It was a great day spent with long lost brothers and friends. I spent my day with Mark (kiko) and Rondie (dodo) walking around the city looking for nice t-shirts and affordable printing houses. We are the ones entrusted for the preparation of our batch reunion - the 15th year anniversary - which will be this coming July 1 - 2, 2011.
15 years ago, 26 young men from different parishes in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Diocese of Surigao met and lived together as brothers in the community for the Spirituality Formation Year of San Jose de Mindanao Seminary batch 1996. We started with the casual high and hellos, turned great buddies, occasional foes, drinking partners, confidante, trusted friend...
Let me introduce the seminarians of SFY -SJMS 1996. We lived in 7 different rooms, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John, St. Paul, St. John Vianney, and San Lorenzo Ruiz. These were the occupants of the old SFY house. Max Ceballos from Gusa, Roy Barros from Claveria, Jessie Namocot from NHA - CDO, Vicente Ricacho from Villanueva, Ramon Francis Burlat from Alubijid, Gino Jumawid from Villanueva, Michael Alcantara from Bugo, Rondie Felizilda from Balulang, Stephen Dacubor from Villanueva, Jimmy Duhaylungsod Jr. from Tagoloan, Tirso Lisbos from Bacuag, Surigao, Erdman Pandero from Villanueva, Rex Javier from Mahinog, Samson Abao from Mahinog, Jefferson Naraja from Gigaquit, Surigao, Philip Adran from Medina, Nicanor Saguibo from Malitbog, Brian Racines from Gusa, Hawthorne Galas from Mahinog, Mark Francisco from Macabalan, Ronan Ravelo from Gen.Luma, Surigao, Mark Anthony Zambrano from Medina, Orlando Montalban from Baliwagan, Jonel Jorta from Gigaquit, Surigao, Julian Guinit, San Juan, Siquijor (Cugman), and Jayniel Casino from Claveria.
15 years after... we have gone a long way ahead... We have taken different routes, followed branching out roads, lived different lives...
Our goal then was to end up as priests, Fr. Macky is now the Director of a School in El Salvador, Fr. Roy an Parish Administrator for Barra, Opol, Fr. Jessie the Parish Priest of Balingoan, Fr. Jong2 the Parochial vicar of Initao, Frs. Bobong and Juls Parochial Vicars of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Augustine, Fr. Ronan the Spiritual Director of Marajao na Magbalantay Seminary, Rev. Dodong the Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Bro. Iko awaiting his letter of release from his religious congregation and be back as a diocesan seminarian.
I will have time to reconnect with the rest the next few days and share with you what happen with the rest 15 years hence.
Our batch will be spending our July 1 and 2 together, to reminisce the good old days, to relive the beautiful memories, to reconnect our lost friends, to rebuild each other, to comfort one another, and again to simply be there for each other.
I will have more about them in the next few days...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Republika ng Pilipinas - Pasaporte
I love traveling. I love backpacking. I love the seas and I love the mountains. I love seeing new places, meeting new people, sleeping in different hotels and pension houses. I traveled a lot, but only inside my beloved Philippines. Why? Well, I didn't have my passport.
I had my three years hiatus in Cebu. I worked as a Call Center Agent and as a Publishing Consultant. I had the capacity to travel that time. My wallet was thick enough to support my passion to see places but my Birth Certificate chained me and forced me to enjoy the locals instead. Most of my friends would schedule their vacations abroad and grabbed that Cebu Pacific discounted fares. I would simply wish that the local midwife in our place back in 1978 was kind enough to check if my record was really that of my parents'. Or better yet, my parents could have doubled-check it. But the truth remained, I was recorded not with the Maiden Name of my mother.
So there I was, stuck and could not file any passport. I didn't have the time to visit the NSO to make the necessary changes and applications. It did not stop me though from traveling. Up north in Luzon, I went to Baguio City, Tagaytay City, Lipa City, Manila and all other cities in between even farther down Marinduque. Down in Visayas, I traveled from Bohol, Cebu, Bacolod, Ilo-ilo, and the beautiful island of Boracay. Here in Mindanao, the only region I haven't been is the region comprising Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. I was everywhere. Perhaps, God wants me to see and have a taste of the Philippine travels before embarking on a trip worldwide, nyaks...
And God answered my prayers. I just received today, after months of preparing for corrections and other stuff from my Birth Certificate, my PASAPORTE. It only means one thing... set back and join me... as I will have to bring you with me to my travels...
I know, it will not happen tomorrow or the next few days. But it will happen soon I tell you. And before that happens, I will content myself to revisiting the places I had been, to remember the people I met, relish the food I ate, relive the hotels I was into, the boats that took me farther from the shores, and the planes that brought to my heights.
I had my three years hiatus in Cebu. I worked as a Call Center Agent and as a Publishing Consultant. I had the capacity to travel that time. My wallet was thick enough to support my passion to see places but my Birth Certificate chained me and forced me to enjoy the locals instead. Most of my friends would schedule their vacations abroad and grabbed that Cebu Pacific discounted fares. I would simply wish that the local midwife in our place back in 1978 was kind enough to check if my record was really that of my parents'. Or better yet, my parents could have doubled-check it. But the truth remained, I was recorded not with the Maiden Name of my mother.
So there I was, stuck and could not file any passport. I didn't have the time to visit the NSO to make the necessary changes and applications. It did not stop me though from traveling. Up north in Luzon, I went to Baguio City, Tagaytay City, Lipa City, Manila and all other cities in between even farther down Marinduque. Down in Visayas, I traveled from Bohol, Cebu, Bacolod, Ilo-ilo, and the beautiful island of Boracay. Here in Mindanao, the only region I haven't been is the region comprising Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. I was everywhere. Perhaps, God wants me to see and have a taste of the Philippine travels before embarking on a trip worldwide, nyaks...
And God answered my prayers. I just received today, after months of preparing for corrections and other stuff from my Birth Certificate, my PASAPORTE. It only means one thing... set back and join me... as I will have to bring you with me to my travels...
I know, it will not happen tomorrow or the next few days. But it will happen soon I tell you. And before that happens, I will content myself to revisiting the places I had been, to remember the people I met, relish the food I ate, relive the hotels I was into, the boats that took me farther from the shores, and the planes that brought to my heights.
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