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Chapter Six
THE DIARY OF A THEOLOGY STUDENT
Three
months ago, I arrived here in
The monastery is a large two-storey building with 20 rooms on the second floor. On the first floor are the parish office, community prayer room, refectory, common room and library. The monastery is perched on a small hill that overlooks the parish church. The Mother of Perpetual Help parish (also known as the Redemptorist parish) covers a very large area -- from the urban area in Bajada and Buhangin to the upper barrios that stretches 25 kilometers away.
We go to class at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (SFX-REMASE) in Catalunan Grande, which is 14 kilometers away from the monastery. Every morning we drive along the winding and rolling highway towards the seminary. Last week we saw a naked corpse with a bullet hole on the head at the side of the road. This is the highway where those "salvaged" by the military are usually dumped. The dictatorial regime is becoming more brutal these days.
The
REMASE , which is run by the Society of the Divine
Word (SVD), is the only major seminary in
As a first year theology student, I am taking five subjects this semester: Methodology of Research, Introduction to Sacred Scriptures and Salvation History, Pentateuch, Fundamental Moral Theology, and Pastoral Skills. I find these subjects very interesting. All our classes are in the morning from Monday to Friday. I spend an hour in the afternoon and two hours in the evening going over my notes or reading theology books but I also find time to play basketball in the afternoon.
I'm assigned in our library to help arrange and classify the books. I also take time to practice the electric organ. I sometimes play the organ during the weekday mass to accompany the people in the singing.
As for my apostolate, I have just been assigned to the center area of the parish to help in organizing the communities in the urban slums near our monastery. Originally I volunteered to work with the banana plantation workers in the upper barrios but I decided to work with the center team, since it needed someone with training and experience in community organizing.
Some of the seminarians work with four Good Shepherd sisters and another community organizer in Buhangin. Buhangin is a pilot area for BCC-CO (Basic Christian Community-Community Organizing). This is a method of building up Basic Christian Communities using the community organizing approach. When there are mobilizations by the Buhangin residents, those of us assigned in other areas come and help out. Last month, I accompanied over two hundred squatters to the Sto. Niño shrine for a dialogue with Mayor Luis Santos. They were asking the Mayor to stop the demolition of their homes and to let them own the land they were occupying. The Mayor promised to put a halt to the demolition and consider their proposal. Later, after the mobilization, I attended their evaluation session. One of the facilitators was Sceny. She is an attractive college student living in Buhangin, who is actively involved with the squatters’ organization. We have become friends.
Tomorrow, five of my fellow seminarians will be moving out to the squatter area in Buhangin to start an experimental community among the urban poor. I was hoping to join them but our superiors laid down the policy of excluding the first year students. Maybe next year I will be allowed to join them if the experiment continues.
The first semester ended in the middle of October. I received an overall average of 1.2. I was very pleased to learn that I was at the top of the class. This is the first time that this happened. From my elementary to high school and college my academic performance was mediocre.
After two weeks of semestral break we started the second semester. These are the subjects I am taking: The Problem of God, Revelation, Christology, Mariology, and Liturgy. The subjects are becoming more and more interesting.
Our Christmas vacation begins tomorrow. I was planning to leave for home immediately but I can't because I have to finish my term paper, which is due in January. Something urgent also came up in the squatters’ area where I am assigned. The residents have received a notice that their homes will be demolished by December 31. So I am helping organize the community and train the residents in non-violent resistance. The land is claimed by Mr. Floirendo, a very wealthy and powerful crony of President Marcos. He already owns large tracts of lands and yet he wants to drive out these poor people who have been living on this land for more than three decades. They may not have a title to the land but they have the right to stay there. After all, there is no such thing as an absolute ownership of the land. The land, like the air and the sea, is God's gift for all of us so that we may live. It is unjust for a few to monopolize the ownership of the land and deprive others of their right to share in God’s blessing.
I'll be going home on December 19 and spend Christmas with family. I’ll come back on December 28. I just hope that the demolition team does not come on December 31. It would be tragic for the people to welcome the New Year homeless.
The second semester is over and we
will be starting our summer vacation. I just received my grades and I am glad
to see that I have been able to maintain my overall average of 1.2. My highest
grade is 1.0 in Christology. What I like
most about our Christology class is the new approach, which gives emphasis on the historical
Jesus -- his ministry, his liberating praxis and his central message, which is
the
So far, the squatters are still occupying the land claimed by the dictator’s crony. Although the city hall had sent a notice of demolition last December, there has been no demolition so far. I visit the squatters’ community on weekends. The people remain vigilant. The demolition team might come like a thief in the night.
Next month, three seminarians will be ordained: Ben Ma, Charlie Jundis and Berting Anfone. Two fourth year seminarians have finished their theological studies but they decided not to apply for ordination: Sam Javelosa and Fred Sabillo.
Our superiors have decided not to continue the experimental community in Buhangin next year. They say that it is very difficult for students to be immersed in the life of the poor and study theology at the same time. This is something that only those who work full time in the ministry can do.
I will be spending my summer vacation in the Redemptorist parish in Butuan.
The new school year began two months ago. I am now in the second year of my theological formation.
We have a new prefect of students –
Fr. Hugh O’Donoghue. He is an Irishman who has a perpetual scowl in his face
and yet who is full of humor when you really get to know him. We all call him
Hughie. He took over from Ramon Fruto who will be going on a sabbatical in
There are only 7 Redemptorist seminarians this year. There are two in the first year: Senen Javier and Edwin Bacaltos. There are three of us in the second year: Claro, Nelson and myself. There is only one third year student (Pasky) and one in the fourth year (Jack Jacela). Pasky’s classmate, Boy Reyes, decided not to come back. He finally realized that God is not calling him to this kind of life. Besides, he has fallen in love with a pretty college girl.
This semester, I am taking the following courses: Ecclesiology, Synoptic Gospels, Kings & Prophets, Human Sexuality and Marriage, Basic Concepts in Pastoral Theology.
I am worried about my health. Last week, I had my blood pressure taken: 140/100. I think I have mild hypertension. Well, I am not surprised. I am grossly overweight – 160 pounds! I eat a lot. I smoke two to three packs a day and I drink 15 cups of coffee daily. I don’t do any regular exercise. When I play basketball, I am out of breath after running back and forth the court twice. It’s so difficult to give up cigarettes and coffee. I tried it several times. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
We
have received our assignments for the weekend apostolate. I am assigned to
The first semester will soon be over. As usual, I am trying to cope with the academic demands. I cannot complain. I am learning a lot from the subjects I am studying. My favorite subject is Ecclesiology – the theology of the Church. This is taught by Fr. Jim Kroeger, an American Maryknoll missionary. We use the book of Avery Dulles, Models of the Church, as one of our textbooks. This has opened my mind to the various ways of understanding the church: institution, communion, herald, sacrament and servant.
I can see that these models are fully integrated in the ecclesiology of Vatican II. In Lumen Gentium (dogmatic constitution on the church), the Church is referred to as a communion of life, love and truth and as a community of faith, hope and love. It also speaks about the Church as the people of God – a prophetic, priestly and kingly people. As a prophetic people, the church is the herald that proclaims the Good News and denounces all forms of evil. As a priestly people, the Church is a sacrament that signifies and celebrates the presence of Christ. As a kingly people, the church is a servant of kingdom and of the world. By working for peace, justice and the transformation of society, the church becomes truly a servant church. The church is, therefore, a community that is evangelizing, worshipping and serving. All the members of the church are called to actively participate in the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of Christ and the church.
I find this understanding of the church as significant and revolutionary. It empowers the laity to be actively involved in the life and mission of the church. It encourages the formation of small Christian communities. It is also holistic. It goes beyond the liturgical and sacramental dimension of the church’s mission. It includes the Church’s task of denouncing all forms of evil – injustice, oppression, violence- and of announcing a message of justice, peace and liberation. The involvement of the church in political and economic issues (like martial law and human rights abuses) becomes understandable in the light of the church’s royal/servant mission.
It is not surprising that with this understanding of the church, there is bound to be a conflict between the church (which is often accused by the Marcos and the military as subversive) and the state (which is viewed by the church as dictatorial and oppressive).
Recently,
two leaders of the Gagmayng Kristohanong
Katilingban (basic Christian communities) in
It’s been more than three weeks since we started the second semester. After our retreat in Butuan I attended a one-week seminar on mass media communication. There was really no time for me to relax because we started our classes two days after the end of the seminar. I was also busy in my pastoral area. Three weeks ago, the demolition team from the city engineers office finally came and attempted to demolish the homes of the squatters. The residents tried to resist the demolition team who were accompanied by the police and Mr. Floirendo’s goons. They set up a barricade with the women and children at the forefront. They were able to get the support of other squatters’ organizations from other areas. They backed down after seeing so many people. The landowner is offering to provide a relocation site for the squatters near the city.
The other week, the workers of the Davao Chewing Tobacco Factory went on strike. They were supported by urban poor communities, seminarians and religious. We took turns manning the picket lines. After a week the owners of the company gave in to the demands of the strikers.
At
present, I'm back to my regular academic life. The work load is not very heavy.
I have only three subjects until December. We'll have to work double time
starting January. Despite the light load I'm still very busy as usual. I have
to finish a
research paper within this month. One of the subjects I am taking is the
Theology of Liberation. Our professor is a fellow Redemptorist named Fr. Manny
Cabajar, who did his doctoral studies in
The
Christmas holiday will begin on December 13. We will be going to
The
Democratic Socialist party is very small compared to the Communist Party. It is
expanding its mass base in
I
am excited about the development of the democratic socialist movement. I prefer this to the Marxist-socialist
ideology. However, I cannot allow myself to be a member of the party as long as
I am a Redemptorist. I have to maintain my independence from any ideological
group. I can be a sympathizer or a supporter. This is what I told the party cadres . They accepted my position. They gave the names of
two contacts: Arvin and Rolly. They
asked me for my code name. After some thought I gave them this name: Alfie
Burgos. Alfie is the diminutive of
Alfonso – which the name of the founder of the Redemptorists.
I was surprised to learn that some of the lay leaders in the parish are involved with the democratic socialist movement They are Dante, Ben and Rudy. They are very active conducting evangelization seminars in the barrios.
The semester is almost over. So far I am doing very well. I've lost weight and I have cut down on my smoking to less than 10 sticks a day (I might give it up for Lent). I had my head shaved so I now look like either an ex-convict or a Buddhist monk. When Hughie O’Donoghue saw me, his eyes glowered and the scowl on his face deepened. “Why didn’t you ask my permission?”
“I know you would not give me permission if I asked” I replied with a smile.
What added to his consternation was when he saw Pasky, a fellow student, and a couple of our house staff all with shiny, bald pates. They were just following my example.
I have just
submitted to our class in Liberation Theology my research paper on
“Christianity and Democratic Socialism.” After analyzing the tenets of
democratic socialism and correlating these with the Christian teachings and
values, I can say that democratic socialism is more compatible to Christianity
than liberal capitalism or Marxist socialism. The ideals of democratic
socialism is similar to the community of goods that we find in the life of the
early Christian community (Acts
We have three
weeks more to go before the end of the school year. This is why I'm very busy
finishing my research papers and preparing for the final exams. I also help the train facilitators for the
Alay Kapwa program. Classes will end on March 31. I'll be staying here for the
Holy Week. On Easter Monday, I'll be leaving for my summer mission exposure in
Maigo (Lanao del Norte). After the mission I'll be in
I
just came back from summer mission exposure and vacation. The mission exposure
in Maigo went very well. I was glad to join the Iligan Mission team: Frs. Manny
Cabajar, Stas Daugdaug, Bro. James Villahermosa and the lay missioners – Popoy,
Pablo,
I went to
Everybody took my predictions in jest. After all, we were almost drunk.
I'm so happy that Magno is finally here with us in
I am now in the third year of my theological studies. There are only two left in our class – Claro and myself. Our classmate, Nelson left this summer. He fell in love with Olive, a Good Shepherd sister who had been working as a community organizer in Buhangin.
Last week I organized an excursion for the choir at the beach and I invited Magno to come along with us. Everyone enjoyed his company. He was full of life and he made everybody laugh with his jokes. Late in the afternoon when it was time for us to go home he was missing. We started looking for him and to my shock we found his body floating in the sea. Somebody tried to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but it was all in vain. I broke down and wept. When they rushed his body to the hospital, I just sat on the shore staring at the sea for almost an hour. I tried to pray but I couldn't. I found it difficult to believe that my friend was dead. And it was I who invited him to come with us.
I
had known Magno since the minor seminary. He left the seminary and studied
engineering at the
I have tried to understand the meaning of his death. All I can say is that it is the end of his painful journey. He has reached his destination. After a long and painful struggle he had come to terms with God, whose existence he doubted and denied. He had found meaning and direction in life. He had finally committed himself to God. And now he is in God's loving presence.
The Sea
Calm and beautiful
yet
turbulent and cruel.
You sustain life
yet you end
life.
Your beauty has often soothed
my weary
mind.
Your bounty has often sated
my appetite.
Yet you have cast a gloom
in my heart
and the hearts
of many
for you have
washed away
the smile and
laughter
from the face
of my friend and confrere.
Why did you have to leave him breathless
with your
embrace?
Why did you have to smother
his hopes and
dreams?
There's no use in cursing you.
For how can anyone truly live without you.
Yes, you may have taken his life
but you have
led him
to the fullness of life.
I recently received an oil painting set from Mama as a gift for my 25th birthday. I am using this to paint the portrait of Magno.
I'm now taking a much needed rest after helping conduct a retreat to high school students in Toril during the semestral break. The second semester will begin this coming Monday.
I'm feeling much better now. My high blood pressure is under control. I have stopped smoking and drinking coffee since the beginning of October. I'm also trying to control my voracious appetite. I have begun dieting. I have also started doing regular exercise. I wake up at four every morning and go jogging after meditating in the chapel.
There is a change that is taking place in me. I spend more time in prayer and meditation. I fast every Friday. I am more conscious of God’s presence in my life. Grief has a way of drawing me closer to God.
The second semester started a month ago. As usual I'm very busy with my studies and pastoral work. We already started our class in homiletics. I’m so excited to be given the opportunity to preach in the church.
I still have to do 12 research and reflection papers for our different subjects. I also have to prepare for our exams in scriptures. I don't have much time for relaxation. I even have to abandon painting for a while until I can find enough time.
We'll
be having our retreat this coming December 16-20 at the Carmelite hermitage in
Tugbok. All of us students will be staying here in
The
semester has finally ended. I will be making a thirty-day retreat in
These
last few months, I have become more involved with the democratic socialist
movement. Although I have avoided party membership, I have been helping the party cadres
in developing the Cebuano material for political education. I have also been instrumental in
recruiting some friends (like Sceny) for
the movement. I have also met
the Secretary General, Mar Canonigo who used to be one of the leaders of the Lakasdiwa before martial law. He told me
that the party has linked up with Ninoy Aquino and Raul Daza. It has also established an alliance with Nur
Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front and is now using its training
camp in
Should I become a revolutionary or a Redemptorist? It is either - or. I cannot be both. I hope my retreat will help me decide what God wants me to be.
Here I am at the beginning of another school year. I am already in fourth year theology. This is my last year in formation. Soon I will make my perpetual profession, then I will become a deacon and finally I will be ordained to the priesthood.
I
have already spent considerable time in prayer and reflection over the big step
I am about to take. The 30-days retreat in
What has also spurred me to seriously think about this whole thing is the recent departure of priests whom I have known and admired. Fr. Fernando Yusingco has left the congregation and is getting married to a young nurse after twenty years in the priesthood Fr. Joe Perez is also leaving to marry Paz -- a former Good Shepherd sister who was working as a community organizer in Buhangin. Joe was ordained only three years ago.
Although I have no serious doubts about my vocation I should not leave any room for complacency. I know that God loves me and that He is calling me to a closer union with him and to a more radical living out of the Gospel. But whether it is specifically to the Redemptorist life -- this is something that has to be discerned more deeply and seriously.
Sceny dropped in after Mass this evening. She told me about her decision to resign from her job with NACIDA and do full time organizing work among the urban poor communities. We talked about the recent developments in the Democratic Socialist movement. She also shared with me her anxieties. Time went so fast and I wished we had more time for conversation but I had to make my evening meditation and attend our community evening prayer.
I really admire her. We've become close friends over the past three years. I am aware that this relationship could lead to something deeper. I know what I feel about her. This is why I have always consciously maintained a certain distance. There is a line beyond which I wouldn't cross. Well, I have to be constantly vigilant and prudent since this is a leap year!
This experience has led me to think seriously about celibacy and chastity -- what it really means and how I can live it meaningfully. Celibacy does not mean avoiding intimate relationships. It is a way of loving. To love God with all my mind, with all my heart, with all my soul and to love others without possessing them and without expressing my love in a sexual-genital way.
Relating with persons like Sceny helps me learn how to live my vow of chastity and celibacy in a more authentic way.
Several books for the library arrived today. One that immediately caught my attention was Henri Nouwen's Genesee Diary -- a diary he wrote during his seven-month stay in a Trappist monastery. I immediately devoured the book.
I feel a deep affinity with Nouwen because I also made a resolution a few months ago to do a retreat with the Trappists in Guimaras before my ordination and to spend my sabbatical year with them after ten years of priestly ministry.
I was deeply moved while reading the book, especially when Nouwen describes the kind of life the Trappists live -- a life of silence, solitude and community, prayer and work, and close intimacy with God. It is difficult to describe what I felt while reading the book. It is something similar to what I experienced during my retreat when I made that "contemplation to attain divine love." There was a profound movement in my heart. There were tears in my eyes. I felt a deep longing for that kind of life.
I don't exactly understand the meaning of this experience. I am inclined to believe that it was a movement of the Spirit filling me with consolation. Is God calling me to this kind of life? This was the question that possibly triggered this experience as I read the book. I don't know. I'm not prepared to face the full implication of this experience. Perhaps, later in life I may consider this possibility if the strong attraction persists. My own reservation at present is that it could be a form of escapism from the demands and challenges of the present situation.
Instead of commuting with my companions to the seminary this morning I just ran the distance (14 kilometers). I hope to do this once a week (every Thursday) aside from the daily jogging. It seems that I have become addicted to running. I always look forward to my early morning run. I'll try to make this a lifetime habit. This is the best way to keep myself physically fit. It is good for my heart. I have to be fit for the missions and other strenuous work in the apostolate. I read somewhere that running is good for vitality and longevity. I hope to be giving missions even in my nineties and to celebrate the diamond jubilee of my priesthood.
Arvin, my contact with the democratic socialist movement, came this afternoon. We talked about recent developments in the party.
I am feeling the pressure. I would like very much to be actively involved in the movement but there are other conflicting demands and priorities. I have also made it a matter of personal policy to avoid deep involvement in partisan politics. I am committed to the people, to the poor and the oppressed, and to their struggle for liberation. But I have to go beyond party politics. This is the field proper to the laity.
It's really difficult for me -- my adrenaline rises every time I think about party politics. This is especially true when I consider that democratic socialism is an ideological alternative that is in consonance with the hopes and aspiration of our people. I find it a more attractive alternative than the communist ideology. Nevertheless, I have to avoid membership in any movement or party. My basic commitment is to the Church, the Congregation and the poor. I could enter into dialogue with different movements but never will I compromise my fundamental commitment.
Last night I dreamt of Magno. He seemed to be very much alive -- as if he never died at all. His smile and laughter dominated the whole scene.
I spent the whole afternoon trying to capture his infectious smile on the canvas. Fr. Manny Cabajar dropped by my room and he gave me pointers on how to use the brush and the paint. He also showed me how to mix the colors. Manny is an excellent painter. He did a one-man exhibit of his paintings years ago.
Today
is my "day in the desert" -- a day of silence, solitude, prayer and
fasting. I spent the whole day in
It was a beautiful day. I hope to have a day like this at least once a month. There is a growing hunger for a deeper communion with God in prayer and solitude. I have to set aside space and time for this intimate encounter.
I went to Hilltop today for my weekend apostolate. I'm happy to see that the core group of the Basic Christian Community can conduct the bible reflection and other community activities without depending on me. For the last few months I have concentrated on building up the core group. The limitation of this approach is that my personal contacts with the ordinary members of the community have decreased. My contacts have been limited to the leaders and those actively involved in the bible reflection. I have not been able to meet all the members individually. There are many whose faces are very familiar to me, whom I have met in community activities but whose names I don't remember or even know.
I think I have to concentrate this time on building personal contact with these people. I know I have often been impersonal and task-oriented. I have to get to know them more deeply, to really enter into a "dialogue of life" with them, know their deepest longings and aspirations, and to learn from them. But the main problem is there is not enough time. I spend the whole week studying theology and I have only the weekends. Besides I also need some recreation.
I a continuing to work on Magno's portrait. It's really difficult to capture his personality on the canvas. I'm beginning to think that this is an ambitious project. This is only my first attempt at oil painting and I already expect good results. I hope I'll be able to finish this in time for his death anniversary.
I think painting his portrait is a way of dealing with my grief. I should not blame myself for having invited him to that beach party. It brings back childhood memories of my sister Nilda when I invited her to the river and she also drowned.
This morning, I meditated on the "multiplication of the loaves" from John's gospel. It seems to me that this passage has an implication regarding what it means to be a priest: I should not only be concerned about the spiritual welfare of people but of their basic needs as well. Easier said than done. There are two extreme positions at work today: either to spiritualize priesthood (a priesthood that has nothing to do with the social, political and economic situation and issues) or to reduce it to political activism. For me it is not a case of "either-or".
To be a priest means to preach the Word of God, to celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments, and to work for development, justice and peace.
I know that for many people, the role of the priest is to say mass and administer the sacraments. This is what I used to imagine. But Vatican II reminds us that it is more than that. The ordained ministry means sharing in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and kingly ministry. This means a liturgical-sacramental ministry, a prophetic-evangelizing ministry, and a ministry of service and social action.
Today is the first death-anniversary of Magno. We had an early morning mass for him. I still have not finished the portrait.
This evening, Fr. Dan Baragry shared with us his mission experience. It seems that one of the issues affecting the mission methodology and content is the ideological/political question. There are some confreres who have their own ideological sympathies. Although such options are personal, they inevitably affect our apostolic and community life. For example, a Redemptorist who is sympathetic to an ideological group can use the mission as a means of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the Basic Christian Community for the movement’s revolutionary struggle. If there are different ideological options, then their proponents would compete with each other for hegemony within the congregation. So there could be an ideological struggle within the religious communities. I hope we won't have the same experience as other religious communities that have undergone crises and splits because of competing ideological options such as the Social Democracy-Democratic Socialism versus National Democracy-Marxism-Maoism.
This is the reason why I cannot accept party membership. To do so would force me to use my ministry or apostolate to advance the agenda of the party. I do not want to be used by any party or group. Nor do I want any party to control the congregation.
I
just got back from
I met my brothers, Dodong and Sammy. They are both studying at the Mapua Institute of Technology. They have really grown. I felt a sense of sadness when I realized that in spite of being brothers we seem to have become strangers to one another. Well, that's what I get for growing up away from home.
I met my old friends, Sam Javelosa and Doy Jacinto. Sam is studying at the Asian Institute of Management and is happily married to an American peace corps staff officer. They are renting a very luxurious suite. It is, indeed, a very comfortable life for someone who used to be an activist and a Redemptorist seminarian.
I also met Ann who is now teaching at the University of the Philippine. I was able to talk to Cynthia over the phone. The last time I heard from her was five years ago. I was worried that she would join the NPA. She is now working in the government’s housing project (BLISS). She is married and has a son named A.G. When I asked her what the initial meant, she told me to guess. I answered, “Amado Guerrero.” She laughed. Then I remembered the first time we met and she asked me what my real name was. I answered, “Amado Guerrero.” I had told her that it was Amado without the Guerrero.
It has been more than five years since I met my old friends. They have really progressed a lot and are doing very well in their respective careers. But I wonder what happened to the vision and ideals we shared. We wanted to change society. Have they forgotten their commitment to the cause of the poor and the oppressed? Or was it just a passing stage which they have outgrown?
GROWING UP?
rubber bands, toyguns,
marbles, kites,
tops and balloons.
these i have outgrown.
streamers, banners,
placards, leaflets,
megaphones and molotov cocktails
these i have outgrown.
slums, farms,
factories, picketlines,
hills and jails.
these i have outgrown.
how i have grown.
golf clubs, tennis rackets,
high-rise office, bank deposits
mercedez benz and a mansion.
i have grown.
and i look back and say:
we were young and full of idealism.
but deep within a nagging thought:
the system i tried to change
changed me,
i sold my soul
and kissed myself.
Sceny wanted to talk to me this afternoon regarding her problem. But I couldn't find time for her. I had to help out in the evening mass and later a troubled person, Nonoy, came to me for counseling.
This evening I went to Hilltop to attend the bible reflection. I was surprised to see the men outnumber the women for the first time. They have become more active and enthusiastic in building the Basic Christian Community. The quality of their sharing has improved a lot. I was impressed by the depth of their reflection on the Word of God and its relation to their life. Well, this is for me an oasis of consolation amidst the countless disappointments. I have come to realize that the growth of the Basic Christian Community does not really depend on me. It depends on these people and on God's grace. "Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain will the builders labor."
Early this morning I ran in the 20 km Regional Milo Marathon. I almost gave up after I had a sprain and a muscle cramp but I was determined to reach the finish line. I came 129th place out of 350 runners. That's not too bad. A year ago I wouldn't have even imagined running this distance. I was overweight, I had high blood pressure, I was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Well now I have finally lost 25 pounds, lowered my blood pressure and given up smoking. I feel so much better. I hope I will be able to maintain this. I would like very much to live up to a hundred and hopefully still be giving missions in my old age.
Today
I celebrated my 26th birthday. I woke up
at
After
thirty minutes of meditation, I put on my running shorts and shoes and jogged
to Magsaysay park.
I came back at
During lunch, we had ice-cream in honor of the birthday celebrant – that’s me.
Danny came to get a party document that I translated into Cebuano. I really admire his dedication. He gave up his job to work full time in the movement. I myself occasionally feel the urge to go underground and work full time. But I can't abandon my religious vocation. I have met some priests, like Archie and Florio, who are involved with the party. But I cannot fully commit myself to the movement. I don't believe that it is appropriate to be both a religious and a full-time cadre at the same time.
Danny invited me to join the martial arts training organized by the party. He said that Arvin and Sceny will be there. I told him that I will be joining them.
Pearly and Flora invited me for supper.They prepared a hearty meal for me and we had a lively conversation. They asked me to read their palms and tell their future. Pearly asked me if she would find a husband -- since she is getting older (37) and overweight (160 lbs!). I told her not to worry, she would get married within two years.
Well, I broke a promise I made to myself not to read other people's palms. I was actually scared after what I told Magno came true two months after reading his palm. I don't really believe in palm reading. I just took it up after watching my Auntie Tanchiang do it. It's only a game for me and a chance to hold the palms of the ladies! But surprisingly some have told me that what I read came true.
The
last two months have been so hectic that I have not found time to make an entry
in this journal. I went to
Fr.
O'Donoghue has informed me that everything has been set. My final profession
will be on December 30. My ordination to the diaconate will either be at the
end of January or the middle of February. My ordination to the priesthood will
be on
I feel calm and relax about the whole thing. No more doubts nor regrets. So here I am in the Carmelite hermitage in Tugbok, making my retreat in preparation for my final profession.