Merry New Year of 2010 - "Kumbira"

Malipayong Bag-ong Tuig kanatong tanan! Angayan gayod kitang magmalipayon niining gabhiuna tungod kay ato na usab nga pagasugaton ang bag-ong tuig. Kining maong kasaulugan nagpadayag sa bag-o na usab nga sinugdanan sa atong kinabuhi, bag-ong tuig, bag-ong pag-laum. Mao bitaw nga kasagaran sa atong masaksihan diha sa atong tagsa-tagsa nga panimalay ang ka- busy sa matag membro sa pamilya sa pagpangandam sa pagsugat sa bag-ong tuig. Pananglitan, naanad kita nianang mga “palehe” sama sa pag-andam ug mga lamiang mga pagkaon aron sa abundang pag-puyo sa tibuok tuig, nagkadaiyang prutas nga lingin, pasuot ug mga polka dots ug uban pa, kay kini nagsimbolo sa kwarta. Ang uban lahi usab ang ilang pagpanandam, aduna silay gitawag nga “new year’s resolution” usa ka pamaagi sa pag-usab sa dili kaayo maayo nga mga gawi sa miaging tuig nga kinahanglan usbon aron sa mas hapsay ug malambuong pagpuyo.


Apan ang atong pag-saulog sa Bag-ong tuig dili lamang kutob sa pagpangandam sa mga material nga mga butang. Kining gabhiuna ato usab nga gisaulog ang usa sa pinakadakong kapistahan sa Simbahang Katoliko, ang kapistahan sa pagkainahan sa Mahal nga Birhen Maria. Sa grego nga pinulongan gitawag si Maria nga “theotokos” nga nagpadayag nga si Maria, Inahan sa Dios. She was chosen to be the bearer of that divine word/logos who humbled Himself and took the form of the flesh. Kining maong pagtulun-an sa simbahan gi-proklamar sa Council of Ephesus (431) aron pagtubag sa heresiya nga gipadayag ni Nestorius, nga si Maria usa lamang ka “kristotokos” ug dili “theotokos”. Si Maria nga usa ka simple ug yano nga babaye gi-andam ug gipili sa Ginoo nga mamahimong inahan sa iyang bugtong anak midawat niining dakong responsibilidad tungod sa iyang dakong pagsalig sa Dios.

Ang mapaubsanong pagdawat ni Maria nga mamahimong Inahan sa Dios adunay dakong kalambigitan sa atong gipangandoy nga kaluwasang tunhay. The title of Mary, as Mother of God implicitly implied that Jesus is indeed truly divine and truly human. He is intrinsically divine who shares with our humanity in order to save us and in the same way, for us to share His divinity. Pinaagi kang Maria nahimugso si Hesus, ang manluluwas sa kalibutan. Siya ang simbolo sa kaangayan ug kalinaw ug kitang tanan nakaambit sa dakong grasya nga nahatag ni Hesus pinaagi sa iyang pagdawat sa kabubut-on sa Dios.

Karon adlawa usab gigahin sa simbahan isip “World Day of Peace”. Si Hesus Kristo wala lamang mianhi aron pagluwas kanato kundili aron usab pag-sabwag sa kalinaw ug panaghiusa dinhi sa kalibutan. Niniing atong malipayong pagsugat sa bag-ong tuig nindot huna-hunaon nga makaambit kita nianang grasya sa kalinaw – kalinaw sa kalibutan, kumunidad, sa pamilya ug labi na sa atong kaugalingon. Kalinaw nga tinukmod sa gugma, nga nagsumikad usab sa gugma sa Dios sa iyang katawhan nga gipakita diha sa iyang paghatag sa iyang bugtong anak ngari kanato. Karong panahona, nagkada-iya ang problema sa tawo, usa niini mao ang kagubot tungod sa nagkadaiyang personal nga enterest sa tawo. Ang tawo ra mismo ang hinungdan sa miserebling kinabuhi. Ang realidad sa kapubrihon usahay makapawala usab sa kalinaw sa kalibutan ug sa huna –huna sa tawo. Wala na kitay “peace of mind” tungod sa kadaghan sa atong mga problema nga angay atubangon. Busa karong gabhiuna pipahinumduman kita nga mamahimong instrumento sa kalinaw ug kaangayan aron mapatunhay ang mensahe ni Kristo sa iyang pag-anhi.

Niining pagsaulog nato sa bao-ong tuig, makaharong gihapon kita ug makalaum sa bisan unsang kalisdanan nga masinati tungod kay ang Dios mikanaug na ug nagpakisama kanato, nan masaligon kita nga mubati gayod siya sa atong mga panginahanglan. Tungod sa iyang pagpakatawo, iyang gituboy ang dignidad sa tawo sa kinatas-ang dapit. Human person is greatly dignified because, first of all we are created by God in His image and likeness, and most importantly, because God himself assumed our full humanity except sin. Mao nga malaumon kitang mupadayon sa atong pagpakabuhi luyo sa nagkadaiyang kalisdanan tungod kay ang Dios mismo nagpakasama man kanato ug nga andam siya kanunay sa pagtabang kanato.

“Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart... (v19)”. Sa atong pagsugod niining bag-ong tuig, angay natong batonan ang mga hiyas nga gipakita ni Maria...First, she treasured everything that happened in her life with great belief that it was part of God’s plan for her and for the rest of humanity. We are also challenge to treasure those unforgettable memories we had last year and being invited to bend our knees in thanksgiving for having been blessed for another year of success and failure, of happiness and of pain. Second, she pondered and kept it in her heart... gipadayag sa ebanghelyo ang ka-importante sa pagpamalandong aron masabtan nato ang plano sa Ginoo sa atong kinabuhi. We can be quenched with our thirst for peace if we always give time to reflect. Ang pagpamalandong usa ka hiyas nga angay natong batonan aron maangkon nato ang tiunay nga kalinaw nga gipaambit ni Kristo kanato sa iyang pagpakatawo dinhi sa kalibutan.

Malipayong Bag-ong Tuig!

"sosmaryosip"

Pondering upon my Christmas experience, perhaps “celebration” would be the best word that would describe the secular understanding of Christmas. It is the most awaited moment of the year that even two months ahead before Christmas everybody is busy preparing for Christmas. Various Christmas decorations and beautiful items were displayed in malls and markets to catch attention to customers; lovely lullabies of music and joyful caroling lingering every ear that somehow reminds us of a joyful event that would surely happen. Parties were celebrated here and there with bountiful foods and beverages of every kind. Amazing and colorful lights were installed in different corners in the streets and houses that shine so brightly in the middle of the night. Financial crisis is somewhat not evident during the season of Christmas. It is really a time for jubilation especially in the Philippine context.
I personally enjoyed the Christmas celebration, spending time with the family, serving masses both at the cathedral and barrios, meeting with friends and attending Christmas gatherings. This is how exciting seminarian’s life would be. Tiresome but the experience was worth keeping for.

Definitely, my Christmas vacation was filled with joyful and fruitful memories but I finally realized that Christmas is not so much about jubilation or by just completing the nine dawn masses. In the Philippine context since we are family oriented, quality Christmas is a joyful celebration of unity. It is a time to be one in the family. To gather around to share and express love for one another in like manner that Jesus, Mary and Joseph - the Holy family is united in love. This orientation is manifested with our expression “susmaryosip” which invokes the personalities in the Holy Family. In my case, it’s different; I always celebrate my Christmas in the convent, since I entered the seminary, together with different people every year. I know it is more meaningful to celebrate Christmas in the family rather than being with the people whom you really don’t know but I need to prepare myself. This is really what the life of a priest would be. Christmas is the loneliest moment of a priest’s life. But thanks to technology I can still connect myself with my family. This is how we celebrate Christmas. It is a time to give emphasis on our “gigikanan” – the family where we first experience the unconditional love of our parents.

On the other hand, Christmas is not just about family gathering but a celebration to commemorate the time in which the savior of the world was born. Perhaps, salvation would be possible even without Joseph and Mary. This does not give less importance of the two personalities but the focal point of Christmas is “the word made flesh”(σάρξ έγένετο). This is the main reason why we celebrate Christmas which many people failed to recognize. It is not the fabulous and flamboyant Christmas decorations but the simple and ordinary setting in the manger where the child was born. The two account of the infancy narrative (Matthew and Luke) is really evident that does not express factual things because of some contradictory statements. What would be the intention of the authors in writing these narratives? Perhaps, they did not wrote these narratives just to shatter our faith but rather to emphasize that both evangelist agree on the religious message that Jesus really stepped into the realms of history for the salvation of mankind.

A certain phrase that goes “God became man so that man might become God”- I think this is the main reason of the coming of the messiah. He became man so that we can share His divinity and become one family. What if he had never been born? I don’t know how to answer such question. But what is certain for me is that salvation would still be possible even if Jesus did not embrace human nature because God is always faithful to his promise.

Tracing the genealogy of Jesus it catches my attention about the strange patriarchal choices of God of sinners over the just. Cheaters and liars such as Jacob and Judah over more honest and noble persons like Esau and Joseph. Even the women mention in the genealogy like Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth, they are women of questionable repute or in difficult marital circumstances or seen as publicly scandalous, yet became true instruments of God’s Spirit and grace in fulfilling the plan of salvation. Even in the time of Jesus, he chose those who are less expected persons like the insignificant fishermen and tax collectors who will be His disciples. Strange isn’t it? But isn’t it more strange that we are all here, people who are less expected to be called by God in this noble vocation? People who are struggling with different issues in life? Nobody is worthy to be a priest who will represent the person of Jesus in the Church but by grace of God we become worthy. Indeed, there is strength in weakness in God’s grace.

And so, meaningful Christmas cannot only be attained by rich people but also for those who are less privilege because quality Christmas is a celebration of unity in the family, a family of wicked and righteous individuals and communion of sinners and just. This unity of two contradicting realities made possible because of the person Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God.

Sosmaryosip!!! How mysterious, isn’t it?

"Christmas begets Generosity"

Star ng Pasko.
Performed by: ABS-CBN Artists

Kung kailan pinakamadilim
Ang mga tala ay mas nagniningning
Gaano man kakapal ang ulap
Sa likod nito ay may liwanag

Ang liwanag na ito
Nasa ‘ting lahat
Mas sinag ang bawat pusong bukas
Sa init ng mga yakap
Maghihilom ang lahat ng sugat

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Tayo ang ilaw sa madilim na daan
Pagkakapit bisig ngayon higpitan
Dumaan man sa malakas na alon
Lahat tayo’s makakaahon

Ang liwanag na ito
Nasa ‘ting lahat
Mas sinag ang bawat pusong bukas
Sa init ng mga yakap
Maghihilom ang lahat ng sugat

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Kikislap ang pag-asa
Kahit kanino man
Dahil ikaw Bro, dahil ikaw Bro
Dahil ikaw Bro
Ang star ng pasko

Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Dahil ikaw Bro, dahil ikaw Bro
Dahil ikaw Bro
Ang star ng pasko!

The Station X-mas ID of Kapamilya, ABS-CBN with its famous line “Bro, ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” really captured my attention and boldly appreciated such recognition to the person of Jesus as the core of our Christmas celebration. The Song goes, "salamat sa liwanag mo, muling magkakakulay ang pasko…dahil ikaw, Bro, ang Star ng Pasko"...This line of the song is very much connected to Jesus’ proclaimation Εγώ είμι τό φώς τοϋ κόςμου - I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (jn8:12). His coming brings new hope, a new direction, and a new light that illuminates the darkness of the world.
We are also called to be like Jesus, that is, to be a light that gives direction to others, to be a light bearer so that others may simple live. Be a star to one another!!! Our lives has been so blessed by GOD in many different ways and perhaps, we often failed to recognize, in the spirit of generosity in this season of advent, let us pass this light to anybody who come in contact with us. This is our challenge, this is our call.

In this christmas of 2009, donating Blood is my way of answering the call to generosity. To share the light I have to others specially to the lives who have been clouded with so much darkness because of severe sickness.

Why Drink Beer?

Who ever thought there would be health benefits to drinking beer? Well, there is! Studies have revealed that beer can produce the same benefits as drinking wine. Studies show that one drink a day for women or up to two drinks a day for men will reduce your chances of strokes, heart and vascular disease. It’s no secret that the stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disabilities.

What’s interesting is that it was proven (New England Journal of Medicine – Nov. 1999) that those who drank one beer a week compared to those who drank one beer a day experienced no variance in reducing stroke risks. It is said that light to moderate drinkers will decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20%.

A researcher at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center (May 1999) reported that those who consume moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at the most) have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don’t drink. Beer contains a similar amount of ‘polyphenols’ (antioxidants) as red wine and 4-5 times as many polyphenols as white wine.

Alcohol has also been attributed of its ability to increase the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) into the bloodstream as well as help to decrease blood clots.

Beer also contains vitamin B6, which prevents the build-up of amino acid called homocysteine that has been linked to heart disease. Those of us who have high levels of homocysteine are usually more prone to an early onset of heart and vascular disease. A new study performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute in Utrecht indicates that those who drink beer had no increase in their homocysteine level but those who drank wine or liquor had an increase of up to 10%. Also noted was the fact that those who drank beer experienced a 30% increase in vitamin B6 in their blood plasma, thereby proving that beer (in moderation) is actually healthier to drink than wine and other liquor.

Did you know?

- Beer is nutritious if consumed in moderation

- That beer is fat-free and cholesterol free?

- Beer has a relaxing effect on the body thereby reducing stress.

- It can help you sleep better

- It helps prevent heart disease and improves the blood circulation

- It has proven to have positive effects on elderly people. It helps to promote blood vessel dilation, sleep, and urination.

‘Beer, if drank in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.’

Thomas Jefferson

http://www.essortment.com/all/beerhealthbene_rryq.htm

LIfe's Candid Snapshots

In the Face of Death

SURIGAO MEMORIAL CHAPEL

How do you see yourself ten years from now? What state of life would you take? What makes you busy this day? What are your plans for this week? Where would you spend your vacation? These are some silly and insignificant questions that seemed so ordinary every now and then. Human being is gifted with the knowledge to understand, prepare and inquire curiously what is to happen in the future. If we examine keenly on the above questions, it is somehow an expression of man’s projection of what is to come, a way of careful anticipation of the future. We treasure the past, we cherish the present but we also get overwhelm thinking and preparing for our future. I do not see any problem with this since even other forms of lower creatures instinctively prepares for what is to come. But I came to think of it, if many people untiringly prepares for the future, are they also preparing for their own death? Let me pose this simple question, Have we ever stopped and pondered for a while and ask ourselves, Am I prepared when death suddenly struck my way? What would be my initial reaction? This may sound so strange to talk about this horrifying moment of human existence, but we have no means of escape with this inevitable reality yet sometimes ignored by many. We seldom have the tendency to deny such aspect of life and surely a reality that is universally unappreciated. This month of November is very much apt to reflect on this painful reality of eternal separation.

What is death? In simple term, it is an irreversible cessation of life and the loss of its essential characteristics. Death occurs at several levels and appears in different faces in the same way that life can be lived in many stances. Indeed, life goes with a series of stages. Clearly, medical science can explain the transition of how a person losses life until it finally goes into decomposition. It is somehow an ordinary biological process such digestion, respiration and so on. If this is a normal thing, then why people fear about facing death? Sounds rhetorical, right? We may have many answers to such questions but I guess, we basically afraid of death because we still do not know what exactly lies beyond the darkness, of that dreadful unknown realm. We normally feel great fear facing death but, it is not so much on the temporal aspect, of what we have acquired over the years but we are more concern on searching for the meaning of our own death. We tend to rationalize things yet it seems that we are incapable of thinking. We somehow lost our sanity trying to focus on something that is nowhere to be found. Eventually we end up feeling helpless, lonely and even coward. Persons, money, power and material possessions that are regarded as something valuable in life seemed to lose its importance. Indeed, everything becomes insignificant when man starts to face his greatest enemy.

SURIGAO MEMORIAL PARK

In the biblical perspective, death is basically consequence of the fall of the first parents yet if we try to examine closely it could also be a blessing from God. It is a gateway towards eternity. Imagine living forever as a sinner, with no possibility of redemption and permanent transformation. Thus, God, in His omniscient nature, prevented Adam and Eve from eternal sinfulness by giving them the gift of death, the ability to gracefully exit this life and arrive safely in the wondrous life to come. Death, though it would appear to be man’s greatest enemy, would in the end, prove to be his greatest friend. It is only through death that we will experience “birth” into a world of transcendental and eventually sees God face to face. In our Christian faith, Jesus Christ conquered the power of death by His own resurrection and therefore we should not be frightened when we are threatened with such reality because, we too, can experience resurrection in the fullness of time. It is significantly important to note that the process of dying is seemingly similar to the process of birthing. The dying person, very often, demonstrates similar breathing patterns as the expectant mother who is undergoing labor contractions. As death approaches, the dying person's breathing becomes more labored and the fear of the unknown becomes more prominent. The expectant mother is taught breathing rhythms and mental exercises to easy the birthing process. Similar breathing and mental exercises can be taught to the dying person to ease the dying process.

The ability to face the reality of death and its impact on our life and each other's lives and the ability to discuss our fears, anticipations, fantasies, and curiosities will better prepare us to fully live our lives. Mitch Albom in his famous novel “Tuesdays with Morrie” says “when you learn to die, you learn to live”. A better understanding of the reality of death perhaps helps us to maturely accept that this is part of our being. Painful it may seem, but we should be open-minded to accept that we only have days to live in this temporal residence and sooner or later we will go back to our final abode.

Be prepared!

“Tension of Opposite”

Love and hate; good and evil; matter and form – These are some opposing realities in the world which perhaps can never be joined in equal degree and frequency. In principle, one must be superior to the other. These concepts have been unconsciously instilled in our minds, though sometimes correct, but, I think, this would not be accepted as a general truth. If you are influence with such ancient mentality, I was never exempted being imprisoned with such a myopic impression.
When I decided to leave the seminary, I tried to prepare myself to live in the real world, a world of vulnerability and competition. With my little experience, I was quite afraid to leave the portals of the seminary with the thought of how am I going to strike the balance of maintaining my spirituality while striving to search and work for a living. There is an evident tension between life in the ‘outside world’ in contrast with the microcosm of the seminary in which I accustomed to live.
I am now working here in Starjed- a micro finance company whose aim is to provide assistance for those people who wants to start small business for living. But mind you, this is not just an ordinary finance company. Starjed is so peculiar, which, at first, caused me to be amazed since it is not just simply a lending company but it also concerns on spiritual enrichment to its employees and clients. It is a worldly business who wants to help people not only their worldly affairs but more so in their spiritual journey to life. This is a rare reality to think, much more to believe in that every employee is not only preoccupied with business works but they also spend quality time for prayer and meditation. My presence in Starjed is a reason for me to admit that I was absolutely wrong with my preconceive ideas that worldly and spiritual things can never be intertwined.
When people hear Starjed, especially here in Surigao City, this might cause some elements of discussion as to its identity. Again, the tension of opposite is very much obvious; a tension between being worldly yet spiritually known; profit based yet service oriented company. Starjed is gradually working on her outreach programs helping our less privilege brethren alleviate their present sufferings and needs. The music ministry of Starjed is also exceptional as they render their service in singing liturgical songs during Eucharistic celebrations in the Church. We are not the one who made this identity; it is really the people who come in contact with us coined such distinct character. And the company is so blessed of having been known by people of Surigao not solely as a corporate institution but a company committed to collaborate in making real the reign of the Kingdom of God here on earth.
“To God be all the Glory” – a guiding principle of all the employees of Starjed which somewhat has a close paradigm of my patron saint St. Ignatius of Loyola with his famous line “Ad Majorem Die Gloriam” and perhaps the reason why I was employed here in this prestigious company. This principle have been concretely translated in our corporate purpose statement - “To glorify God by being faithful stewards of all that is entrusted to us, to have a positive influence of all who have contact with Starjed”. All these have the same common ground – SERVICE. To offer service to others for God’s greater glory, motivated by love in extending more and doing more than what is expected without counting the cost with the hope that others may take courage to do the same.
Indeed, two opposing realities to be joined are never impossible. Yes, there is an existing tension between material and spiritual things; a visible empty gap in the middle yet an avenue for God to manifest His presence. It is on this seemingly void space where mysteries come in, a sacred space that connects us to God. How wonderful it is to realize and be reminded that our mundane affairs can be and should be accompanied by our full dedication in serving God in whatever manner we can. By doings so, our responsibility as co-creator of God’s wondrous creation is highly exercise and at the same time, reap the fruits of our labors, with hearts full of gratitude, as we acknowledge God’s manifold grace working in our lives. DEO GRATIAS!

“Overcoming Credential Biases” - 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Too much familiarity bridge contempt” - Jesus himself is not exempted of all biases and disdain by the people who really know Him because of His own credentials and family background. ‘Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?” Jesus’ experience of rejection by his countrymen would foreshadow the events that would take place in Jerusalem at the end of His earthly ministry. Jesus would experience betrayal by one apostle and denial by another. He would be mocked by His own people who could cry out for His crucifixion. All these He would endure so that we might have life and have it to the full.
Perhaps, it is inevitable that sometimes other people would ridicule or put us down because of who we are and what we have. Always remember, WE ARE NEVER ALONE! Jesus stands with us in our times of trial, giving us the grace to endure patiently with our sufferings. For him, human weakness is not so much a negative connotation but rather an avenue for God’s power to work in our lives; for whenever we are weak, then we are strong.
The gospel also reminds us to respect each individual with dignity regardless of his/her own credential.

The Power Called NOW

Im back!!! Nakakita ra jud ko time nga magsulat! Heheheh… This is my first time to write my personal experience after I decided to leave the place where I love most and where I discover my passion for writing – SEMINARY. Mao ni ga-sulat ko kay gimingaw nako mag-sulat. I really miss the joy of writing my own stories even if other people may not be fascinated with it… bahala mo basta magsulat ko…bwahahaha!!! I just wanted to quench my thirst for writing… hmmp, dili lang diay BEER ang makapa-uhaw nako!!!

I am now in the ‘outside world’ trying to compete with the competition called life. Life is indeed is somewhat an Olympics. Sounds PAULINE, isn’t it?! This is very much true. Life outside the seminary is always a ‘RUSH’ and those who run fast will surely win. I tried to prepare myself for this reality when I was still in the seminary but it seems that my preparation is not enough. The life in the ‘outside world’ is in contrast with the microcosm of the seminary in which I was accustomed to live.

After I left the seminary, I had hard time adjusting my schedules and quite busy searching for a living. Now, I am presently employed as a medical representative in a certain pharmaceutical company with a compensating salary and a private car for my mobilization (sosyal nuh?!) My work right now is a great shift from my previous kind of life. From poverty to luxury…char lang! From wearing ordinary shirts and plain clothes, now wearing somewhat executive suits..basta, sosi ang dating… From giving talks and recollections to students, now meeting and talking to doctors, nurses and pharmacists. From studying the dogmas and teachings of the church now I am quite busy memorizing generic names of the products and its components. From memorizing important verses in the bible to support some theological truths and arguments, now I find myself busy computing figures as a proof of my sales each day. My present work maximizes my passion to be with the people not just to those who are active in the parish but now extended to the people working in the medical field.

The work was great and full of excitement yet very much tiring. One essential thing that captured my attention and perhaps caused me to be discouraged was the realization that all relationship in the world of marketing was all superficial and shallow. In the corporate world, what matters most are figures…sales… money. Friendships are all secondary. You have to build relationship to prospect clients because you want something from them not because you like them. It is not about relationship but salesmanship. I am totally naïve in this field and therefore needs bigger adjustments on my part. It is so tempting to look back my seminary days with all its comforts and joys and blame myself of refusing to continue what I have started. I could still be enjoying such privilege if I did not decide to leave the seminary. But this is not what motivates my vocation to priesthood; that is why I am so happy of having this gift of courage to decide on my own and walk the path of uncertainty. This is not only for my own sake but for my beloved diocese as well. Though I am outside the structure of the seminary, I am still hopeful to be ordained at the right time with God’s grace and mercy.

My absence in the seminary does not mean taking the opposite but rather making the best way towards priesthood. I am contented of where I am right now, experiencing the fruitful yet challenging life outside the seminary that eventually pave the way to a more mature priesthood. This is the beauty of ‘PRESENT’; a good preparation of what is to come. This is the power called NOW. †