redemptorists-cebu

Each one of us has a calling from God, first and foremost a call to holiness. But there is a call also to offer one's life for the service to the Lord and of the Church, the religious life. For me, this calling started from womb of our mother when God molded us from darkness. As we saw the light and breathed the air in this world, this calling gradually unfolded in us. But sometimes, the grandeur of this world blocked the light that we cannot see and covered our ears that we cannot hear the voice of God's calling. But God have to find a way that we cannot understand. My vocation story is simple but memorable. It is simple in the sense that it was not illumined with fantastic religious experience but a day to day experience of joys and pains, laughters and tears, success and failures, and most of all because of your LOVE.

In a little village of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental, there was a little nipa hut located in the middle of coconut plantation and fruit trees. It was surrounded also with vegetable garden and cornfields. The plants were supplied with bountiful fresh water from a river which originated from the foot of Mt. Malindang. That was the habitat of my family. Early in the morning of August 18, 1963, inside that nipa hut, a cute and lovely boy was born, and that little boy was I. I saw the first light and greeted the world with my first "uhah." Few weeks after, on September 21 of the same year, the feast day of St. Matthew, I was baptized and given a name "Hernando" by Fr. Ubaldo Basoc.

It is shameful to tell but this is the truth, my parents were neither pious nor devoted Catholic. I considered them as "unchurched" Catholics because they only went to Church when there were big occasions like birthdays, fiestas, baptism, wedding, and funerals (KBL). So, I grew up with little knowledge about Catholicism. However, I couldn't blame my parents for their ignorance of their faith because that was how they brought up also. Even though they were not devoted to their faith but, what I become proud of them was their being generous and honest to others. They trained us to be honest, obedient, respectful, and courteous to others.

On 24th of January 1973, I received my first communion by an Irish Columban priest. I liked him very much. He was good and friendly to children.

I had no solid foundation of Catholic faith. I grew up with ignorance about Bible, Sacraments, and other devotions. What I had was only a Rosary ever since when I received my first communion. When the Seventh Day Adventist came and proclaimed the Word of God in the Bible to me, I was easily converted to them because of the weak foundation of Catholic faith I had. I was baptized in their religion on 1977. I was very faithful and devoted to their religion. I read the Bible everyday. I observed and followed all their laws regarding food, beliefs, and worship. The elder of that community trained me to become a preacher. It was easy because what you need is to memorize the verses from the Bible. I loved to memorize the text. That is why at young age I started preaching to young people. I could say that my vocation to serve the Lord and preaching His words was started on that level.

Time came that I was scandalized and started doubting on their religion. I had so many questions regarding their doctrines. I was not contented of their answers and explanations to my inquiries. So, I decided to leave their religion and tried to find another one which can fill my hunger of the truths. I went to the Apostolic Church of Christ, but for few months only. I read and studied about Jehovah's Witnesses but that was not appealing to me. Finally, I went to United Pentecostal Church. They were glad in my coming. I was entertained and welcomed in their congregation. In them, I found the sense of belongingness, brotherhood, and acceptance. Again, I received baptism in 1980. Since I was already trained about Bible and how to preach, after few months I became their preacher. I said to myself, "at last I found the truth, I found now the salvation."

The leaders of the congregation had planned to send me in Cebu for formal studies about Scripture, so that when I come back, I will be their pastor. I accepted the challenge. But, before going to Cebu I had to visit first to my brother in Sindangan. At that time, he was very active in Catholic Charismatic Movement. The visit was not only for saying hello and goodbye but became a time for debate between the two of us. He explained what he learned from Catholicism, I argued against him. Since I was good in the Bible and memorized every detail of the texts which are relevant for our religion, he surrendered and decided to ask help from a catholic faith defender. The debate was scheduled and the topic was about the True Church. I had to prove that the United Pentecostal Church was the true church founded by Christ according to the Scripture and other references. The CFD would prove that way also. We put only one condition, those who failed to prove the argument will be converted.
Instead of going to Cebu for Bible Course, I attended the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Seminar in Sindangan. From that seminar I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit who gave me light and courage to go back to fold of Catholicism. So, I went to the parish priest for confessions of all my sins. There was an experience of inner peace and joy in my heart. To supply and to satisfy my spiritual needs, I attended all the seminars conducted in the parish and joined some church organization like catechist, lay minister, Bible apostolate, Catholic Faith Defender, Catholic Youth Organization, Charismatic Renewal Movement, Apostolado dela Oracion, Oasis of Love, CFC Singles for Christ, and Secular Franciscan Order (SFO).

The parish priest invited me to live in the convent and to continue my studies. I accepted the opportunity. While living in the parish, my inner desire to serve the Lord was slowly awakened. I dreamed to be a defender of Catholic faith which I renounced before. I helped the Holy Spirit sisters on their apostolate with the Lumads. That experienced ignited my desire to become a missionary. I was inspired to become a religious brother (not a sister).I very impressed and appreciated their charism towards mission especially to the poor. By their example, they taught me on how to deal with people especially the neglected ones, the lumads. But, I have to finish my studies first. The sisters gave me some information regarding their brother congregation the Society of Divine Word (SVD). I planned to apply that congregation after my studies.

I was blessed by the Lord, at the age of 28; I finished my Bachelor of Secondary Education on 1991. Good fortune was always following me, I was hired immediately for teaching position in the school where I graduated. On that year again I had passed the board exam. I enjoyed my life as a teacher with my co-teachers and students. I forgot about my desire to become a religious or to enter the seminary. I became too worldly and ambitious. I kept busy for myself. I had to compete with others. I was engrossed with my success and ambition. But the time came that I was frustrated and bored. There were many questions in my life that needs an answer, but what and how?

It was on the 10th year of my teaching career that I seriously entertained the possibility of becoming a religious. I asked myself about my vocation. What do I want for the rest of my life?

In July of 2000, two Redemptorist came to our school for vocation campaign. Since I was the Campus Ministry coordinator, I facilitated the venue and the students for the vocation talk and the examination. They talked about the Redemptorist congregation, the charism of their founder, their apostolate, and their formation. That vocation talked challenged me to discern more about religious life and my vocation. In joined their search-in together with my students.

I had a little knowledge about the Redemptorist. First, I met Fr. Fil Suico CSsR, a courageous missionary who worked for mission in Siayan during the 80's. I liked the way he gave talks, sermons, and retreats. He was a jolly-man and kind-hearted that is why the Lumads loved him very much. Through the media, I knew Fr. Rudy Romano, a news-breaker Redemptorist in the 80's for his advocacy to the poor. Their charism and enthusiasm in serving the poor awakened my longing to serve God.

In the year 2001, after the series of examinations and interviews I filed my resignation from my job and decided to join the band of missioners who had a mission in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. I settled everything (financial obligations, relationships) before I left Sindangan in order to make my journey smooth and straight. But, there were many discouragementS I encountered from my decision. Some called me as crazy because of my decision to leave my job, friends, and love ones. But my decision was already fixed at that time and that was final. I entrusted everything to God.

Missionary life is not sweet as a honey. There were many adjustments that I need to be done: life-style, relationships, works, culture, etc. Pressures were present in every angle. There were lot of frustrations, trials, and discouragement that I encountered on that mission; but by the mercy and grace of God I was able to cope up all those things and learned from it.

So, my vocation to become a religious was strengthened and my motivation was clarified. A year passed by, I was recommended to the Aspirancy Program in Davao City. That was a victorious moment in my life.

Now, I am preparing for my final profession. It seems that the years passed by so quickly. But, in every stage of formation, aspirancy, postulancy, novitiate, and sudentate is a stage of encountering God who always calling me and always loving. Realization and insights in every experience gave me strength and hope for the future in religious life. I believe that religious life is a gift but it also a task.