The province of Bohol has reasons to be proud of Fr. Tony.

Fr. Tony Pernia (SVD) of this city was recently reelected in Rome as Superior General for another 6 years to head the SVD (Societas Verbi Divini), the 7th largest male congregation of priests and brothers in the entire world. That comes only after the Jesuits, Salesians, Franciscans, Capuchins, Benedictines and Dominicans.

Fr. Tony is the first Asian to be elected to that lofty position in a religious society known to pursue rural missions worldwide and city schools in the Philippines including the Holy Name Universiy here and the famous University of San Carlos (Cebu City), doubtless one of the best universities in the Philippines. It also operates likewise the Catholic Trade out of Tayuman, Manila.

Fr. Tony heads the 6,102 SVD religious, half of who hails from Asia - some 500 of them in the Philippines. In his first term, Fr. Arnold Janssen (SVD Founder) and SVD missionary Joseph Freinademetz were canonized. He presided over SVD's decenralization into continental zones and the recognition of the SVD as a non-government organization in the United States. New SVD missions in South Africa and Ched were also initiated.

His reelection as top honcho of the SVD came in the heels of his new paradigm for the mission work that elevated the horizons to include street children, HIV/AIDs victims, migrants, refugees, urban parishes, Bible apostolate, communications ministry and inter-faith dialogues. Pernia's "prophetic dialogue" covering the marginalized people in society to include even prostitutes and other diverse faith seekers is vintage Fr. Tony.

As a growing leader, he had identified with the poor farmers' cause during the despotic rule of Ferdinand Marcos through his active role in the Federation of Free Framers and other social apostolate for the poor. Though for active non-violence, the other SVD priests like Fr. Conrado Balweg and Fr. Edicio de la Torre took the more radical path in the implementation of the Theology of Liberation.

Many of the SVD priests, brothers and seminarians during the turbulent 70s took to the streets - many of them - graduates of the First Quarter Storm. They knew as much of Marxism, Leninism, Mao Tse Tung, Pedagogy of the Oppress, Praxis and liberation theology as Latin, biology, religion and geometry.

This preferential treatment for the poor and oppressed has been core to Fr. Tony's reflection of his own priesthood, a servant-leader of the Man from Galilee. His brand of leadership had moved the SVD to move membership in the congregation to positive growth through the years where the top ten others showed negative growth rates.

Those who know Fr. Tony intently summarizes his phenomenal rise in the SVD ranks as a combination of intellectual superiority and warm personality - a rare gem in the field of intense diversity of characters with different versions of discernment of issues. Besides mastering at least seven languages, Fr. Tony is known to have a sharp scalpel for analytical dissection of issues and has the gift of gab to make complex issues comprehensible to any audience before him.

Fr. Tony would not be lost in the labyrinth of sophisticated philosophical debate, because, unlike others, he has an uncanny grasp of reality and an obsession for details. As an intellectual, there were a lot of pygmies around him - astounded by the acute mind and prophetic vision that Fr. Pernia has at his fingertips.

More than that, Fr. Tony endeared himself to colleagues and community members alike for his gift of humility, a trait often found absent in achievers of great note. ("Can you fault me for being too proud, if I am this great?") - the braggart's usual punch line. Fellow SVDs swear he is easy to approach, not intimidating, simple, charismatic, cheerful and with boundless energy. Even having reached the pinnacle of success, he acts as if "nothing has changed" and goes on with his mission work with the same relentless dedication, razor-sharp mind and personal charisma that impresses without being forced into one's consciousness. And he fondly remembers first names, one distinct trait of a born leader of man.

The arduous task of carrying Christ's mission to the four corners of the world is no easy task and can make ordinary mortals wilt under the sheer immensity and complexity of the work. A solid ground of spiritual foundation and moral integrity are imperatives to lead that kind of mission. He has both.

As we dishonestly (perhaps) bask in the glory of his achievement, we sincerely congratulate Fr. Tony and his "sterling" leadership in the missionary work in the Lord's vineyard. Truly we are proud to call him our own - a province-mate as Boholano and a blood relation to the Pernia-Dejaresco family.

We can only offer him our prayers for strength and continued guidance from the Holy Spirit as he embraces another six years of dedicated service. This man who if often described as a man "in" this world but not "of" this world - has the best possible combination needed for an apostolate which is desperately needed in a troubled world such as ours. Shalom.