Father VILALLONGA returned to Manila, in 1904, as a member of the faculty at Ateneo and became Rector of that institution in 1910, at the same time continuing to teach philosophy and higher mathematics. In 1917, he was assigned as Superior of the local mission at Davao, Mindanao and later served for one year as Rector of the Diocesan Seminary at Vigan, Ilocos Sur, before being named, in 1921, the Superior of the Philippine Mission in Manila. He held this position for six years until he was made Provincial of the Province of Aragon, Spain. Subsequently appointed Apostolic Visitor to the Philippines by Pope Pius XI, he next became Superior of the Bombay Mission and then of Ahmedabad, India, in 1933. In this station, he was both ecclesiastical and religious superior. To obtain funds for the Mission, he traveled around the world three times, visiting on each journey the United States, Spain and the Philippines. Father VILALLONGA contributed much to the building up of this Mission in India and when he felt it was time to establish a new diocese with a native of India as Bishop, he resigned as ecclesiastical superior. Then 80 years of age, he asked to be sent back to the Philippines to work in the Culion Leper Colony where he is employed as a Chaplain by the Department of Health of the Philippine Government at a salary of P170.00 a month.

Now 92, Father VILLALONGA still helps minister to the spiritual needs of the 2,100 lepers, 1,600 non-lepers and the 120 members of the Department of Health staff at Culion. Described by his associates as "regular as a railroad train" in his habits, he rises at four a.m., hears confessions, says mass, eats his breakfast at within minutes of the same time each day, begins his other work promptly at nine, and has retired by 8:15 each evening.

The oldest Jesuit in the Philippines, Father VILALLONGA's career has brought him into close association with the national development and growth of this Republic. The revered Philippine martyr, José Rizal, received his education under Jesuits at Ateneo and it was from them that he gained much of the inspiration and confidence to make his eloquent plea for reforms. Maintaining through the years a firm emphasis on morality and high standards of scholarship, Ateneo has trained many of the leaders of the Commonwealth and the Republic. Father VILALLONGA in his life and work is a personification of this continuing tradition.

A 1earned scholar of philosophy, theology and canon law, a lucid writer and notably sympathetic priest, his disarming simplicity quickly dispenses with pretense and he is held in uniquely affectionate regard by those who have been associated with him or sought his help. Now, rather than to take a less demanding post, he has chosen to offer the fruits of his experience and study to those men, women and children who, because they suffer from a dread disease, have been separated from the main stream of their society.

August 1959
Manila

REFERENCES

Clippings from the Philippines Free Press, 1959.

Records of Xavier House in Manila.