconian Forever”. Even inside his coffin, ‘Jolou’ remained clad in his school uniform as a Bosconian. Since he died in school, his parents decided on this despite suggestions for ‘Jolou’ to wear barong or something more formal an attire. Indeed, as Fr. Lan Guiao, SDB, the school rector, put it in his homily during the funeral: “ ‘Jolou’ was prepared for his meeting with the Lord…his writings in his journal about being always prepared to die is not a mere coincidence. I see the hand of God…Dear ‘Jolou’, once a Bosconian, always a Bosconian”.
Another cousin of ‘Jolou’, Gr.5 pupil Jaryl Lee, was reminiscing about their bus number seat. On the day, they went to the administration office, Fr. Jim told them that they can choose any seat they like since they were the very first ones of all other bus- riders to get their seat number. True enough, with ‘Jolou’s’ death, he is now very much ahead of all others. Indeed, ‘Jolou’ has found his place early in Don Bosco. He felt so at home in Don Bosco that now he will be remembered in Don Bosco for ever. And as his parents confided to Fr. Lan… “Father, we brought our son ‘Jolou’ to Don Bosco so he will live”…now indeed with Jolou’s death, he truly lives forever!

SAVIO: MODEL SAINT FOR YOUTH
‘Jolou’s’ death seems to be a prelude to the coming 50 yrs anniversary of Dominic Savio’s canonization. Savio’s life was also an epitome of a life happily lived…declared by the Church as the model saint for all young people. He was born at Riva di Chieri, Italy, on April 2, 1842, into a family poor in this world's goods but rich in faith. His childhood was marked by the event of his first Communion, which he made with great devotion at the age of seven and by a constant endeavor to fulfill his ordinary duties to the best of his ability. At the age of twelve there came the decisive event when he met St. John Bosco who, as a father and secure guide, accepted him to his school for his secondary studies. There he discovered the higher perspectives of the life of a child of God in friendship with Christ and Mary. He soon embarked eagerly on the road to holiness --- understood as a complete self-donation to God through love and joy. The formula given to him was simple: do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well. The studies, his games, his activities and duties became the vehicles that brought him to holiness. With his driving motto: “Serve the Lord with joy,” he became an inspiration to his peers and other youngsters. Before reaching the age of fifteen he became seriously ill and died peacefully on 9 March 1857, happy to be going to meet his Lord. On June 12 1954, Pope Pius XII finally canonized him making him a giant in Sanctity!
Like ‘Jolou’ and St. Dominic Savio, let us always make the Lord our only treasure, friend, guide and our final reward as a way of preparing for our own death. Let us all pray in a special manner for the grace to always stay close to the Lord and live by the light of his Beatitudes. And as St. Dominic Savio’s 50 yrs anniversary approaches come June 12, 2004, may all young people see the light and live according to the teaching and example of Jesus in their daily lives.
Fr. Joseph ‘Jolan’ D. LANDERO, SDB
Spiritual Director/ Religious Education Head