"May Pamili"

"May Pamili"

"May pamily is.. was... damos infortant fersens in mah layp! Thank you!"

When we first heard this infamous response of Janina San Miguel, we can only roll our eyes and say, "Hay, ang pobre! She ruined it! Sayang ang ganda mo, iha!" I, myself, laughed at this embarassing beauty contest boo-boo. Years after, I came to believe that Janina, with the worst moment of her life, actually had a point to make. She is right: My family is indeed the most important part of my life.

Take for example, my mother. Some people complained of not being praised enough by their parents. Me, I was praised to death by my Inay. Sometimes, I just felt like hiding under a rock in embarrassment whenever she praised me in front of her friends. She would make a litany of my achievements, even the humble ones, to the point of exaggeration. I guess Inay just really believed in me. In fact, I had her all-out support when I entered the seminary. My Father? Well, Tatay is the male version of Inay, as a human praise generator. The only difference is that it took a while before Tatay approved of my vocation. And when he did, Talaga naman! He's also all heart in motivating me to persevere. Even during the funeral of his brother, he would make time to attend the seminary's family day. The same goes with my Ate Gina. Wheelchair-bound and ailing from a severe kidney disease, she never stopped to amaze me. She is my heroine for patience and courage, my avid fan cheering at the bleachers, my advocate who told me not to give up, not to give up .Now, let me see... Inay, Tatay, Ate Gina... Wow, I'm so lucky, I have a dream team of moral support! ... Yes, it's hard, actually. Inay, Tatay, Ate Gina, they all passed away. Now that they're gone, family day in the seminary is never as exicitng as before. Christmas and summer vacations became treacherously lonely without them to greet me by the gate of our house. I miss them so badly, I sometimes wake up late at night, calling out their names, reaching for them. "Nay, Tay, Ate Gina... Please,be with me now... Please, please, be with me here... Even as illusion, even as ghosts, please, be with me. I just miss you so much... Inay, Itay, I really really miss you so much..." My only consolation, however, is my Christian faith, which tells me, that Inay, Tatay and Ate Gina are all in heaven. Together with Mama Mary and the saints, they are all praying for me, interceding for me.

I am comforted by the fact that even in the after life, they remain to be my family, my best motivators, my greatest heroes, my dream team of moral support. And above all, my angels. All I want to do now is to hug them, to thank them, to tell them,

"Inay, Tatay, Ate Gina, you are still the most important persons in my life.

THE DEFINING MOMENT OF MY LIFE

THE DEFINING MOMENT

OF MY LIFE

Br. Zaldy Norba, SSS

For our next award in the Theology Department. The second dean’s lister award goes to…Zaldy B. Norba. Was I dreaming? Is this true I asked my classmate Dominic, who is my neighbor that time during the graduation ceremony? He said, yes, classmate, you made it! You are the second dean’s lister awardee. I thought I was only dreaming that time. It surprised me to hear my name being called by the dean of the Theology Department, Rev. Fr. Joel Jason. Walking along the aisle of San Carlos Seminary Chapel, I felt so proud of how God made a difference in my life. I was full of joy! I was so overwhelmed that despite the joy I wanted to cry because I wish my parents were there to witness this moment, this defining moment in my life.

Indeed, that was a defining moment in my life because God has made me realize His unconditional love. God was victorious during that day. He lifted up the lowly. I felt that I was like the Virgin Mary who wanted to sing the Magnificat because of the joy that I can not contain in my heart. Yet, I know on the other hand that this victory, this unconditionallove is more than this award, is more than this piece of paper. This love motivated me to be patient with myself in studying my lessons.

This love encouraged me to believe in God that no matter what happens He is there for me in all cases and circumstances of life. More than these experiences, I have realized that this love is a total submission to the will of God. I remember that before my comprehensive oral and written examinations, I went to the convent of Pink Sisters, to the convent of Carmelite Sisters asking them to pray for me and my panelists. Not only that, I went to Baclaran Church and to Quiapo Church to pray and ask God for the same favors. And God made His way. Indeed, He will make a way when there seems to be no way. Now, here is God giving me the fruits of my prayer, not because I deserve the award but simply because He loves me. This is the moment! This is the moment that God has given me this gift, this award of being second in the dean’s list. This moment is actually God’s moment, the moment of revealing His love for me. To God be the glory, Forever.

The Art of Staying Positive is not Hard to Master

Br. Ferdinand Tomo, SSS

I am speaking to you now, not as somebody who was born with a silver spoon in my mouth but someone who knew what it means to live in the “forsaken portion" of the earth. An ordinary person from a very ordinary place in Negros. A place which is synonymous to human struggle, rampant exploitation and disturbing slavery.

You might ask, what would be the future of “sacada children in Negros?" Upon seeing and knowing the people's situation, it is easy to say that a dim future awaits them. Being born deprived of so many things especially the basic needs of human existence like food, goods, shelter, decent clothing, proper education and the freedom to enjoy life as a toddler, suffering has always been my daily bread. . Being forced to work as a child laborer in order to augment family income for survival has painted a bleak picture in the cinema of my imagination. I may have never been a Bona Kid as my relatives called me: Am Boy, I may have a poor brain development, but one thing is certain, I have the heart nourished by love and fear of God by my family. My parents used to tell me to pursue my dreams no matter what. They promised to support me along the way.

I began to dream big dreams…I strongly feel that I am destined to reach them. At present, I am still in my inner journey and search for freedom- a freedom that allows my poor spirit to break free from the bondage of painful past. This will surely lead me to transcendence and liberation as my very self becomes whole again.

I have asked myself: " young man, where are you going? The road may be tough, but with the right attitude and positive disposition, I can raise my head high, face the future with great courage and confidence and in the spirit of complete surrender.…Yes I can! Yes we can. Indeed, the art of staying positive is not hard to master. It is the other name of Faith.

Lord, Open My Lips

LORD OPEN MY LIPS

Fr. Randy U. Vergara, SSS

Vocation Director

Are you having problems praising God? Do you find yourself going through the motions of worship? Perhaps you would blame your lack of musical ability or knowledge of the liturgy. You are in for a surprise. The secret of praise lies with God.

Look at David. He was a master musician, often playing the harp to soothe Saul’s fits of rage. He is credited with writing many psalms, a major part of the “hymnbook” of the Old Testament church. He obviously was gifted in speech as king and psalm writer. Yet he finds it necessary to ask God to open his lips so he can praise the Lord. Why?

Could it be that David’s lips had been sealed from praise because his heart had strayed from God? During the whole Bathsheba incident he had undoubtedly spoken and perhaps sung many words with his lips, but few words of praise to a God who disapproved of his sin. But having used words of confession to God for his sin, David prays for open lips, and God enables him to praise once again.

Forget about musical ability or facile tongue. Look to your heart. Confess the words that spring from wrong thoughts and attitudes. With David pray “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise” (Psalm 51:15). He will hear. God sent His Son, Jesus, to begin a new song with His birth, life, death, and resurrection. His cries of loneliness, forgiveness, and completion signal victory over all evil. God places the new song in our hearts at Baptism and opens our lips each day to declare His praise in word and song. He accepts our praise because He has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Nabighani NG Pagmamahal NG Diyos

Nabighani ng Pagmamahal ng Diyos

Fr. Froilan Briones, SSS

Director of Scholastics

Ang taong kasalukuyan ay mabunga para sa Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Patunay nito ang patuloy na pagyabong at paglago ng bokasyon sa mga dumaraming bilang ng mga seminarista na patuloy na hinuhubog sa Eymard Formation Center, sa larangan ng akademiko, apostolado, ministeryo, buhay panalangin at ispirituwalidad na nakabatay sa aming tagapagtatag na si San Pedro Julian Eymard na ang sentro ay ang banal na Eukaristiya.

Tunay na iisa lamang ang taling nagbibigkis upang magkatipun-tipon ang bawat isa sa lugar na ito. Ito ay ang pagkabighani ng bawat isa sa pagmamahal ng Diyos na bumubukal sa banal na Eukaristiya.

Sa mga magulang ng mga seminarista, buong galak ang aking puso sa pasasalamat sa paghahandog ninyo ng inyong mga anak, upang maging kaisa naming sa paglilingkod sa Diyos bilang mga relihiyoso.

Sa aming mga tagapagtangkilik na walang sawang sumusuporta sa tulong pinansiyal, oras at panalangin upang patuloy kaming makapaglingkod ng may kababaang– loob. Kayong lahat ay kasama sa bawat sandali ng aming panalangin.

Mabuhay kayong lahat!