CLASS WILL AND TESTAMENT
Senior Class 2008-2009

DEAR JUNIORS, few weeks from now, we will be leaving the portals of our beloved Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Next school year, you will be called “Seniors” which will mean to you a great opportunity, a big responsibility, and a challenge.

There are many things that we are supposed to do this year, but only the less we have done. We’ve been through lots of trials and thank God, we have survived. We long to stay more in this institution because we cannot afford to leave you. We still want to be around to guide you as your elder brothers but time is so short and we still have to move forward because life is fast that we should always keep our pace with time. There’s nothing left to do except to say goodbye to you… but with this goodbye, you need not to worry because among you are brilliant-minded people who have the will and the guts to continue the work that we have started.

An on the occasion of this JS Prom 2009. WE, the dynamic SENIORS of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Class 2008-2009, who firmly believe the will of God, do hereby proclaim and bequeath to our heirs – the JUNIORS of Class 2008-2009 this CLASS WLL AND TESTAMENT.

The leadership of Waldemar Castino to Ryan Montealto and Ruben Cuizon Jr. The mathematical abilities of Zairus Canales, Reymon Virtudazo and Waldemar Castino to Melvin Tajale and Jovanie Leones. The English proficiency of Richard Busaco, Zairus Canales, Emmanuel Gamana, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Waldemar Castino to Melvin Tajale and Jovanie Leones. Garry Nathaniel Guiritan, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Mark John Manatad’s specialty in Arts and Letter Cutting to John Paul Credo and Francis Malikse. The dancing prowess of Garry Nathaniel Guiritan, Carmelo Tandugon II and Reymon Virtudazo to Angelo Salaas, Bonifacio Tariga and Adrian Surigao. Waldemar Castino, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Richard Busaco’s gutsy speaking ability to Jovanie Leones, Jose Abregana, Jeric Daguplo , Melvin Tajale and Adrian Surigao. Floricel Bongay, Josie mar Gudes, Gregorio Duterte Jr. and Ismael Magadan Jr.’s skill in handling guitar and other musical instruments to Angelo Salas, Jay Buno, Adrian Surigao, Francis Malikse and Christoper Aupe.

The athletic ability of Floricel Bongay, Exequeil Paredes and Carmelo Tandugon III to Adrian Surigao, Richard Pongase, and Jay Buno.

The efficient way of handling finances of Garry Nathaniel Guiritan to John Paul Credo. The art of flower making of Jovic Bonior, Garry Nathaniel Guiritan and John Rodel Ceballos to Ryan Cadenas and Jovanie Leones.

Given to John Philip Manlangit the ever-ready-to-help attitude of Darwin Gitgano, Garry Nathaniel Guiritian and Mark John Manatad. Debonair Jovic Bonior, Zairus Canales, Richard Busaco and Floricel Bongay to Melvin Tajale, and Angelo Salas. The religious qualities of Darwin Gitgano and Ismael Magadan Jr. to Richard Pongase. The humble attitude of Darwin Gitgano and Garry Nathaniel Guiritan to Christopher Aupe, Medardo Jumamoy and Richard Pongase.

We are handling down to you these assets for a more successful year to come.

At this point, in behalf of the Seniors, allow me to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all the people who are art of our college education.

To our dear Alma Mater, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SEMINARY – htanks so much for the good teachings,. To our administrators, Bishop Leonardo Medroso, D.D., Fr. Martin Lupiba and Fr . Crisolito Geangan; to our class adviser, Fr. Absalon Florenosos; to our priest formators, Fr. Irvin Garsuta, Fr. Claverlito Migrino, Msgr. Jess Ligason, Fr. Dong2 Estafia ; to our teachers, Maan Natz Alvardo, Maam Tess Concha, Maam Zia Managaytay, Maam Ann Babera, Sir Oj Cinio, Sir Eddie Managaytay, Sir Tito Cempron, Maam Husain, Fr. Morge Amora, and Fr. Jose Cecil Lobrigas. To our dear parents, benefactors, friends, textmates, schoolmates, and loved ones, whose smiles cheer us up when the road gets rough. Most of all to our Almighty Father, who is the last one to approve our plans.

And to you my dear JUNIORS, thank you too. With your company, our journey becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. Keep up the good work. Continue the task that we have started to do. Be good in your studies and most of all follow the seminary rules and respect our formators. Go on spending one more fruitful year with our Alma Mater.

Lastly, let us pray for one another. We may be walking in different paths soon, but hopefully we will all met in one point all crowned with laurels of success.

In testimony hereof, we affix our signature on this 24th day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Taloto District, Tagbilaran City.


Signed:

SEM. WALDEMAR B. CASTINO
President, Ingenuosus Class
S.Y. 2008-2009


SEM ZAIRUS O. CANALES SEM. EMMANUEL R.GAMANA
Vice-President, Ingenuous Class Secretary, Ingenuosus Class
S.Y. 2008-2009 S.Y. 2008-2009

An Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

When I was young, my parents trained me to become a God-loving child. They taught me the prayers and the right manners. Consequently, I had a very nice childhood. I was the favorite of my parents as well as my grandparents simply because I was cute and good. Furthermore, I could never forget when my grandmother told me that she wanted me to become a priest in the future so that someone will pray for her dear soul when God will withdraw her borrowed life. Right then, I had always wanted to become a priest. But when I was in high school where I was introduced to the marvelous world of computers, my dream of becoming a priest seemed to subside because I yearned to know more about computers. So instead of going inside the seminary to study, I took up Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Bohol.
As I go over my college days, I found out that I just ventured into this new frontier hoping to discover broader and brighter horizons. Discover, I did but it seems to be that I don’t know where my life was heading.
My college life has been a mess. I have learned a lot of bad things including skipping classes and drinking liquors among other things. I was afraid that one day I’ll be seeing myself all filled up with mundane happiness and my soul will be malnourished as I go with the trend. Moreover driven by circumstances such as problems in financial matters, I was pushed to reflection about my life. I was thinking what things really matters and what are those things that can really make me happy. Gradually, I found out that I should use my God-given faculties for the greater glory of God and not for bad things so that I may able to attain peace of mind which I consider to be utmost essential. I also found out that what really makes me happy is to make other people happy most especially my dear family and God. So I decided to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a priest. As a result, I am already 25 years of age and still a third year philosophy student of IHMS. Somehow there is a room for regrets on my part. Had I entered the seminary directly after my high school, I might be an ordained priest next year.
These things make me realize the value of reflection in ones life. It seems to be that I lacked the proper reflection that turned me to be a rolling stone who gathered no moss. When we are so much occupied with mundane concerns, we fail to appreciate the things that really matters. As a result, we’re heading to an unknown path, without future and direction. Thus it is essential to reflect in some points of our lives so that we will be guided and we could keep ourselves tracked with the passing of time.
We should also consider that God has his own way of telling us what his message is for us. We only need to be sensitive enough to distinguish these messages in form of signs so that we will be able to live our lives well. We need to reflect on every pages of our history so that all the opportunities are grabbed and feelings of regrets are lessened. Moreover, we need to pray to God to open up our understanding regarding the things that happens in our life.
Life is indeed a mystery. We will never exhaust the reality of life even if we will encounter death. But what really matters is that we did to our best in pondering the messages of God through reflection wherein we love and we have loved and we spend most of our time in doing things that brought more meaning to our lives.

Lights, Camera. Action

Most of us want to become popular because it is nice to be known as somebody. That is why many want to become an actor or an actress. This is the shortest way to fame because all you have to do is to give your best in acting.
Acting is derived from the Latin word agere meaning to do; this is precisely what acting is. In acting an actor suppresses or augments aspects of his personality in order to reveal the actions and motivations of the fictional character he portrays within a particular moment. Thus, the actor is assuming the role of another, usually for the benefit of an audience. Aside from benefiting an audience, acting can also bring a sense of art satisfaction on the actor because it helps in expressing the aesthetic sense of a person.
For me the very first thing you must do to be effective in acting is to develop an interest on and love on it. Without interest and love, acting will come out strained and artificial. With love and interest, acting will become spontaneous and satisfying both to the actor and the audience. Once you learned to love and to develop interest in acting, you cannot do it without passion. You will be passionate enough in justifying your character and many will notice you for your exceptional acting prowess.
The next thing that you have to do is to read the script. In reading the script, you should try to understand the story behind it. Then re-read the script, and this time try to focus on the role assigned to you. It is not important to memorize your lines word for word. What is essential is that you understand the flow of events. You can even inject adlibs as long as the situation allows you.
Then go on internalization, the process of putting up all your emotions and imaginations to the scene. You should consider that acting is a work of imagination. If you are rich in imagination, wonderful things will come out. Thus it is an edge if an actor has a well-developed imagination. Moreover, an actor should also have the ability to analyze and understand dramatic text so that he will be able to justify his character or role. To do this, true feelings and true objectives must be involved.
During the acting proper, an actor must retain the same level of concentration and emotional intensity from one shot to the next. He must be able to recall, in minute detail, the exact sequence of the character’s emotional response, often at a moment’s notice. This requires enormous concentration and mental coordination.
In acting, actors are generally expected to possess a number of skills, including good vocal projection and clarity of speech. These would give an actor the advantage to be better than his contemporaries. You have to consider that a well-delivered speech in acting would lead to an easy comprehension and clarity of the message the story tries to impart. Other things that an actor should possess are physical expressiveness, a good sense of perspective, and emotional availability.
If an actor has the capacity to express physically what the scene asks for, he would become very effective. Good sense of perspective would also help the actor to be professional even if he will commit mistakes. An actor should be very innovative and should have the guts to make wrong things right. Moreover, he should also have the emotional availability, which would allow him to show a specified emotion fitting to a certain scene. Emotional availability is very important because it enables the actor to do his role with justice. Acting is having the emotion that best fits the scene. A good all-round actor is able to convey a wide range of emotions, with the development of movement and vocal skills.
On the other hand, a very important thing that an actor should learn is the principle of leaving and living. He should have a total abandonment of his own personality and should live with the new personality his character requires. Thus to become a good actor, he should have no awareness of self. He must not allow himself to go back to his past because it leads him to be aware of himself.
Well-rounded actors are often also skilled in singing, dancing, emotional expressiveness, imitating dialect and accent, observing and emulating, and performing classical texts such as William Shakespeare’s. Many actors train at length in special programs or colleges, which have a wide range of different artistic philosophies and processes to develop these skills.
Thus it is essential for an actor to be equipped with all the necessary principles so that he will be confident enough when the director shouts, “Lights, Camera, Action."

Making a Difference

Many of us lose our identities because we tend to go with the flow. We cater to what is popular and we are very much conscious not to deviate from what is normal as dictated by the society. As a result, many of us become dishonest simply because many are dishonest.
It is very discouraging to note that many are shocked by honesty and a few by deceit. We are shocked when we hear stories like a taxi driver returning a big amount of cash. Some of us might say, “Is he out of his mind? He is not using his brain. He should be practical.” Such remarks uttered by those in the mainstream society suggest that most of us are willing to sacrifice honesty in exchange of personal gain. On the other hand, when we hear politicians doing electoral frauds and deceits in the government, we just act as if nothing happens; our response to such event will not be a shock. Some of us might say, “That is not NEWS. It is normal because many people are doing that.” We fail to realize that what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular. If such mentality and line of thinking continues, what kind of future will we have? Probably, things will worsen to its optimum and we will find ourselves living in a society where dishonest people dwell. What a disaster!
Dishonesty is very rampant in our society. Many of us become dishonest because we tend to look after our own welfare only and thus we become selfish. What matters to us is our own interest and needs that somehow push us to do injustices.
Dishonesty is common among politicians. They have lots of promises during the campaign but they always forget all of these when they already take their seats in the government. These people are supposed to act as good models because they are the leaders of our nation. And as leaders, they must catch the confidence of their followers because a leader cannot be one unless he has followers. Leaders should also consider that the only way to have their followers’ confidence is through their unquestionable integrity. A leader must keep his word. He must fulfill his promises to the people. He must do what he has said and must stand firm in his decisions no matter what. But it is sad to note that only a few of our government leaders are able to maintain their integrity. If only all of our government leaders have integrity, our nation might have resurrected from poverty which prevails in our society.
It is sadder to note that dishonesty is not limited only in our government. Even the Church has its own share of dishonesty. Some clergymen are excellent in their homilies; they can even make their parishioners laugh and cry. They are like saints in the pulpit that could touch one’s heart. But when they live their own personal lives, their actions do not anymore reflect the words they utter. Some of them are so strict that they almost forget the Christian virtue of compassion. Worst, some of them are living scandalous lives.
The only consolation I could draw as I look at this reality is the fact that the Church is flawed only because the people composing it are flawed and imperfect. However I think that we must not try to justify our misdeeds and lapses by our nature as imperfect beings. We must try to make a difference by staying firm with what we believe and by doing according to what we say.
Yes, words are powerful. But actions speak louder than words. Actions are more emphatic; they convey a message that cannot be contained in words. Words are always deficient because of the limitations of our language. It cannot capture the innermost yearnings and longings of our souls. We should always remember that well-done is better than well-said. Thus words and deeds should be complementary, congruent, and united. If that is the case, we will become persons of unquestionable integrity and we will be making a difference.
Though in making a difference we will encounter oppositions and negative feedback from the mainstream society, we should still stand our ground with the belief that we are just doing what is right. We should maintain our integrity and should be honest even if others are not, will not, and can not. Had not Jesus Christ made a difference by dying on the cross for the salvation of mankind, then we could have been eternally damned.

My Loving God (Song)

Intro: G A D A
I
D F#m E
Lord God, come fill me with your presence.
G Bm D
Cleanse my soul and renew my spirit.
Em F#m Bm
You alone can heal me with my impurities.
D E A-A7
And I seek healing in Your name.


Chorus:
G(A) A(B)
I know You’re good and forgiving,
F#m(G#m) Bm(C#m)
Loving God til the end.
Em(F#m) A(B)
You still love me despite my past.
D(E) A(B)
And showered me with Your blessings.

G(A) A(B)
You filled me with Your power
D(E) Bm(C#m)
To live my life.
Em(F#m) A(B)
And in You alone, Lord
D(E) - A
I put my trust.


II
D F#m E
I’m not worthy to stand before you, Lord.
G Bm D
For my soul is filled with evils and scars.
Em F#m Bm
So I ask You, make my soul clean.
D E A
Heal me for I am wounded by sin.


Repeat Chorus
Repeat Chorus 1 step higher


Coda:
F# B
And In you alone, Lord
E
I put my trust.

One Sided Love

It is a very nice feeling to fall in love. A person who is in love is always on the brink of mirth. Everything seems to be full of life and color. Thus it is a noble feeling to fall in love. However, it hurts so much when your love is not reciprocated. When you are experiencing what we called as one-sided love.
I have my own share of this feeling. The feeling that this special person means everything to you. There are times when I am always thinking of her, reminiscing every memories that we have shared and enlivening every moments that we spend together.
My beloved is not perfect. I know she has lots of flaws and lapses as a person. But I do not know why I love her with all her being despite of all her imperfections. I have learned to love her whole being. I love to hear her voice, to see her face, to feel her body next to mine and even to smell her perfume.
There was a time that I even told her how I feel, that I tenderly love her. But she did not believe in me. She thought that I was just kidding. She just looks at me as a plain friend and nothing more. I have been obsessed to her. I even get jealous when I saw her with other men and it lacerates my heart to the fullest.
When I am with her, I felt like I am in heaven. I have done everything for her. Even if it takes sacrifice just to make her happy. But it hurts to know that she does not love me the way I wanted her to feel for me. She makes it clear that we are just friends.
However, I have been thankful to her for being honest and for being real. She does not play with my heart. She did not prolong my agony by letting me know the real score between us. Now I know where to situate my self in her life. I am just her friend – a dear friend and I have to accept it.
I realized that I have been too much impractical. I was blinded with foolish love. I keep on insisting to go through a single door when in fact here are lots of doors to go through. I am just focussing on a particular person, demanding her to love me the way I want but she didn’t. However, the only consolation I have is that I have loved even if I was not loved the way I want it.

The Wonders of Love

Love. We are born out of it. We are by-products of the love shared by our parents. Many people say it is what that makes the world go round. I also have the share of this feeling. I’ve fallen in love the first time when I was in high school, but that love is not reciprocated. It just makes me cry. And I have found that I am not lovable maybe because I am a silent type of person and very boring to be with. During my college life at University of Bohol, I again experience the beating of my heart. I then did enter into an intimate relationship but as the passing of time, I found out the infidelity of my beloved. I am not the only one but we are two in her life. She’s just using me as his servant when it comes to paper works. With the turn of events, I began hating to fall in love and I promised myself never to fall in love again because it will just cause me heartaches.
Ever since I become a seminarian, I never experienced to have a special someone. I tend to focus myself on my studies and my vocation. I realized that only God can give me reciprocated love. However, lately, a special feeling developed in me as I know this special person in my life. I began to wonder how it really feels to be in love and be loved in return.
Lately I proposed my feelings for her and she gladly bestowed the most beautiful words to hear. But she is always reminding me that she does not want to become a stumbling block to my desire of becoming a priest. Besides she feared that my family would get angry to her. But is it my fault that I fall in love with her? Am I indispensable with the feeling of falling in love to somebody? Can my family dictate me what to do in my life? Can they dictate me as well how to feel? If so, then I began to wonder why does God allowed me to fall in love. Why is it that this feeling still exists in me? Have I not learned from my past? You see, I am very troubled this time. A lot of people are expecting me to become a priest and I have done my best to meet their expectation. But now I feel I am sandwiched with the flow of events. I even entertained the thinking of stopping in order to discern more about my vocation. But I guess having a girlfriend even with my status as a seminarian is not abominable per se as long as we did nothing immoral.
These turns of events helps me to wonder about love, its existence and its meaning in my life. It is indeed a reality that the most obvious, ordinary and simple are hard to answer. I really do not know what love is. Yet it is most important to know what love is. However a lot of questions groveled my mind. What is really love? What is the role of love in life? Is it really necessary to fall in love? Is love a feeling or a decision? With regards to my feelings, am I certain that this is really love or just some sort of infatuation? How sure am I that I’m really in love? Do I have a proof or an evidence to say that I am really in love this time? Well, the only proof that I could draw out from it is the unexplainable and mysterious feelings that overwhelmed me when I am with her. I can’t explain it. When the new generation would explain it, It’s here eh.
I really wonder why I fall in love. Perhaps I have not really fully known myself. You see, it is really essential to have a deeper knowledge of self. I never thought that time will come that I will feel this way. I thought that I have already discerned about my vocation, but now I doubt it. Perhaps I have to settle things first before going ahead so that I will have no regrets. However, I am open to possibilities and I know that I have to face whatever the consequences that is twinned with any actions that I have to act in the future. Somehow I may need to gamble.
My wonder about love will lead me to search more about its reality. In its process I am sure that I may get hurt. But I believe that pain is part and parcel of living, it’s just the way we grow. So I just condition myself. I just hope that after some time I will be able to satisfy my wonder.

The Film That Swept The World

Love, by definition, a mysterious feeling of a human being. A value which is the center point of the film that swept the world. A James Cameroon masterpiece, a bone clashing revival of the ancient one retelling the tragedy happened somewhere around the year 1912. A film that enriches the value of love from the by-genes tot he new era of the present times. What I am talking for is the TITANIC.
The film focuses on a love story of two beings as unexpected lovers whose feelings where known and developed in the ill-0fated ship. In the movie, brilliant star Leonardo diCarpio portrayed the role of a bachelor, who was a little bit innocent and a gambler who fall in love to a woman who belongs to the Alta Sociedad. The blending of DiCarpio and Winslet (portrayed as Rose) is magnificent. They are very compatible to each other from the boarding of the ship until the end. It is depicted that the two are very sweet lovers.
In portraying the role of Jack Dulsen, Leonardo DiCarpio is so much appropriate to his role despite of some rumors that is denied by himself that he was effeminate. He acted so well in this move and he looks so cute and handsome that enables him to have more succeeding films to do such as The Man in the Iron Mask and Boyfriends with other brilliant stars. While Kate Winslet whom I found sexy and daring did also a great job. She did her role audaciously, that enables her to have a sexy film just in a while right after the showing of Titanic.
As I go over the film and view it for the second time on a video, I found out that Cameroon’s technique as good, decipher, and professional director comes in apparently. Cameroon is a director eminent on his films whose scenes are mostly in the sea. But this film is a much distinct from his earlier films. He has done the film much discreet that it enables to sweep the world. It is a film having an amulet, which gives caress to the million of viewers worldwide. Viewers whom some are having an awe to have been wasting time and money but come up realizing that it is a good film and they are not wasting any.
In the film, one can really feel the ardor of love as well as the anguish of pain of the tragedy happened on the ill-fated ship. The movie is almost like a reality that enables anyone of us to alienate from boarding ships. It is a film much anxious to those who have not watched yet. And there is something unique in the film – Cameroon did to present Rose in real life. It also involves finding the so-called Heart of the Ocean, which is the diamond necklace worn by Rose on the sinking on the ship.
But every film is expected not to reach the perfect level of excellency. Such as this film, some brighten were made on the entire story. Like the event which enable to baffle my innocent mind where Rose in real life dropped the diamond necklace despite of its value as a remembrance of Jack, showed by Jack on painting her image wearing only that. Also some small and much unrecognized bluffs on the story in which for me are needed to be amended. But despite of the above-mentioned critique, it is still a good film. The only film that swept the world, ample enough as a badge to be called the Movie Event of the Century.
With regards to the other aspects of the film, the cinematographer of the movie is much excellent. It is not observable that most of the scenes are done only through the enigmatic use of the Modern computer. Where one can say that the Productions are building a new ship like Titanic just to be drowned. The production designer of the film also did a great job wherein it is viewed that costumes of the casts, furnitures and architectures of the sets are very much reflective to the period way back 1912. All the films casts event he smallest extras do justify their roles. Sound and special effects are bone clashing and almost looks like real. In editing, it is a perfect score.
Well, apiece of us have varied critique to a given film. But I bet once you will see this movie, you will be pleased. I do not compel you on watching this film but I bet this film is a great one, Which for my own conjecture without amending it has an overall rating of *****.

A Man Out Of This World

“Be happy and thankful for everything you have now, and just count all the blessings instead of complaining with the absence of the convenience you want. “ These are just some of the words uttered from the mouth of a man who have lanquored a deeper insight into my life. A rare man known for his being intellectual and resourceful in the field of driving and mechanics. With dealt to the above-mentioned incident happened almost four years behind, I therefore refrained on eating supper with nothing as a viand but those dreadful rock of salts and toasted coconut meats. I planned to sneak out from our house and went to my grandfather’s where I thought have something to eat that would please my appetite. But no, I unfortunately did not succeed because this man displeased me a lot and gave me some litany of the so-called lessons in life. And as anybody does during that age, I persisted in listening and in behalf, I did something that would change the direction of his thinking, hoping it would stop; but it did not. It seems to be a dynamic push towards righteousness between a father-son relationship. Wherein after a few minutes, a message of love and care has deeply hit the turmoiling heart of mine. I later found out that he was just doing his responsibility as a good and responsible father and that as a responsible one; he must le this son know that ”A father always thinks for the sake and goodness of his children.” A message that live in the midst of my heart until this point of time.
This man has not even changed a lot except on some few white hairs growing on his head as he turned 42 last 10th of September. He is still the Jack of my mother’s life (mother used to call him Jack, short cut for Jacinto). A Jack who was not so tall and stand 5 ft. 2 inches tall and stays fat. This man was often teased by his wife as a man with a Pasig river on his head due to the massive forehead forming a river on it. But even though he is just like that, he is a handsome guy able to win such 28 girlfriends during his bachelor years. Girls who were attracted to his outer as well as his inner beauty and radiance.
I sometimes dare to tease him with accord to his past girlfriends when some of them accidentally visited our home. But instead of getting mad, he is so weird that he managed to say that past is past. He was a man never won through teasing. A man with a strong determination in life as a good father, also as a great Christian. Wherein even though he was busy driving specially on Thursday and Sunday, he still managed to go to church every Sunday and prayed to God, no matter the circumstances was, rain or shine. He was a great man all I wished for a father.
This man is my father. A rare man and out of this world. Out of this world because nowadays this world is filled with evil and unpleasantness, wherein my father is an exception. A man with a heart full of mercy and love. The only father I have, and the only man I idolize beside Jesus and heavenly creatures. Yes, I know him so well for almost 16 years from now because he is my father – my great and out of this world father.

Sacrifice Merits Paradise

With the advent of modern technology, people tend to lose the virtue of sacrifice. Our generation can be described as an instant generation. Almost everything is in instant. Gone were the days where we have to gather firewood, and then burn them with match and dried coconut leaves. It was replaced by rice cooker and stoves. With just a click of the hand, everything will flow on smoothly. We also have instant coffee, instant noodles, etc. The list goes on. Moreover, we also cater to instant happiness which somehow explains the emergence of prostitution and pornography in this world. All these things happen because man in the first place yearns for pleasure and happiness. But man has failed to realize that happiness is not instant. It is a fruit of labor and sacrifice.
We might ask ourselves, “Why do we need to sacrifice when in fact we can get happiness in an instant?”
First, we have to consider the reality of pain and suffering in life. From the moment we are born, we already felt the pain as we see light for the first time. Evidence to which is the fact that we cry during birth. We felt very insecure to the new world that we are in. Thus pain, suffering, and sacrifice are part and parcel of living. We cannot do away with it. It is embedded in our nature as finite beings lacking the necessary perfections.
Second, we need to sacrifice something for a higher purpose. Had not our mother sacrifice her health and eventually her life, we would not be present in this world nowadays. It is a good thing that we give up something in order to have more in life. Let us not cater to things that could bring us happiness which are ephemeral and fleeting in nature.
The saints in our Catholic Church have a great deal of sacrifice done for the Church. They shed their blood for a higher purpose. The best epitome of sacrifice is the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross. Blameless as he is, he shed his blood for us so that we may have eternal life in the life to come. Somehow Ninoy Aquino has a point when he said: “There comes a time in a man’s life when he must prefer a meaningful death than a meaningless life.”
We should live a meaningful life by sacrificing our evil desires for the good of the many. We got a lot of things we owe from God and it is a symbol of gratitude to render some sacrifice of our life for others for all the good fortune God has given us. We live life not in years but in how many lives that we touched.

Welcome to the heavens

Would you like to take an adventure? If so, try reaching the place where I was born and nurtured into being. But in order to reach my place, you must follow these simple guidelines and directions I have for you.
From the City of Tagbilaran, take the highway eastward bound to Jagna-Ubay. Your journey will be smooth sailing because this highway has completely undergone a road widening courtesy of Hanjin Constructions. Then you will pass the following towns: Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, and Jagna. After 15 minutes of driving from the Poblacion of Jagna, you will notice at the left side a road sign, You Are Now Leaving the Calamay Country of Jagna. This signifies the boundary of Jagna and Duero and it means that you are now in my town, 72 kilometers from the City of Tagbilaran
You will cross a concrete bridge as you enter the portals of Duero. Just continue driving for about 15 minutes and you will reach the Immaculate Conception parish church. This church at your left side was painted blue and white just last year. Beside the parish church stands Immaculate Academy, a catholic institution where I spent my high school days. Opposite to it is Duero Central Elementary School. A crossing follows this; then a series of houses and business establishments before you reach Duero Public Market at the left side of the road. From Duero Public Market, just count three alleys at your left before you take your left turn. At the right side of the third alley, you will see a concrete purok painted yellow with shades of red. You will also see a two-storey concrete residential building with a concrete fence at the third alley’s left side.
From the third alley, take the left road. Beware, this road is not cemented or asphalted. It is initially at level with the highway, then it goes down as it passes some rice fields, and then it goes up passing small huts, houses, some coconut trees, kaingin and other vegetation. Generally you will have a hard time driving because it is an uphill drive with an average angle of inclination of 37 degrees. The road is even muddy during rainy days.
You will feel a bit of relief upon reaching a wooden bridge because the road is less uphill after the bridge. You are now entering the bounds of Sitio Bugang. This time you have successfully climbed the first mountain and at the left side of the road you will have a panoramic view of the sea and the town below.
You will just go straight ahead until you reach the Bugang basketball court standing adjacent to a primary school. The school is very much conspicuous for it is the only building having a fully concrete material. Then you will proceed driving and beware this time, you will be passing Calvary as you pass the most difficult part of the road leading to my place. This road has a slope of 45 degrees and has large stones at the middle. I guess any taxi or van would have a difficult time passing this way.
Then you will take another curvy path that resembles a snake. You are now traveling on roads on mountain sides. Just continue driving until you come to a junction which is the center of Barangay Duay, the barangay that precedes ours. One path going up is cemented while the other is not cemented. Take the uncemented path and expect another difficult road. You will pass a cemented road 10 meters in length in a curvy path; then another rough and curvy road; and another cemented road 20 meters in length. After this cemented road, you will encounter another junction: one going downward is cemented while the other going upward is not cemented. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will notice at the left side of the road a road sign that reads: Welcome to Payao.
You are now entering the heavens as you could feel the change in temperature. It is very evident that this place is colder than any other place in the province since it is elevated. You can hear the singing of the birds and you can see lots of trees along the sides of the road. Just go straight ahead but watch out for alleys at your left side. The first alley that you will see at the left side will bring you to the pride of Payao - the Payao Lovers Lane. It is a very nice place overlooking the towns of Gindulman, Jagna, and Anda. The place also offers a panoramic view of the sea and the island of Camiguin. Then, just few meters from this first alley comes a second alley, a cemented path that is going downward. This is the circumferential road of Payao. Now, take this curvy road.
From that junction of the second alley, you will pass six houses before reaching another junction: one going downwards and another upward. Take the upward path and after a few minutes you will see houses. At the left side of the road, the first house built with a firewall and a green steel gate is my residence. The house has a small sari-sari store and it is built lower than the level of the road. This is because Payao is basically a mountain and the residents just flatten some parts of it.
Here, you could have a glimpse of the sea below although it is partly hidden by trees growing profusely at the back of our house. If you spend your night here, when you wake up the following day you will see morning dew and fog due to the coldness of the place. Here, heaven is within reach because for me, this place is heaven in itself – uphill, elevated, cool, simple and peaceful.
I will be hoping for your visit and may you have a good time as you spend your time in my heavens.

The Rolling Stone

Life is beautiful. It is full of surprises that make us appreciate the beauty of living. We never lose in life; we always gain something out of it. Whenever we have bad experiences, we gain lessons that could help us grow to be more than what we are. Whenever we have good experiences, we gain memories that linger deep within our soul. If we try to look back to the making of our history unfolding before our very eyes, we would say that life indeed is beautiful.
Looking back, I never thought I could go this far. Now, I am almost celebrating my silver birthday anniversary, but I still feel young at heart. Despite all the ups and downs I have met, I still bravely face life with all the vigor. I could still remember every moment which formed me to become what I am now.
My mother told me that I was a blessing to her. She never had a great deal of pain when she delivered me into this world on November 8, 1982. Moreover, during my younger years, she found me gentle; I just slept soundly in the crib so she could do her other works. I just cried when I got wet and hungry. I didn’t even have a slight sickness when I was young. Such things might explain why I am my mother’s favorite.
I was raised up in a religious family composed of six. I was taught to have faith in God by my parents who served as lay ministers in our parish. My father earned his living by driving our jeepney while my mother managed our small sari-sari store. As a family, we lived a life of simplicity with my two sisters, Shella and Grace, and my brother Christopher.
When I was young, our parents told us to be respectful. Thus kissing the hands of the elders had been my habit. Aside from that, my mother also taught me how to read and sing when I was four years old.
When I was six, I was sent to Payao Elementary School to have my formal education. All throughout my elementary years, I was the consistent first placer in the honor roll. I had many memorable experiences during my elementary years. Some of them were good, others were bad but I treasure them all. I could still remember those times when I always got pads of paper, loads of candies and chocolates as I perfected our exams. Moreover, I also learned to be thrifty. As a matter of fact, there were times when I did not spend my daily allowance and saved out of selling bananas and guavas in school.
When I was in Grade III, my grandmother told me that she wanted me to become a priest someday in exchange of my uncle who answered the call of married life. I just agreed to her without much thought. Thus, I began to attend mass every Sunday. I even led rosaries whenever the Birhen sa Barangay visited near our home. Moreover, I always had the perfect attendance during the Flores de Mayo every May.
After graduating elementary as class valedictorian, I was enrolled in the catholic institution of Immaculate Academy in the town of Duero. I chose the first section, St. Therese where almost all the valedictorians of every elementary school in Duero were enrolled. Hence, there was a stiff competition in the class. Sometimes I felt somewhat inferior because I came from a far-flung barrio. Despite that, as the school year ended I proved my worth because I was ranked as second honors in our class next to the principal’s daughter. I gave my best during high school; thus my talents were honed and developed, my sense of responsibility was enhanced, and my knowledge on many things was augmented. It was also the time when I became more active not only in the academic sphere but also in extracurricular activities.
When I was in fourth year, we had a subject on computers. I was very much fascinated with this thing; thus I yearned to learn more about it. On the other hand, many people told me that probably I would become rich in the future because I had the guts, the brain, and the attitude needed to be successful. Moreover, I had a yearning to lift my parents from poverty. So after graduating high school, instead of entering the seminary, I decided to pursue my college education with the course Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at University of Bohol. Because of that, I caused grief to my grandmother who always wanted to have a priest in the family.
My college life was smooth sailing at first. I was even included in the Dean’s List. But influenced by some of my friends and classmates, I started to skip classes and drink liquors. From then, my life became a mess. My grades gradually became lower and I failed to maintain the scholarship which I was enjoying during my first year in college. I was very much discouraged, and my life seemed to have no proper direction. I yearned to find meaning in my existence,
My search for life meaning was answered when I was elected as PYM moderator in our parish in the summer of 2001. As a moderator, I was sent to attend recollections and seminars in the diocese so that I could re-echo them in our parish. One time while I was attending a seminar, I was touched by the talk of the speaker. That gave me the impetus to pursue my dream of becoming a priest. Thus in the year 2002, I took the entrance examination at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Luckily I passed but I was discouraged upon knowing that I needed to be financially equipped to study in the seminary. Thus I was not able to pursue my dream of becoming a priest.
The following school year, I still continued my study at University of Bohol. Because engineering course focuses more on mathematics which was not my favorite subject, I shifted course to Bachelor in Psychology.
After a semester, my parents told me that they could not anymore afford to send me to school since our jeep was already worn out and my sister was already a graduating education student at Holy Name University. So, I stopped schooling and helped my parents at home. I even volunteered to be the conductor of our jeep. That job was very tough because the roads were very dusty and the temperature outside was very hot. As a conductor, I found out that it was very tiring to do manual jobs such as carrying sacks of rice, palay, copra and other things under the heat of the sun.
When my sister graduated in college, all the savings of our family were exhausted. I had no more chance to continue my studies, so I decided to go to Manila to find a job. I had an uncle there who had his own house somewhere in Cubao. So, together with my younger brother, I went to Manila. Left with no choice, I stayed at our uncle’s house. I thought Manila was a heaven but I was disappointed to know the reality that it was not. It was only good to be there if you had the money; but if you had none, it was hell. It was very difficult looking for a job in this place especially if you had no course completed or any backer to assist. We applied for many jobs in the city. There was even a time that we had to walk miles to reach the company only to be told that we would just wait for their call. We had also applied for a janitorial position, service crew in a restaurant, and others. But all of these job applications were futile.
We stayed for almost three months in our uncle’s house without a job and we were very much dependent on him. Because of such, his wife became indignant to us up to the point that she almost refused to feed us. Driven by shame, we grabbed an opportunity to work as safety consultant.
Our work as a safety consultant involved going around wearing formal clothes and convincing people to buy our safety device for their stoves. We needed to demonstrate by playing with fire just to convince a prospective buyer. We also had an agreement of no purchase, no salary with our manager. And because it was very difficult to convince people to buy a product, we lasted just for a month doing that job in Laguna.
After that, we worked in a canteen doing stuffs as washing dishes and doing errands for our master. I experienced hell that time because our boss was very strict and he liked to humiliate us in front of people. After a month, we also quitted that job. During those times, I realized that life was indeed very difficult. As a result, after few weeks we came back to Bohol.
When I came back to Bohol, I learned that our barrio was in the process of becoming a Quasi- Parish in Duero. Rev. Fr. Edward Karaan was assigned there to celebrate mass every Wednesday and Sunday. Since my parents were lay ministers, they had access to the priest. In one of their talks with the priest, they told Fr. Ed about my plan of entering the seminary and the reasons why I had not pursued such plan. Fr. Ed offered a helping hand to find me a benefactor , and I did grab the opportunity.
On June 6, 2003 I entered the portals of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. For almost four years of stay in the seminary, I have been formed to become a better person. I learned a lot of things in the seminary and I feel that this is really where I belong. After many years of wandering, I have finally found my home. I still do not know what awaits me, but I am certain that whatever my future holds, I will face it with faith in God.

balik tanaw

Maganda ang buhay. Ito ay puno ng mga surprisa na nakapagdudulot ng kasiyahan at kahalagahan ng buhay. Di tayo nawawalan sa buhay; palagi tayong merong nakukuha mula dito. Kung mayroon man tayong mga masalimuot na karanasan, tayo ay nakakukuha ng mga leksiyon na maaring makatulong sa atin upang maging mas mabuting nilalang. Kung mayroon man tayong magagandang karanasan, ang mga ito ay nanantiling nakaluklok sa kailaliman ng ating mga puso bilang magagandang ala-ala. Kung susubukan nating magbalik tanaw sa ating mga nakaraan, masasabi nating kay ganda pala ng mabuhay.
Kung hayaan man akong magbalik tanaw sa lumipas, di ko akalain na ako’y makarating sa ating naratnan ngayon. Sa loob ng dalamput limang taon na pamamalagi sa mundo ay bata pa rin ang aking puso. Sa kabila ng lahat ng mga nangyayari sa aking buhay, maganda man o hindi, ay patuloy pa rin akong nakikibaka. Malinaw pa sa aking al-ala ang bawat lumipas na nakaukit sa aking balintataw.
Sabi ng aking ina na ako daw ay isang panalangin mula sa Poong Maykapal. Hindi siya gaano nagdusa sa sakit noong ipinanganak niya ako dito sa mundong ibabaw noong Nobyembre 8, 1982. Maliban pa doon, nakikita nyang mabait akong bata noong aking kamusmusan; natutulog lang ako ng mahimbing sa duyan kaya’t patuloy pa rin siya sa kanyang mga ginagawa. Umiiyak lang ako kapag basa ang aking lampin at kapag ako ay nagugutom. Di rin ako nagkakasakit noong aking kamusmusan. Marahil ito ang mga dahilan kung bakit paborito ako ng aking ina.
Ako ay lumaki sa isang relihiyosong pamilya na may anim na miyembro, Ako ay tinuruan ng aking mga magulang na magkaroon ng pananalig sa Poong Maykapal. Ang aking ama ay isang tsuper samantalang ang aking ina naman ay nagbabantay sa aming maliit na tindahan. Bilang pamilya, namumuhay kami ng payapa at simple kapiling ang aking mga kapatid na sina Ate Shella, Christopher, at Mary Grace.
Noong ako’y mag-aanim na taong gulang, ako ay pumasok sa Mababang paaralan ng Payao. Sa anim na taon na pamamalagi sa paaralang ito ay ginawaran ako ng award na 1st Honors. Marami akong mga karanasan na kaytamis balik-balikan tulad ng mga sandaling ako’y nakatanggap ng tsokolate mula sa aming guro dahil sa nai-perfect ko ang aming pasulit. Noon din nagsimula ang aking interes na maging pari pagdating ng panahon. Sa awa ng Diyos ay nakatapos ako ng Elementarya bilang Class Valedictorian. Pinagpatuloy ko ang aking pag-aaral ng haiskul sa Immaculate Academy sa aming bayan. At mabait pa rin ang Panginoon sa akin dahil ako’y nakapagtapos ng haiskul bilang Class Salutaturian.
Naaalala ko rin na unti unti nawala ang aking plano na magpapari, noong akoy nasa ika-apat na taon sa haiskul. Ako ay nahuhumaling sa computer at ninanais ko na pag-aralan ito. Kaya imbes na pumasok sa seminaryo ay kumuha ako ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering sa University of Bohol. Noong una ay maganda ang takbo ng aking pag-aaral. Ngunit ng lumaon, bugso ng impluwensya ng mga barkada ay natuto akong lumiban sa klase, hanggang umabot sa puntong di ko na i-maintain ang aking scholarship. Mula noon naging masalimuot na ang aking buhay. Sunod-sunod ang kamalasan na nangyari sa aming pamilya, lalong- lalo na sa pinansyal na aspeto. Hanggang ito ay umabot sa punto na pinahinto kami ng aming mga magulang sa pag-aaral dahil di na nila kaya na tustusan pa ito.
Dahil dito ay naisipan kung mag baka-sakali sa Maynila at doon ko naranasan ang maging isang waiter sa isang resturant. Ngunit masyadong masungit ang aming naging amo kaya hindi rin ako nagtagal. Bumalik ako ng Bohol pagkalipas ng walong buwan dala ang kahihiyan na hindi ako nagtagumpay. Aking napagtanto na mahirap pala ang maghanap ng trabaho kapag wala kang natapos.
Sa kabila ng lahat ng aking kabiguan ay patuloy pa rin akong ginabayan ng Panginoon. Binubuhay nya sa akin ang aking pangarap noong aking kabataan na maging pari. Kaya sinubukan kong mag-exam sa seminaryo. At sa awa ng Diyos, ako ay pumasa. Parang inihanda ng Panginoon ang lahat para sa akin. Binigyan nya ako ng benefactor at ang pag-asang kaya ko pa ring tuparin ang aking mga pangarap sa buhay. Kaya, noong June 6, 2005 ay pumasok ako sa seminaryo. At ngayon sa loob ng apat na taon mahigit sa aking pamamalagi dito, ay masasabi kong ito na nga siguro ang itinadhana ng Panginoon para sa akin. Dito ko nakita ang aking sarili na maligaya. Kahit alam kong di ako karapat-dapat para sa kanya, ngunit ginawa nya akong maging karapat-dapat. Alam kong wala akong maisusukli sa Panginoon kundi ang aking taos-pusong pagsunod sa kanyang mga alituntunin. Kaya, sa pamamagitan ng aking pagbabalik tanaw ay masasabi kong kay ganda pala ang mabuhay.