Mom recalls how Cardinal Tagle joked, danced but also showed devotion to God

With knowledge that only a mother knows, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s mom recalls that the "papal contender" was a little naughty when he was much younger although he did show a deep devotion to God even at a young age. JP Soriano’s report on GMA-7’s “24 Oras” on Friday, quoting material from GMA News TV’s “Brigada,” showed a little bit of who Tagle is through the eyes of his mother. In the Tagles’ home in Imus, Cavite, 85-year-old Mila shared memories of Tagle’s much younger years. She showed several pictures of Tagle, touted as a front-runner to become the next pope, from baby photos to those showing him dancing. "Ordinary" person Mila said the music-loving Tagle already had the showings of a man devoted to God even when he was still very young. Still, he was an ordinary person who knew how to tell jokes, sometimes even naughty ones. “Paano magpapari yan e kung minsan e malaswa din ang biro niya,” Mila chuckled as she recalled Tagle's acquaintance saying in the past. Even though medicine was the field Mila wanted for her son, she did not have any qualms when Tagle entered the seminary. Now,  the name of 55-year-old Tagle is one of those floated around as being the next pope, after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned on February 28. He was also called as Asia’s best hope for the papacy. Malacañang on Saturday welcomed a US-based group’s stand favoring Tagle as among the prospects to replace Pope Benedict XVI. Earlier, the US-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said Tagle is among the prospects for pope who are most capable of addressing the church's sex abuse crisis. The Vatican earlier announced that the conclave will be held on March 12. Tagle is expected to be among the cardinals taking part in the selection process. Teased about possibly being pope Despite the gravity of Tagle’s potential post, Mila said she and the cardinal’s other friends tease him about what could happen. “Dinadaan namin sa biruan. ‘Syempre, Pilipiino na ang kusinero (should Tagle become Pope), taga-luto, iba na. yung mga guwardiya doon sa (Vatican), puro mga Pilipino na,” Mila joked. Mila also recalled her son saying it would be better if another priest would be chosen to be the Supreme Pontiff. “‘Halimbawa, ikaw ang mapili,’ sabi ko. ‘Ah, di niyo na ako makikita,’ sabi niya. ‘Kaya wag niyo nang, kwan, pagdasal niyo na lang na sa ibang (pari) na lang, kasi sabi nila ako’y bata pa,’” Mila said. Tagle attended the Ateneo De Manila University’s San Jose Major Seminary in the 1970s. He returned to the university in 1992 to teach theology. In an interview on Brigada, Catalino Arevalo, who became Tagle’s teacher and friend there, said he believes Tagle can take on papal duties, though he said Tagle himself leaves what will happen to God. “Sabi nga ng marami na napakalaking honor, it’s a very very great honor, the Filipinos will feel so honored and  so happy if he becomes the Pope,” he said. - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News