News and Events
FR. JAIME BOQUIREN, OP
By: Bro. Jun Culala
HNS Bulletin, VOLVIII, ISSUE 4, November - December 2009

On September 15, 1958, Rev. Fr. Jaime N. Boquiren, O.P., was appointed National Promoter of the Holy Name Society of the Philippines by Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P., the Prior Provincial of the Holy Rosary Province. He held the position until April 30, 1968. Then in 1996 he was again appointed as National Promoter and remained in this position until he retired in 2006 with 20 years of meaningful service,

Perhaps I can safely say that Rev. Fr. Jaime N. Boquiren , OP has been the longest serving National Promoter of the National Association of the Holy Name Society of the Philippines.

He was a strong and avid advocate of the Society. He so loved it that he was so protective of it. He made sure the Society stayed true to its vision and mission, that it stayed neutral in political issues and doggedly refused overtures by some quarters that the Society make a stand on political issues. For these reasons and a lot of other reasons, he got the moniker “Dictator”, spoken with mix feelings of respect and love. I remember commenting during one of the convention that “No sin is unforgiveable by God”, he told me: “Ok Mr. Culala we will make a thesis out that”, - end of the discussion. He made sure the Society kept attuned with the times by adapting “en toto” the Seven Pastoral Priorities of Pope John Paul II and the Nine Pastoral Priorities of the NPCCR (National Pastoral Consultation on Church Renewal) as the Seven Pastoral Priorities and Nine Pastoral Priorities of the Holy Name Society respectively, which was approved during the 29th National Convention of the Society on May 31-June 2, 2002 in Tagaytay City.

During the Funeral Mass for him on November 28, 2009, the Priest who last visited him said that Fr. Boquiren had certainly prepared for his journey in minute details. He even showed him in one room of his house the coffin he will use with three pillows inside so it will be comfortable for him lying down there when he finally uses it. There was no public viewing as he wished, just a picture of him smiling as he wants to be remembered. And the Priest said he died with a smile on his face!

His Museum near his house in Malasique, Pangasinan shows how he loved the Holy Name Society and the Holy Namers were close to his heart, so I was told.

Probably a fitting epitaph for would be :