Manila, the Philippines, 12 July 2019 -- Salesiana Publishers came out with the Don Bosco comics entitled “Johnny,” consisting of six issues on the life and times of Don Bosco. This was followed by the comics on Dominic Savio entitled “Saint at fifteen.” I saw these publications as helpful tools for the catechetical work we are doing in our little oratory in our non-Salesian parish. However, I thought that it would be better if these were in Tagalog. I broached the idea with Fr. Jose Reinoso, who said in reply: “Why don’t you do it yourself?” I took thiss as a challenge. Right after the cataract (February 2003) I undertook the translation of the comics into Tagalog. I presented the finished work with the hope of getting it published. Unfortunately, I was told that it was not possible due to copyright issues. It did not stop me from sharing the work with other catechists who were interested in it. We had to manage with photocopies of what I made.
My journey into Italian-English translation also came as a challenge that I imposed on myself.
During our formation years in the VDB Institute, our Ecclesiastical Assistant, Fr Lazaro Revilla, SDB, encouraged us to study Italian. He gave us basic Italian lessons during the weekends when we had our meetings. It was not really much but was enough to whet my appetite for the language.
In August 1989, I was the ex-officio representative of FILA in our 3rd General Assembly held in Frascati. Since I was then the Regional President, I had to make my rendiconto to our President General Gianna Martinelli. To do that, I had a translator. During that encounter, I jokingly told Gianna that the next time I have to make my rendiconto, I will do it without a translator. I turned serious and enrolled in the Italian language sessions offered by the Phil-Italian Association under the auspices of the Italian Embassy. I studied the rudiments but could not go into advanced studies due to my work in the bank and studies at the Don Bosco Center of Studies, Course on Lay Spirituality.
The scarcity of English formation materials for our Secular Institute in the face of numerous materials in Italian posed a challenge for me. I started translating some simple articles from the hard copies of Crescere [=Formation magazine of the Volunteers of Don Bosco] that we were getting from time to time. Word about the work I was doing reached Paolina Yip and she requested me to translate a copy of Crescere that she brought when she came to the Philippines for the first time.
My work expanded when our Center started to send me via e-mail the issues of Crescere. Later, I received the requests to send copies to other English speaking VDBs.
I was also able to translate the Directory and the Commentary on our Constitutions as a result of a need in our Region. Other formation materials had to be translated. These include the Guide to our traveling Retreat in Turin in 2016, Volume II of the Formation Aids, Basic Document of GA 7 and GA 8, Regulation of GA 8 and the book of Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni, “Don Rinaldi.” At present, I help translate communications from the Center.
In the course of the years, I have accumulated two big Italian-English Dictionaries, numerous small ones, a book of Italian Idioms and other related books. I also have other dictionaries: English, Spanish and Latin. I had been looking for someone who would have the time to review my work but have not found one who could do it.
Despite the work I had been doing, I still cannot speak the language fluently. I need further studies and practice. To translate from English to Italian, I have to seek the help of the computer. There is really a great need for me to study further and practice more. Exposure to the language is quite important. However, I never had the opportunity for this, except during the times when I traveled to Italy for our General Assemblies, pilgrimages, and once, in 1996, on a research trip sponsored by the bank that I worked for."
NB - For many groups of the (Lay) Salesian Family in our Region, the ministry of translation is a life issue. Since the majority of their members are familiar mostly with the local languages, the task of keeping in touch with their charismatic roots and their present world leadership and animation is really extremely important. Our prayers for the upcoming 2nd EAO Salesian Translators Workshop in Myanmar.
Related materials:
- CRESCERE (VDB formation magazine) in English, translated by Ms. Agnese)
- First EAO Translators Meeting (2014) archives
- Second EAO Translators Workshop (2019) documents
Related news:
- AustraLasia 5079 (I) How is translation important for the spread of the Charism
- AustraLasia 3395: The Trend and the Translations
